Priming aid, syringe with aid

Abstract

To provide an instrument and a syringe capable of easily being aspirated and held in a position where it can be easily pulled out by a predetermined amount when performing manual priming operation in liquid chromatography.SOLUTION: An instrument is installed at an end part on an opposite side of a gasket part of a syringe plunger. The instrument and the syringe are used that are characterized by comprising a stopper on a flange of the end part of a syringe barrel when the syringe plunger is withdrawn.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an instrument and a syringe used for the priming operation of liquid chromatography.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a pump for liquid chromatography uses a plunger pump. Before use, this plunger pump needs to perform a priming operation (flushing) to suck liquid using a syringe from the outlet side of the pump and fill the inside of the plunger with liquid. In recent years, this priming operation has been automated, and the number of devices that perform the priming operation automatically has increased. However, in this case, there are problems such as an increase in the size and cost of the device. Therefore, there are still many devices that perform the priming operation by manually sucking the syringe, which is one of the tasks that impose a heavy burden on the operator.

[0003] In addition, in the case of an inert flow path (pipe) such as plastic in liquid chromatography (including ion chromatography), the pressure resistance is likely to be lower than that of a metal flow path (pipe). Although the pressure resistance can be increased by keeping the inner diameter of the pipe as it is and increasing the outer diameter and thickness of the pipe, increasing the outer diameter of the pipe makes it difficult to connect to a column or the like with a restriction on the pipe diameter, so it is difficult to apply in liquid chromatography. Therefore, in the inert flow path of liquid chromatography, it is often the case that the outer diameter of the pipe is kept as it is, the inner diameter of the pipe is reduced, the thickness is increased, and high pressure resistance is realized. However, since the suction resistance during the priming operation with the syringe increases as the inner diameter of the pipe decreases, the burden on the operator becomes even greater.

[0004] In addition, when performing the priming operation manually, the finger contact part of the plunger of the syringe is narrow, has poor grip, and is difficult to transmit force. Also, due to the large suction resistance, the follow-up of the liquid is poor, and there remains a problem that it is difficult to hold the syringe at a position where a predetermined amount of liquid is drawn out.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide an instrument that can be easily aspirated and held in a position to easily draw out a predetermined amount when performing a manual priming operation in liquid chromatography, a syringe equipped with the instrument, and a method for performing a priming operation in liquid chromatography using the syringe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the inventors of this invention have conducted extensive research and have arrived at the present invention. In other words, the present invention is (1) A device installed on the opposite end of the gasket portion of the syringe plunger, When the syringe plunger is withdrawn from the syringe barrel, The apparatus is characterized by having a stopper for the flange at the end of the syringe barrel. (2) The apparatus of (1), characterized in that the apparatus is equipped with a gripping portion. (3) The apparatus according to (1) or (2), characterized in that the apparatus has a cylindrical gripping portion. (4) Any of the devices (1) to (3), characterized in that the gripping portion is equipped with a mechanism to prevent rolling. (5) Any of the devices (1) to (4), characterized in that the gripping portion is equipped with a flat anti-rolling mechanism. (6) The apparatus of (1), characterized in that the apparatus comprises a plate having a curved surface and one or more recesses, and a lever. (7) The apparatus of (1) or (6), characterized in that the plate having the curved surface and one or more recesses is made up of a circular shape. (8) The apparatus of (1) or (6), characterized in that the plate having the curved surface and one or more recesses is configured in a fan shape. A syringe characterized by being equipped with any of the instruments described in (9)(1) to (8). This is a priming procedure for liquid chromatography using a syringe as described in (10)(9).

[0007] The stopper can take any form as long as it can be fixed to the flange to maintain suction, and may be claw-shaped, protruding, or recessed. In the case of claw-shaped or protruding shapes, the suction volume can be adjusted by changing its length or size. In the case of recesses, the suction volume can be adjusted by changing the position of the recess.

[0008] The gripping portion is preferably larger than the finger rest portion of the syringe plunger and shaped to be gripped with the fingers or palm. Examples of shapes include lever-shaped, cylindrical, strap-shaped (perforated), umbrella handle-shaped (J-shaped), S-shaped, L-shaped, T-shaped, and doorknob-shaped. The gripping portion may also be equipped with anti-slip mechanisms such as slits on its surface or roughening of the surface of the material. This gripping portion makes it easier to apply force than with the finger rest portion of the plunger alone, thereby facilitating syringe aspiration.

[0009] In the case of a cylindrical shape, it is preferable to have a mechanism to prevent rolling. Examples of such mechanisms include protrusions or flat surfaces, but considering that it will be grasped with fingertips or the palm of the hand, a flat surface mechanism is more preferable.

[0010] Another form of the device is a structure comprising a plate with a curved surface and one or more indentations, and a lever. When the curved plate is moved with the lever, the curved surface moves along the end of the syringe barrel, allowing the syringe to be aspirated with less force due to the lever principle. When the indentation comes into contact with the flange, the plate is fixed to the flange. If the structure has multiple indentations, the amount of suction can be selected as appropriate. The amount of suction can also be adjusted by changing the outer radius of the plate. Furthermore, the lever may be made longer to reduce the load.

[0011] When the shape of a plate having a curved surface and one or more indentations is circular, examples include perfect circles, ellipses, egg shapes, etc.

[0012] When the shape of a plate having a curved surface and one or more indentations is sector-shaped, its central angle can be any number of degrees, such as a 3 / 4 circle, a semicircle, or a 1 / 4 circle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The present invention makes it possible to easily aspirate and hold a predetermined amount of liquid chromatography in a position where it can be easily drawn out during manual priming operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This figure shows the syringe used in Comparative Example 1. [Figure 2] This figure shows a syringe equipped with the device used in Example 1. a is a front view, and b is a side view. [Figure 3] This figure shows the configuration in which the device is held in a position where a predetermined amount is pulled out, as in Example 1. a is a front view, and b is a side view. [Figure 4] This figure shows a syringe equipped with the device used in Example 2. [Figure 5] This figure shows the configuration in which the product is held in a position where a predetermined amount is drawn out, as in Example 2. [Figure 6] This figure shows a syringe equipped with the device used in Example 3. a is a front view, b is a side view, and c is a perspective view of the drive mechanism. [Figure 7] This figure shows the configuration in which the device is held in a position where a predetermined amount is pulled out, as in Example 3. a is a front view, and b is a side view. [Figure 8] This figure shows a syringe with the instrument used in Example 4 attached. Figure a shows the syringe with the instrument attached, and figure b shows the syringe held in a position to draw out a predetermined amount. [Figure 9] This figure shows a syringe equipped with the device used in Example 5. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing a syringe equipped with the instrument used in Example 6. a is a front view and b is a side view.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Examples

[0016] In this example, a 20 mL slip tip (side port) Terumo syringe manufactured by Terumo was used as the syringe. As the liquid chromatography apparatus, an ion chromatograph IC-8100EX manufactured by Tosoh Corporation was used.

[0017] (Comparative Example 1) When the syringe shown in FIG. 1 was connected to the pump piping of the IC-8100EX and a priming operation of about 5 mL of pure water was manually performed, a load of about 25 N was applied when the syringe plunger 2 was pulled out. It was necessary to hold the finger rest portion 9 with the operator's own force while the syringe plunger 2 was pulled out for about four and a half minutes until all the pure water in the barrel was suctioned. Some operators could not hold it for about four and a half minutes and had to perform the priming operation in multiple times.

[0018] (Example 1) A strap-shaped device, as shown in Figure 2, was attached to the opposite end of the gasket portion 3 of the syringe plunger. The gripping portion 4 is perforated, and the stopper 5 is a two-plate shape extending 3 cm from the gripping portion 4. The syringe with the device attached was connected to the pump piping of the IC-8100EX, and the priming operation was performed. The gripping portion 5 allowed the syringe to be grasped in the palm of the hand, and suction was easily achieved even with a load of approximately 25 N. Furthermore, after pulling the syringe plunger 2 to the end of the stopper 5, the device was rotated 90 degrees laterally, allowing the flange 6 at the end of the syringe barrel to be fixed to the stopper 5 (see Figure 3). Since it was not necessary for the operator to hold it with their own strength, the liquid chromatography priming operation could be easily performed.

[0019] (Example 2) A cylindrical device, as shown in Figure 4, was installed on the opposite end of the gasket portion 3 of the syringe plunger. The gripping portion 4 was a cylindrical portion, and a material with a rough surface was used as a non-slip surface. In addition, a planar structure was formed in part to prevent rolling. The stopper 5 is in the shape of two plates extending 2 cm from the gripping portion 4. The priming operation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Due to the effects of the gripping portion 4 and the stopper 5 (see Figure 5), the liquid chromatography priming operation could be easily performed.

[0020] (Example 3) An instrument was installed on the opposite end of the gasket portion 3 of the syringe plunger, consisting of a plate 7 with a quarter-circular shape and a single recess at the lever pivot point, and a lever 8 (see Figure 6). The syringe with the instrument installed was connected to the pump piping of the IC-8100EX, and the priming operation was performed. The plate 7 and lever 8 were held by the plunger 2, and a through hole was provided from the lever 8 joint portion of the plunger 2 to the middle. By rotating the lever 8, the plate 7 passed through the through hole, and the curved surface of the plate 7 moved along the end of the syringe barrel, causing the plunger 2 to be pulled out and suction to occur. Due to the lever principle, suction of the syringe could be performed with approximately 13N, about half the force required. The stopper 5 is the recess provided at the quarter-circular end. When the flange 6 contacts this recess, which is the stopper 5, the flange 6 can be fixed in place (see Figure 7), eliminating the need for the operator to hold it with their own strength, thus making the liquid chromatography priming operation easy to perform.

[0021] (Example 4) A cylindrical device, as shown in Figure 8, was attached to the opposite end of the gasket portion 3 of the syringe plunger. An S-shaped gripping portion 4 was used. The stopper 5 consisted of two plates extending 2 cm from the gripping portion 4. The priming operation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Due to the effects of the gripping portion 4 and the stopper 5, the liquid chromatography priming operation could be easily performed.

[0022] (Example 5) A cylindrical device, as shown in Figure 9, was attached to the opposite end of the gasket portion 3 of the syringe plunger. The gripping portion 4 is cylindrical, and multiple slits are provided on its surface to prevent slipping. In addition, a planar structure is formed in part to prevent rolling. The stopper 5 is in the shape of two plates extending 2 cm from the gripping portion 4. The priming operation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Due to the effects of the gripping portion 4 and the stopper 5, the priming operation for liquid chromatography could be easily performed.

[0023] (Example 6) An instrument was installed on the opposite end of the gasket portion 3 of the syringe plunger, consisting of a plate 7 with a fan shape and eight recesses in the arc portion at the lever pivot point, and a lever 8 (see Figure 10). The syringe with the instrument installed was connected to the pump piping of the IC-8100EX, and a priming operation was performed. The plate 7 and lever 8 were held by the plunger 2, and a through hole was provided in the plunger 2 from the lever 8 joint to the middle. By rotating the lever 8, the plate 7 passed through the through hole, and the curved surface of the plate 7 moved along the end of the syringe barrel, causing the plunger 2 to be pulled out and suction to occur. The stopper 5 is a recess provided in the fan-shaped plate 7. When the flange 6 contacts this recess, which is the stopper 5, the flange 6 can be fixed in place, eliminating the need for the operator to hold it with their own strength, thus making the liquid chromatography priming operation easy to perform. In addition, the suction volume could be changed by having the flange contact a different recess. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1. Syringe (syringe barrel) 2. Plunger 3. Gasket section 4. Grip part 5. Stopper 6. Flange 7. Board 8. Lever 9. Finger rest area

Claims

1. An instrument installed on the opposite end of the gasket portion of a syringe plunger, The aforementioned device is equipped with a gripping part, When the syringe plunger is withdrawn from the syringe barrel, The syringe barrel end is equipped with a stopper for the flange, Furthermore, the device comprises a plate having a curved surface and one or more recesses that serve as stoppers, The device is characterized by having a lever that moves the curved surface of a plate along the syringe barrel as the gripping part.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate having the curved surface and one or more recesses that serve as stoppers is circular in shape.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate having the curved surface and one or more recesses that serve as stoppers is configured in a fan shape.

4. A method for priming liquid chromatography using a syringe equipped with the apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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