Column cartridge

Abstract

According to the present invention, an analysis column is effectively prevented from being attached in an incorrect direction, facilitating correct analysis of a sample. The analysis column is accommodated in a column cartridge of an analysis device. The analysis column is provided with a first flow passage opening having a first shape in a cross section perpendicular to a flow passage, and a second flow passage opening having a second shape different from the first shape in a cross section. The column cartridge is provided with a first engaging portion having a shape matching the first shape, and a second engaging portion having a shape matching the second shape.

Description

Column Cartridge

[0001] The present invention relates to a column cartridge for holding an analytical column in an analytical device for analyzing a sample.

[0002] Liquid chromatography is an analytical method that uses an analytical column. An analytical column is a cylindrical, elongated container packed under high pressure with a filler of particles with various functional groups bonded to a base material such as silica gel or polymer gel.

[0003] Liquid chromatographs use a liquid as the mobile phase. To obtain good peak shapes in liquid chromatographs, it is generally necessary to adjust the analytical column to a temperature suitable for the analysis. As the temperature of the mobile phase in the analytical column increases, the viscosity of the mobile phase decreases, resulting in a decrease in pressure. For this reason, the analytical column of a liquid chromatograph must be held in a column oven and the temperature of the column must be adjusted. Patent Document 1 discloses a column cartridge containing an analytical column, a heater, and a temperature sensor.

[0004] In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 and other publications, the flow direction of the liquid in the analytical column is predetermined, and when the analytical column is attached to the column cartridge, it must be attached in the correct orientation according to the predetermined flow direction. However, due to an operator's mistake, the analytical column may be attached in the wrong orientation. If the analytical column is attached in the wrong orientation, there is a risk that the analytical device will not perform the correct analysis.

[0005] International Publication No. 2012 / 058515

[0006] The present invention provides a column cartridge for an analytical device that effectively prevents an analytical column from being installed in the wrong direction, thereby facilitating correct analysis of a sample.

[0007] The column cartridge of the analytical device of the present invention is a column cartridge that houses an analytical column for a liquid chromatograph, wherein the analytical column has a first flow path port having a first shape in a cross section perpendicular to a flow path, and a second flow path port having a second shape in the cross section that is different from the first shape, and the column cartridge is characterized by having a first engaging part having a shape that matches the first shape, and a second engaging part having a shape that matches the second shape.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent an analytical column from being attached in the wrong direction, and to promote correct analysis of a sample.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating the structure of a column cartridge 1 of an analyzer (liquid chromatograph) according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the top surface of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the bottom surface of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 4 is a front view, left and right side views, etc. illustrating the configuration of the column cartridge 1 in further detail. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1 of an analyzer (liquid chromatograph) according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the column cartridge 1 of an analyzer (liquid chromatograph) according to a third embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, functionally identical elements may be designated by the same numerals. Note that the accompanying drawings show embodiments and implementation examples according to the principles of the present disclosure, but these are for understanding the present disclosure and are not to be used to interpret the present disclosure in a limiting manner. The descriptions in this specification are merely typical examples and are not intended to limit the scope or application of the present disclosure in any way.

[0011] Although the present embodiment has been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present disclosure, it should be understood that other implementations and forms are possible, and that changes in configuration and structure and substitutions of various elements are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the technical ideas of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following description should not be interpreted as being limited thereto.

[0012] First Embodiment The structure of a column cartridge 1 of an analytical apparatus (liquid chromatograph) according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to the external perspective view of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the column cartridge 1 includes a resin upper housing 2 and a resin lower housing 3. The upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3 form a housing H that houses an analytical column 10 therein. That is, the upper housing 2 is provided above the analytical column 10, while the lower housing 3 is provided below the analytical column 10, and the analytical column 10 is housed inside the housing H formed by the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3. As will be described later, the analytical column 10 is fixed within the housing H by a metal block MB.

[0013] A handle (protrusion) 5 is formed on the top surface of the housing upper part 2. A first flow path port 4 is formed on the side surface of the housing between the housing upper part 2 and the housing lower part 3 as one end of an analytical column 10, and the analytical column 10 is held within the housing H in a manner such that the first flow path port 4 is exposed from the housing H. A mobile phase flows into the first flow path port 4. A second flow path port 9 is formed on the opposite side surface of the housing H as the other end of the analytical column 10, and the analytical column 10 is held within the housing H in a manner such that the second flow path port 9 is similarly exposed to the outside of the housing H.

[0014] The structure of the top surface of the column cartridge 1 is shown in the perspective view of Figure 2. Temperature detection windows 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are provided on the top surface of the upper housing section 2. These windows 6A to 6E are connected to the storage space of the analytical column 10. The windows 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the analytical column 10. In Figure 2, some of the windows 6B, 6C, and 6D are formed at the position where the handle section 5 is formed, while the remaining windows 6A and 6E are located outside the handle section 5 (on the longitudinal extension line), but this is merely an example and is not limited to the illustrated configuration. The diameters of the windows 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are preferably approximately 1.4 mm or less.

[0015] 3 shows the structure of the bottom of the column cartridge 1. An opening 3A is formed in the bottom of the housing lower part 3. A heat transfer part 7A of the metal block lower part 7 (described later) is inserted into this opening 3A, and the heat transfer part 7A is exposed to the outside through the opening 3A. The heat transfer part 7A comes into contact with a heat source (not shown) and transfers heat to the analytical column 10.

[0016] The configuration of the column cartridge 1 will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 4. Figures 4(a) to 4(c) are left side, front, and right side views of the upper housing 2. Figures 4(d) and 4(e) are perspective and front views of the analytical column 10. Figures 4(f) to 4(h) are left side, front, and right side views of the lower housing 3. Note that the metal block MB is not shown in Figure 4.

[0017] As described above, the housing upper part 2 is provided above the analytical column 10, and upper engaging parts 21 and 22 are provided on both side surfaces thereof with which both ends of the analytical column 10 engage (FIGS. 4(a) and 4(c)). The upper engaging parts 21 and 22 are configured as cutouts with which both ends of the analytical column 10 come into contact. The upper engaging part 21 is a substantially rectangular cutout, and the upper engaging part 22 is a cutout with an arc-shaped upper edge.

[0018] The analytical column 10 has a flow path through which a liquid such as a mobile phase moves, and has a first flow path port 4 and a second flow path port 9 at both ends of the flow path. The liquid such as a mobile phase flows into the analytical column 10 from the first flow path port 4, which is the inlet of the flow path, and flows out from the second flow path port 9, which is the outlet of the flow path. The first flow path port 4 and the second flow path port 9 of the analytical column 10 have different shapes, as will be described later. As an example, the first flow path port 4 has a hexagonal cross section perpendicular to the direction of the flow path.

[0019] The second flow path port 9 also has a hexagonal base 9B, but also has an irregularly shaped portion 9R at its tip, which has a different shape from the hexagonal nut. Whether or not it has a "different shape" is determined in relation to the shapes of the engagement portions 21, 22, 31, and 32. In other words, a "different shape" is understood here to mean a shape that prevents the engagement portions 21 and 31 from properly engaging with the irregularly shaped portion 9R when the analytical column 10 is not installed in the correct orientation.

[0020] The shape of the irregularly shaped portion 9R can be substantially the same as the shape of the upper engagement portion 22 described above. As an example, the irregularly shaped portion 9R can be a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section and a diameter slightly smaller than the hexagonal base. In this case, the shape (upper edge) of the lower engagement portion 22 can also be an arc shape that follows the cylindrical shape. The analytical column 10 can also have a notch 10X to indicate its up-down direction.

[0021] As shown in Figures 4(f) to 4(h), the housing lower part 3 is provided below the analytical column 10, and on both side surfaces thereof, lower engagement parts 31 and 32 are provided, with which both ends of the analytical column 10 come into contact (Figures 4(f) and 4(g)). The lower engagement parts 31 and 32 are configured as cutouts with which both ends of the analytical column 10 come into contact. The lower engagement part 31 is a substantially rectangular cutout, and the lower engagement part 32 is a circular-arc cutout. The circular arc of the lower engagement part 32 has substantially the same shape as the irregularly shaped part 9R described above. The upper engagement part 21 and the lower engagement part 31 together form a first engagement part that engages with the first flow path port 4, and the upper engagement part 22 and the lower engagement part 32 together form a second engagement part that engages with the irregularly shaped part 9R of the second flow path port 9. In FIG. 4(f), the width of the lower engagement portion 31 is larger than the width of the first flow path opening 4, but similar to the upper engagement portion 21, it may be a cutout portion having approximately the same width as the first flow path opening 4.

[0022] The structure of the metal block MB will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the column cartridge 1 with the metal block MB attached. Figure 6 is a front view and left and right side views of the column cartridge 1. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the column cartridge 1 with the metal block MB attached.

[0023] An upper metal block 8 and a lower metal block 7 are disposed between the upper housing part 2 and the lower housing part 3. The upper metal block 8 and the lower metal block 7 form a metal block MB. The upper metal block 8 and the lower metal block 7 may be made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, for example.

[0024] The upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3 are provided with recesses 2C and protrusions 3C for fitting the two together. The upper housing 2 is fitted into the lower housing 3 by fitting the protrusions 3C into the recesses 2C, thereby forming the housing H. The lower housing 3 is also provided with claws 3H that extend upward, and when the upper housing 2 is fitted into the lower housing 3, the claws 3H engage with the fitting grooves 2H of the upper housing 2.

[0025] The upper metal block 8 is disposed opposite the upper housing part 2. The upper metal block 8 and the lower metal block 7 sandwich the analytical column 10 therebetween and serve to fix the analytical column 10 in place within the column cartridge 1.

[0026] The metal block upper portion 8 has through-holes 8A to 8E directly below the windows 6A to 6E (FIGS. 6 and 8). As shown in FIG. 8, rod-shaped temperature sensor probes 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 15E are inserted through the windows 6A to 6E and the through-holes 8A to 8E. The diameter of the temperature sensor probes 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 15E is approximately 0.7 mm. When the tips of the temperature sensor probes 15A to 15E reach the analytical column 10, the temperature of the analytical column 10 can be measured.

[0027] Next, the operation of installing the analytical column 10 in this column cartridge 1 will be described. The analytical column 10 must be installed in the correct orientation relative to the housing H; if it is installed in the wrong orientation, correct analysis will not be possible. However, in this embodiment, the first flow path port 4 and the second flow path port 9 at both ends of the analytical column 10 have different shapes, and the engaging portions 21, 22, 31, and 32 have shapes that correspond to these different shapes. Therefore, the operator can insert the analytical column 10 in the correct orientation by installing the analytical column 10 so that the first flow path port 4 and the second flow path port 9 match the engaging portions 21, 22, 31, and 32.

[0028] In the first embodiment, the second flow path port 9 has an irregularly shaped portion 9R. While attaching the analytical column 10 to the metal block MB, the operator can insert the analytical column 10 so that the irregularly shaped portion 9R aligns with the arcs of the upper engaging portion 22 and the lower engaging portion 32.

[0029] If the analytical column 10 is installed in the reverse direction (i.e., the analytical column 10 is installed so that the first flow path port 4 faces the engaging portions 31 and 32), the irregularly shaped portion 9R at the second flow path port 9 does not match the shape of the engaging portions 21 and 22, while the first flow path port 4 is too large compared to the engaging portions 31 and 32 to be inserted, allowing the operator to notice the incorrect installation orientation. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to ensure that the analytical column 10 is reliably inserted in the correct direction. The cross-sectional shape of the irregularly shaped portion 9R is different from the cross-sectional shape of the first flow path port 4, but the difference is preferably such that the analytical column 10 cannot be installed in the reverse direction.

[0030] Second Embodiment Next, a column cartridge 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 9. The column cartridge 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the analytical column 10 and the structure of the engagement portion. The overall structure and other details of the column cartridge 1 are the same as those of the first embodiment (Figures 1 to 3), so a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0031] FIG. 9 shows the cross-sectional structures of the first flow path port 4, the second flow path port 9, and the engagement portions 21, 22, 31, and 32 of the analytical column 10 in the column cartridge 1 according to the second embodiment. While the first flow path port 4 and the second flow path port 9 in the first embodiment have a hexagonal cross-sectional structure as described above, in the second embodiment, the first flow path port 4 and the second flow path port 9 are shaped like a bale, with two opposing vertical sides being straight. The analytical column 10 can be inserted so that the two parallel sides of the bale shape of the first flow path port 4 coincide with the vertical contours of the engagement portions 21 and 22. The irregularly shaped portion 9R has a circular cross-section, as in the first embodiment. The second embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0032] [Third Embodiment] Next, a column cartridge 1 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 10. The column cartridge 1 of the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the analytical column 10 and the structure of the engagement portion. The overall structure and other details of the column cartridge 1 are the same as those of the first embodiment (Figures 1 to 3), so a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0033] 10 shows the cross-sectional structures of the first flow path port 4, the second flow path port 9, and the engagement portions 21, 22, 31, and 32 of the analytical column 10 in the column cartridge 1 according to the third embodiment. In the first flow path port 4 and the second flow path port 9 according to the third embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the irregularly shaped portion 9R is hexagonal rather than circular, and the upper engagement portion 31 and the lower engagement portion 32 have shapes that match the contours of this hexagon. The third embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0034] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to embodiments that include all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to delete part of the configuration of each embodiment, or to add or replace other configurations.

[0035] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...column cartridge, 2...upper housing part, 2C...recess, 2H...engagement groove, 3...lower housing part, 3A...opening, 3C...convex part, 3H...claw part, H...housing, 4...first flow path port, 5...handle part, 6A-6E...window part, 7...lower metal block part, 7A...heat transfer part, 8...upper metal block part, MB...metal block, 9...second flow path port, 9B...base part, 9R...irregularly shaped part, 10...analytical column, 15A-E...temperature sensor probe, 21, 22...upper engaging part, 31, 32...lower engaging part.

Claims

1. A column cartridge for accommodating an analytical column for a liquid chromatograph, wherein the analytical column has a first flow path port having a first shape in a cross section perpendicular to the flow path, and a second flow path port having a second shape in the cross section that is different from the first shape, and the column cartridge has a first engaging part having a shape that matches the first shape, and a second engaging part having a shape that matches the second shape.

2. A column cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the second flow path port comprises a base portion and an irregularly shaped portion formed at the tip of the base portion and having a cross-sectional shape different from that of the base portion, and the second engagement portion has a shape that matches the shape of the irregularly shaped portion.

3. The column cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the base is hexagonal, the cross-sectional shape of the irregularly shaped portion is circular, and the second engagement portion has an arc-shaped cutout portion that follows the circular shape.

4. A column cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first flow path port is an inlet of the flow path, and the second flow path port is an outlet of the flow path.

5. A column cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a housing that accommodates the analytical column, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are formed on a side surface of the housing.

6. A column cartridge as described in claim 2, characterized in that: the first flow path port has a cross-sectional shape with two parallel sides in the cross section; the base portion has a cross-sectional shape with two parallel sides in the cross section; the irregularly shaped portion has a circular cross-sectional shape; the first engagement portion has cutout portions along the two sides; and the second engagement portion has an arc-shaped cutout portion along the circular shape.