Automatic dispensing device

Abstract

To automate a dispensing operation for a fluid having high viscosity or a small amount of fluid.SOLUTION: An automatic dispensing device that dispenses a fluid to a sample container including a recovery container (400) having an opening in its upper part, and a collection container (300) having a filter (320) correcting a target component and having a bottom fitted to the opening, includes: a sample container holding part (200) that holds the sample container with the collection container being the upper part; a dispensing part (161) having a discharge tube (171) that discharges the fluid from its tip end; a movement mechanism (120) that moves the discharge tube between a dispensing position at which the fluid is dispensed to the sample container and a predetermined position; and a dispensing operation control unit (134) that executes operations of allowing the movement mechanism to move the discharge tube to the dispensing position, allowing the tip end of the discharge tube to be abutted on the filter, allowing the dispensing part to discharge the fluid, allowing the movement mechanism to raise the discharge tube by a predetermined distance, allowing the discharge tube to swing, and allowing the discharge tube to move to the predetermined position, in this order.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device. [Background technology]

[0002] When analyzing sugar chains contained in a sample, pretreatment such as cleaving the sugar chains with an enzyme may be performed (e.g., Patent Document 1). In such treatment, for example, a spin column containing a porous membrane filter is set at the top opening of a microtube, and the sample is injected into the spin column to capture the sugar chains on the membrane filter, and then an enzyme is dispensed onto the membrane filter on which the sugar chains have been captured to cleave the sugar chains.

[0003] Many enzymes used to cleave glycans have high viscosity, and are often used in very small amounts (e.g., a few μl). A micropipette is used for dispensing, but when using highly viscous liquids or very small amounts of liquid, such as enzymes, droplets extruded from the pipette tip attached to the micropipette may not detach from the tip. For this reason, analysts have traditionally first contacted the tip of the pipette tip with a membrane filter that has captured glycans, and then manipulated the micropipette to dispense the enzyme. Because membrane filters are porous, when the tip of the pipette tip is brought into contact with the membrane filter and the enzyme is dispensed, the enzyme at the tip of the pipette tip is captured by the pores of the membrane filter and detached from the pipette tip. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2023 / 026682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The membrane filter is made of glass fiber or the like, and may be damaged if the tip of the pipette tip is pressed against it with a strong force. On the other hand, if the tip of the pipette tip is separated from the membrane filter, droplets cannot be released from the tip of the pipette tip. Therefore, analysts must carefully operate the micropipette while checking the position of the tip of the pipette tip, which is time-consuming and places a heavy burden on the analyst.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to automate the dispensing of highly viscous liquids or small amounts of liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is an automatic dispensing device for dispensing a liquid into a sample container, which includes a collection container having an opening at the top and a collection container having a filter for collecting a target component and having a bottom fitted to the opening, a sample container holder that holds the sample container with the collection container at the top; a dispensing unit having a discharge pipe that discharges liquid from a tip thereof; a moving mechanism that moves the discharge pipe between a dispensing position where the liquid is dispensed into the sample container and a predetermined position other than the dispensing position; a dispensing operation control unit that sequentially executes the following operations: moving the discharge tube to the dispensing position by the moving mechanism, bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit, lifting the discharge tube by a predetermined distance by the moving mechanism, swinging the discharge tube, and moving the discharge tube to the predetermined position; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The automatic dispensing device according to the present invention is used to dispense liquid into a sample container held in a sample container holder with the collection container at the top. In the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention, after moving the discharge tube to the dispensing position, the tip of the discharge tube is brought into contact with the filter at that position and the liquid is dispensed in that state, so that highly viscous liquids or small amounts of liquid can be reliably dispensed.

[0009] When dispensing liquid by abutting the tip of the discharge tube against the filter as described above, the tip of the discharge tube may pierce the filter, and the collection container with the discharge tube pierced may be lifted along with the discharge tube when the discharge tube is removed from the filter. If the collection container is removed from the recovery container, subsequent processing will be wasted. Furthermore, if the lifted collection container falls during movement, the collected material may scatter within the device. Therefore, in the present invention, after discharging liquid from the discharge tube, the discharge tube is raised a predetermined distance and then swung. As a result, even if the tip of the discharge tube is pierced in the filter, the discharge tube is removed from the filter and the collection container falls onto the recovery container. Therefore, the above-mentioned problem does not occur. By adopting this configuration, the present invention can automate the dispensing of highly viscous liquids and minute amounts of liquid, while reliably and safely performing the dispensing process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a sample pretreatment device that is an embodiment of a sample dispensing device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the shapes of a spin column and a microtube used in this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a sample rack according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of swinging the pipette tip 171 to remove it from the spin column in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A sample pretreatment device, which is an embodiment of an automatic pipetting device according to the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are appropriately modified from the actual scale to clearly show each part.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of the sample pretreatment device of this embodiment.

[0013] The sample pretreatment device of this embodiment includes a housing 100, a centrifuge 110, a micropipette 161, a robot arm 120, and a control unit 130, all of which are arranged in the housing 100. Also provided within the housing 100, surrounding the robot arm 120, are a sample rack arrangement section 220 in which a sample rack 200 having a plurality of sample container storage sections 204 (see Figure 3) is arranged, a column rack arrangement section 140 in which a column rack 141 storing a plurality of spin columns 300 is arranged, a tube rack arrangement section 150 in which a tube rack 151 storing a plurality of microtubes 400 is arranged, a micropipette storage section 160 in which one or more micropipettes 161 are accommodated, a tip rack arrangement section 170 in which a tip rack 172 storing a plurality of pipette tips 171 is arranged, a sample liquid / reagent rack arrangement section 180 in which a sample liquid / reagent rack 183 storing reagent containers 181 and sample liquid containers 182 containing sample liquid is arranged, a consumables disposal section 191 in which used spin columns 300 and pipette tips 171 are disposed, and a pretreated sample liquid storage section 192 in which microtubes 400 containing pretreated sample liquid are accommodated.

[0014] The micropipette 161 includes a cylinder, a plunger (or piston), and a tubular nozzle connected to the bottom end of the cylinder. With a disposable pipette tip 171 attached to the bottom end of the nozzle, the plunger can be moved up and down within the cylinder to aspirate liquid into the pipette tip 171 or dispense liquid from the pipette tip 171. The micropipette 161 is, for example, an electric micropipette that incorporates a motor for driving the plunger and has operation buttons for instructing the motor to perform aspirating and dispensing operations. In this embodiment, an electric micropipette is used, but a needle-type dispensing mechanism or the like may also be used.

[0015] The robot arm 120 is equipped with a hand unit 121 that can hold the spin column 300, the microtube 400, and the micropipette 161 and can operate the operation buttons provided on the micropipette 161.

[0016] The control unit 130 includes a memory unit 131. The memory unit 131 stores pretreatment information 1311, which describes the procedure and details of pretreatment to be performed on each of one or more samples. The control unit 130 includes, as functional blocks, a pretreatment execution unit 133 and a dispensing operation control unit 134. The actual entity of the control unit 130 is, for example, a personal computer, and the above-mentioned functional blocks are realized by executing a dedicated program pre-installed in the computer on a processor. In FIG. 1, the control unit 130 is arranged outside the housing 100, but the control unit 130 may also be arranged inside the housing 100. In addition, an input unit 1391 including a keyboard and a mouse, and a display unit 1392 including a liquid crystal display or the like are connected to the control unit 130.

[0017] The column rack 141 holds a large number of spin columns 300 as shown in FIG. 2, and the tube rack 151 holds a large number of microtubes 400 as shown in the same figure.

[0018] The microtube 400 has a cylindrical portion with a closed bottom and an open top, and a conical portion whose diameter decreases downward. However, the microtube 400 in this embodiment is an example of a collection container, and is not limited to this shape. Any shape may be used as long as it can contain a liquid and can be fitted with a collection container such as a spin column 300 described below.

[0019] The spin column 300 includes a cylindrical portion 310, which includes a first cylindrical portion 311 having a circular upper opening and an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the microtube 400, and a second cylindrical portion 312 having a lower opening smaller than the upper opening and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the microtube 400, and a membrane filter 320 held inside the second cylindrical portion 312. Therefore, as shown on the right side of FIG. 2 , when the spin column 300 is inserted into the upper opening of the microtube 400, only the second cylindrical portion 312 is inserted inside the microtube 400. The membrane filter 320 may be any material used for solid-phase extraction, including, for example, a porous carrier such as a silica monolith, a silica membrane, or glass fiber. The spin column 300 in this embodiment is also an example of a collection container and is not limited to this shape. Any material may be used as long as it has a filter for collecting target components and can be inserted into a sample container.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , the sample rack 200 includes a main body 201 and a heat transfer block 203 placed on the main body 201. The main body 201 has a recess for accommodating the heat transfer block 203, and a heater 202 for heating the heat transfer block 203 and a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the heat transfer block 203 are provided below the inner bottom surface of the recess. In addition to the heating function provided by the heater 202, the sample rack 200 may also be provided with a cooling function, for example, using a fan or a Peltier element. The heat transfer block 203 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, and its upper surface is provided with sample container receptacles 204, which are recesses for accommodating microtubes 400. A cylindrical cavity is provided below each sample container receptacle 204, and a spring plunger 205 is fitted into the cavity. The cavity may be a through-hole whose upper end opens to the inner bottom surface of the sample container receptacle 204 and whose lower end opens to the underside of the heat transfer block 203, or may be a recess whose upper end is open only. Here, the sample rack 200 has a temperature control function, but it is also possible to use one that does not have a temperature control function (one that has only multiple sample container receptacles 204 and spring plungers 205). The spring plunger 205 is also a preferred component but is not essential.

[0021] Spring plunger 205 includes hollow cylindrical holder 206, compression coil spring 210 housed in holder 206, and pin member 207, a portion of which can be freely extended and retracted from holder 206. Pin member 207 includes protrusion 208 that protrudes from holder 206 to the outside through a through-hole (not shown) provided in the upper surface of holder 206, and flange-shaped retaining portion 209 that is provided at the lower end of protrusion 208 and can slide up and down within holder 206. The lower surface of retaining portion 209 abuts against the upper end of compression coil spring 210, and pin member 207 is always biased upward by the biasing force of compression coil spring 210. Instead of spring plunger 205 including pin member 207 as described above, a so-called ball plunger or the like may be used as the biasing member, which includes a ball, a portion of which can be freely extended and retracted from holder 206, and a spring that biases the ball.

[0022] Next, the operation of the sample pretreatment device of this embodiment will be described. Here, as an example of sample pretreatment, a case where a series of pretreatments is automatically performed to enzymatically cleave the sugar chains contained in the sample solution will be described. Below, the process related to dispensing into sample containers will be described, and explanations of processes such as centrifugation will be omitted.

[0023] When the analyst instructs the start of sample pretreatment, the pretreatment execution unit 133 prompts the analyst to set the type of sample to be treated and the details of the pretreatment. This setting can be performed, for example, by displaying pretreatment information 1311 stored in advance in the storage unit 131 in a pull-down format and prompting the analyst to select an option.

[0024] When the analyst sets the type of sample and the details of pre-processing, the pre-processing execution unit 133 operates the robot arm 120 to move unused microtubes 400 arranged in the tube rack arrangement unit 150 to each sample container receptacle 204 of the sample rack 200. Note that here, microtubes 400 are set in only half (or less) of the sample container receptacles 204 arranged in the sample rack 200.

[0025] The pre-processing execution unit 133 also operates the robot arm 120 to insert an unused spin column 300 placed in the column rack 141 into the upper opening of the microtube 400 housed in each sample container housing portion 204 of the sample rack 200. As a result, each sample container housing portion 204 is set with a spin column 300 and a microtube 400.

[0026] Next, the preprocessing execution unit 133 operates the robot arm 120 via the dispensing operation control unit 134, causes the hand unit 121 to grasp the micropipette 161 housed in the micropipette housing unit 160, and attaches an unused pipette tip 171 arranged in the tip rack 172 to the tip of the micropipette. Then, a predetermined amount of sample liquid is collected from the sample liquid container 182 and dispensed into a sample container (a spin column 300 arranged on a microtube 400) housed in the sample container housing unit 204. As a result, the sugar chains (target components) contained in the sample liquid are captured by the membrane filter 320, and the rest are collected in the microtube 400. This operation of discharging liquid without bringing the tip of the pipette tip 171 into contact with the membrane filter 320 is referred to as the second operation (the first operation will be described later).

[0027] After dispensing the sample liquid into all sample containers, the preprocessing execution unit 133 then discards the used pipette tip 171 attached to the tip of the micropipette 161 into the consumables disposal unit 191 and attaches a new pipette tip 171. The dispensing operation control unit 134 then operates the robot arm 120 to extract a predetermined amount of reagent (enzyme) from the sample liquid / reagent rack 183 and dispense it into the sample container (spin column 300 placed on the microtube 400) housed in the sample container housing unit 204. When dispensing the enzyme, the tip of the pipette tip 171 is lightly pressed against the membrane filter 320 of the spin column 300. As described above, the spring plunger 205 is disposed below the sample container housing unit 204, which biases the sample container in the sample container housing unit 204 upward. When the tip of the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320, the force pushes the sample container downward. Therefore, excessive force is not applied to membrane filter 320 from the tip of pipette tip 171. The operation of pressing the tip of pipette tip 171 against membrane filter 320 to discharge liquid is called a first operation.

[0028] Because enzymes often have high viscosity and only small amounts are dispensed, they are difficult to remove from the tip of the pipette tip 171. In this embodiment, the enzyme is dispensed by lightly pressing the tip of the pipette tip 171 against the membrane filter 320 and pushing the sample container downward. Because the membrane filter 320 is porous, when the tip of the pipette tip 171 is brought into contact with the membrane filter 320 and the enzyme is discharged, the enzyme at the tip of the pipette tip 171 is taken up into the pores of the membrane filter 320 and removed from the pipette tip. Note that, since the tip of the pipette tip 171 is brought into contact with the membrane filter 320 that has captured the target component during enzyme dispensing, it is recommended to discard the used pipette tip 171 after each enzyme dispensing into one sample container and attach a new pipette tip 171 to prevent contamination.

[0029] There are errors within the tolerance range in the sizes of containers such as the spin column 300, microtube 400, and pipette tip 171, as well as the sizes of various parts of the device such as the sample rack 200. Therefore, if the lowering distance of the pipette tip 171 is determined based on the design values ​​of the device and the spin column 300, etc., the tip of the pipette tip 171 may not abut against the membrane filter 320 due to individual differences in the spin column 300, etc. Therefore, in this embodiment, the distance by which the pipette tip 171 is lowered by the robot arm 120 is set slightly longer (for example, by several mm) than the value determined based on the design values ​​of the device and the spin column 300, etc., so that the tip of the pipette tip 171 can reliably abut against the membrane filter 320 regardless of the tolerance of the spin column 300, etc.

[0030] When the tip of the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320 in this way, the tip of the pipette tip 171 may enter and become stuck in the pores of the porous membrane filter 320. If the pipette tip 171 is pulled up with its tip stuck in the membrane filter 320, the spin column 300 will be lifted up along with the pipette tip 171 and removed from the microtube 400. If subsequent processing is performed with the spin column 300 removed in this way, it will be wasted. Furthermore, if the spin column 300 stuck in the pipette tip 171 falls while the pipette tip 171 is being moved to the next predetermined position, the sugar chains captured in the membrane filter 320 and the supplied enzymes will scatter, contaminating the inside of the device.

[0031] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the first operation of pressing the tip of the pipette tip 171 against the membrane filter 320 to dispense the enzyme is performed, the dispensing operation control unit 134 raises the pipette tip 171 by a predetermined distance and oscillates the pipette tip 171 at that position, as shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, this predetermined distance is at least equal to or less than the length of the second cylindrical portion 312, and more preferably equal to or less than half the length of the second cylindrical portion 312. The operation of oscillating the pipette tip 171 can be performed in various forms, specifically, for example, by moving the pipette tip 171 back and forth in the horizontal direction, by rotating the pipette tip 171 in the horizontal direction (for example, by performing a circular motion or a figure-eight motion), or by vibrating the pipette tip 171.

[0032] As described above, the second cylindrical portion 312 is the portion inserted into the microtube 400, and by specifying the predetermined distance (the distance by which the pipette tip 171 is raised) in this manner, vibrations are applied to the spin column 300 when the pipette tip 171 is swung, thereby allowing the pipette tip 171 to be detached from the membrane filter 320. In particular, if the predetermined distance is set to be equal to or less than half the length of the second cylindrical portion 312, the outer wall of the second cylindrical portion 312 of the spin column 300 will come into contact with the inner wall of the microtube 400, applying greater vibrations to the spin column 300 and more reliably detaching the pipette tip 171 from the membrane filter 320. Because a portion of the second cylindrical portion 312 of the spin column 300 is located inside the microtube 400, the spin column 300, which has fallen downward, will settle inside the microtube 400 at the same time as the pipette tip 171 is detached. In this embodiment, the operation of rocking the pipette tip 171 is performed regardless of whether the tip of the pipette tip 171 is actually pierced into the membrane filter 320 (i.e., whether the spin column 300 is lifted together with the pipette tip 171).

[0033] After dispensing the enzyme into all sample containers (including the operation of rocking the pipette tip 171 after dispensing), the preprocessing execution unit 133 then operates the robot arm 120 to remove the spin column 300 on which the cleaved glycans have been captured from the microtube 400, and move (remove) it to a sample container receptacle 204 in the sample rack 200 that was not used in the above process. The remaining microtubes 400 are then discarded in the consumables disposal unit 191. Furthermore, unused microtubes 400 arranged in the tube rack arrangement unit 150 are moved to each sample container receptacle 204 in the sample rack 200. The retracted spin column 300 is then set in the microtube 400 accommodated in the sample container receptacle 204 in the same position as before the retraction.

[0034] Next, the preprocessing execution unit 133 discards the used pipette tip 171 attached to the tip of the micropipette 161 into the consumables disposal unit 191 and attaches a new pipette tip 171. Here, the position where the pipette tip 171 is discarded into the consumables disposal unit 191 (the position where the next operation is performed) corresponds to the predetermined position in the present invention. Then, the dispensing operation control unit 134 operates the robot arm 120 to collect a predetermined amount of reagent (eluent) contained in another sample liquid / reagent rack 183 and dispense it into a sample container (spin column 300 placed on a microtube 400) contained in the sample container storage unit 204 (second operation). As a result, the target component (glycan cleaved by the enzyme) captured by the membrane filter 320 is collected in the microtube 400.

[0035] When the collection of the target components into the microtubes 400 in all of the sample container receptacles 204 is completed, the preprocessing execution unit 133 subsequently returns the micropipettes 161 held by the robot arm 120 to the micropipette receptacle 160. Then, the spin columns 300 held in each sample container receptacle 204 are removed from the microtubes 400 by gripping and lifting them with the hand unit 121, and are discarded in the consumables disposal unit 191.

[0036] Furthermore, the pre-processing execution unit 133 operates the robot arm 120 to move the microtubes 400 containing the target components (cleaved glycans) contained in each sample container storage unit 204 to the pre-processed sample liquid storage unit 192.

[0037] Conventionally, when dispensing highly viscous liquids such as enzymes or minute amounts of liquid samples, analysts first contact the tip of a pipette tip with a membrane filter on which glycans are captured, and then operate the micropipette to inject the enzyme. However, membrane filters are made of glass fiber or the like, and can be damaged if the tip of the pipette tip is pressed against them with great force. On the other hand, if the tip of the pipette tip is separated from the membrane filter, droplets cannot be removed from the tip of the pipette tip. Therefore, analysts must carefully operate the micropipette while checking the position of the tip of the pipette tip, which is time-consuming and places a heavy burden on the analyst.

[0038] In contrast, in this embodiment, as described above, it is possible to automatically dispense minute amounts of highly viscous liquid, such as an enzyme, into the spin column 300 attached to the upper opening of the microtube 400. In this embodiment, a spring plunger 205 is provided below the sample container receptacle 204, and the sample container is biased upward while the tip of the pipette tip 171 is lightly pressed against the membrane filter 320 to dispense the reagent (enzyme). This prevents the tip of the pipette tip 171 from being damaged by being pressed against the membrane filter 320 with a strong force. Furthermore, because the tip of the pipette tip 171 is in contact with the membrane filter 320, droplets can be reliably released from the tip of the pipette tip.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, during each stage of sample pretreatment, after the tip of the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320 to dispense the enzyme, the dispensing operation control unit 134 operates the robot arm 120 to raise the pipette tip 171 a predetermined distance and oscillate it at that position. Therefore, even if the tip of the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320 and the tip of the pipette tip 171 pierces the pores of the membrane filter 320, and the spin column 300 is lifted together with the pipette tip 171, the second cylindrical portion 312 of the spin column 300, which is oscillated together with the pipette tip 171, strikes the inner wall of the microtube 400 and vibrates, causing the pipette tip 171 to detach from the membrane filter 320. This causes the spin column 300 to fall. At this time, since the bottom of the spin column 300 is located inside the microtube 400, the dropped spin column 300 is engaged with the upper opening of the microtube 400. Therefore, subsequent processing is not performed while the spin column 300 is removed from the microtube 400, and pre-processing can be performed reliably and safely.

[0040] Although the operation of the sample pretreatment device has been described above using the example of pretreatment in which sugar chains contained in a sample are cleaved with an enzyme, the sample pretreatment device of the above embodiment can perform various pretreatments. Furthermore, regardless of the type of pretreatment, the pipette tip 171 can be raised and swung every time a dispensing operation (first operation) in which the tip of the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320 is performed.

[0041] The above embodiment is merely an example and can be modified as appropriate in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

[0042] In the above embodiment, spin columns 300 and microtubes 400 are used as sample containers, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various types of containers such as column containers and vials can be used. Furthermore, the sample pretreatment described in the above embodiment is merely an example, and various types of liquid injection treatments can be performed.

[0043] Furthermore, the distance (predetermined distance) by which the pipette tip 171 is raised after the tip of the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320 to dispense the enzyme, as described in the above embodiment, is based on the case where a sample container is used in which a spin column 300 is inserted into the opening of a microtube 400. This distance may be changed as appropriate depending on the shape of the sample container, etc. When generalized to a sample container including a collection container with an opening at its top and a trapping container with a filter for trapping target components and whose bottom is fitted to the opening, the predetermined distance is equal to or less than the length of the portion of the trapping container located inside the collection container, and more preferably equal to or less than half of that length. By setting the predetermined distance in this manner, the trapping container can be dropped into the collection container when the discharge part, such as the pipette tip, is detached.

[0044] In the above embodiment, after the pipette tip 171 is pressed against the membrane filter 320 to dispense the enzyme, the pipette tip 171 is raised a predetermined distance and swung at that position regardless of whether the pipette tip 171 is pierced through the membrane filter 320. However, the pipette tip 171 may be swung only when the pipette tip 171 is pierced through the membrane filter 320 and the spin column 300 is lifted together with the pipette tip 171. The user may visually check whether the spin column 300 has been lifted, or a mechanism for checking whether the spin column 300 has been lifted may be provided. As such a mechanism, for example, an automatic dispensing device may be provided with an imaging unit that captures an image of the sample rack 200 and the space above it, and a determination unit that captures an image of the pipette tip 171 in a lifted state with the imaging unit and determines whether the spin column 300 has been lifted from the image obtained. Alternatively, a weight sensor can be provided in the hand unit 121, and the weight of the object lifted while the pipette tip 171 is raised can be measured, and the weight can be compared with a predetermined value (a weight that can be used to determine that only the pipette tip 171 has been lifted) to determine whether the spin column 300 has been lifted.

[0045] [Aspect] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-described exemplary embodiments are examples of the following aspects.

[0046] (Section 1) One aspect of the present invention is an automatic dispensing device that dispenses liquid into a sample container having a collection container with an opening at the top and a collection container having a filter for collecting a target component and having a bottom fitted to the opening, a sample container holder that holds the sample container with the collection container at the top; a dispensing unit having a discharge pipe that discharges liquid from a tip thereof; a moving mechanism that moves the discharge pipe between a dispensing position where the liquid is dispensed into the sample container and a predetermined position other than the dispensing position; a dispensing operation control unit that sequentially executes the following operations: moving the discharge tube to the dispensing position by the moving mechanism, bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit, lifting the discharge tube by a predetermined distance by the moving mechanism, swinging the discharge tube, and moving the discharge tube to the predetermined position; Equipped with.

[0047] The automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 1 is used to dispense liquid into a sample container held in a sample container holder with the collection container at the top. In the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 1, after moving the discharge tube to a dispensing position, the tip of the discharge tube is abutted against a filter at that position and the liquid is dispensed in that state, thereby enabling highly viscous liquids or small amounts of liquid to be reliably dispensed. The predetermined position varies depending on the content of the dispensing operation, but is typically a position where the next operation is performed or a position where preparation for the next operation is made, such as a retraction position where the discharge tube is retracted before or after a dispensing operation, a disposal position where the used discharge tube is disposed of, a dispensing position where liquid is dispensed into the next sample container, or a liquid collection position where the dispensed liquid is collected.

[0048] When dispensing liquid by abutting the tip of the discharge tube against the filter as described above, the tip of the discharge tube may pierce the filter, and the collection container with the discharge tube pierced may be lifted along with the discharge tube when the discharge tube is removed from the filter. If the collection container is removed from the recovery container, subsequent processing will be wasted. Furthermore, if the lifted collection container falls during movement, the collected material may scatter within the device. Therefore, in the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 1, after dispensing liquid from the discharge tube, the discharge tube is raised a predetermined distance and then swung. As a result, even if the tip of the discharge tube is pierced by the filter, the discharge tube is removed from the filter and the collection container falls onto the recovery container. Therefore, the above problem does not occur. By adopting this configuration, the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 1 can automate the dispensing of highly viscous liquids and minute amounts of liquid, while reliably and safely performing the dispensing process.

[0049] (Section 2) The automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 2 is the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 1, The predetermined distance is equal to or less than the length of the portion of the collection container that is connected to the collection container and that is located inside the collection container.

[0050] (Section 3) The automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 3 is the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 1 or 2, the collection vessel has a first cylindrical portion having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening, and a second cylindrical portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the opening, The predetermined distance is equal to or less than the length of the second cylindrical portion.

[0051] In the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 2, when the discharge part is detached from the collection container, the collection container can be dropped into the inside of the recovery container. More specifically, for example, as described in paragraph 3, when a collection container having a first cylindrical part having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening of the collection container and a second cylindrical part having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the opening is used, the length may be equal to or less than the length of the second cylindrical part.

[0052] (Section 4) The automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 4 is an automatic dispensing device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, The sample container holder includes a biasing member that biases the sample container held in the sample container holder upward.

[0053] In the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 4, when the tip of the discharge tube is brought into contact with the filter of the collection container of the sample container held in the sample container holding section, the sample container, which is biased upward by the biasing member, is pushed downward, thereby preventing excessive force from being applied to the filter from the tip of the discharge tube and damaging the filter.

[0054] (Section 5) The automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 5 is an automatic dispensing device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 4, The automatic dispensing device executes a first operation of discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit by bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, and a second operation of discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit without bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, The dispensing operation control section executes an operation of lifting the discharge pipe by a predetermined distance using the movement mechanism and swinging the discharge pipe only when the first operation is to be performed.

[0055] In the automatic dispensing device according to paragraph 5, the operation of rocking the discharge tube is performed only when the first operation of bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter to discharge the liquid is performed, so that the increase in the time required for the dispensing operation due to the operation of rocking the discharge tube can be minimized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 100…Case 120...Robot arm 121...Hand part 130...Control unit 131...Storage section 133...Preprocessing execution unit 134... Dispensing operation control section 1391...input section 1392...Display section 140...Column rack arrangement section 141...Column rack 150...Tube rack placement area 151...Tube Black 160...Micropipette storage section 161...Micropipette 170...Tip rack arrangement section 171...Pipette tip 172...Tip rack 180...Sample solution / reagent rack placement area 181...Reagent container 182...Sample liquid container 183...Sample solution / reagent rack 191...Consumables Disposal Department 192...Pretreated sample liquid storage section 200...Sample rack 201...Main body 202...Heater 203...Heat transfer block 204...Sample container storage section 205...Spring plunger 206...Holder 207...Pin member 208...Protruding part 209...Prevention part 220...Sample rack placement area 300...Spin column 310...Cylinder part 311...First cylindrical part 312...Second cylinder part 320...Membrane filter 400...microtube

Claims

1. An automatic dispensing device for dispensing a liquid into a sample container having a collection container with an opening at the top and a collection container having a filter for collecting a target component and having a bottom fitted to the opening, a sample container holder that holds the sample container with the collection container at the top; a dispensing unit having a discharge pipe that discharges liquid from a tip thereof; a moving mechanism that moves the discharge pipe between a dispensing position where the liquid is dispensed into the sample container and a predetermined position other than the dispensing position; a dispensing operation control unit that sequentially executes the following operations: moving the discharge tube to the dispensing position by the moving mechanism, bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit, lifting the discharge tube by a predetermined distance by the moving mechanism, swinging the discharge tube, and moving the discharge tube to the predetermined position; An automatic dispensing device comprising:

2. 2. The automatic dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is equal to or less than the length of a portion of the collection container connected to the collection container that is located inside the collection container.

3. the collection container has a first cylindrical portion having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening, and a second cylindrical portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the opening, The automatic dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is equal to or less than the length of the second cylindrical portion.

4. 2. The automatic pipetting device according to claim 1, wherein the sample container holder comprises a biasing member that biases the sample container held in the sample container holder upward.

5. The automatic dispensing device executes a first operation of discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit by bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, and a second operation of discharging the liquid by the dispensing unit without bringing the tip of the discharge tube into contact with the filter, 2. The automatic dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing operation control section executes an operation of causing the moving mechanism to lift the discharge pipe by a predetermined distance and swing the discharge pipe only when the first operation is to be performed.

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