Liquid caching device and gene sequencer

Abstract

A liquid temporary storage device and a gene sequencer, the liquid temporary storage device comprises a bearing shell and a liquid storage assembly, the liquid storage assembly comprises a liquid storage container arranged in the bearing shell, the liquid storage container is provided with a first liquid storage cavity and a second liquid storage cavity which are arranged side by side and are not communicated with each other; the volume of one of the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity is reduced along with the increase of the volume of the other liquid storage cavity. By utilizing the structural characteristic that the liquid storage container can be telescopically deformed, the volume of the first liquid storage cavity and the volume of the second liquid storage cavity can be adaptively adjusted and changed in the process that liquid is discharged from the first liquid storage cavity and enters the second liquid storage cavity, so that the structural space of the bearing shell is fully utilized; meanwhile, the liquid storage container is limited in the bearing shell to form the caching device of an integrated structure, the overall size of the caching device can be reduced, and then the space occupied by the caching device for the instrument equipment is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of in vitro diagnostic instruments and equipment, and in particular to a liquid buffer device and a gene sequencer. Background Art

[0002] During use, in vitro diagnostic instruments such as gene sequencers require the use of buffer solutions to clean the instrument's piping system, and the generated waste liquid needs to be collected and treated. Therefore, existing instruments are usually equipped with relatively independent buffer containers and waste liquid containers, which are used to store and provide buffer solutions, and to collect and store waste liquids. However, separate buffer containers and separate waste liquid containers will largely occupy the limited structural space of the instrument equipment, which is not conducive to achieving miniaturization and compactness of the instrument equipment. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main technical problem solved by the utility model is to provide a liquid cache device and a gene sequencer using the liquid cache device, which can reduce the space occupied by the instrument.

[0004] According to a first aspect, one embodiment provides a liquid caching device for installation in an in vitro diagnostic instrument. The liquid caching device includes a carrying shell and a liquid storage assembly. The liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage container disposed within the carrying shell. The liquid storage container has a first liquid storage cavity and a second liquid storage cavity disposed side by side and not connected to each other. The first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity are respectively configured to communicate with a liquid path system of the in vitro diagnostic instrument.

[0005] The liquid storage container is fixedly connected to the supporting shell at two opposite ends in the arrangement direction of the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity; the liquid storage container can undergo telescopic deformation along the arrangement direction when subjected to force, so that the volume of one of the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity decreases as the volume of the other increases.

[0006] In one embodiment, the liquid storage assembly further includes a volume adjustment mechanism, and the liquid storage container includes a relatively independent first volume structure and a second volume structure, and the first volume structure and the second volume structure can be telescopically deformed along the arrangement direction when subjected to force; wherein:

[0007] The first volume structure has a first liquid storage cavity formed therein, the second volume structure has a second liquid storage cavity formed therein, and ends of the first volume structure and the second volume structure that are away from each other in the arrangement direction are respectively fixedly connected to the carrying housing;

[0008] The volume adjustment mechanism is arranged on the carrying shell, and the power end of the volume adjustment mechanism is coupled to the first volume structure and the second volume structure; the volume adjustment mechanism is used to synchronously drive the other of the first volume structure and the second volume structure to undergo contraction deformation when driving one of the first volume structure and the second volume structure to undergo extension deformation.

[0009] In one embodiment, the number of the volume adjustment mechanisms is set to two, one of the two volume adjustment mechanisms is a first adjustment mechanism, and the other is a second adjustment mechanism, the first volume structure is coupled to a power end of the first adjustment mechanism, and the second volume structure is coupled to a power end of the second adjustment mechanism;

[0010] The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism cooperate with each other so that when one of the first volume structure and the second volume structure undergoes an extension deformation, the other of the first volume structure and the second volume structure undergoes a contraction deformation.

[0011] In one embodiment, a speed at which the first volume structure undergoes telescopic deformation under the drive of the first adjustment mechanism is less than a speed at which the second volume structure undergoes telescopic deformation under the drive of the second adjustment mechanism.

[0012] In one embodiment, the volume adjustment mechanism includes:

[0013] A linear guide rail is provided on the bearing housing and extends along the arrangement direction;

[0014] a transmission screw, arranged side by side with the linear guide rail;

[0015] a linkage member fixed to the first volume structure and / or the second volume structure, the linkage member being screwed to the transmission screw and slidably connected to the linear guide rail; and

[0016] A driving member, wherein the power end of the driving member is coupled to the transmission screw; the driving member is used to drive the transmission screw to rotate so that the linkage member moves linearly along the linear guide rail.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first volume structure and the second volume structure each have a connected telescopic surrounding wall and a connecting end wall; the telescopic surrounding wall is formed around the geometric center line of the connecting end wall and is enclosed on one side of the connecting end wall in the arrangement direction, so as to enclose the first liquid storage cavity or the second liquid storage cavity between the telescopic surrounding wall and the connecting end wall;

[0018] The connecting end wall of the first volume structure and the connecting end wall of the second volume structure face each other in the arrangement direction; the power end of the volume adjustment mechanism is coupled to the connecting end wall so that when the connecting end wall is driven to move relative to the supporting shell along the arrangement direction, the connecting end wall drives the corresponding telescopic surrounding wall to undergo telescopic deformation.

[0019] In one embodiment, the liquid storage container includes a first telescopic surrounding wall, a second telescopic surrounding wall and an isolation end wall, and the isolation end wall is connected and arranged between the first telescopic surrounding wall and the second telescopic surrounding wall;

[0020] The first telescopic enclosure wall and the second telescopic enclosure wall are each enclosed around the geometric center line of the isolation end wall to enclose the first liquid storage cavity between the first telescopic enclosure wall and the isolation end wall, and to enclose the second liquid storage cavity between the second telescopic enclosure wall and the isolation end wall; wherein, the first telescopic enclosure wall and the second telescopic enclosure wall can undergo telescopic deformation along the arrangement direction.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first telescopic surrounding wall, the second telescopic surrounding wall and the isolation end wall are an integral structure of flexible material; and / or the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity are arranged side by side along the gravity direction of the liquid storage container.

[0022] In one embodiment, when the liquid storage container undergoes telescopic deformation, the volume change rate of the first liquid storage chamber is smaller than the volume change rate of the second liquid storage chamber.

[0023] In one embodiment, in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first liquid storage cavity is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second liquid storage cavity.

[0024] In one embodiment, the liquid storage container further has a first liquid inlet and outlet and a second liquid inlet and outlet, the first liquid inlet and outlet being used to connect the first liquid storage cavity with the liquid circuit system, and the second liquid inlet and outlet being used to connect the second liquid storage cavity with the liquid circuit system; wherein:

[0025] The first liquid inlet and outlet is located at the lowest position of the first liquid storage cavity in the gravity direction of the liquid storage container, and / or the second liquid inlet and outlet is located at the lowest position of the second liquid storage cavity in the gravity direction of the liquid storage container.

[0026] In one embodiment, a accommodating space with a predetermined volume is formed inside the carrying shell; and in the liquid storage assembly, at least the liquid storage container is detachably placed in the accommodating space.

[0027] According to the second aspect, an embodiment provides a gene sequencer, comprising a liquid circuit system and the liquid cache device described in the first aspect; wherein, the first liquid storage chamber is connected to the liquid circuit system and is used to provide a first liquid to the liquid circuit system; the liquid storage chamber is connected to the liquid circuit system and is used to collect a second liquid discharged from the liquid circuit system.

[0028] According to the above-described embodiment, the liquid caching device includes a carrier shell and a liquid storage assembly. The liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage container disposed within the carrier shell, the liquid storage container having a first liquid storage chamber and a second liquid storage chamber arranged side by side and not interconnected. The liquid storage container is fixedly connected to the carrier shell at opposite ends in the arrangement direction of the first and second liquid storage chambers. When subjected to force, the liquid storage container is capable of undergoing expansion and contraction deformation along the arrangement direction, so that the volume of one of the first and second liquid storage chambers decreases as the volume of the other increases. By confining the liquid storage container within the carrier shell and utilizing the structural feature of the liquid storage container's expansion and contraction deformation, the volumes of the first and second liquid storage chambers can be adaptively adjusted during the process of liquid being discharged from the first liquid storage chamber and liquid entering the second liquid storage chamber. Furthermore, by fully utilizing the structural space of the carrier shell to form an integrated cache device, the cache device can reduce the space occupied by the instrument and equipment, creating favorable conditions for achieving a miniaturized and compact design of the instrument and equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 This is a structural architecture and principle diagram of a liquid caching device according to an embodiment (1).

[0030] Figure 2 This is a structural architecture and principle diagram of a liquid caching device according to an embodiment (II).

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram comparing the cross-sectional dimensions of the liquid storage cavity when the first volume structure and the second volume structure in a liquid caching device are at the same telescopic stroke in one embodiment.

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structural principle of a volume adjustment mechanism in a liquid caching device according to an embodiment.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a structural architecture and principle diagram of a liquid caching device according to an embodiment (III).

[0034] Figure 6 Schematic diagram comparing the cross-sectional dimensions of the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber in a liquid caching device according to an embodiment.

[0035] In the picture:

[0036] 10. Carrying shell; 10a. Accommodating space; 20. Liquid storage container; 20a. First liquid storage chamber; 20b. Second liquid storage chamber; 20c. Telescopic surrounding wall; 20d. Connecting end wall; 20e. First telescopic surrounding wall; 20f. Second telescopic surrounding wall; 20g. Isolation end wall; 21. First volume structure; 22. Second volume structure; 23. First liquid inlet and outlet; 30. Volume adjustment mechanism; 30a. First adjustment mechanism; 30b. Second adjustment mechanism; 31. Linear guide rail; 32. Transmission screw; 33. Linkage member; 34. Driving member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention is further described in detail below by means of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Similar elements in different embodiments are numbered with associated similar elements. In the following embodiments, many detailed descriptions are provided to enable the present application to be better understood. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that some of the features may be omitted under different circumstances, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, some operations related to the present application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid the core portion of the present application being overwhelmed by excessive descriptions. For those skilled in the art, it is not necessary to describe these related operations in detail. They can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and the general technical knowledge in the art.

[0038] In addition, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification may be combined in any appropriate manner to form various embodiments. Furthermore, the steps or actions in the method description may be reordered or adjusted in a manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various sequences in the specification and drawings are provided solely for the purpose of clearly describing a particular embodiment and are not intended to be mandatory, unless otherwise specified.

[0039] Component numbers used herein, such as "first" and "second," are used solely to distinguish the components being described and do not convey any sequential or technical meaning. References to "connection" and "coupling" herein, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (couplings).

[0040] See also Figures 1 to 6 An embodiment of the present application provides a liquid caching device that can be installed and applied to in vitro diagnostic instruments (such as gene sequencers, blood testers, etc.), and is used to provide liquid to the liquid path system of the in vitro diagnostic instrument and collect liquid discharged from the liquid path system; the liquid caching device includes a carrying shell 10, a liquid storage component, and other functional components that exist as needed, which are described in detail below.

[0041] See also Figures 1 to 6The carrying shell 10 can be understood as a collection of related components that constitute the overall outer contour structure of the liquid caching device, and is mainly used as a mounting carrier for other components of the liquid caching device; with the help of the carrying shell 10, a structural connection relationship can be established between the liquid caching device and the in vitro diagnostic instrument and its liquid path system, so that the liquid caching device can be integrated into the overall structural system of the in vitro diagnostic instrument or constitute one of the components of the in vitro diagnostic instrument.

[0042] A accommodating space 10a with a predetermined volume is formed inside the carrying shell 10. For example, the carrying shell 10 can be a relatively closed hollow box structure, or it can be other structures with a fixed volume space. It can be understood that when the liquid cache device is in use or working state, the volume size, contour shape, etc. of the carrying shell 10 or the accommodating space 10a are fixed.

[0043] See also Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 5 and Figure 6 The liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage container 20 arranged inside the carrying shell 10 (i.e., the accommodating space 10a). The interior of the liquid storage container 20 is formed with a first liquid storage cavity 20a and a second liquid storage cavity 20b arranged side by side and not communicating with each other, and the liquid storage container 20 is fixedly connected to the carrying shell 10 at two opposite ends in the arrangement direction of the first liquid storage cavity 20a and the second liquid storage cavity 20b. For example, the ends of the liquid storage container 20 in the arrangement direction are fixed to the carrying shell 10 by a detachable or non-detachable method such as bonding, clamping, welding, interference fit, etc.

[0044] The liquid storage container 20 adopts a structural form that can undergo expansion and contraction deformation along the arrangement direction; for example, the liquid storage container 20 can be a container body at least part of which is made of soft materials such as silicone, rubber, and plastic, and two mutually unconnected chambers (i.e., a first liquid storage chamber 20a and a second liquid storage chamber 20b) are formed inside the container body by structurally dividing the internal space of the container body; for another example, the liquid storage container 20 can be two relatively independent container bodies at least part of which is made of soft materials such as silicone, rubber, and plastic, and the two container bodies are arranged side by side in the accommodating space 10a, and the internal spaces of the two container bodies are the corresponding first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b; for another example, the liquid storage container 20 can also be a container body or two container bodies with a deformable structure.

[0045] As for the aforementioned container body, it can be a straight cylindrical structure that can undergo directional telescopic deformation along the arrangement direction, or it can be a bag-shaped, capsule-shaped or other suitable structure that can undergo directional telescopic deformation due to the filling of liquid and the structural limitations of the supporting shell 10. The container body can also have other regular or irregular geometric shapes, as long as it has the characteristic of being able to telescope and deform.

[0046] By fixing the end of the liquid storage container 20 in the arrangement direction to the supporting shell 10, and utilizing the structural feature that the liquid storage container 20 can undergo expansion and contraction deformation along the arrangement direction, the liquid storage container 20 as a whole can be caused to undergo expansion and contraction deformation along the arrangement direction during the process of liquid entering and exiting the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b, so that the volume of one of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b can be reduced as the volume of the other increases. For example, when the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a decreases due to liquid being discharged from the first liquid storage chamber 20a, the volume of the second liquid storage chamber 20b will increase due to liquid entering the second liquid storage chamber 20b; thus, it is equivalent to that when the liquid storage container 20 undergoes expansion and contraction deformation, the volumes of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b undergo opposite changes, so that the liquid discharge and collection functions of the liquid storage container 20 are synchronously realized.

[0047] For example, when the liquid caching device is used, the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b can be connected to the liquid circuit system of the in vitro diagnostic instrument respectively, and a preset amount of buffer solution (i.e., cleaning liquid or cleaning reagent) can be pre-stored with the help of the first liquid storage chamber 20a. At this time, the volume space of the first liquid storage chamber 20a is in the maximum state (i.e., the structural part of the liquid storage container 20 that forms the first liquid storage chamber 20a is extended to the longest state in the arrangement direction), and the volume space of the second liquid storage chamber 20b is in the minimum state (i.e., the structural part of the liquid storage container 20 that forms the second liquid storage chamber 20b is contracted to the shortest state in the arrangement direction).

[0048] During the process of cleaning the pipelines of the liquid system with the help of buffer solution, as the buffer solution in the first liquid storage chamber 20a gradually decreases due to entering the liquid system, the second liquid storage chamber 20b will collect the waste liquid discharged from the liquid system, and the capacity or volume of the second liquid storage chamber 20b will gradually increase (that is, the waste liquid increases). This will cause the liquid storage container 20 to adaptively expand and contract as a whole to adapt to the volume changes of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b, thereby realizing adaptive adjustment of the volume of the liquid storage chamber.

[0049] On the one hand, by utilizing the structural feature that the liquid storage container 20 can undergo telescopic deformation, the overall structural form of the liquid storage container 20 can adapt to the volume changes of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b or the changes in the amount of stored liquid and undergo corresponding adjustments and changes. In this way, while the liquid storage container 20 is discharging liquid (such as buffer solution), the stored liquid (such as waste liquid discharged from the pipeline system) can be collected at the same time, so that when the in vitro diagnostic instrument performs pipeline cleaning of the liquid system, the liquid buffer device can simultaneously realize the supply of buffer solution and the collection of waste liquid.

[0050] On the other hand, compared with related in vitro diagnostic instruments, a larger space needs to be reserved to accommodate a separate buffer box and a separate waste liquid box, which easily leads to defects such as large overall structural size of the in vitro diagnostic instrument and complex piping system design; in this application, the carrying shell 10 is used as a loading carrier for the liquid storage container 20 and a limiting carrier for the expansion and contraction deformation, so that the expansion and contraction deformation process of the liquid storage container 20 is completely limited to the structural space provided by the carrying shell 10 (i.e., the accommodating space 10a), so that the structural space of the carrying shell 10 can be fully utilized without occupying additional structural space of the instrument and equipment, that is, the instrument and equipment do not need to provide corresponding space for the structural deformation of the liquid storage container 20.

[0051] In this way, the structural space occupied by the liquid cache device in the in vitro diagnostic instrument can be effectively reduced, creating favorable conditions for realizing the miniaturization and compact design of the instrument and equipment; at the same time, the liquid supply part and the liquid collection part of the liquid storage container 20 are integrated into one to form an integrated liquid cache device, which not only facilitates the disassembly, assembly and maintenance of the liquid cache device, but also helps to reduce the structural complexity of the liquid circuit system.

[0052] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2 The dotted line with double arrows in the middle represents the direction in which the liquid storage container 20 undergoes telescopic deformation.

[0053] For one example, see Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 4 The liquid storage component also includes a volume adjustment mechanism 30, and the liquid storage container 20 adopts a split structure; wherein, the liquid storage container 20 includes a first volume structure 21 and a second volume structure 22 that are relatively independent of each other in structure. The first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction inside the carrier shell 10, and the first liquid storage cavity 20a is formed inside the first volume structure 21, and the second liquid storage cavity 20b is formed inside the second volume structure 22; it can be understood that the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 are equivalent to two relatively independent container bodies that can undergo telescopic deformation, such as the aforementioned straight cylindrical, bag-shaped, capsule-shaped, etc. container bodies. The end of the first volume structure 21 away from the second volume structure 22 in the arrangement direction is fixedly connected to the carrier shell 10, and the end of the second volume structure 22 away from the first volume structure 21 in the arrangement direction is fixedly connected to the carrier shell 10.

[0054] The volume adjustment mechanism 30 is arranged on the supporting shell 10, and the number of volume adjustment mechanisms 30 can be set to one, and the power end of the volume adjustment mechanism 30 is coupled with the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 at the same time. For example, the volume adjustment mechanism 30 may include a dual-axis motor connected between the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 in the arrangement direction, or it may be a combined structure with two power output ends constructed by combining power devices such as motors and cylinders with a transmission structure; the number of volume adjustment mechanisms 30 can also be set to two, and the power ends of the two volume adjustment mechanisms 30 are coupled with the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 respectively. For example, the volume adjustment mechanism 30 can also be a power device composed of power devices such as motors and cylinders, or it can be a power device composed of a power device and a transmission structure.

[0055] Therefore, with the help of the volume adjustment mechanism 30, a driving force can be provided for the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 to undergo telescopic deformation, so that when the volume adjustment mechanism 30 drives one of the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 to undergo extension deformation, the other of the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 is simultaneously driven to undergo contraction deformation, thereby realizing the same-stroke compression and stretching of the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22.

[0056] For example, when the volume adjustment mechanism 30 drives the first volume structure 21 to shrink and deform, the first liquid storage chamber 20a can actively provide or transport buffer solution to the liquid circuit system due to the reduction in volume. At the same time, the second volume structure 22 is driven by the volume adjustment mechanism 30 to stretch and deform, so that the second liquid storage chamber 20b actively absorbs waste liquid discharged from the liquid circuit system due to the increase in volume.

[0057] That is to say, by actively adjusting the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b through the volume adjustment mechanism 30, it can not only ensure that the buffer solution enters the liquid system smoothly, but also enable the liquid buffer device to actively attract and collect waste liquid discharged from the liquid system, thereby providing protection for the pipeline cleaning operation of the liquid system.

[0058] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2 The figure only illustrates the coupling connection relationship between the volume adjustment mechanism 30 and the liquid storage container 20. The specific structure of the volume adjustment mechanism 30 can refer to the existing technology.

[0059] For one example, see Figure 1 and Figure 4The first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 each have a connected telescopic surrounding wall 20c and a connecting end wall 20d; the telescopic surrounding wall 20c is enclosed around the geometric center line of the connecting end wall 20d and is formed on one side of the connecting end wall 20d in the arrangement direction, so as to enclose a corresponding first liquid storage chamber 20a or a second liquid storage chamber 20b between the telescopic surrounding wall 20c and the connecting end wall 20d; wherein the telescopic surrounding wall 20c as a whole is roughly annular and folded, such as an annular corrugated shape, an annular serrated shape, etc., so that the telescopic surrounding wall 20c can be structurally deformed by expansion, extension, folding and contraction along the arrangement direction; the connecting end wall 20d can be a plate-like or sheet-like structure with a material hardness or overall thickness greater than the telescopic surrounding wall 20c, and the connecting end wall 20d and the telescopic surrounding wall 20c can be an integral structure or an integral combined structure (for example, the telescopic surrounding wall 20c surrounds and is fixed to the connecting end wall 20d by bonding, welding, etc.).

[0060] Inside the carrying shell 10, the connecting end wall 20d of the first volume structure 21 and the connecting end wall 20d of the second volume structure 22 face each other in the arrangement direction, and the end of the telescopic surrounding wall 20c of the first volume structure 21 away from its connecting end wall 20d and the end of the telescopic surrounding wall 20d of the second volume structure 22 away from its connecting end wall 20d are both fixedly connected to the carrying shell 10.

[0061] The connecting end wall 20d and the telescopic surrounding wall 20c can form a first volume structure 21 or a second volume structure 22 with a relatively regular geometric shape. By coupling the power end of the volume adjustment mechanism 30 to the connecting end wall 20d of the first volume structure 21 and the connecting end wall 20d of the second volume structure 22, the volume adjustment mechanism 30 can drive the connecting end wall 20d to move relative to the supporting shell 10 along the arrangement direction, so that the connecting end wall 20d drives the corresponding telescopic surrounding wall 20c to undergo extension deformation or contraction deformation, thereby realizing the adjustment of the volume size of the corresponding liquid storage chamber.

[0062] Exemplarily, in the process of driving the connecting end wall 20d of the first volume structure 21 to move along the arrangement direction toward the side away from the second volume structure 22, the volume adjustment mechanism 30 can drive the connecting end wall 20d of the second volume structure 22 to move in the same direction, so that the telescopic wall 20c of the first volume structure 21 is gradually compressed and deformed, so that the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a gradually decreases or the buffer solution in the first liquid storage chamber 20a is gradually discharged, the telescopic wall 20c of the second volume structure 22 will be gradually stretched and deformed, so that the volume of the second liquid storage chamber 20b gradually increases or the waste liquid in the second liquid storage chamber 20b gradually increases, thereby realizing the discharge and collection and storage of liquid at the same time.

[0063] For one example, see Figure 2The number of volume adjustment mechanisms 30 is set to two, and the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 each correspond to a volume adjustment mechanism 30; for the convenience of distinction and description, the volume adjustment mechanism 30 whose power end is coupled to the first volume structure 21 is defined as the first adjustment mechanism 30a, and the volume adjustment mechanism 30 whose power end is coupled to the second volume structure 22 is defined as the second adjustment mechanism 30b.

[0064] Exemplarily, the first adjustment mechanism 30a and the second adjustment mechanism 30b both include power devices such as motors and cylinders, and the power ends of the first adjustment mechanism 30a and the second adjustment mechanism 30b are respectively fixedly connected to the corresponding connection end walls 20d.

[0065] By coordinating the first adjustment mechanism 30a and the second adjustment mechanism 30b, the independent driving of the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 can be achieved. When the first adjustment mechanism 30a drives the first volume structure 21 to shrink and deform, the second adjustment mechanism 30b simultaneously drives the second volume structure 22 to stretch and deform. In this way, the speed at which the volume structure deforms or the speed at which the volume of the liquid storage chamber changes can be adjusted according to the amount of liquid in and out, thereby enhancing the flexibility and accuracy of the adjustment.

[0066] For example, the waste liquid discharged from the liquid circuit system of an in vitro diagnostic instrument includes not only a portion of waste liquid generated by the buffer solution due to cleaning the pipeline, but also a portion of waste liquid generated by the detection reagent. The amount of buffer liquid required by the liquid circuit system is usually less than the amount of waste liquid discharged; at this time, by utilizing the cooperation of the first adjustment mechanism 30a and the second adjustment mechanism 30b, the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 can be adjusted separately, so that the speed at which the first volume structure 21 contracts and deforms (or the speed at which the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a decreases) is less than the speed at which the second volume structure 22 stretches and deforms (or the speed at which the volume of the second liquid storage chamber 20b increases), so as to meet the supply demand of buffer solution and the demand for waste liquid collection and storage.

[0067] For one example, see Figure 4 The volume adjustment mechanism 30 (specifically, the first adjustment mechanism 30a and the second adjustment mechanism 30b) includes a linear guide rail 31, a transmission screw 32, a linkage member 33 and a driving member 34; wherein, the linear guide rail 31 is extended along the arrangement direction and is arranged in the carrier shell 10 (for example, the interior of the carrier shell 10), and the transmission screw 32 is rotatably mounted on the carrier shell 10 and arranged side by side with the linear guide rail 31; the linkage member 33 is fixed to the first volume structure 21 or the second volume structure 22, and the linkage member 33 is threadedly sleeved on the transmission screw 32 and is slidably connected to the linear guide rail 31; the driving member 34 may include a motor, and the power end of the driving member 34 is coupled to the transmission screw 32.

[0068] In this way, the drive member 34 can be used to drive the transmission screw 32 to rotate, thereby causing the linkage member 33 to move linearly along the linear guide rail 31. The linkage member 33 can then drive the first volume structure 21 or the second volume structure 22 to undergo telescopic deformation along the arrangement direction. For example, when the first volume structure 21 is driven to expand and deform, the second volume structure 22 is simultaneously driven to contract and deform. At the same time, by configuring the volume adjustment mechanism 30 as a screw drive structure, the telescopic deformation of the volume structure can be more precisely controlled, or the volume of the liquid storage chamber can be more accurately adjusted.

[0069] It should be noted that Figure 4 The arc line with double arrows in the middle represents the rotation direction of the transmission screw 32 , and the straight line with double arrows represents the moving direction of the linkage member 33 .

[0070] In some embodiments, the volume adjustment mechanism 30 can also be omitted. When the liquid cache device is used in an in vitro diagnostic instrument, a driving source (such as a liquid pump, etc.) configured in the liquid circuit system is used to provide power support for the buffer solution to be discharged from the liquid cache device (such as the first liquid storage chamber 20a) and for the waste liquid to enter the liquid cache device (such as the second liquid storage chamber 20b). That is, the driving source of the liquid circuit system and the hydraulic action provide power support for the telescopic deformation of the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22.

[0071] For one example, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The liquid storage container 20 adopts an integral structure, for example, an integral structure made of soft materials such as silicone, rubber, and plastic; the liquid storage container 20 includes a first telescopic surrounding wall 20e, a second telescopic surrounding wall 20f, and an isolation end wall 20g, and the isolation end wall 20g is connected and arranged between the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f along the arrangement direction; wherein the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f are respectively enclosed around the geometric center line of the isolation end wall 20g to enclose a first liquid storage cavity 20a between the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the isolation end wall 20g, and to enclose a second liquid storage cavity 20b between the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f and the isolation end wall 20g; and the ends of the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f away from each other in the arrangement direction are respectively fixed to the carrying shell 10.

[0072] It can be understood that the structural arrangement relationship between the first telescopic wall 20e, the second telescopic wall 20f and the isolation end wall 20g is equivalent to separating the internal space of the liquid storage container 20 with the help of the isolation end wall 20g, thereby forming a first liquid storage chamber 20a and a second liquid storage chamber 20b that are not connected to each other.

[0073] In specific implementation, the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f can be set to an annular folding structure, such as an annular corrugated shape, an annular serrated shape, etc.; the isolation end wall 20g can be a plate or sheet shape with a fixed geometric shape, or it can be a deformable diaphragm structure, which can depend on the material hardness of the isolation end wall 20g or the thickness in the arrangement direction; thereby, the liquid storage container 20 as a whole has a relatively regular geometric shape.

[0074] By utilizing the hydraulic force generated by the liquid entering and exiting the liquid storage container 20 (for example, the hydraulic force generated during the process of buffer solution being discharged from the first liquid storage chamber 20a and waste liquid entering the second liquid storage chamber 20b), the first telescopic wall 20e and the second telescopic wall 20f can be prompted to adaptively undergo expansion and contraction deformation, thereby adaptively adjusting the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b, and synchronously realizing the output of buffer solution and the collection of waste liquid.

[0075] In other embodiments, by selecting the material hardness of the first telescopic wall 20e, the second telescopic wall 20f and the isolation end wall 20f, the liquid storage container 20 can also be constructed as an integral structure with an irregular geometric shape and capable of telescopic deformation, which will not be elaborated here.

[0076] For one example, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f are arranged on opposite sides of the isolation end wall 20g in the direction of gravity, forming a structural form in which the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b are arranged side by side in the direction of gravity, so as to rely on the gravity of the liquid to cause the liquid storage container 20 (i.e., the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e and the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f) to undergo telescopic deformation.

[0077] For example, when the liquid buffering device is in use, the second liquid storage chamber 20b is located above the first liquid storage chamber 20a. In the initial state, the first liquid storage chamber 20a is filled with buffer and its volume is at its maximum. The second liquid storage chamber 20b is at its minimum volume because it does not collect waste liquid. During the pipeline cleaning process, as waste liquid gradually enters the second liquid storage chamber 20b, the second telescopic wall 20f is caused to stretch and deform, causing the volume of the second liquid storage chamber 20b to adaptively increase. At the same time, under the gravity of the waste liquid, the first telescopic wall 20e is compressed and deformed, causing the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a to adaptively decrease, thereby forcing the buffer in the first liquid storage chamber 20a to gradually discharge into the liquid circuit system. In this way, relying on the gravity of the liquid, the liquid storage container 20 undergoes corresponding expansion and contraction deformation, achieving the output of liquid and the simultaneous collection of liquid.

[0078] For one example, see Figure 3 and Figure 6 , in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first liquid storage chamber 20a is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second liquid storage chamber 20b; for example, see Figure 6 , the projection area of ​​the first telescopic surrounding wall 20e in the arrangement direction is smaller than the projection area of ​​the second telescopic surrounding wall 20f in the arrangement direction; for example, refer to Figure 3 The projected area of ​​the telescopic surrounding wall 20c of the first volume structure 21 in the arrangement direction is smaller than the projected area of ​​the telescopic surrounding wall 20c of the second volume structure 22 in the arrangement direction.

[0079] By differentially setting the sizes of the first liquid storage chamber 20a and the second liquid storage chamber 20b, when the liquid storage container 20 undergoes expansion and contraction deformation, the volume change rate of the first liquid storage chamber 20a is smaller than the volume change rate of the second liquid storage chamber 20b, thereby adapting to the amount of buffer solution discharged (buffer solution supply rate) and the amount of waste liquid generated (or waste liquid generation rate), thereby meeting the pipeline cleaning operation requirements of the liquid system.

[0080] As described in the aforementioned embodiment, by separately adjusting the first volume structure 21 and the second volume structure 22 by the first adjustment mechanism 30a and the second adjustment mechanism 30b, the speed at which the first volume structure 21 undergoes telescopic deformation under the drive of the first adjustment mechanism 30a can be smaller than the speed at which the second volume structure 22 undergoes telescopic deformation under the drive of the second adjustment mechanism 30b. In this way, the volume change speed of the first liquid storage chamber 20a can also be smaller than the volume change speed of the second liquid storage chamber 20b.

[0081] For one example, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The liquid storage container 20 also has a first liquid inlet and outlet 23 and a second liquid inlet and outlet (not shown in the figure); wherein, the first liquid inlet and outlet 23 can connect the first liquid storage chamber 20a with the outside world (such as the liquid path system), and the second liquid inlet and outlet connects the second liquid storage chamber 20b with the outside world (such as the liquid path system).

[0082] For example, taking the first liquid inlet and outlet 23 as an example, the first liquid inlet and outlet 23 can be an interface structure that is relatively independent of the main part of the liquid storage container 20, and the interface structure is fixedly arranged on the side wall of the carrying shell 10 and is connected to the first liquid storage cavity 20a; the first liquid inlet and outlet 23 can also be a through-hole structure arranged through the shell wall of the carrying shell 10, and the through-hole structure is located in the area where the liquid storage container 20 and the carrying shell 10 are fixed to each other (for example, the area enclosed by the telescopic wall 20c of the first containing structure 21 and the carrying shell 10 after being fixed); the first liquid inlet and outlet can also be arranged on the interface structure on the side wall of the liquid storage container 20, such as the telescopic wall 20c, the first telescopic wall 20e, the second telescopic wall 20f, the connecting end wall 20d, and the isolating end wall 20g.

[0083] During specific implementation, the first liquid inlet and outlet can be set at the lowest position of the first liquid storage chamber 20a in the direction of gravity of the liquid storage container 20, so that when the volume of the first liquid storage chamber 20a is at its minimum, there will be no residual buffer solution in the first liquid storage chamber 20a as much as possible, the dead volume of the buffer solution can be reduced as much as possible, and the buffer solution can be fully utilized; based on the same principle or requirement, the second liquid inlet and outlet can also be set at the lowest position of the second liquid storage chamber 20b in the direction of gravity, so that when the volume of the second liquid storage chamber 20b is at its minimum, there will be no residual waste liquid in the second liquid storage chamber 20b, so that as much buffer solution as possible can be pre-stored in the liquid storage container 20.

[0084] In some embodiments, the liquid storage component is placed in the carrying shell 10 in a detachable manner, for example, the liquid storage container 20 or the liquid storage container 20 and the volume adjustment mechanism 30 are detachably arranged in the accommodating space 10a; in this way, it is convenient to disassemble and maintain the liquid cache device, and the liquid storage container 20 and the like can also be used as consumables of the liquid cache device, which is beneficial to reducing the configuration and use costs of the liquid cache device.

[0085] Please combine Figures 1 to 6 The present application also provides a gene sequencer according to an embodiment of the present invention, including a liquid circuit system, a liquid cache device according to any of the aforementioned embodiments, and other functional components as needed. The first liquid storage chamber 20a of the liquid cache device is connected to the liquid circuit system. The first liquid storage chamber 20a can be used to store a first liquid (e.g., a cleaning reagent such as a buffer solution) to provide the first liquid to the liquid circuit system when cleaning the pipeline of the liquid circuit system. The second liquid storage chamber 20b of the liquid cache device is connected to the liquid circuit system to collect and store a second liquid discharged from the liquid circuit system (e.g., waste liquid generated by cleaning the pipeline with a buffer solution, waste liquid generated by detection reagents). Based on the technical effects of the liquid cache device, the gene sequencer should also have the same technical effects, so they will not be described in detail here.

[0086] It should be noted that those skilled in the art should be aware of the main structural architecture and basic working principles of the gene sequencer. That is to say, other components of the gene sequencer except the liquid cache device can be selected and set with reference to the existing technology.

[0087] The above examples are used to illustrate the present invention, which are only used to help understand the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art of the present invention can make some simple deductions, modifications or substitutions based on the concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid caching device, characterized in that: For installation in an in vitro diagnostic instrument, the liquid caching device comprises a carrying shell and a liquid storage assembly, the liquid storage assembly comprises a volume adjustment mechanism and a liquid storage container arranged in the carrying shell, the liquid storage container comprises a first volume structure and a second volume structure arranged side by side, the first volume structure and the second volume structure, a first liquid storage cavity is formed inside the first volume structure, a second liquid storage cavity is formed inside the second volume structure, the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity are not connected to each other, and the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity are respectively used to communicate with the liquid path system of the in vitro diagnostic instrument; wherein: The ends of the first volume structure and the second volume structure that are away from each other are respectively fixedly connected to the carrying shell, the volume adjustment mechanism is provided in the carrying shell, and the ends of the first volume structure and the second volume structure that are close to each other are respectively coupled to the power end of the volume adjustment mechanism; The volume adjustment mechanism is used to drive one of the first volume structure and the second volume structure to undergo an extension deformation along the arrangement direction, and simultaneously drive the other of the first volume structure and the second volume structure to undergo a contraction deformation along the arrangement direction, so that the volume of one of the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber decreases as the volume of the other increases.

2. The liquid caching device according to claim 1, wherein: The number of the volume adjustment mechanisms is set to two, one of the two volume adjustment mechanisms is a first adjustment mechanism, and the other is a second adjustment mechanism, the first volume structure is coupled to the power end of the first adjustment mechanism, and the second volume structure is coupled to the power end of the second adjustment mechanism; The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism cooperate with each other so that when one of the first volume structure and the second volume structure undergoes an extension deformation, the other of the first volume structure and the second volume structure undergoes a contraction deformation.

3. The liquid caching device according to claim 2, wherein: The speed at which the first volume structure undergoes telescopic deformation under the driving of the first adjustment mechanism is lower than the speed at which the second volume structure undergoes telescopic deformation under the driving of the second adjustment mechanism.

4. The liquid caching device according to claim 1, wherein: The first volume structure and the second volume structure each have a connected telescopic surrounding wall and a connecting end wall; the telescopic surrounding wall is formed around the geometric center line of the connecting end wall and is enclosed on one side of the connecting end wall in the arrangement direction, so as to enclose the first liquid storage cavity or the second liquid storage cavity between the telescopic surrounding wall and the connecting end wall; The connecting end wall of the first volume structure and the connecting end wall of the second volume structure face each other in the arrangement direction; The power end of the volume adjustment mechanism is coupled to the connecting end wall, so that when the connecting end wall is driven to move relative to the bearing shell along the arrangement direction, the connecting end wall drives the corresponding telescopic surrounding wall to undergo telescopic deformation.

5. The liquid caching device according to claim 1, wherein: In a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, a cross-sectional area of ​​the first liquid storage cavity is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second liquid storage cavity.

6. The liquid caching device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The liquid storage container further comprises a first liquid inlet and a second liquid inlet, wherein the first liquid inlet and the second liquid inlet are used to connect the first liquid storage cavity with the liquid path system, and the second liquid inlet and the second liquid inlet are used to connect the second liquid storage cavity with the liquid path system; wherein: The first liquid inlet and outlet is located at the lowest position of the first liquid storage cavity in the gravity direction of the liquid storage container, and / or the second liquid inlet and outlet is located at the lowest position of the second liquid storage cavity in the gravity direction of the liquid storage container.

7. A liquid caching device, characterized in that: Used to be installed in an in vitro diagnostic instrument, the liquid caching device includes a carrying shell and a liquid storage assembly. The liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage container arranged in the carrying shell. The liquid storage container includes an isolation end wall and a first telescopic surrounding wall and a second telescopic surrounding wall made of a soft material. The isolation end wall is connected and arranged between the first telescopic surrounding wall and the second telescopic surrounding wall. The ends of the first telescopic surrounding wall and the second telescopic surrounding wall away from the isolation end wall are respectively fixed to the carrying shell; The first telescopic surrounding wall and the second telescopic surrounding wall each enclose a geometric centerline of the isolation end wall to form a first liquid storage cavity between the first telescopic surrounding wall and the isolation end wall, and a second liquid storage cavity between the second telescopic surrounding wall and the isolation end wall; the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity are not connected to each other, and the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity are respectively used to communicate with the liquid path system of the in vitro diagnostic instrument; In which, in the arrangement direction of the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber, when one of the first telescopic wall and the second telescopic wall is subjected to force and undergoes extension deformation along the arrangement direction, the other of the first telescopic wall and the second telescopic wall can synchronously undergo contraction deformation along the arrangement direction, so that the volume of one of the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber decreases as the volume of the other increases.

8. The liquid caching device according to claim 7, wherein: The volume change rate of the first liquid storage chamber is lower than the volume change rate of the second liquid storage chamber; or In a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, a cross-sectional area of ​​the first liquid storage cavity is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second liquid storage cavity.

9. The liquid caching device according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that: The liquid storage container further comprises a first liquid inlet and a second liquid inlet, wherein the first liquid inlet and the second liquid inlet are used to connect the first liquid storage cavity with the liquid path system, and the second liquid inlet and the second liquid inlet are used to connect the second liquid storage cavity with the liquid path system; wherein: The first liquid inlet and outlet is located at the lowest position of the first liquid storage cavity in the gravity direction of the liquid storage container, and / or the second liquid inlet and outlet is located at the lowest position of the second liquid storage cavity in the gravity direction of the liquid storage container.

10. A gene sequencer, characterized in that: It comprises a liquid circuit system and a liquid caching device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; wherein, the first liquid storage chamber is connected to the liquid circuit system and is used to provide a first liquid to the liquid circuit system; the liquid storage chamber is connected to the liquid circuit system and is used to collect a second liquid discharged from the liquid circuit system.

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