Backflow mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological sample
By combining a reflux cap and a porous metal heating plate, the safety hazards and solvent evaporation problems in the traditional high-temperature pretreatment of micro-biological samples are solved, and the solvent condensation and reflux and automatic pressure relief are realized, which improves the stability and efficiency of high-temperature reactions.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THE FIRST AFFILIATED HOSPITAL OF JINZHOU MEDICAL UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
Traditional high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples poses safety risks and solvent evaporation losses, affecting reaction efficiency and the accuracy of detection results.
The design employs a combination of a reflux cap and a porous metal heating plate. By using the glass reflux cap in conjunction with the test tube, the volatile gas is condensed and refluxed due to the temperature difference, thus achieving automatic pressure relief and preventing pressure buildup and solvent loss.
It effectively avoids the loss of trace amounts of solvent, ensures a constant volume of reaction solvent, improves the stability and efficiency of high-temperature reactions, and is suitable for processing multiple samples simultaneously.
Smart Images

Figure CN224231416U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of biological sample pretreatment, specifically a reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples. Background Technology
[0002] Biological samples play a crucial role in medical research, aiding in the understanding of life processes, disease mechanisms, and drug development. Common biological samples include blood, tissue sections, urine, and feces. Due to their high complexity, biological samples possess a rich and diverse array of chemical components, which intertwine to form a complex chemical system. Furthermore, samples contain numerous interfering substances of varying types and properties. These substances can interfere with the detection of target compounds, reduce sensitivity, and even damage instrument components. Therefore, pretreatment is typically necessary to remove impurities, concentrate target compounds, and adjust sample properties. This improves detection sensitivity, protects equipment, optimizes separation, and ensures the accuracy and reliability of analytical results.
[0003] With the development of analytical techniques, trace amounts of biological samples are often sufficient to meet analytical requirements. In traditional high-temperature pretreatment processes (such as derivatization reactions, hydrolysis reactions, etc.), researchers usually use stoppers to seal reaction containers (such as glass test tubes or reaction flasks) to prevent solvent evaporation under high-temperature conditions. However, this method has significant safety hazards: when the reaction system is heated, solvent vaporization can cause a sharp increase in pressure inside the sealed container, which can easily lead to stopper ejection or container rupture. Conversely, if non-sealing is used, trace amounts of solvent will evaporate and be lost rapidly under high-temperature conditions close to or exceeding the solvent's boiling point. This will not only change the concentration and composition of the reaction system, but may even seriously affect the conversion efficiency of the target analyte and the final detection results. Utility Model Content
[0004] To solve the above problems, namely the problems mentioned in the background art, this utility model proposes a reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of micro biological samples, which includes several reflux caps, several test tubes and a heater. The heater is composed of a shell and a heating plate. The heating plate is provided with a set of evenly arranged heating holes. The heating plate is a porous metal heating plate.
[0005] Each test tube is inserted into the corresponding heating hole, and the outer diameter of each test tube matches the inner diameter of the corresponding heating hole;
[0006] Each of the reflux caps is placed on the top of the corresponding test tube.
[0007] A further feature of this invention is that each of the reflux caps and the test tubes is made of glass.
[0008] A further feature of this invention is that the difference between the inner diameter of each reflux cap and the outer diameter of each test tube is less than 1 mm.
[0009] A further feature of this invention is that the height of each reflux cap is between 1 / 5 and 1 / 3 of the height of each test tube.
[0010] A further feature of this invention is that the depth of each heating hole is less than 1 / 3 of the height of the test tube.
[0011] A further feature of this invention is that the heating hole of the heater is in close contact with the test tube wall for heating.
[0012] A further feature of this invention is that the heater is a metal heater with an oscillation function (for example, when carrying out a fatty acid hydrolysis reaction, after the solvent is poured into the test tube 2, the reflux cap 1 is covered, and the tube is inserted into the metal heating hole that has been heated to a predetermined temperature of 90°C, it is necessary to oscillate at 1500 rpm to promote the reaction).
[0013] A further feature of this invention is that, in this application, the upper limit of the high-temperature condition depends on the heater model, and the heating temperature is set according to the temperature required for the solvent test. Taking into account the temperature difference between the target heating temperature and the boiling point of the solvent, generally, the larger the temperature difference, the longer the heating time, and the smaller the temperature difference, the shorter the heating time.
[0014] A further feature of this invention is that the test tubes are suitable for high-temperature hydrolysis reactions of organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, and ethyl acetate in volumes of 200 μL to 2000 μL at temperatures of 60°C to 100°C for 10 min to 120 min (Note: Not all organic solvents can react under all conditions; for example, methanol can only react for 10 min at 100°C, not 30 min).
[0015] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are as follows: This invention replaces the traditional stopper with a glass reflux cap. By limiting the relative dimensions between the reflux cap, the test tube, and the heating hole, a temperature difference exists between the bottom and top of the test tube during the reaction. When the solvent evaporates upwards due to heating, the evaporating gas condenses as it rises and flows back into the test tube along the inner wall under the obstruction of the reflux cap, effectively avoiding the loss of trace amounts of solvent. When the pressure inside the test tube increases, the gas will push up the reflux cap, causing a slight float, achieving automatic pressure relief and preventing the risk of tube bursting due to pressure accumulation. This device is suitable for high-temperature reactions of trace samples and can process multiple samples simultaneously. It is suitable for high-temperature reactions of different organic solvents at temperatures close to or above their boiling points, ensuring a constant volume of reaction solvent during long-term high-temperature reactions, effectively improving the high-temperature reaction effect between the solvent and the biological sample. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 The diagram shows a front view illustrating the operation of the high-temperature hydrolysis reaction apparatus of this invention.
[0017] Figure 2 A top view illustrating the operation of the high-temperature hydrolysis reaction apparatus of this invention is shown.
[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the reaction components of this invention is shown.
[0019] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Reflux cap, 2. Test tube, 3. Heating hole, 4. Heating plate, 5. Shell. Detailed Implementation
[0020] The following is a reference to the appendix. Figures 1-3 The preferred embodiments of this utility model are described below. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely for explaining the technical principles of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model.
[0021] This invention proposes a reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of micro-volume biological samples. When using this device, for example, in a fat alkaline hydrolysis reaction, first place the heater in a fume hood (if the heater is equipped with a movable cover, open the cover and place it in the fume hood so that the test tube reacts inside the fume hood, facilitating ventilation of the test tube during subsequent experiments). Select a 10*75mm test tube 2, and sequentially add 5 μL of plasma, 50 μL of internal standard solution, and 600 μL of 0.5 mol / L potassium hydroxide ethanol solution to test tube 2, for a total reaction solvent of 65 μL. Add 5 μL of solvent, cover with a 12*20mm reflux cap 1, and insert the test tube 2 containing the solvent into the heating hole 3, which has been heated to the predetermined temperature of 90°C. When the solvent temperature exceeds the boiling point of ethanol (78.4°C), bubbles will rise to the surface of the solution, and the ethanol solvent will begin to boil, converting into a gaseous state. The gas rises, and due to the limited relative dimensions between the reflux cap 1, test tube 2, and heating hole 3, there is a certain distance between the heating hole 3 and the reflux cap 1 (the temperature is lower at the top of the test tube 2). The volatile gas condenses as it rises due to the decrease in temperature inside the test tube 2, and most of it... The gas condenses into a liquid and, under the obstruction of the reflux cap 1, flows back into test tube 2 along the inner wall. A small portion of the gas pushes the reflux cap 1 upwards, causing it to float slightly up and down. This automatic pressure relief prevents the risk of tube bursting due to pressure buildup, thus ensuring a constant volume of reaction solvent for a long time during high-temperature heating of trace biological samples in the solvent, resulting in a stable and reliable high-temperature environment. During this process, a small number of bubbles will be generated at the contact point between the mouth of test tube 2 and the top of the reflux cap 1. If the fume hood is controlled to increase the ambient temperature of the reaction apparatus... The high wind speed promotes timely replacement of external air in test tube 2, which can increase the reflux effect of solvent. After 20 minutes of high-temperature hydrolysis, test tube 2 and reflux cap 1 are transferred together to a place without heat source. After the whole thing cools down to room temperature, remove reflux cap 1 and continue with subsequent processing steps. This device is suitable for high-temperature reactions of trace samples and can process multiple samples at the same time. It is suitable for high-temperature reactions of different organic solvents at temperatures close to or above their boiling points, ensuring that the sample has a constant volume of reaction solvent during long-term high-temperature reactions, effectively improving the high-temperature reaction effect between solvent and biological sample.
[0022] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made to it and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner as long as there is no structural conflict. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.
[0023] In the description of this utility model, terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," which indicate direction or positional relationships, are based on the direction or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are used merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element 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. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0024] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0025] The term "comprising" or any other similar term is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, article, or apparatus / device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to those processes, articles, or apparatus / devices.
[0026] The technical solution of this utility model has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the protection scope of this utility model is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of this utility model, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples, comprising a plurality of reflux caps (1), a plurality of test tubes (2), and a heater, characterized in that: The heater is composed of a housing (5) and a heating plate (4). The heating plate (4) is provided with a set of evenly arranged heating holes (3). The heating plate (4) is a porous metal heating plate. Each test tube (2) is inserted into the corresponding heating hole (3), and the outer diameter of each test tube (2) matches the inner diameter of the corresponding heating hole (3); Each of the reflux caps (1) is placed on the top of the corresponding test tube (2).
2. The reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the reflux caps (1) and the test tubes (2) is made of glass.
3. The reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: The difference between the inner diameter of each of the reflux caps (1) and the outer diameter of each of the test tubes (2) is <1 mm.
4. The reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height of each of the reflux caps (1) is between 1 / 5 and 1 / 3 of the height of each of the test tubes (2).
5. The reflux mechanism for high-temperature pretreatment of trace biological samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: The depth of each heating hole (3) is less than 1 / 3 of the height of the test tube (2).