Temperature Treatment Container

Abstract

To provide a temperature treatment container that can rapidly change the temperature of a sample.SOLUTION: A temperature treatment container for performing sample temperature treatment of changing the temperature of a sample, comprises a container body with an open top surface, and a cap attached to the top of the container body to seal the top surface of the container body. A substantially semi-cylindrical sample accommodating portion with an internal space for accommodating a sample liquid including a sample introduced from the top surface is provided at a lower end of the container body so as to extend downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature treatment vessel for performing a temperature treatment in which the temperature of a sample is varied. [Background technology]

[0002] PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is often used to amplify genes in a sample, and a container for performing PCR has also been proposed (see Patent Document 1). It is desirable to perform processes such as PCR at high speed, and in order to do so, it is necessary to rapidly change the temperature of the sample. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-118338 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a container such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to vary the temperature of a sample placed in the container, it is common to change the output of the heater that heats the container at regular intervals, or to prepare multiple heating parts controlled to different temperatures and move the container to each heating part, but both methods have limitations in terms of rapidly varying the temperature of the sample.

[0005] In addition, when a chemical reaction is carried out by heating a general container, the container may be placed on a heat source such as an aluminum block, and the temperature of the heat source may be adjusted. In this case, the temperature of the entire aluminum block is raised and lowered, so there is a limit to the temperature change in a short period of time, and the container sample is exposed to temperatures between high and low temperatures up to the target temperature for promoting the reaction, which may prevent the chemical reaction from proceeding properly.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a temperature treatment vessel capable of changing the temperature of a sample accurately and at high speed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The temperature treatment vessel according to the present invention is a temperature treatment vessel for performing a sample temperature treatment by varying the temperature of a sample, and includes a vessel body with an open top, and a cap attached to the top of the vessel body to seal the top of the vessel body, and a substantially semicylindrical sample storage section having an internal space for storing a sample liquid containing a sample introduced from the top is provided at the lower end of the vessel body so as to extend downward. The term "substantially semicylindrical shape" refers not only to a perfect semicylindrical shape but also to shapes similar to a semicylindrical shape.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal space of the sample holding portion may become smaller toward the bottom, which facilitates thermal convection in the sample holding portion and makes it easier to change the temperature of the sample liquid held in the sample holding portion at high speed.

[0009] In another embodiment, the container body may have a funnel-shaped portion whose inner and outer diameters decrease downward, and the sample storage portion may be arranged to extend downward from the lower end of the funnel portion.

[0010] In the above embodiment, the sample storage portion may be provided so as to form a part of a cylinder sharing a central axis with the funnel portion.

[0011] In yet another embodiment, a reagent that causes a reaction with the sample is held inside the container body, a sample holder for holding the sample is provided at the lower end of the cap, and when the cap is attached to the container body, the sample holder is inserted into the container body, and the sample held in the sample holder comes into contact with the reagent. This embodiment makes it easy to mix the sample and the reagent in the temperature treatment container.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, the container body may have an outer or inner peripheral surface on which a first screw is provided, the cap may have an inner or outer peripheral surface on which a second screw that screws with the first screw is provided, the first screw and the second screw are screwed together to attach the cap to the container body, and the container body and the cap may be provided with a locking mechanism that engages with each other when the screwing distance between the first screw and the second screw reaches a certain distance to fix the state in which the cap is attached to the container body. This embodiment makes it difficult to reuse the temperature treatment container, which can contribute to preventing infection, etc.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, the container body or the cap may have a plurality of wings extending in a plurality of directions in a horizontal plane, which makes it possible to hold the temperature treatment container in a constant position. Effect of the Invention

[0014] The temperature treatment container according to the present invention is premised on arranging a sample container for accommodating a sample liquid between two heater blocks having inner peripheral surfaces arranged opposite to each other in a horizontal plane, and rotating the heater blocks and the container relatively in a horizontal plane to alternately bring the sample container into contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the heater blocks. Since the sample container has a semi-cylindrical shape, the outer peripheral surface can be brought into surface contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the heater blocks, and when the sample container is in contact with one heater block, it is not in contact with the other heater block. This makes it easy to change the temperature of the sample liquid accommodated in the sample container to a desired temperature. In other words, it is possible to rapidly change the temperature of the sample liquid accommodated in the sample container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view for explaining a configuration of an embodiment of a temperature treatment container. [Diagram 2] 2A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the container body perpendicular to the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the container body. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cap is attached to a container body. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the locking mechanism in the embodiment, in which (A) shows the state before locking and (B) shows the state after locking. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the temperature treatment container of the embodiment is set in the temperature treatment device and heating is started. [Figure 6] 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state after the heater block of the temperature treatment device is rotated 180 degrees from the state in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 1 shows verification data of the effect of temperature treatment using the temperature treatment container of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a temperature treatment container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] 1, the temperature treatment vessel 1 includes a vessel body 100 and a cap 200. The vessel body 100 is a vessel having an open top surface 102, and the cap 200 is attached to the top of the vessel body 100 to seal the opening of the top surface 102 of the vessel body 100.

[0018] At the bottom end of the container body 100, a sample storage section 104 having an internal space 106 for storing a sample liquid containing a sample is provided. The area of ​​the horizontal cross section of the internal space 106 of the sample storage section 104 decreases toward the bottom, and the vertical cross section of the internal space 106 has a substantially triangular shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the sample storage section 104 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape. By having the above-mentioned shape of the internal space 106, thermal convection in the internal space 106 is easily generated, and the temperature in the internal space 106 changes rapidly when heat is applied to the internal space 106 from the outer circumferential surface of the sample storage section 104.

[0019] The container body 100 is provided with a funnel-shaped funnel portion 108 above the sample storage portion 104, the inner and outer diameters of which decrease downward. The sample storage portion 104 extends downward from the lower end of the funnel portion 108, and is provided so as to form a part of a cylinder sharing a central axis with the funnel portion 108. A solidified reagent layer 110 is fixed inside the funnel portion 108. The reagent layer 110 is liquefied by heating, for example, to 50 degrees Celsius or higher. The reagent layer 110 includes, for example, a layer of PCR reagent (upper layer) for performing PCR processing to amplify genes in a sample, and a layer of paraffin (lower layer). By filling the lower layer with a liquid having a lower specific gravity than the upper layer, it is possible to efficiently exchange the reagent when the reagent layer 110 is liquefied.

[0020] Returning to Fig. 1, the description will be continued. The outer peripheral surface of the container body 100 is provided with wing portions 112 extending horizontally outward. The wing portions 112 are for holding the temperature treatment container 1 in a fixed position. The wing portions 112 may be provided on the cap 200.

[0021] A screw 114 (first screw) for attaching the cap 200 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the container body 100. Furthermore, a protrusion 116 is provided on the upper end of the container body 100. The protrusion 116 forms part of a locking mechanism that fixes the cap 200 in a state where it is attached to the container body 100. The locking mechanism will be described later.

[0022] A skirt portion 206 is provided at a middle portion of the cap 200, extending downward so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the cap 200. A thread 208 (second thread) that screws into the thread 114 of the container body 100 is provided at an inner circumferential surface of the skirt portion 206. The cap 200 is attached to the container body 100 by the thread 114 of the container body 100 and the thread 208 of the cap 200 screwing into each other.

[0023] 3, the lower part of the cap 200 is inserted into the container body 100 when the cap 200 is attached to the container body 100. A sample holding portion 204, which is a recess for holding a sample, is provided at the lower end of the cap 200, and the sample holding portion 204 reaches the reagent layer 110 in the container body 100 when the cap 200 is attached to the container body 100. A sample such as saliva is introduced into the container body 100 while being held in the sample holding portion 204 at the lower end of the cap 200, and comes into contact with the reagent layer 110.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, a plate-shaped stopper 210 is provided on the innermost surface of the skirt portion 206 of the cap 200, which constitutes a locking mechanism together with the protrusion 116 of the container body 100. The stopper 210 is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the protrusion 116 of the container body 100 when the cap 200 is tightened to a certain extent. The protrusion 116 of the container body 100 has a triangular shape and has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and a vertical surface. Due to this shape, the protrusion 116 allows the cap 200 to go over the stopper 210 when it is turned in the tightening direction, while preventing the stopper 210 from going over when it is turned in the loosening direction. In other words, the locking mechanism constituted by the protrusion 116 and the stopper 210 is a mechanism that fixes the cap 200 in a state of being attached to the container body 100. This locking mechanism makes it difficult to reuse the temperature treatment container 1, which contributes to preventing infection, etc.

[0025] 5, by setting the temperature treatment vessel 1 in a temperature treatment device 300, the temperature treatment of the sample introduced into the temperature treatment vessel 1 can be performed. The temperature treatment device 300 includes heater blocks 302 and 304, a heater substrate 306, heaters 308 and 310, and a rotary table 312. The heater blocks 302 and 304 are made of metal materials such as aluminum and brass having good thermal conductivity, and are arranged opposite to each other. The opposing surfaces of the heater blocks 302 and 304 are curved so as to be in surface contact with the outer circumferential surface of the funnel portion 108 of the temperature treatment vessel 1 and the outer circumferential surface of the sample holder 104.

[0026] Heaters 308 and 310 are embedded in heater substrate 306. Heater substrate 306 is disposed below heater blocks 302 and 304, with heater 308 in contact with heater block 302 and heater 310 in contact with heater block 304. Heater block 302 is heated by heater 308, and heater block 304 is heated by heater 310. Heaters 308 and 310 are driven independently of each other, thereby heating heater blocks 302 and 304 to different temperatures. One example of heaters 308 and 310 is an electric heating wire that generates an amount of heat according to the magnitude of the current flowing through it.

[0027] The turntable 312 supports the heater blocks 302, 304 and the heater substrate 306. The turntable 312 is rotated in a horizontal plane by a drive mechanism (not shown) including a motor and the like. Although not shown, a mechanism is provided that supports the wing parts 112 of the temperature treatment vessel 1 to maintain the temperature treatment vessel 1 set on the temperature treatment device 300, so that the temperature treatment vessel 1 does not rotate even if the heater blocks 302 and 304 rotate with the rotation of the turntable 312.

[0028] An example of the procedure for a temperature treatment method for a sample using the temperature treatment container 1 and the temperature treatment device 300 will be described.

[0029] First, the cap 200 with the sample attached to the sample holder 204 at the tip is attached to the container body 100. Then, the temperature treatment container 1 is set in the temperature treatment device 300, and the lower part of the temperature treatment container 1 is brought into surface contact with the heater blocks 302 and 304. In this state, current is passed through the heaters 308 and 310, and the temperature of the heater blocks 302 and 304 is set to about 50°C. This causes the reagent layer 110 in the temperature treatment container 1 to liquefy. When the reagent layer 110 includes a reagent layer and a paraffin layer, a paraffin layer P is formed on the sample liquid S, which is a mixture of the sample and the reagent, as shown in FIG. 5 due to the difference in specific gravity between the reagent and the paraffin, and as a result, the sample liquid S is accommodated in the internal space 106 of the sample accommodation section 104. The paraffin layer P serves to prevent the sample liquid S from evaporating during the subsequent temperature treatment, thereby improving the efficiency of the temperature treatment.

[0030] Thereafter, with the heater block 302 adjusted to a first temperature and the heater block 304 adjusted to a second temperature different from the first temperature, the temperatures of the heater blocks 302 and 304 are set to, for example, about 55° C. and 98° C., respectively. Then, the turntable 312 is rotated 180° at regular time intervals, and the heater blocks 302 and 304 are alternately brought into surface contact with the outer circumferential surface of the sample holding portion 104. As a result, the temperature of the sample liquid S held in the sample holding portion 104 is alternately changed between the first temperature and the second temperature at regular time intervals. FIG. 6 shows a state where the turntable 312 has been rotated 180° from the state shown in FIG. 5.

[0031] In this embodiment, the temperature treatment vessel 1 is fixed and the temperature treatment device 300 is rotated to alternately bring the heater blocks 302 and 304 into surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sample accommodation portion 104, but conversely, the temperature treatment device 300 may be fixed and the temperature treatment vessel 1 may be rotated to alternately bring the heater blocks 302 and 304 into surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sample accommodation portion 104. In short, the temperature treatment vessel 1 and the heater blocks 302 and 304 of the temperature treatment device 300 may be rotated relatively to each other.

[0032] 7 shows verification data obtained by performing PCR processing of a target gene using the above-mentioned temperature treatment container 1 and temperature treatment device 300, and then analyzing the sample liquid after PCR by electrophoresis. In this verification, the temperature of one of the heater blocks 302 and 304 of the temperature treatment device 300 was set to 110° C., and the temperature of the other was set to 40° C., and the turntable 312 was rotated at 30-second intervals to perform PCR processing for 15 minutes. As a result, it was confirmed that the amplification processing of the target gene was performed satisfactorily. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Temperature treatment vessel 100 Container body 102 Top surface of container body 104 Sample storage section 106 Sample storage compartment internal space 108 Funnel part 110 Reagent layer 112 Wings 114 Screw (First Screw) 116 Stopper 200 Cap 202 Protrusion 204 Sample holder 206 Skirt Club 208 Screw (Second Screw) 210 Stopper 300 Temperature Treatment Device 302,304 Heater block 306 Heater Board 308,310 Heater 312 Rotating Table

Claims

1. A temperature treatment vessel for performing a sample temperature treatment in which the temperature of a sample is changed, comprising: A container body having an open top; a cap attached to an upper portion of the container body to seal the upper surface of the container body; A temperature treatment container, comprising: a substantially semi-cylindrical sample containing portion extending downward from the lower end of the container body; the sample containing portion having an internal space for containing a sample liquid introduced from the upper surface.

2. 2. The temperature treatment vessel according to claim 1, wherein the internal space of the sample receiving portion has a cross-sectional area that decreases downward.

3. 3. The temperature treatment container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has a funnel-shaped portion whose inner and outer diameters decrease downward, and the sample storage portion is arranged to extend downward from the lower end of the funnel portion.

4. The temperature treatment vessel according to claim 3 , wherein the sample storage portion is provided so as to form a part of a cylinder sharing a central axis with the funnel portion.

5. A reagent that causes a reaction with the sample is held inside the container body, A temperature treatment container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein a sample holding portion for holding a sample is provided at the lower end of the cap, and when the cap is attached to the container body, the sample holding portion is inserted into the inside of the container body, and the sample held in the sample holding portion is configured to come into contact with the reagent.

6. the container body has an outer peripheral surface or an inner peripheral surface on which a first thread is provided, the cap has an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface on which a second thread that screws with the first thread is provided, and the cap is attached to the container body by the first thread and the second thread screwing together, The temperature treatment vessel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a locking mechanism is provided on the vessel body and the cap, which engages with each other when the threading distance of the first screw and the second screw reaches a certain distance to fix the cap attached to the vessel body.

7. The temperature treatment vessel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vessel body or the cap has a plurality of wing portions each extending in a plurality of directions in a horizontal plane.

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