Cell separation test tube

Abstract

The utility model provides a cell separation test tube, which is used for accommodating blood and separation liquid, and the blood after centrifugal layering comprises plasma, first cells with the density larger than that of the separation liquid and second cells with the density smaller than that of the separation liquid; the cell separation test tube comprises: a test tube body, wherein the test tube body comprises a bottom and a test tube opening; the partition plate device is arranged in the test tube body, a channel is formed in the partition plate device, cells can unidirectionally pass through the channel in the first direction, and the first direction is the direction from the test tube opening to the bottom in the axial direction of the test tube body; the cells are moved from one side, close to the test tube opening, of the partition plate device to one side, close to the bottom, of the partition plate device. The cell separation test tube disclosed by the utility model can prevent cells in other cell layers from flowing back to the CBMC layer when the CBMC layer is poured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cell separation technology, and in particular to a cell separation test tube. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, cell separation is required during research, treatment, and diagnosis. This separation involves using centrifugation to separate cells into a plasma layer, a CBMC layer, and other cell layers. The CBMC layer contains umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, while the other cell layers primarily consist of erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and granulocytes. During separation, blood and a separation solution are added to a test tube, which is then centrifuged to separate the cells. The density of the separation solution is between that of the CBMC layer and the other cell layers. Therefore, after separation, the blood in the test tube separates into the following layers from top to bottom: plasma layer, CBMC layer, separation solution, and other cell layers. After blood separation, backflow occurs when the CBMC layer is poured out, resulting in a higher proportion of erythrocytes in the CBMC layer. Therefore, a new test tube is needed to prevent backflow of cells from other cell layers when pouring out the CBMC layer. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a cell separation test tube that can prevent cells from other cell layers from flowing back into the CBMC layer when the CBMC layer is poured.

[0004] A cell separation test tube according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a container for holding blood and a separation fluid, wherein the blood, after centrifugation and separation, comprises plasma, a first cell with a density greater than that of the separation fluid, and a second cell with a density less than that of the separation fluid; the cell separation test tube includes: a test tube body, the test tube body including a bottom and a test tube opening; a partition device disposed within the test tube body, the partition device having a channel for the cells to pass through unidirectionally in a first direction, the first direction being the direction along the axial direction of the test tube body from the test tube opening to the bottom, so that the cells move from the side of the partition device near the test tube opening to the side of the partition device near the bottom.

[0005] The cell separation test tube according to the first embodiment of this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: When placing the separation liquid and blood into the test tube body, the separation liquid is placed into the test tube body first, followed by the blood. During centrifugation and layering, the first cells with a density greater than that of the separation liquid will all enter the side of the partition device near the bottom through the channel on the partition device. Then, when the second cells are poured out of the test tube, the partition device blocks the first cells at the bottom of the test tube, preventing backflow of cells. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a brake during cell centrifugation, which improves the purity of the harvested second cells and significantly shortens the overall experimental time.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the partition device includes a plurality of annular plates and radial plates. In two adjacent annular plates, one annular plate is sleeved on the outside of the other annular plate. There is a gap between adjacent annular plates. The gap between adjacent annular plates forms the channel. A screening mechanism is provided in the channel to allow the cells to pass through unidirectionally.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the screening mechanism includes an inclined block, the inclined block being provided with an inclined surface so that the interval between adjacent annular plates gradually decreases along a first direction.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the surfaces of the plurality of annular plates near the bottom all overlap with the same conical surface.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the inclined surface is part of a conical surface, and the taper of the conical surface in which the inclined surface is located does not exceed 2.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cell separation test tube further includes a support rod, one end of which is fixedly connected to the partition device, and the other end of which abuts against the bottom to fix the distance between the partition device and the bottom.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the support rod is telescopic, the fixed end of the support rod is fixed to the partition device, and the telescopic end of the support rod abuts against the bottom to adjust the distance between the partition device and the bottom.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cell separation test tube further includes a connecting part, which is disposed on the side of the partition device near the test tube opening.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cell separation test tube further includes a hook, one end of which is disposed on the side of the partition device near the test tube opening, and the other end of which is hooked onto the test tube opening, so as to fix the distance between the partition device and the test tube opening.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the hook includes a hook portion and a telescopic portion. The hook portion is used to be fixedly connected to the test tube opening. The telescopic portion is telescopic. One end of the telescopic portion is connected to the partition device, and the other end of the telescopic portion is disposed on the hook portion to adjust the distance between the partition device and the test tube opening.

[0015] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the upper structure of the partition device in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the lower structure of the partition device in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the partition device in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the blood before centrifugation and stratification in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the blood after centrifugation and stratification in this invention.

[0022] Reference numerals:

[0023] 1. Test tube body; 11. Test tube mouth; 12. Bottom; 2. Partition device; 21. Ring plate; 22. Radial plate; 23. Channel; 24. Inclined block; 25. Inclined surface; 3. Support rod; 4. Connecting part; 5. Separating liquid; 6. Blood; 61. First cell; 62. Second cell; 63. Plasma. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0025] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the directional or positional relationship based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0026] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0027] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0028] Blood separation technology is an advanced technique widely used in the medical field, primarily for separating and extracting various components from blood for further research, diagnosis, or treatment. The core principle of this technology is based on the differences in blood components, achieving separation through appropriate methods. Blood is mainly composed of blood cells and plasma. Blood cells include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, while plasma is the liquid portion of blood. The purpose of blood separation technology is to obtain pure blood cells or plasma for targeted applications. In practical applications, various methods of blood separation are used, with centrifugation being the most common. Centrifugation separation technology utilizes the centrifugal force generated when blood is rotated at high speed to effectively separate components of different densities. For example, a high-speed refrigerated centrifuge can separate red blood cells and platelets, providing a basis for subsequent blood component research or treatment.

[0029] CBMCs are mononuclear cells in peripheral blood, including lymphocytes and monocytes. The volume, morphology, and density of mononuclear cells differ from other peripheral blood cells. The density of erythrocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes is approximately 1.092 g / ml, while the density of mononuclear cells is 1.075 g / ml-1.090 g / ml, and platelets are 1.030 g / ml-1.035 g / ml. Therefore, density gradient centrifugation is performed using a solution with a density between 1.075 g / ml and 1.092 g / ml (i.e., the separation solution). This allows cells of a certain density to be distributed according to the corresponding density gradient, separating various blood cells from mononuclear cells. Specifically, the separation solution is a mixture of sucrose and meglumine diatrizoate with a specific gravity of 1.077 ± 0.001 g / ml. After centrifugation and separation of the blood and separation solution, erythrocytes, granulocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which have a higher specific gravity than the separation solution, will remain at the bottom of the test tube, below the separation solution. Cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) and platelets, which are denser than the separating fluid, will remain on top of the separating fluid. Plasma from the blood will remain on top of the blood.

[0030] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5The cell separation test tube of the first aspect of this utility model includes: a container for holding blood 6 and a separation solution 5; after centrifugation and separation, the blood 6 includes plasma 63, first cells 61 with a density greater than that of the separation solution 5, and second cells 62 with a density less than that of the separation solution 5; the cell separation test tube includes: a test tube body 1 and a partition device 2; the test tube body 1 includes a bottom 12 and a test tube opening 11. Specifically, the separation solution 5 is first poured into the test tube body 1, so that the separation solution 5 submerges the partition device 2 in the test tube body 1, and then the blood 6 is placed into the test tube body 1. Before centrifugation and separation of the blood 6, all the blood 6 is located above the partition device 2. The first cells 61 are red blood cells, granulocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which are cells with a density greater than that of the separation solution 5; the second cells 62 are umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, which are cells with a density less than that of the separation solution 5; the separation solution 5 is a solution of polysucrose and meglumine diatrizoate with a specific gravity of 1.077±0.001. After centrifugation and separation of blood 6, the first cell 61 is located below the separating liquid 5, i.e., on the side of the partition device 2 near the bottom 12, while the second cell 62 is located above the separating liquid 5, i.e., on the side of the partition device 2 near the test tube opening 11. The partition device 2 is completely immersed in the separating liquid 5. That is, after centrifugation and separation, the contents of the test tube body 1 from the bottom 12 to the test tube opening 11 are, in sequence, the first cell 61, the separating liquid 5, the second cell 62, and the plasma 63, with the partition device 2 within the separating liquid 5. To ensure that the partition device 2 is completely immersed in the separating liquid 5 and that the first cells 61 are all located on the side of the partition device 2 near the bottom 12, it is necessary to adjust the amount of separating liquid 5, the amount of blood 6, and the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12. First, the total amount of blood 6 to be separated needs to be determined. The proportions of various cells in blood 6 are in dynamic equilibrium, meaning the proportions of each component remain essentially constant. Therefore, the total amount of the first cell 61 can be calculated. This allows us to determine the height occupied by the first cell 61 in the test tube after stratification, and thus determine the minimum gap between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12. This ensures that the first cell 61 is completely within the partition device 2 near the bottom 12 after stratification. When adding the separation solution 5, it can either completely submerge the partition device 2 or not. When the separation solution 5 completely submerges the partition device 2, the blood will not directly contact the partition device 2 when blood is added to the test tube, preventing blockage. Conversely, when the separation solution 5 does not submerge the partition device 2 before blood separation, it avoids contact between the separation solution 5 and the blood, improving the separation effect. Simultaneously, by calculating and adjusting the amount of separation solution 5 so that the first cell 61 is completely within the partition device 2 near the bottom 12 after stratification, the partition device 2 will be completely submerged in the separation solution 5.

[0031] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3A partition device 2 is disposed inside the test tube body 1. The partition device 2 has a channel 23, which allows cells to pass unidirectionally along a first direction, which is the direction along the axial direction of the test tube body 1 from the test tube opening 11 to the bottom 12. This allows cells to move from the side of the partition device 2 near the test tube opening 11 to the side of the partition device 2 near the bottom 12. The partition device 2 is placed in the test tube to allow the first cell 61 to move from the side of the partition device 2 near the test tube opening 11 to the side of the partition device 2 near the bottom 12, and to prevent the first cell 61 from moving from the side of the partition device 2 near the bottom 12 to the side of the partition device 2 near the test tube opening 11. During the centrifugation and separation of blood 6, the first cell 61 passes through the partition device 2 through the channel 23. After separation, the first cell 61 is blocked by the partition device 2 and cannot move to the other side of the partition device 2 through the channel 23.

[0032] In existing technologies, centrifugation for stratification of blood samples based on their density requires careful control of the centrifuge's braking mechanism. Blood stratification is a common technique in the biomedical field, and braking limitation is a critical parameter affecting separation efficiency and sample safety. Firstly, braking limitation primarily controls the deceleration rate of the centrifuge when it stops rotating. During high-speed rotation, the centrifuge generates significant centrifugal force due to inertia between the sample and the rotor. Excessive braking can cause remixing of sample components, disrupting the established separation layer, and even damaging the sample or the centrifuge itself due to excessive impact. Therefore, braking limitation settings must consider the type of centrifuge, the nature of the sample, and the desired separation effect. Generally, for blood stratification, a gradual deceleration approach is used to avoid excessively rapid braking. This ensures the separation layer formed during centrifugation is maintained while minimizing impact and vibration caused by excessive braking. After the partition device 2 is installed, it can prevent the first cell 61 from mixing with the second cell 62 again. Therefore, when braking the centrifuge, it can brake at a faster speed, thereby greatly improving the efficiency of blood separation.

[0033] To enable unidirectional passage of the first cell 61 through the channel 23, the partition device 2 includes multiple annular plates 21 and radial plates 22. In two adjacent annular plates 21, one annular plate 21 is fitted over the outside of the other annular plate 21. A gap exists between adjacent annular plates 21, forming the channel 23. A screening mechanism is provided within the channel 23 to allow unidirectional cell passage. The screening mechanism includes an inclined block 24 with an inclined surface 25 that gradually reduces the gap between adjacent annular plates 21 along a first direction. The screening mechanism in the gap ensures that the gap between adjacent annular plates 21 is larger near the test tube opening 11 and smaller near the bottom 12, and that the gap gradually decreases through the inclined surface 25. This allows the first cell 61 to easily enter the larger gap when passing through the channel 23 along the first direction, and then pass through the smaller gap under the pressure of the inclined surface 25, thus enabling the first cell 61 to pass through the partition device 2 along the first direction. When the partition device 2 blocks the first cell 61 from passing through the channel 23 in the opposite direction of the first direction, the gap between the annular plates 21 is smaller on the side near the bottom 12, making it impossible for the first cell 61 to accurately enter the channel 23. Even in the extremely rare case where the first cell 61 accurately aligns with the channel 23, there is no directional pressure to force the first cell 61 into the channel 23. That is, even in the extremely rare case where the first cell 61 accurately aligns with the channel 23, the first cell 61 will be squeezed out of the channel 23 opening by pressure. The partition device 2, formed by the annular plates 21 and the radial plates 22, can reduce the shear force on the first cell 61 when passing through the partition device 2, thereby reducing the damage to the first cell 61 caused by the partition device 2.

[0034] Furthermore, the surfaces of multiple annular plates 21 near the bottom 12 all overlap with the same conical surface. When blocking the first cell 61 from passing through the partition device 2, the side of the partition device 2 near the bottom 12 is set as a smooth conical surface, so that when the partition device 2 blocks the first cell 61 from passing through the channel 23, the first cell 61 can move more smoothly on the conical surface without being blocked by the protruding annular plates 21. If a part of an annular plate 21 does not overlap with the conical surface, then when the first cell 61 slides over the annular plate 21, it will be blocked by the annular plate 21 in the tangential direction, which may squeeze the first cell 61 into the channel 23. Therefore, setting them on the same conical surface can better block the first cell 61 from passing through the channel 23.

[0035] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the inclined surface 25 is part of a conical surface, and the taper of the conical surface where the inclined surface 25 is located does not exceed 2. If the taper of the inclined surface 25 on the inclined block 24 is large, the compressive force on the first cell 61 in the radial direction of the annular plate 21 will be smaller, thus making it impossible for the first cell 61 to effectively pass through the channel 23. Furthermore, the taper of the conical surface where the inclined surface 25 is located is not less than 1. When the taper is too small, the space occupied by the inclined surface 25 in the first direction is large, which will result in a larger thickness of the partition device 2 in the first direction, requiring more separation liquid 5. This not only causes waste but also reduces the amount of blood 6 that can be separated in one test tube, thus reducing the separation efficiency of blood 6.

[0036] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the cell separation test tube also includes a support rod 3. One end of the support rod 3 is fixedly connected to the partition device 2, and the other end of the support rod 3 abuts against the bottom 12 to fix the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12. The partition device 2 can be fixed inside the test tube body 1 by an interference fit, but this fixing method may cause displacement during centrifugation and separation, and it is not easy to accurately set the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12. Therefore, the support rod 3 is provided so that when the partition device 2 is placed inside the test tube body 1, the support rod 3 abuts against the bottom 12 of the test tube. At this time, the length of the support rod 3 is the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12, which makes it easier to determine the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12. Simultaneously, during the centrifugation and separation process, the support rod 3 between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12 supports the partition device 2, preventing the partition device 2 from slipping towards the bottom 12, thereby making the fixation between the partition device 2 and the test tube body 1 more stable.

[0037] Furthermore, the support rod 3 is telescopic. The fixed end of the support rod 3 is fixed to the partition device 2, and the telescopic end of the support rod 3 abuts against the bottom 12 to adjust the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12. When different amounts of blood 6 are centrifuged and separated, the total amount of the first cells 61 will also change. That is, the proportion of the first cells 61 in the blood 6 remains basically unchanged, but the total amount of blood 6 changes, and the total amount of the first cells 61 changes. In order to adapt to the change in the total amount of the first cells 61, the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12 needs to be adjusted. By extending and retracting the telescopic rod, the length of the telescopic rod is changed, so that when the support rod 3 abuts against the bottom 12, the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12 is controlled, thereby improving the adaptability of the cell separation tube and enabling it to adapt to different types and amounts of blood 6.

[0038] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the cell separation test tube further includes a connecting part 4, which is disposed on the side of the partition device 2 near the test tube opening 11. After the second cell 62 is drawn out of the test tube body 1, the partition device 2 needs to be removed from the test tube body 1 before the first cell 61 can be drawn out. To facilitate the removal of the partition device 2, the connecting part 4 is provided. When removing the partition device 2, the connecting part 4 can be fixed by clamping it with a tool, thus making it easier to remove the partition device 2 from the test tube body 1. Specifically, the connecting part 4 can be configured as a hook, so that when removing the partition device 2, a tool can be used to hook the connecting part 4, thereby conveniently pulling out the partition device 2. Alternatively, the connecting part 4 can be configured as a column, so that when removing the partition device 2, a tool can be used to clamp the connecting part 4, thereby pulling out the partition device 2. Furthermore, threads can be provided on the columnar connecting part 4. When removing the partition device 2, a tool can be used to connect the threaded part 4 to the threaded part, making it easier to remove the partition device 2.

[0039] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the cell separation test tube also includes a hook. One end of the hook is disposed on the side of the partition device 2 near the test tube opening 11, and the other end of the hook is attached to the test tube opening 11 to fix the distance between the partition device 2 and the test tube opening 11. The hook attached to the test tube opening 11 acts like a support rod 3, better fixing the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12, thus preventing the partition device 2 from sliding towards the bottom 12 during centrifugation and separation. When removing the partition device 2, it can also be removed by pulling out the hook, similar to the connecting part 4.

[0040] Furthermore, the hook includes a hook portion and a telescopic portion. The hook portion is used for fixed connection with the test tube opening 11, and the telescopic portion is telescopic. One end of the telescopic portion is connected to the partition device 2, and the other end of the telescopic portion is set on the hook portion to adjust the distance between the partition device 2 and the test tube opening 11. By adjusting the length of the telescopic portion, the distance between the partition device 2 and the bottom 12 is controlled, thereby improving the adaptability of the cell separation test tube, making it suitable for different types and volumes of blood 6.

[0041] In the description of this utility model, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this utility model. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Claims

1. A cell separation test tube, characterized in that, Used to contain blood and separation fluid, wherein the blood, after centrifugation and separation, comprises plasma, a first cell with a density greater than that of the separation fluid, and a second cell with a density less than that of the separation fluid; The cell separation test tube includes: A test tube body, the test tube body comprising a bottom and a test tube opening; A partition device is disposed within the test tube body. The partition device has a channel for the cells to pass through unidirectionally in a first direction, which is the direction along the axial direction of the test tube body from the test tube opening to the bottom, so that the cells move from the side of the partition device near the test tube opening to the side of the partition device near the bottom.

2. The cell separation test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The partition device includes multiple annular plates and radial plates. In two adjacent annular plates, one annular plate is fitted over the outside of the other annular plate. There is a gap between adjacent annular plates, and the gap between adjacent annular plates forms the channel. A screening mechanism is provided in the channel to allow the cells to pass through unidirectionally.

3. The cell separation test tube according to claim 2, characterized in that, The screening mechanism includes an inclined block with an inclined surface so that the interval between adjacent annular plates gradually decreases along a first direction.

4. A cell separation test tube according to claim 2, characterized in that, The surfaces of the plurality of annular plates near the bottom all overlap with the same conical surface.

5. A cell separation test tube according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inclined surface is part of a cone, and the taper of the cone on which the inclined surface is located does not exceed 2.

6. A cell separation test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cell separation tube also includes a support rod, one end of which is fixedly connected to the partition device, and the other end of which abuts against the bottom to fix the distance between the partition device and the bottom.

7. A cell separation test tube according to claim 6, characterized in that, The support rod is telescopic, with its fixed end fixed to the partition device and its telescopic end abutting against the bottom to adjust the distance between the partition device and the bottom.

8. A cell separation test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cell separation tube also includes a connecting part, which is disposed on the side of the partition device near the tube opening.

9. A cell separation test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cell separation test tube also includes a hook, one end of which is disposed on the side of the partition device near the test tube opening, and the other end of which is hooked onto the test tube opening to fix the distance between the partition device and the test tube opening.

10. A cell separation test tube according to claim 9, characterized in that, The hook includes a hook and a telescopic part. The hook is used to fix the test tube opening. The telescopic part is telescopic. One end of the telescopic part is connected to the partition device, and the other end of the telescopic part is disposed on the hook to adjust the distance between the partition device and the test tube opening.

Images