Plasmid extracting and blending device

Abstract

The utility model relates to a plasmid extracting and blending device which is provided with a plasmid plate placing station, a steel needle device is arranged on the side of the plasmid plate placing station, and the steel needle device is arranged on a lifting device and a translation device; a plurality of steel needles are uniformly distributed in the width direction of the plasmid plate placing station in the steel needle device; the steel needle is a thin hollow pipe and is vertically arranged downwards, the lower part of the steel needle is an aspiration port, and the upper part of the steel needle is connected with the extraction pump device through a pipeline; and a cleaning tank is arranged near the plasmid plate placing station and is connected with a cleaning liquid barrel. According to the utility model, the steel needle device is connected with the extraction pump device, so that the uniform mixing operation is realized by sucking and spitting a reagent, and the speed of sucking and spitting the reagent by the steel needle can be adjusted, the time of sucking and spitting the reagent by the steel needle can be controlled and the uniform mixing effect of plasmids can be controlled by setting and adjusting an extraction drive, so that the full uniform mixing effect can be ensured; and meanwhile, the driving device is utilized, automatic operation is achieved, and the operation efficiency is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an automated plasmid mixing device in the life sciences field, particularly a multi-channel plasmid mixing device that operates simultaneously, belonging to the field of life science automation equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the life sciences, after plasmids are mixed with other reagents, it is necessary to homogenize the reagents within the plasmid plate to accelerate the reaction. Existing multichannel mixing devices generally use mechanical shaking for mixing. References can be made to a novel plasmid mixer (Chinese Patent Publication No. CN220878591U) and a mixing mechanism for DNA plasmid purification (Chinese Patent Publication No. CN218131423U).

[0003] Mechanical shaking mixing involves shaking the outer container to agitate the solvent inside. If the solvent concentration is high, it will severely affect the mixing effect. Therefore, it is generally not effective for mixing slightly more complex solvents used in the life sciences.

[0004] Therefore, for plasmid mixing in the life sciences, it is necessary to design a device with better mixing effect to meet the needs of automated use, improve the mixing effect, and increase the mixing efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a plasmid extraction and mixing device that changes the principle of plasmid mixing operations. At the same time, it designs an automated mixing operation device to achieve automated operation, which improves both the effect and efficiency of plasmid mixing.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned utility model objectives, this utility model provides a plasmid extraction and mixing device, which includes a plasmid plate placement station and a steel needle device on the side of the plasmid plate placement station. The steel needle device is installed on a lifting device and a translation device.

[0007] Several steel needles are arranged inside the steel needle device along the width of the plasmid plate placement station;

[0008] The steel needle is a thin hollow tube, which is set vertically downward. The lower part of the steel needle is the suction and discharge port, and the upper part of the steel needle is connected to the extraction pump device through a pipeline.

[0009] A cleaning tank is located near the plasmid plate placement station, and the cleaning tank is connected to the cleaning solution tank.

[0010] As a further improvement of this utility model, the plasmid plate placement station is installed on the discharge device;

[0011] The discharge device is a drive device that moves horizontally along the width of the plasmid plate placement station.

[0012] The top of the output slider of the discharge device is equipped with a base support, which is adapted to the bottom of the plasmid plate.

[0013] The base is the placement station for the plasmid plate.

[0014] The discharge device has a positioning sensor along the direction of movement of the drive device.

[0015] As a further improvement of this utility model, the lifting device is a vertically installed driving device, and a steel needle device is installed on the output slider of the driving device.

[0016] The lifting device has a positioning sensor along the lifting direction of the steel needle device.

[0017] Furthermore, the translation device is a horizontally mounted drive device, and a lifting device is mounted on the output slider of the drive device.

[0018] The translation device has a positioning sensor along the horizontal movement direction of the lifting device and the steel needle device.

[0019] Furthermore, the translation device is equipped with one or more horizontal guide devices;

[0020] The horizontal guide device is provided with a horizontal slide rail along the drive device, and a horizontal slider is installed on the horizontal slide rail;

[0021] The horizontal slider is connected to the base plate of the lifting device.

[0022] Furthermore, the driving device is a lead screw drive device, including a nut slider and a lead screw;

[0023] The nut slider is mounted on the lead screw, and the two ends of the lead screw are rotatably mounted on the base of the lead screw drive device;

[0024] One end of the lead screw is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor.

[0025] Furthermore, the positioning sensor includes an indicator panel and a sensor;

[0026] The indicator plate is connected to the output slider; several sensors are provided along the lead screw and are installed on or near the base of the lead screw drive device.

[0027] As a further improvement of this utility model, the surface of the steel needle is coated.

[0028] As a further improvement of this utility model, the main body of the extraction pump device is an automatic injection pump, which is equipped with several independent injection tubes in the chambers. Each steel needle is connected to the outlet of an injection tube through an independent pipe.

[0029] The syringe contains a piston, which is connected to a push rod.

[0030] Several push rods are connected to a push plate at the same time, and the push plate is connected to the extraction drive;

[0031] The extraction drive is a servo screw drive device, which is set along the axial direction of the injection tube.

[0032] As a further improvement of this utility model, the cleaning tank is a flat tank that stores cleaning liquid.

[0033] The cleaning tank is parallel to the width direction of the plasmid plate placement station;

[0034] The cleaning tank is connected to the cleaning solution tank;

[0035] The cleaning tank is equipped with a liquid spraying device.

[0036] This invention relates to a plasmid extraction and mixing device, which connects to an extraction pump via a steel needle device. Each steel needle is independently inserted into the plasmid reagent to be mixed. The mixing operation is achieved by aspirating and expelling the reagent. The rate and duration of reagent aspiration and expulsion can be adjusted by setting and regulating the extraction drive, thereby controlling the plasmid mixing effect to ensure thorough mixing. Furthermore, the drive device enables automated operation, significantly improving work efficiency.

[0037] The plasmid extraction and mixing device of this invention effectively realizes automated plasmid extraction and mixing, and can also adjust the mixing effect to improve quality. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structural effect of the plasmid extraction and mixing device of this utility model.

[0039] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of an eight-channel extraction pump;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the plasmid extraction and mixing device of this utility model.

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the extraction and mixing steel needle;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the plasmid extraction and mixing device of this utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the plasmid extraction and mixing device of this utility model. Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0044] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] The plasmid extraction and mixing device of this invention has the following overall structure: Figure 1 As shown, a plasmid plate 1 is provided, which is a standard multi-cavity plate. The plasmid plate 1 can be replaced according to mixing requirements; the mixed product is removed, and the product to be mixed is placed into the device. The plasmid plate 1 is preferably placed on the discharge device 2, which is a movement device in the X direction. Movement in the negative X direction is feeding, and movement in the positive X direction is discharging. After mixing, the plasmid plate 1 can be automatically output for easy confirmation and removal by the operator. The main structure of this plasmid extraction and mixing device is a steel needle extraction device, which can be further referred to... Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 ,and Figure 6 The device is equipped with a steel needle device 3, which is installed on the YZ cross drive device and includes a lifting device 4 and a translation device 5, which can realize movement in the Z and Y directions; the steel needle device 3 is further connected to the extraction pump device 6; a cleaning tank 7 is provided on the side of the plasmid plate 1, and the cleaning tank 7 is connected to the cleaning liquid tank 8; all devices are installed on the equipment frame 9.

[0046] XYZ coordinates, see [link] Figure 5 , is an inverted coordinate system; X-axis, the direction of movement of plasmid plate 1, with the positive direction being the direction away from the equipment body, i.e. the discharge direction; Y-axis, the horizontal direction of movement of steel needle device 3, with the positive direction being the direction approaching plasmid plate 1; Z-axis, the lifting direction of steel needle device 3, with the positive direction being the direction of descent.

[0047] The plasmid plate 1 has a number of wells 11 evenly distributed on it for inserting reagent tubes. In this embodiment, the plasmid plate 1 has eight wells 11 in each row.

[0048] Discharge device 2 is a moving device in the X direction, such as... Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the device includes a base for matching and holding the plasmid plate 1; the base is connected to a drive plate 22; the drive plate 22 is connected to the output end of the X-axis drive device, so that the drive plate 22 can drive the base, along with the plasmid plate 1, to move in the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, the X-axis drive device is a lead screw drive device, so the drive plate 22 is connected to a drive nut, which is sleeved on the X-axis lead screw 23, and one end of the X-axis lead screw 23 is provided with an X-axis drive motor 24. Further, an X-axis positioning sensor is provided along the X-axis lead screw 23, including an X-axis indicator plate 25 connected to the drive plate 22 and moving in the X-axis direction along with the base, and an X-axis sensor 26 set along the X-axis lead screw 23 and fixed on the equipment frame 9. The X-axis indicator plate 25 and the X-axis sensor 26 cooperate to indicate whether the discharge device 2 has driven the plasmid plate 1 to the discharge position or the feed position.

[0049] Steel needle device 3, such as Figures 3-6 As shown, an outer casing is provided for protection and shielding; inside, a plurality of steel needles 31 are evenly arranged along the X direction. The steel needles 31 are thin hollow tubes and preferably have a Teflon coating, making them resistant to acids and alkalis, thus durable. Simultaneously, Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) has extremely strong hydrophobicity, making it difficult for solvents to adhere and easily removing trace amounts of solvent, avoiding cross-contamination. In this embodiment, eight steel needles 31 are fixed in a row, and the position and number of the steel needles 31 correspond to the position and number of holes 11 in each row of the plasmid plate 1. The eight steel needles 31 are fixed by a clamping plate 32, and the ends of the steel needles 31 are connected to the extraction pump device 6 via pipes.

[0050] The steel needle device 3 is first installed on the lifting device 4.

[0051] The lifting device 4 is a Z-axis drive device, the main body of which is a vertically mounted lead screw drive device; it is equipped with a Z-axis slider 42, and the steel needle device 3 is mounted on the Z-axis slider 42 through the connecting plate 33; the Z-axis slider 42 passes through the Z-axis lead screw 43; one end of the Z-axis lead screw 43 is equipped with a Z-axis drive motor 44.

[0052] A Z-axis positioning sensor is provided along the Z-axis lead screw 43, including a Z-axis indicator plate 45 connected to the Z-axis slider 42 and moving in the Z-axis direction together with the steel needle device 3, and a Z-axis sensor 46 fixed on the base plate of the lifting device 4 along the Z-axis lead screw 43. The Z-axis indicator plate 45 and the Z-axis sensor 46 cooperate to indicate the position of the steel needle device 3 driven by the lifting device 4 along the Z-axis, i.e., the height direction, where the steel needle 31 is inserted into the hole 11 or moves away from the hole 11.

[0053] The lifting device 4, together with the steel needle device 3, is then installed on the translation device 5.

[0054] The translation device 5 is a Y-axis drive device, and the main body is a horizontally installed lead screw drive device; it is provided with a Y-axis nut 52, and the base plate of the lifting device 4 is connected to the Y-axis nut 52; the Y-axis nut 52 is mounted on the Y-axis lead screw 53; one end of the Y-axis lead screw 53 is provided with a Y-axis drive motor 54.

[0055] Because the lifting device 4 is relatively heavy, in order to improve the stability of the movement along the Y-axis, the translation device 5 is also equipped with a horizontal guide device along the Y-axis lead screw 53, that is, a horizontal slide rail 57 parallel to the Y-axis lead screw 53. A horizontal slider 58 is installed on the horizontal slide rail 57. The horizontal slider 58 and the Y-axis nut 52 are installed together on the base plate of the lifting device 4. In this embodiment, there are two horizontal guide devices, in order to repeatedly improve the stability when the lifting device 4 and the steel needle device 3 are driven horizontally.

[0056] Preferably, a Y-axis positioning sensor is provided along the Y-axis lead screw 53, including a Y-axis indicator plate 55 connected to the lifting device 4 and moving together with the lifting device 4 in the Y-axis direction, and a Y-axis sensor 56 fixed on the equipment frame 9 along the Y-axis lead screw 53. The Y-axis indicator plate 55 and the Y-axis sensor 56 cooperate to indicate the position of the translation device 5 driving the lifting device 4 and the steel needle device 3 along the Y-axis, i.e., the horizontal direction. The steel needle 31 is located at the initial position, at the cleaning tank 7, or at the plasmid plate 1, especially indicating the extreme position.

[0057] The X-axis drive motor 24 and the Z-axis drive motor 44 can be servo motors, stepper motors, or ordinary motors, requiring only two or three stops; the Y-axis drive motor 54 is preferably a servo motor, which can drive the steel needle 31 to move precisely along the Y-axis direction of the plasmid plate 1, from one hole 11 to another adjacent hole 11.

[0058] Since the steel needle device 3 is installed on the translation device 5 and the translation distance is relatively long, in order to avoid damage to the pipeline, a flexible drag chain guard plate 35 is also provided along the Y-axis lead screw 53. Its output end 36 is fixed to the base plate of the lifting device 4, so that the pipeline can be properly protected during the operation of the translation device 5.

[0059] Extraction pump device 6, such as Figure 1 As shown, it is installed inside the equipment rack 9; as Figure 2 As shown, the main body of the extraction pump device 6 is an automatic injection pump. Each steel needle 31 is connected to an injection tube 61. A piston 62 is installed inside the injection tube 61, and the piston 62 is connected to a push rod 63. In this embodiment, eight injection tubes 61 are arranged side-by-side, and correspondingly, eight push rods 63 are provided. The eight push rods 63 are simultaneously connected to a push plate 64, which is connected to an extraction drive 65. The extraction drive 65 is preferably a servo screw drive device, arranged along the axial direction of the injection tubes 61. Air is pre-filled inside the injection tubes 61. The extraction drive 65 drives the push rods 63 to move, thereby causing the piston 62 to move inside the injection tubes 61, generating air pressure at the outlet of the injection tubes 61. Figure 2 As shown, when push rod 63 moves upward, piston 62 reduces the air chamber of injection tube 61, causing all eight injection tubes 61 of the extraction pump device 6 to simultaneously expel air, creating a "blowing" effect at the bottom of steel needle 31. Conversely, when push rod 63 moves downward, piston 62 expands the air chamber of injection tube 61, causing all eight injection tubes 61 of the extraction pump device 6 to simultaneously draw in air / negative pressure, creating a "suction" effect at the bottom of steel needle 31. The extraction drive 65 drives push rod 63 in reciprocating motion, resulting in alternating blowing / suction actions at the bottom of steel needle 31.

[0060] The washing tank 7 and the washing liquid tank 8 are provided. The washing tank 7 is preferably a flat tank that stores the washing liquid. The washing tank 7 is parallel to the width direction of the plasmid plate 1 and is located near the plasmid plate 1. The washing tank 7 is connected to the washing liquid tank 8, and clean washing liquid is injected into the washing tank 7 from the washing liquid tank 8.

[0061] In this invention, the plasmid extraction and mixing device is used by loading the reagents requiring mixing into plasmid plate 1 and then starting the device.

[0062] Step 1: Start the discharge device 2; transport the plasmid plate 1 along the X-axis to the feeding position, then stop and lock it stably at that position;

[0063] Step 2: Activate the lifting device 4 and the translation device 5; move the steel needle device 3 directly above the plasmid plate 1, align the steel needle 31 with the hole 11 where mixing is required, and lower the steel needle device 3 using the lifting device 4 to fully insert the steel needle 31 into the reagent.

[0064] Step 3: Start the extraction pump device 6; the steel needle 31 is in the reagent, aspirates and expels the reagent, and blows the plasmid to make the reagent mixed; during this process, the extraction drive 65 can be adjusted to adjust the change speed of the inner chamber of the injection tube 61, thereby adjusting the rate at which the steel needle 31 aspirates and expels the reagent, and also controlling the duration of the steel needle 31 aspirating and expelling the reagent, so as to control the plasmid mixing effect and ensure that the mixing effect is fully achieved.

[0065] Step 4: After mixing, clean the steel needle 31; activate the lifting device 4 and the translation device 5 to raise the steel needle device 3 and move it to the cleaning tank 7, fully inserting the steel needle 31 into the cleaning tank 7 for cleaning; during the process, activate the extraction pump device 6 to draw and expel the cleaning liquid from the steel needle 31, cleaning the inner wall of the steel needle 31; simultaneously, the cleaning tank 7 preferably has a spraying device that can draw up the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank and then spray it out to clean the outer wall of the steel needle 31; set the cleaning time to ensure thorough cleaning;

[0066] After cleaning, raise the steel needle device 3 and move it to the next row of holes 11. Repeat steps 2-4 until all the plasmids in all the holes on the plasmid plate 1 are mixed.

[0067] Step 5: Start the discharge device 2; transport the plasmid plate 1 along the X-axis to the discharge position; allow the operator to remove the plasmid plate 1 that has completed the mixing operation, and then replace it with a new plasmid plate 1 that needs to be mixed, set the operating parameters, start the plasmid extraction and mixing device of this utility model, and perform the mixing operation again.

[0068] The preferred embodiments of this utility model have been described in detail above, but this utility model is not limited to the embodiments described. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this utility model, and these equivalent modifications or substitutions are all included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A plasmid extraction and mixing device, characterized in that, A plasmid plate placement station is provided, and a steel needle device is provided on the side of the plasmid plate placement station. The steel needle device is installed on the lifting device and the translation device. Several steel needles are evenly distributed along the width of the plasmid plate placement station inside the steel needle device. The steel needle is a thin hollow tube, which is set vertically downward. The lower part of the steel needle is the suction and discharge port, and the upper part of the steel needle is connected to the extraction pump device through a pipeline. A cleaning tank is located near the plasmid plate placement station, and the cleaning tank is connected to the cleaning solution tank.

2. The plasmid extraction and mixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plasmid plate placement station is installed on the discharge device; The discharge device is a drive device that moves horizontally along the width of the plasmid plate placement station. The top of the output slider of the discharge device is equipped with a base support, which is adapted to the bottom of the plasmid plate. The base is the placement station for the plasmid plate.

3. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting device is a vertically installed drive device, and a steel needle device is installed on the output slider of the drive device. The lifting device has a positioning sensor along the lifting direction of the steel needle device.

4. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The translation device is a horizontally mounted drive device, and a lifting device is mounted on the output slider of the drive device; The translation device has a positioning sensor along the horizontal movement direction of the lifting device and the steel needle device.

5. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The translation device is equipped with one or more horizontal guide devices; The horizontal guide device is provided with a horizontal slide rail along the drive device, and a horizontal slider is installed on the horizontal slide rail; The horizontal slider is connected to the base plate of the lifting device.

6. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The drive device is a lead screw drive device, including a nut slider and a lead screw; The nut slider is mounted on the lead screw, and the two ends of the lead screw are rotatably mounted on the base of the lead screw drive device; One end of the lead screw is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor.

7. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The positioning sensor includes an indicator plate and a sensor; The indicator plate is connected to the output slider; several sensors are provided along the lead screw and are installed on or near the base of the lead screw drive device.

8. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the steel needle is coated.

9. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in claim 1 or 8, characterized in that, The main body of the extraction pump device is an automatic injection pump, which has several independent injection chambers. Each steel needle is connected to the outlet of an injection tube through an independent pipe. The syringe contains a piston, which is connected to a push rod. Several push rods are connected to a push plate at the same time, and the push plate is connected to the extraction drive; The extraction drive is a servo screw drive device, which is set along the axial direction of the injection tube.

10. The plasmid extraction and mixing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning tank is a flat tank that contains cleaning solution; The cleaning tank is parallel to the width direction of the plasmid plate placement station; The cleaning tank is connected to the cleaning solution tank; The cleaning tank is equipped with a liquid spraying device.

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