A special sampler for gradient density liquids
By designing a special sampler for gradient density liquids, the problems of high difficulty and low efficiency in sample addition of gradient density centrifugal separation liquids have been solved, simplifying the operation and improving the stratification effect. It is suitable for centrifuge tubes of different sizes.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUILIN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-17
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the addition of samples to gradient density centrifugation solutions is difficult, which can easily lead to mixing or unclear stratification of the solutions, and the addition efficiency is low.
Design a gradient density liquid sampler, including a fixing component and a sample tube. The fixing component is installed at the centrifuge tube opening, and the sample tube is directly inserted into the centrifuge tube. The low-density separation liquid is first added to the bottom of the sample tube, and the high-density separation liquid is gradually added to the bottom of the sample tube, reducing disturbance to the already added liquid and simplifying the operation process.
It reduces disturbance during sample addition, improves the stratification effect and sample addition efficiency of the separated liquid, simplifies the operation steps, and is suitable for centrifuge tubes of different sizes.
Smart Images
Figure CN224507144U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to a sample dispensing device, and more particularly to a special sample dispensing device for gradient density liquids. Background Technology
[0002] Gradient density centrifugation purification technology has wide applications in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, medical research, and industrial production. It is a technique that separates and purifies components in a sample based on differences in sedimentation velocity or buoyancy density in a centrifugal force field. During operation, a gradient density separation solution is typically added to the centrifuge tube first. In existing techniques, different density separation solutions are usually added manually using a pipette, sequentially from highest to lowest density, so that the high-density solution is at the bottom and the low-density solution at the top, forming a clear stratification after sample addition. This process is difficult and requires extreme care. During manual operation, if the separation solution falls from the top of the centrifuge tube into the middle, it can easily cause fluctuations in the already added solution, leading to mixing of different densities and resulting in unclear stratification, or changes in density and volume of each layer.
[0003] In existing techniques, some researchers use extended syringes for sample addition. During this process, the syringe needle is inserted to the bottom of the centrifuge tube. First, the low-density separating solution, which should be on top, is added through the syringe. Then, the syringe is withdrawn, drawing in the high-density separating solution, and the needle is reinserted to the bottom of the centrifuge tube to inject the high-density separating solution. However, if the needle is not carefully controlled during manual syringe operation, it can agitate the added separating solution. Furthermore, the repeated manual withdrawal and insertion of the needle causes continuous disturbance to the added separating solution, potentially slightly disrupting the layering. Additionally, the syringe requires very careful control during sample addition, resulting in a longer operation time and lower sample addition efficiency. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems mentioned in the background art above, and provides a special sampler for gradient density liquids, which can reduce the disturbance to the added separation liquid during the sample addition process, improve the stratification effect of the gradient density separation liquid, and is simple to operate, thereby improving the sample addition efficiency.
[0005] This utility model discloses a gradient density liquid sampler, comprising a fixing component and a sample dispensing tube. The fixing component is used to install at the opening of a centrifuge tube. One end of the sample dispensing tube is connected to the fixing component, and the free end of the sample dispensing tube is used to insert into the centrifuge tube. A sample dispensing channel is formed inside the sample dispensing tube, and the sample dispensing channel passes through the opposite ends of the sample dispensing tube.
[0006] Furthermore, the fixing component is provided with a sample loading port, and the sample addition channel is connected to the sample loading port.
[0007] Furthermore, the fixing member includes a cap and a plug-in protrusion, the plug-in protrusion being provided on the end face of the cap facing the sample dispensing tube; the sample inlet passing through the cap and the plug-in protrusion; one end of the sample dispensing tube being fixedly connected to the end of the plug-in protrusion away from the cap.
[0008] Furthermore, the cap includes an end plate and a peripheral wall vertically connected to the periphery of the end plate, the insertion protrusion protrudes from the end plate, and both the insertion protrusion and the peripheral wall are located on the side of the end plate facing the sample tube; the sample inlet passes through the end plate.
[0009] Furthermore, the end plate is a circular plate, and the insertion protrusion is cylindrical.
[0010] Furthermore, the sample loading channel includes a fixing hole and an infusion channel. The fixing hole connects the sample loading port and the infusion channel, and the cross-sectional area of the fixing hole gradually increases in the direction away from the infusion channel.
[0011] Furthermore, the sample dispensing tube includes a fixing part and a main tube connected coaxially in sequence. The end of the fixing part away from the main tube is connected to the insertion protrusion. The fixing part surrounds to form the fixing hole, and the main tube surrounds to form the infusion channel.
[0012] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the main tube of the sample dispensing tube is no greater than 0.40 cm.
[0013] Furthermore, the maximum inner diameter of the fixing hole is 0.3-0.6 cm; the outer diameter of the insertion protrusion is 0.6-1.4 cm; the diameter of the space formed by the surrounding wall is 3.15-3.3 cm; and the total length of the gradient density liquid sampler is 11-11.3 cm.
[0014] Furthermore, the maximum outer diameter of the sample dispensing tube is smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion protrusion.
[0015] In summary, this utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0016] In use, the gradient density liquid sampler of this invention involves inserting the free end of the sample tube into the centrifuge tube. The sampler is then installed at the opening of the centrifuge tube using a fixing device. During sample addition, the low-density separating solution is added first, followed by the gradually increasing density separating solution. The separating solution is injected from the top of the sample tube using a pipette or similar device, flowing along the tube to the bottom of the centrifuge tube. After all the separating solution has been injected, the sampler is slowly withdrawn from the centrifuge tube. Because the separating solution is directly introduced to the bottom of the centrifuge tube through the sample tube, disturbance to the added liquid is reduced compared to the method where the separating solution falls from the top of the centrifuge tube. Furthermore, because the gradient density liquid sampler is fixed to the centrifuge tube opening via a fixing component, the sample tube will not move relative to the centrifuge tube during the sample addition process. This prevents accidental shaking of the sample tube from disturbing the separated liquids, eliminating the need for manual control during sample addition. The sampler only requires adding the different densities of the separated liquids sequentially to the sample tube, simplifying operation and improving efficiency. Additionally, this gradient density liquid sampler only needs to be removed from the centrifuge tube after sample addition, eliminating the need for repeated removal and insertion, further reducing disturbance to the added separated liquids and improving the stratification effect of the gradient density separated liquids. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a gradient density liquid sampler according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the gradient density liquid sampler in the longitudinal section.
[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after installing 15ml centrifuge tubes.
[0020] Figure 4 Insert the pipette tip Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of the fixing hole.
[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure after installation in a 50ml centrifuge tube.
[0022] Figure 6 This image shows a comparison of the stratification effect of samples obtained by adding the separation liquid using the gradient density liquid sampler of this invention versus adding the separation liquid manually.
[0023] In the diagram: 100, Gradient density liquid sampler; 10, Fixing component; 11, Cap; 112, End plate; 113, Peripheral wall; 115, Spacing; 13, Insertion protrusion; 14, Sample inlet; 30, Sample tube; 31, Sample channel; 32, Fixing part; 321, Fixing hole; 34, Main pipe; 341, Infusion channel; 200, Centrifuge tube; 300, Pipe tip. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0025] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or it can be fixed through another intermediate component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or it may be fixed through another intermediate component. When a component is said to be "set on" another component, it can be set directly on the other component or it may be set through another intermediate component. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.
[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0027] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 5 A preferred embodiment of this utility model provides a gradient density liquid sampler 100, which includes a fixing member 10 and a sample dispensing tube 30. The fixing member 10 is used to fix the sample dispensing tube 30 at the opening of a centrifuge tube 200. One end of the sample dispensing tube 30 is mounted on the fixing member 10, and the free end of the sample dispensing tube 30 is used to insert into the centrifuge tube 200.
[0028] In this embodiment, the fixing member 10 includes a cap 11 and a plug-in protrusion 13, the plug-in protrusion 13 being provided on the end face of the cap 11 facing the sample dispensing tube 30. Specifically, the cap 11 includes an end plate 112 and a peripheral wall 113 vertically connected to the periphery of the end plate 112. The end plate 112 is a circular plate, and the peripheral wall 113 and the sample dispensing tube 30 are located on the same side of the end plate 112. The plug-in protrusion 13 is provided on the side of the end plate 112 facing the sample dispensing tube 30. The plug-in protrusion 13 is generally cylindrical, and a gap 115 is formed between the plug-in protrusion 13 and the peripheral wall 113. The fixing member 10 is provided with a sample inlet 14, which passes through the end plate 112 and the plug-in protrusion 13 of the cap 11, and communicates with the sample dispensing tube 30.
[0029] One end of the sample dispensing tube 30 is fixedly connected to the end of the insertion protrusion 13 away from the cap 11. In this embodiment, the maximum outer diameter of the sample dispensing tube 30 is smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion protrusion 13. A sample dispensing channel 31 is formed inside the sample dispensing tube 30, which passes through both ends of the sample dispensing tube 30 and communicates with the sample inlet 14. In this embodiment, the sample dispensing tube 30 includes a fixing part 32 and a main tube 34 coaxially connected in sequence, and the end of the fixing part 32 away from the main tube 34 is connected to the insertion protrusion 13.
[0030] A fixing part 32 surrounds a fixing hole 321, and a main pipe 34 surrounds a liquid infusion channel 341. The sample loading port 14, the fixing hole 321, and the liquid infusion channel 341 are coaxially arranged. The fixing hole 321 connects the sample loading port 14 and the liquid infusion channel 341, and the fixing hole 321 and the liquid infusion channel 341 constitute the sample loading channel 31. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the fixing hole 321 gradually increases in the direction away from the liquid infusion channel 341, so that the hole wall surrounding the fixing hole 321 is approximately conical, which facilitates the insertion of the pipette tip.
[0031] In this embodiment, the maximum inner diameter of the fixing hole 321 is 0.3-0.6 cm; the outer diameter of the insertion protrusion 13 is 0.6-1.4 cm; and the diameter of the cross-section of the circular space formed by the peripheral wall 113 is 3.15-3.3 cm. The outer diameter of the main pipe 34 of the sample dispensing tube 30 is no greater than 0.40 cm, and the inner diameter of the main pipe 34 is 0.1-0.3 cm; the total length of the gradient density liquid sample dispensing device 100 is 11-11.3 cm.
[0032] In use, the gradient density liquid sampler 100 of this invention involves inserting the free end of the sample tube 30 into the inner bottom of the centrifuge tube 200, and then installing the gradient density liquid sampler 100 at the opening of the centrifuge tube 200 using the fixing member 10. Specifically, for smaller centrifuge tubes 200, such as 15ml centrifuge tubes, the opening of the centrifuge tube 200 can be fitted over the smaller outer diameter insertion protrusion 13; for larger centrifuge tubes 200, such as 50ml centrifuge tubes, the opening of the centrifuge tube 200 can be inserted into the gap 115 between the insertion protrusion 13 and the peripheral wall 113, and the outer peripheral surface of the opening of the centrifuge tube 200 can be in contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall 113 of the end cap, thereby achieving a detachable connection between the centrifuge tube 200 and the gradient density liquid sampler 100.
[0033] Centrifuge tubes 200 with the gradient density liquid sampler 100 installed are placed on a centrifuge tube rack (not shown) for sample addition. During addition, low-density separating liquid is added first, followed by gradually adding high-density separating liquid. In this embodiment, the separating liquid is injected from the top of the sample tube 30 using a pipette. Specifically, the tip 300 of a 1ml pipette containing low-density separating liquid is inserted into the fixing hole 321 through the sample loading port 14. The pipette is then operated to inject the low-density separating liquid into the bottom of the centrifuge tube 200 along the infusion channel 341. Then, the pipette is removed from the fixing member 10, and the tip of a 1ml pipette containing higher-density separating liquid is inserted into the fixing hole 321 through the sample loading port 14. The pipette is then operated to inject the high-density separating liquid into the bottom of the centrifuge tube 200 along the infusion channel 341. At this point, a layered structure is formed inside the centrifuge tube 200 with the low-density separating liquid on top and the high-density separating liquid at the bottom. Repeat the above steps to inject all the separation liquid, and then slowly withdraw the gradient density liquid sampler 100 from the centrifuge tube 200. Since the outer diameter of the main tube 34 is no more than 0.4 cm, its diameter is small, and it is only withdrawn after the sample is added, so the disturbance it causes to the liquid that has already entered the separation liquid is negligible.
[0034] Figure 6This image compares the stratification of samples obtained by manual operation versus using the gradient density liquid sampler 100 of this invention. During the experiment, five layers of separation liquid were added sequentially to the centrifuge tube. The densities of the five layers increased from top to bottom. In this embodiment, the separation liquids used, from top to bottom, were 1 mL of sucrose separation liquid with mass ratios of 20%, 30% (with phenol red indicator), 35%, 40% (with phenol red indicator), and 45%. The sample on the right side of the image was obtained through manual sample addition. It is evident that manual operation easily leads to mixing of separation liquids of different densities, resulting in indistinct stratification, or changes in density and volume of each layer. Even with careful and slow operation, only a satisfactory result can be achieved. Figure 6 The intermediate sample is shown in the figure. The sample on the left side of the figure is the sample obtained by adding liquid using the gradient density liquid sampler 100 of this invention. As can be seen from the figure, it has the best stratification effect, and the test results show that this group of operations is the fastest and most convenient.
[0035] Because the separation liquid is directly introduced into the bottom of the centrifuge tube 200 through the sampling tube 30, the disturbance to the added separation liquid is reduced compared to the method where the separation liquid falls into the tube from the top of the centrifuge tube 200. Furthermore, since the gradient density liquid sampler 100 is installed at the opening of the centrifuge tube 200 via the fixing member 10, the sampling tube 30 will not move relative to the centrifuge tube 200 during the sampling process. Accidental shaking of the sampling tube 30 will not disturb the separation liquid. No manual control is required during the sampling process, and different densities of separation liquid are only needed to be added to the sampling tube 30 sequentially, simplifying the operation and improving sampling efficiency. Simultaneously, the gradient density liquid sampler 100 of this invention only needs to be withdrawn from the centrifuge tube 200 after sampling, eliminating the need for repeated withdrawal and insertion, further reducing disturbance to the added separation liquid and improving the stratification effect of the gradient density separation liquid.
[0036] The aforementioned gradient density liquid sampler 100 has a plug protrusion 13 and a cap 11 peripheral wall 113 that can be adapted to centrifuge tubes 200 of different sizes, thereby expanding the applicability of the gradient density liquid sampler 100.
[0037] The above embodiments only illustrate several implementation methods of this utility model, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of this utility model. These are all equivalent modifications and improvements made to the above embodiments based on the essential technology of this utility model, and all of these fall within the protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A liquid loading device for gradient density liquids, characterized by: The device includes a fixing component and a sample dispensing tube. The fixing component is used to install at the opening of a centrifuge tube. One end of the sample dispensing tube is connected to the fixing component, and the free end of the sample dispensing tube is used to insert into the centrifuge tube. A sample dispensing channel is formed inside the sample dispensing tube, and the sample dispensing channel passes through the opposite ends of the sample dispensing tube.
2. The liquid gradient density loading special device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing component is provided with a sample loading port, and the sample addition channel is connected to the sample loading port.
3. The liquid gradient density loading special device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixing component includes a cap and a plug-in protrusion, the plug-in protrusion being provided on the end face of the cap facing the sample dispensing tube; the sample inlet passes through the cap and the plug-in protrusion; one end of the sample dispensing tube is fixedly connected to the end of the plug-in protrusion away from the cap.
4. The liquid gradient density loading special device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cap includes an end plate and a peripheral wall perpendicularly connected to the periphery of the end plate. The insertion protrusion protrudes from the end plate, and both the insertion protrusion and the peripheral wall are located on the side of the end plate facing the sample tube. The sample inlet passes through the end plate.
5. The liquid gradient density loading special device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The end plate is a circular plate, and the insertion protrusion is cylindrical.
6. The liquid gradient density loading special device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sample loading channel includes a fixing hole and an infusion channel. The fixing hole connects the sample loading port and the infusion channel. The cross-sectional area of the fixing hole gradually increases in the direction away from the infusion channel.
7. The liquid gradient density loading specializer of claim 6, wherein: The sample dispensing tube includes a fixed part and a main tube connected coaxially in sequence. The end of the fixed part away from the main tube is connected to the insertion protrusion. The fixed part surrounds to form the fixed hole, and the main tube surrounds to form the infusion channel.
8. The liquid gradient density loading specializer of claim 7, wherein: The outer diameter of the main tube of the sample dispensing tube is no greater than 0.4 cm.
9. The gradient density liquid sample application specific device of claim 8, wherein: The maximum inner diameter of the fixing hole is 0.3-0.6 cm; the outer diameter of the insertion protrusion is 0.6-1.4 cm; the diameter of the space formed by the surrounding wall is 3.15-3.3 cm; and the total length of the gradient density liquid sampler is 11-11.3 cm.
10. The gradient density liquid sample application specific device of claim 6, wherein: The maximum outer diameter of the sample dispensing tube is smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion protrusion.