Flow cytometry sample processing system
By integrating centrifugation into the flow cytometry sample processing system, the entire process of sample processing in the field of flow cytometry analysis has been automated, solving the problems of low processing efficiency and high risk of contamination, and improving cell viability and detection accuracy.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI LECHEN BIOLOGICAL SCI & TECH
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
Smart Images
Figure CN224327968U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of automated biological sample processing technology, specifically to a flow cytometry sample processing system with integrated centrifugation function. Background Technology
[0002] Current sample processing systems in flow cytometry analysis generally employ a separate design architecture for processing units and centrifugation equipment, a discrete approach with significant technical drawbacks. Due to the lack of integrated design between systems, samples must be transported to individual centrifuges manually or mechanically after pretreatment. This not only leads to low processing efficiency but also increases the risk of sample contamination due to multiple transfer operations. Furthermore, the temperature control systems of the discrete systems are difficult to coordinate, resulting in temperature fluctuations during sample transport that directly affect cell viability and detection accuracy. While existing technologies have attempted to alleviate these problems by improving transfer devices or optimizing centrifuge tube structures, none have achieved truly fully automated processing. Utility Model Content
[0003] This application provides a flow cytometry sample processing system that solves the technical problem of low processing efficiency caused by the lack of centrifugation equipment in current cell culture sample processing systems.
[0004] This application provides a flow cytometry sample processing system, which includes a machine base, a flow cytometry tube block placement structure, a transfer robotic arm, a shaking module, and a centrifuge. The flow cytometry tube block placement structure is disposed on the upper surface of the machine base. The transfer robotic arm is movably mounted on the machine base, and its movement trajectory covers the working areas of the flow cytometry tube block placement structure, the shaking module, and the centrifuge. The transfer robotic arm is equipped with grippers. The upper surface of the flow cytometry tube block placement structure has multiple placement areas, each containing a flow cytometry tube block. The flow cytometry tube block has multiple slots for placing flow cytometry tubes and multiple clamping holes for extending into the grippers. The centrifuge has at least one groove, and the top surface of the shaking module has a fixing groove. The groove and the fixing groove are used to place the flow cytometry tube block.
[0005] Furthermore, the centrifuge includes a rotary motor, an outer casing, and a rotating tray. The rotary motor is fixed to the bottom of the outer casing, and the rotating tray is rotatably disposed within the outer casing. The rotating tray has evenly arranged grooves. The outer casing is fixed to the lower surface of the machine platform, and the machine platform has a placement opening corresponding to the grooves. The transfer robotic arm has grippers that grip the flow tube block and place it into the groove through the placement opening.
[0006] Furthermore, the flow meter block is provided with a central column, and the clamping hole is provided corresponding to the outer side of the central column. The clamping claw includes a plurality of clamping rods, which extend into the clamping hole to clamp the outer side of the central column to transfer the flow meter block.
[0007] Furthermore, the rotating pallet is straight, the middle part of the rotating pallet is connected to the shaft of the rotating motor, and each end of the rotating pallet is provided with a groove.
[0008] Furthermore, the lower surface of the flow tube block placement structure is provided with a first cooling pipe and a first heating plate, and the lower surface of the flow tube block placement structure is provided with a first flow guide groove, which is sealed by the first heating plate to form the first cooling pipe.
[0009] Furthermore, the flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a oscillation module, which includes a drive motor, a deflector wheel, a sliding support, and an oscillation tray. The drive motor shaft is connected to the deflector wheel, the deflector wheel is connected to the oscillation tray, the bottom surface of the oscillation tray is connected to the sliding support, and the top surface of the oscillation tray is provided with the fixing groove.
[0010] Furthermore, the flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a blood collection tube cap holder, a pipette tip holder, a waste pipette tip holder, a reagent bottle holder, a barcode scanning module, a blood collection tube sample rack, a reagent block holder, and a labeling module, all located on the upper surface of the instrument.
[0011] Furthermore, the flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a transverse support, a pipetting robotic arm, and a suction pump. The transverse support is mounted on the instrument, and the pipetting robotic arm and the transfer robotic arm are movably mounted on the transverse support. The suction pump is connected to the pipetting robotic arm, and the movement trajectory of the pipetting robotic arm covers the blood collection tube cap holder, the pipette tip holder, the waste pipette tip holder, the reagent bottle holder, and the blood collection tube sample rack.
[0012] Furthermore, the reagent block placement structure is arranged adjacent to the flow meter block placement structure. The upper surface of the reagent block placement structure is provided with multiple reagent block placement areas, and the lower surface of the reagent block placement structure is provided with a second cooling pipeline and a second heating plate. The lower surface of the reagent block placement structure is provided with a second flow guide groove, and the second flow guide groove is sealed by the second heating plate to form the second cooling pipeline.
[0013] Furthermore, the flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a needle cleaning box and a peristaltic pump. The needle cleaning box is located on the upper surface of the instrument. The transfer robotic arm is also equipped with a needle, which is connected to the peristaltic pump. The needle cleaning box is used to clean the needle.
[0014] The flow cytometry sample processing system provided in this application embodiment, by setting up a flow cytometry tube block placement structure, a transfer robotic arm, a shaking module, and a centrifuge, places flow cytometry tube blocks on the flow cytometry tube block placement structure, and places flow cytometry tubes on the flow cytometry tube blocks. The transfer robotic arm, equipped with grippers, can transfer the flow cytometry tube blocks with clamping holes as a whole to the shaking module and centrifuge, truly realizing fully automated processing and improving the efficiency of sample centrifugation. Attached Figure Description
[0015] The technical solution and other beneficial effects of this application will become apparent from the following detailed description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0016] Figure 1 This is a front structural diagram of the rotating mixing antibody bottle mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0017] Figure 2 A top view of the machine tool structure of the rotating mixing antibody bottle mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application;
[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the rotating mixing antibody bottle mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application from the rear view.
[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a centrifuge provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flow meter block provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the transfer robotic arm provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the transfer robotic arm clamping the flow tube block provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the transfer robotic arm clamping the flow tube provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0024] Figure 9 This is a top view of the flow meter block placement structure and reagent block placement structure provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0025] Figure 10A bottom view of the flow meter block placement structure and reagent block placement structure provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0026] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom surface structure of the flow meter block placement structure and the reagent block placement structure provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0027] Figure 12 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the oscillation module provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the oscillation module provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0029] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pipetting robot provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0030] The markings in the diagram are as follows:
[0031] Machine base 1, placement opening 101, cover plate 102, flow meter block placement structure 2, placement area 21, first guide channel 22, first heating plate 23, transfer robotic arm 3, gripper 31, clamping rod 311, suction needle 32, centrifuge 4, rotary motor 41, outer shell 42, rotating tray 43, groove 44, flow meter block 5, slot 51, clamping hole 52, central column 53, oscillation module 6, drive motor 61, deflection wheel 62, sliding bracket 63, oscillation tray 6 4. Fixing slot 641, blood collection tube cap holder 7, pipette tip holder 8, waste pipette tip holder 9, reagent bottle holder 10, barcode scanning module 11, blood collection tube sample holder 12, reagent block holder 13, reagent block holder area 131, second flow guide trough 132, second heating plate 133, labeling module 14, horizontal movement support 15, pipetting robotic arm 16, dispensing needle 161, pipetting pump 162, peristaltic pump 17, aspiration needle cleaning box 18, ceramic pump 19. Detailed Implementation
[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0033] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" 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, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0034] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0035] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 9 As shown in the figure, this application provides a flow cytometry sample processing system, which includes a machine base 1, a flow cytometry tube block placement structure 2, a transfer robotic arm 3, a shaking module 6, and a centrifuge 4. The flow cytometry tube block placement structure 2 is disposed on the upper surface of the machine base 1. The transfer robotic arm 3 is movably mounted on the machine base 1. The movement trajectory of the transfer robotic arm 3 covers the working areas of the flow cytometry tube block placement structure 2, the shaking module 6, and the centrifuge 4. The transfer robotic arm 3 is provided with grippers 31. The upper surface of the flow cytometry tube block placement structure 2 is provided with multiple placement areas 21. Each placement area 21 holds a flow cytometry tube block 5. The flow cytometry tube block 5 is provided with multiple slots 51 for placing flow cytometry tubes and multiple clamping holes 52 for extending into the grippers 31. The centrifuge 4 is provided with at least one groove 44. The top surface of the shaking module 6 is provided with a fixing groove 641. The groove 44 and the fixing groove 641 are used to place the flow cytometry tube block 5.
[0036] This application sets up a flow meter block placement structure 2, a transfer robotic arm 3, a vibration module 6, and a centrifuge 4. Flow meter blocks 5 are placed on the flow meter block placement structure 2, and flow meter tubes are placed on the flow meter blocks 5. The transfer robotic arm 3, which is equipped with grippers 31, can transfer the flow meter blocks 5, which are equipped with clamping holes 52, as a whole to the vibration module 6 and the centrifuge 4, thereby truly realizing fully automated processing and improving the efficiency of sample centrifugation.
[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, the centrifuge 4 includes a rotary motor 41, a housing 42, and a rotating tray 43. The rotary motor 41 is fixed to the bottom of the housing 42. The rotating tray 43 is rotatably disposed inside the housing 42. The rotating tray 43 has evenly arranged grooves 44. The grooves 44 are used to place the flow tube block 5. The housing 42 is fixed to the lower surface of the machine base 1. The machine base 1 has a placement opening 101. The placement opening 101 is set corresponding to the grooves 44. The gripper 31 grips the flow tube block 5 and passes it through the placement opening 101 to place it in the groove 44.
[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, preferably, the machine platform 1 is also provided with a cover plate 102 at the placement opening 101 position, and the cover plate 102 is used to block the placement opening 101 when the centrifuge 4 is working.
[0039] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the flow tube block 5 is provided with a central column 53, and the clamping hole 52 is provided corresponding to the outer side of the central column 53. The gripper 31 includes a plurality of clamping rods 311. When the clamping rods 311 are inserted into the clamping hole 52, they also clamp the outer side of the central column 53 to transfer the flow tube block 5.
[0040] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, preferably, the gripper 31 includes four clamping rods 311, which are also used to clamp and place blood collection tubes located in the slot 51.
[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, the rotating pallet 43 is linear, with its center connected to the shaft of the rotary motor 41. A groove 44 is provided at each end of the rotating pallet 43. This arrangement balances the weight on the rotating pallet 43, preventing vibration during centrifugal processing.
[0042] like Figure 10 , Figure 11As shown, the lower surface of the flow meter block placement structure 2 is provided with a first cooling pipe and a first heating plate 23, and the lower surface of the flow meter block placement structure 2 is provided with a first guide groove 22. The first guide groove 22 is sealed by the first heating plate 23 to form the first cooling pipe. The first cooling pipe and the first heating plate 23 can quickly adjust the temperature of the flow meter block placement structure 2 to adapt to the placement temperature of the blood collection tube.
[0043] like Figure 12 , Figure 13 As shown, the flow cytometry sample processing system further includes a shaking module 6. The shaking module 6 includes a drive motor 61, a deflector wheel 62, a sliding support 63, and a shaking tray 64. The shaft of the drive motor 61 is connected to the deflector wheel 62, and the deflector wheel 62 is connected to the shaking tray 64. The bottom surface of the shaking tray 64 is connected to the sliding support 63, and the top surface of the shaking tray 64 is provided with the fixing groove 641. The shaking module 6 can shake the centrifuged flow cytometer tubes to separate the samples.
[0044] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a blood collection tube cap holder 7, a pipette tip holder 8, a waste pipette tip holder 9, a reagent bottle holder 10, a barcode scanning module 11, a blood collection tube sample rack 12, a reagent block holder 13, and a labeling module 14, all located on the upper surface of the instrument 1.
[0045] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the flow cytometry sample processing system further includes a transverse support 15, a pipetting robotic arm 16, and a suction pump. The transverse support 15 is mounted on the instrument 1. The pipetting robotic arm 16 and the transfer robotic arm 3 are movably mounted on the transverse support 15. The suction pump is connected to the pipetting robotic arm 16. The movement trajectory of the pipetting robotic arm 16 covers the blood collection tube cap holder 7, the pipette tip holder 8, the waste pipette tip holder 9, the reagent bottle holder 10, and the blood collection tube sample rack 12. Preferably, the suction pump is mounted on the transverse support 15.
[0046] like Figure 9 , Figure 10 , Figure 11As shown, the reagent block placement structure 13 is arranged adjacent to the flow meter block placement structure 2. The upper surface of the reagent block placement structure 13 has multiple reagent block placement areas 131, and the lower surface of the reagent block placement structure 13 has a second cooling conduit and a second heating plate 133. The lower surface of the reagent block placement structure 13 also has a second flow guide groove 132, which is sealed by the second heating plate 133 to form the second cooling conduit. The second cooling conduit and the second heating plate 133 can quickly adjust the temperature of the reagent block placement structure 13 to adapt to the reagent block placement temperature.
[0047] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a needle cleaning box 18 and a peristaltic pump 17. The needle cleaning box 18 is located on the upper surface of the machine platform 1. The transfer robotic arm 3 is also equipped with a needle 32, which is connected to the peristaltic pump 17. The needle cleaning box 18 is used to clean the needle 32.
[0048] Preferably, the peristaltic pump 17 is mounted on the transverse support 15, and the number of aspiration needles 32 is set according to the number of slots 51 provided on the flow tube block 5. The number of peristaltic pumps 17 is set according to the number of aspiration needles 32, so that a row of flow tubes can be aspirated at one time.
[0049] like Figure 14 As shown, the pipetting robotic arm 16 is equipped with a dispensing needle 161 and a pipetting pump 162, and the transverse support 15 is equipped with a ceramic pump 19. The dispensing needle 161 and the ceramic pump 19 are connected. Preferably, three dispensing needles 161 and three ceramic pumps 19 are provided.
[0050] The flow cytometry sample processing system provided in this application embodiment, by setting up a flow cytometry tube block placement structure 2, a transfer robotic arm 3, and a centrifuge 4, a flow cytometry tube block 5 is placed on the flow cytometry tube block placement structure 2, and a flow cytometry tube is placed on the flow cytometry tube block 5. The transfer robotic arm 3, which is equipped with grippers 31, can transfer the flow cytometry tube block 5, which is equipped with clamping holes 52, as a whole to the shaking module 6 and the centrifuge 4, truly realizing fully automated processing and improving the efficiency of sample centrifugation.
[0051] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.
[0052] The above provides a detailed description of a flow cytometry sample processing system provided in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the technical solutions and core ideas of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. A flow cytometry sample processing system, characterized in that, The flow cytometry sample processing system includes a machine base, a flow cytometry tube block placement structure, a transfer robotic arm, a shaking module, and a centrifuge. The flow cytometry tube block placement structure is located on the upper surface of the machine base. The transfer robotic arm is movably mounted on the machine base, and its movement trajectory covers the working areas of the flow cytometry tube block placement structure, the shaking module, and the centrifuge. The transfer robotic arm is equipped with grippers. The upper surface of the flow cytometry tube block placement structure has multiple placement areas, each containing one flow cytometry tube block. The flow cytometry tube block has multiple slots for placing flow cytometry tubes and multiple clamping holes for extending into the grippers. The centrifuge has at least one groove, and the top surface of the shaking module has a fixing groove. The groove and the fixing groove are used to place the flow cytometry tube block.
2. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The centrifuge includes a rotary motor, an outer casing, and a rotating tray. The rotary motor is fixed to the bottom of the outer casing, and the rotating tray is rotatably disposed within the outer casing. The rotating tray has evenly arranged grooves. The outer casing is fixed to the lower surface of the machine platform, and the machine platform has a placement opening that corresponds to the grooves. The grippers pick up the flow tube block and place it into the groove through the placement opening.
3. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flow meter block is provided with a central column, and the clamping hole is provided corresponding to the outer side of the central column. The clamping claw includes a plurality of clamping rods, which extend into the clamping hole to clamp the outer side of the central column to transfer the flow meter block.
4. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The rotating pallet is straight, and its middle part is connected to the shaft of the rotating motor. Each end of the rotating pallet is provided with a groove.
5. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lower surface of the flow tube block placement structure is provided with a first cooling pipe and a first heating plate. The lower surface of the flow tube block placement structure is provided with a first flow guide groove, which is sealed by the first heating plate to form the first cooling pipe.
6. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The oscillation module includes a drive motor, a deflector wheel, a sliding bracket, and an oscillation tray. The drive motor's shaft is connected to the deflector wheel, the deflector wheel is connected to the oscillation tray, the bottom surface of the oscillation tray is connected to the sliding bracket, and the top surface of the oscillation tray is provided with the fixing groove.
7. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a blood collection tube cap holder, a pipette tip holder, a waste pipette tip holder, a reagent bottle holder, a barcode scanning module, a blood collection tube sample rack, a reagent block holder, and a labeling module, all located on the upper surface of the instrument.
8. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The flow cytometry sample processing system further includes a transverse support, a pipetting robotic arm, and a suction pump. The transverse support is mounted on the instrument, and the pipetting robotic arm and the transfer robotic arm are movably mounted on the transverse support. The suction pump is connected to the pipetting robotic arm, and the movement trajectory of the pipetting robotic arm covers the blood collection tube cap holder, the pipette tip holder, the waste pipette tip holder, the reagent bottle holder, and the blood collection tube sample rack.
9. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The reagent block placement structure is arranged adjacent to the flow tube block placement structure. The upper surface of the reagent block placement structure is provided with multiple reagent block placement areas. The lower surface of the reagent block placement structure is provided with a second cooling pipeline and a second heating plate. The lower surface of the reagent block placement structure is provided with a second flow guide groove. The second flow guide groove is sealed by the second heating plate to form the second cooling pipeline.
10. The flow cytometry sample processing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flow cytometry sample processing system also includes a needle cleaning box and a peristaltic pump. The needle cleaning box is located on the upper surface of the instrument. The transfer robotic arm is also equipped with a needle, which is connected to the peristaltic pump. The needle cleaning box is used to clean the needle.