Pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device

Abstract

A pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device according to the present disclosure comprises: a pretreatment unit that performs pretreatment on a biological specimen to prepare a sample for electrophoresis, and an optical system that irradiates the sample subjected to migration separation in a capillary with light and detects light from the sample, the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device comprising a first body part and a second body part, and a connection member that connects the first body part and the second body part. The present invention is characterized in that at least one of the first body part and the second body part has an installation surface on which a detachable unit is installed, and the connection member connects the first body part and the second body part so that either the first body part or the second body part is movable relative to the other, and the overall size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device can thereby be changed.

Description

Pretreatment integrated electrophoresis device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device.

[0002] Applications using nucleic acid analysis have been put to practical use in fields such as forensic science, immigration control, and counterterrorism. For example, STR analysis has been put to practical use in the field of forensic science. STR analysis analyzes short tandem repeats (STRs) in a specific region of the genome. Since the length of the STR sequence is unique to each individual, it can be used for DNA testing, such as personal identification and paternity testing.

[0003] The procedure for STR analysis is, for example, as follows: First, a template nucleic acid (often DNA) is extracted from a specimen sample, such as a biological sample or a sample of biological material. The extracted template DNA is then amplified by PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and the double-stranded DNA is denatured into single strands by formamide treatment or heating and rapid cooling. In DNA amplification, multiplex PCR amplification is performed on one measurement DNA sample using 13 primer sets. The amplified DNA fragments are labeled during DNA amplification. The solution in which the DNA has been amplified and labeled in this manner is the analysis sample (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] If the process from preparing an analytical sample from the aforementioned specimen sample is called the pretreatment process, the process from separating the labeled DNA fragments by electrophoresis to detecting and analyzing the electrophoretic patterns of the separated DNA fragments is called the electrophoresis process.

[0005] Until now, the separation and detection of DNA fragments have been actively automated using DNA sequencers and the like. However, the pretreatment process has generally been performed manually by skilled personnel. In recent years, attempts have been made to automate this pretreatment process so that many genetic analyses, including STR analysis, can be performed in a wider range of cases, rather than only with limited facilities and skilled personnel.

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device that performs a pretreatment process and an electrophoresis process consecutively. The pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device of Patent Document 2 is equipped with a sample cartridge for extracting and amplifying DNA from a sample, and a capillary cartridge equipped with a capillary for performing electrophoresis. A user places a sample-encapsulated sample cartridge into the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device, which then automatically performs processes from the pretreatment process to the electrophoresis process. Such a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device does not require specialized knowledge to use and can be easily operated, even by users who are not familiar with DNA testing. Patent Documents 3 to 5 will be described later.

[0007] US Patent No. 6531282 US Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0116439 JP 2016-0101166 JP 7-83900 JP 10-282055

[0008] Integrated pretreatment electrophoresis devices, which perform everything from pretreatment to electrophoresis, are primarily used in criminal investigations. In criminal investigations, the devices are operated by users who do not have specialized knowledge of DNA analysis. Furthermore, users transport the devices to crime scenes, collect samples, and load them into the devices on the spot. Therefore, easy operation and portability are important features of the devices.

[0009] In the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device described in Patent Document 2, the only consumables are a capillary cartridge integrating reagents and capillaries and a sample cartridge into which samples are loaded. This eliminates the need for users to install multiple consumables in multiple locations, allowing for extremely simple operation. However, the cartridge itself is large and is configured to be installed inside the device. This requires space within the device to accommodate the cartridge, which can hinder the miniaturization of the device, which is important for portability. Furthermore, when transporting the device in a transport vehicle without temperature control, the cartridge containing the reagent must be removed. Even in this case, the configuration described in Patent Document 2 does not reduce the storage space for the cartridge in the device, so the volume of the device remains unchanged, and space is required for the transport vehicle. Furthermore, removing the cartridge exposes the interior of the device, which may allow dust and other foreign matter to enter the device.

[0010] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device that can be miniaturized and can be further deformed to a smaller size during transportation.

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure provides a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device including a pretreatment unit that performs pretreatment on a biological sample to prepare a sample for electrophoresis, and an optical system that irradiates light onto the sample that has been electrophoretically separated in a capillary and detects the light from the sample, the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device also including a first main body portion and a second main body portion, and a connecting member that connects the first main body portion and the second main body portion, wherein at least one of the first main body portion and the second main body portion has an installation surface on which a detachable unit is installed, and the connecting member connects the first main body portion and the second main body portion such that one of the first main body portion and the second main body portion is movable relative to the other, thereby allowing the overall size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device to be adjustable.

[0012] Further features related to the present disclosure will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. Also, aspects of the present disclosure are achieved and realized by the elements and combinations of various elements and the aspects of the following detailed description and the appended claims. The description of this specification is merely exemplary and does not limit the scope or application of the claims of the present disclosure in any way.

[0013] The pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device of the present disclosure can be made smaller, and can be further reduced in size during transportation. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the following description of the embodiments.

[0014] 5B is a front view (left) and a side view (right) showing the overall configuration of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 5C is a configuration diagram of a capillary cartridge. FIG. 5D is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a dotted circle A in FIG. 2. FIG. 5E is a plan view (left) and a side view (right) of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device. FIG. 5F is a side view for explaining the shape of the pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device when the interface unit is closed. FIG. 5G is a cross-sectional view of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device. FIG. 5H is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a dotted circle in FIG. 5B, showing the boundary between the main body and the interface unit. FIG. 5F is an enlarged view for explaining another structure of the boundary between the main body and the interface unit. FIG. 5G is a top view (left) and a side view (right) of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5H is a side view showing a state in which a capillary cartridge is mounted on an interface unit and a state in which it is not mounted. FIG. 5F is a side view of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 5G is a side view of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 5G is a front view (left) and a side view (right) of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to a fifth embodiment. 10A and 10B are side views of a pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to a sixth embodiment and a seventh embodiment, respectively.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings illustrate specific embodiments in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, but the drawings are for understanding the present disclosure and are not to be used to interpret the present disclosure in a limiting manner.

[0016] [First embodiment] <Configuration example of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device> Fig. 1 is a front view (left side) and a side view (right side) showing the overall configuration of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 according to a first embodiment. The side view of Fig. 1 shows internal and external components of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1. Hereinafter, in this specification, the surface shown in the front view of Fig. 1 may be referred to as the front surface, and the direction in which this surface faces may be referred to as the forward direction. The pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 is a device for performing nucleic acid analysis, including STR analysis.

[0017] A capillary cartridge 101 and a sample cartridge 102, which are consumables, can be detachably attached to the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1. The capillary cartridge 101 includes one or more capillaries, a reagent used during pretreatment, a reagent used during electrophoresis, etc. The sample cartridge 102 is loaded with a biological sample such as cells collected from a human, and the cells are subjected to pretreatment. The capillary cartridge 101 and the sample cartridge 102 are consumables, and are stored in a case separate from the transport case of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 during transportation.

[0018] As shown in the right side view of FIG. 1 , the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 includes a high-voltage power supply 103, an optical system 104, a high-pressure pump 105, a pretreatment unit 106, a PC 107, a touch panel 108, an interface unit 109 (second main body), a hinge 110 (connecting member), and a main body 111 (first main body). The high-voltage power supply 103 applies a high voltage to the capillaries during electrophoresis. The optical system 104 irradiates the sample in the capillaries with excitation light and detects fluorescence emitted from the sample. The high-pressure pump 105 is driven when injecting a migration medium into the capillaries. The pretreatment unit 106 delivers reagent to the sample cartridge 102 and adjusts its temperature. The PC 107 controls each component of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1. The touch panel 108 is operated by a user when using the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1. An instruction input by the user via the touch panel 108 is transmitted to the PC 107 .

[0019] The interface unit 109 is connected to the main body 111 by a hinge 110 and can be opened and closed like a door. In FIG. 1 , the interface unit 109 is shown in an open state, protruding forward from the front surface of the main body 111. The interface unit 109 is opened when the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 is used, and the capillary cartridge 101 is placed on the upper surface. The interface unit 109 serves to electrically connect, fluidically connect, and optically connect with the capillary cartridge 101. The connection between the interface unit 109 and the main body 111 will be described in detail below.

[0020] When the interface unit 109 is in the open state, legs may be provided on the bottom surface of the interface unit 109 and the bottom surface of the main body 111 .

[0021] Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of the capillary cartridge 101. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of each component when viewed from above the capillary cartridge 101. The capillary cartridge 101 includes one or more capillaries 201, a heater 202, an irradiation and detection unit 203, an optical fiber connection unit 204, a cathode block 205, an anode block 206, an electrophoresis medium unit 207, a waste liquid unit 208, an electrophoresis reagent unit 209, a pretreatment reagent unit 210, a waste liquid unit 211, an electrical interface 212, a high-voltage interface 213, a sample connection unit 214, a coupling 215, a positioning hole 216, and a pump 217.

[0022] The heater 202 adjusts the temperature of the capillary 201. The irradiation and detection unit 203 is configured to irradiate the capillary 201 with excitation light and detect fluorescence emitted from the sample in the capillary 201. The optical fiber connection unit 204 optically connects the capillary 201, the irradiation and detection unit 203, and the optical system 104. The optical fiber connection unit 204 bundles optical fiber cables for introducing excitation light from the optical system 104 to the irradiation and detection unit 203 and guiding fluorescence from the capillary 201 to the optical system 104. The cathode block 205 injects a sample into the capillary 201. The anode block 206 fills the capillary 201 with a migration medium. The migration medium unit 207 contains a migration medium for electrophoresis. The waste liquid unit 208 collects waste migration medium. The electrophoresis reagent unit 209 contains reagents and the like used for electrophoresis. The pretreatment reagent section 210 contains a reagent used for pretreatment. The waste liquid section 211 contains waste liquid and the like. The electrical interface 212 supplies voltage to the heater 202 and the like. The high-voltage interface 213 applies the voltage output by the high-voltage power supply 103 to the capillary 201. The sample connection section 214 supplies the pretreated sample to the cathode block 205. The coupling 215 supplies the reagent in the pretreatment reagent section 210 to the pretreatment unit 106. The positioning hole 216 is used to align the position with the interface unit 109 when installing the capillary cartridge 101. The pump 217 is driven when introducing the reagent from the electrophoresis reagent section 209 into the cathode block 205. The optical fiber connection part 204, the electrical interface 212, the high voltage interface 213, the sample connection part 214, and the coupling 215 are exposed from the connection surface of the capillary cartridge 101 with the interface unit 109 (the bottom surface of the capillary cartridge 101).

[0023] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted circle A in FIG. 2 , showing the details of the anode block 206. The anode block 206 includes a capillary anode end 301, a valve 302, a pump 303, a loading medium connection 304, a waste liquid connection 305, and a hole 306. The capillaries 201 are bundled at the capillary anode end 301. The valve 302 seals the flow path. The pump 303 is driven when filling the capillaries 201 with the loading medium. The loading medium connection 304 is connected to the loading medium section 207. The waste liquid connection 305 is connected to the waste liquid section 208. The hole 306 is provided on the connection surface of the capillary cartridge 101 with the interface unit 109. The hole 306 allows an anode actuator (described later) to access the valve 302 and the piston of the pump 303.

[0024] 4 is a plan view (left side) and a side view (right side) of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1. FIG. 4 shows the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 described in FIG. 1 with the capillary cartridge 101 removed. The main body 111 of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 has a protrusion 410 that protrudes forward from the front surface. Hinges 110 are provided on both side surfaces of the protrusion 410. The interface unit 109 has a substantially U-shape in top view, and is provided so as to surround the front and side surfaces of the protrusion 410. The interface unit 109 and the protrusion 410 are connected by the hinge 110.

[0025] The protrusion 410 is provided with a positioning pin 401, a main body side optical fiber connection part 402, a main body side sample connection part 403, a main body side reagent connection part 404, and an anode actuator 405. The positioning pin 401 fits into a positioning hole 216 of the capillary cartridge 101. By fitting the positioning pin 401 into the positioning hole 216, the capillary cartridge 101 can be installed in the pretreatment integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 with good reproducibility. The main body side optical fiber connection part 402 is connected to the optical fiber connection part 204 of the capillary cartridge 101. The main body side sample connection part 403 is connected to the sample connection part 214 of the capillary cartridge 101. The main body side sample connection part 403 delivers a sample that has been pretreated in the pretreatment unit 106 to the capillary cartridge 101. The main body side reagent connection part 404 is connected to the coupling 215 of the capillary cartridge 101. The main body side reagent connection section 404 delivers the reagent contained in the pretreatment reagent section 210 of the capillary cartridge 101 to the pretreatment unit 106. The anode actuator 405 controls the opening and closing operations of the pump 303 and valve 302 of the capillary cartridge 101.

[0026] The interface unit 109 has a latch 406, a power supply unit 407, a high-voltage application unit 408, and a magnet switch 409. When the capillary cartridge 101 is installed on the interface unit 109, the latch 406 engages with a step or the like (not shown) provided on the side of the capillary cartridge 101, thereby fixing the capillary cartridge 101. The power supply unit 407 supplies power to the electrical interface 212 of the capillary cartridge 101. The high-voltage application unit 408 applies a high voltage to the cathode end of the capillary 201 via the high-voltage interface 213 of the capillary cartridge 101. The magnet switch 409 passes a weak current when the capillary cartridge 101 is installed. This allows the PC 107 to check whether the capillary cartridge 101 is installed.

[0027] The interface unit 109 and the protrusion 410 form the installation surface for the capillary cartridge 101. Therefore, the interface unit 109 is designed so that when it is opened, the installation surfaces for the capillary cartridge 101 (the upper surface of the interface unit 109 and the upper surface of the protrusion 410) are at the same height. However, it is not necessary for the entire upper surface of the interface unit 109 and the upper surface of the protrusion 410 to be at the same height, and only a portion of them may be at the same height.

[0028] When installing the capillary cartridge 101, the above-mentioned positioning pins 401 are inserted into the positioning holes 216. This allows the corresponding connecting parts of the interface unit 109 and the capillary cartridge 101 to be connected with high precision, and the capillary cartridge 101 is further fixed by the latch 406. Note that instead of providing the latch 406, the capillary cartridge 101 may be fixed by providing a magnet or the like on the installation surface. The fixing parts for the capillary cartridge 101 are not limited to latches and magnets.

[0029] In this embodiment, a positioning pin 401 is disposed on the main body 111 (protrusion 410), which is a non-movable part, and flow path components (a main body sample connection 403, a main body reagent connection 404, and an anode actuator 405) are disposed on the same surface as the positioning pin 401. This allows for accurate connection between the flow path components (sample connection 214, coupling 215, and anode block 206) on the capillary cartridge 101 side and the flow path components (a main body sample connection 403, a main body reagent connection 404, and an anode actuator 405) on the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 side. Meanwhile, electrical components (a power supply 407, a high-voltage application unit 408, and a magnet switch 409) on the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 side that connect to the capillary cartridge 101 are disposed on the interface unit 109, which is a movable part. The reason for this is that, compared to the flow path components described above, the connection of the electrical components does not require high alignment precision, and rattles that occur in the hinge 110 when the interface unit 109 is opened can be tolerated. Furthermore, even if liquid such as a reagent leaks from the flow path components, the installation surface of the flow path components and the installation surface of the electrical components are made of different materials, which also has the effect of reducing the risk of the liquid getting on the electrical components.

[0030] <Operation of the Pretreatment-Integrated Electrophoresis Apparatus> The following describes the mechanism from the pretreatment process to the electrophoresis process of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1. First, the user removes the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 from the transport case. Then, the user opens the interface unit 109 and installs the capillary cartridge 101 on the upper surface of the interface unit 109. When the capillary cartridge 101 is installed, the PC 107 detects that the capillary cartridge 101 has been installed by the current flowing from the magnetic switch 409. The PC 107 drives a pump (not shown) or the like to aspirate the reagent from the pretreatment reagent portion 210 in the capillary cartridge 101 and fill the flow path in the apparatus with the reagent. Furthermore, the PC 107 drives the anode actuator 405 to operate the valve 302 and the pump 303. As a result, the migration medium is sent from the migration medium portion 207 in the capillary cartridge 101 to the anode block 206 via the migration medium connection portion 304. The migration medium is then introduced into the capillary 201 via the capillary anode end 301. The PC 107 also operates the pump 217 to introduce the reagent from the electrophoresis reagent section 209 into the cathode block 205. At this time, the temperature of the capillary 201 is controlled by the heater 202. The above is the preparatory operation of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 before analysis.

[0031] Next, the analysis flow will be described. A user collects a biological sample, such as oral cells, bloodstains, or fingerprints, using a swab. After collection, the user inserts the swab into the sample cartridge 102 and then loads the sample cartridge 102 into the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1. When the user selects a desired application using the touch panel 108 or the like, the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 begins the analysis operation. The entire process thereafter is automatically executed by the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1. The pretreatment unit 106 of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 uses the reagents contained in the sample cartridge 102 and the reagents in the pretreatment reagent section 210 in the capillary cartridge 101 to lyse cells in the sample cartridge 102, elute DNA, purify it, and amplify it. DNA bases are labeled with fluorescent dyes. By pretreating the biological sample in this manner, a sample for capillary electrophoresis is prepared. The PC 107 operates a pump (not shown) to send the sample containing the final amplified DNA from the pretreatment unit 106 to the cathode block 205 in the sample cartridge 102. The PC 107 then operates the high-voltage power supply 103 to apply a negative high voltage to the cathode block 205 via the high-voltage interface 213. This applies a voltage between the cathode block 205 and a ground electrode (not shown) in the anode block 206. Because the DNA is negatively charged, it electrophoreses within the capillary 201 toward the anode block 206. The irradiation and detection unit 203 emits laser light (excitation light) from a laser (not shown) and irradiates the capillary 201 via an optical fiber cable. This causes the DNA electrophoresing within the capillary 201 to emit fluorescence. The fluorescence is introduced into the optical system 104 via the optical fiber cable and detected. The PC 107 processes the detected fluorescence signal to analyze the DNA base sequence. The analysis flow in the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 has been described above.

[0032] <After Use of the Integrated Pretreatment Electrophoresis Device> FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating the shape of the integrated pretreatment electrophoresis device 1 when the interface unit 109 is closed. The left side of FIG. 5A shows the interface unit 109 in an open state. The right side of FIG. 5A shows the interface unit 109 in a closed state. When the integrated pretreatment electrophoresis device 1 will not be used for a while after analysis or when transporting the integrated pretreatment electrophoresis device 1, the user removes the capillary cartridge 101 and rotates the interface unit 109 around the hinge 110, as shown in FIG. 5A . This allows the size of the integrated pretreatment electrophoresis device 1 to be reduced. In other words, at least one of the maximum values ​​of the length, width, and height of the integrated pretreatment electrophoresis device 1 is reduced. In the example of FIG. 5A , when the interface unit 109 is closed, the maximum length in the front-to-rear direction (the sum of the length of the bottom side of the main body 111 and the length of the bottom side of the interface unit 109) is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to store the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 in a space-saving manner. When a transport case is used to transport the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1, the size of the transport case itself can also be reduced.

[0033] 5B is a cross-sectional view of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1. As shown in Fig. 5B, the interface unit 109 is closed so as to surround the upper and side surfaces of the protrusions 410. By closing the interface unit 109 in this way, the installation surface of the capillary cartridge 101 (the upper surface of the interface unit 109 and the upper surface of the protrusions 410) is sealed, which makes it possible to prevent dust and dirt from entering the flow path components for fluid connection and the electrical components for electrical connection on the interface unit 109.

[0034] In this embodiment, taking into consideration the risk of liquid dripping when the interface unit 109 is opened or closed, the fluid connection portion is not provided on the interface unit 109 but on the protrusion 410 of the main body 111. Furthermore, the fluid connection portion is positioned vertically below the electrical connection portion, so that liquid from the fluid connection portion does not get on the electrical connection portion when the interface unit 109 is closed. This arrangement of the fluidic and electrical components prevents malfunction of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1. However, if sufficient measures are taken to prevent liquid dripping (for example, by using a coupling that is less likely to drip), components such as the fluidic connection portion may be provided on the interface unit 109. Even in this case, by arranging the fluidic connection portion below the electrical connection portion when the interface unit 109 is closed, liquid can be prevented from getting on the electrical connection portion. By devising the arrangement of the fluidic and electrical components as described above, the foldable structure of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 can be achieved.

[0035] 5C is an enlarged view of the area circled by a dotted line in FIG. 5B, showing the boundary between the main body 111 and the interface unit 109. The main body 111 and the interface unit 109 each have a stepped spigot structure 501 along their entire periphery, which is designed to prevent the inflow of air, dust, dirt, etc. from the outside. This prevents dust, dirt, etc. from adhering to the flow path components provided on the protrusion 410.

[0036] 5D is an enlarged view illustrating another structure of the boundary between the main body 111 and the interface unit 109. To prevent the inflow of dust and dirt, a packing 502 (sealing member) may be provided on the main body 111, as shown in FIG. 5D. The packing 502 may be provided, for example, on the front surface of the main body 111, around the entire periphery of the interface unit 109. The packing 502 can better prevent the inflow of dust and dirt than the spigot structure 501. The packing 502 can be made of a material such as rubber or resin.

[0037] In this embodiment, the capillary cartridge 101 is called the capillary cartridge 101 because it is equipped with capillaries. However, it is not necessarily required that the capillary 201 be equipped with the cartridge, and the capillary 201 may be provided on the pretreatment integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 side. In this embodiment, the capillary cartridge 101 is a detachable unit installed on the interface unit 109. Instead of the capillary cartridge 101, another unit (such as a reagent cartridge) may be configured to be detachable from the interface unit 109.

[0038] Summary of First Embodiment As described above, the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 of the first embodiment includes a pretreatment unit 106 that performs pretreatment on a biological sample (cells) to prepare a sample for electrophoresis, and an optical system 104 that irradiates light onto the sample electrophoretically separated in the capillary 201 and detects light from the sample. The pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 includes a main body 111 (first main body), an interface unit 109 (second main body), and a hinge 110 (connecting member) that connects these components. The main body 111 and the interface unit 109 have installation surfaces on which the capillary cartridge 101 (a detachable unit) is installed. The hinge 110 connects the main body 111 and the interface unit 109 so that the interface unit 109 can rotate (move relatively) with respect to the main body 111. The overall size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 can be adjusted by rotating and opening / closing the interface unit 109. In this way, the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 can be changed, and by reducing the size during transportation, portability can be improved and the transportation space can be reduced. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide a space inside the apparatus to accommodate the capillary cartridge 101, the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 itself can be made smaller, and the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1 does not depend on the size of the capillary cartridge 101.

[0039] When the interface unit 109 is closed to reduce the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1, the installation surface of the capillary cartridge 101 is sealed between the interface unit 109 and the main body 111. This protects the installation surface of the capillary cartridge 101 from external contamination. Therefore, there is no need to seal the installation surface with a dummy cartridge or the like. Furthermore, when the interface unit 109 is opened to increase the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 1, the installation surface of the capillary cartridge 101 is exposed, making it possible to install the capillary cartridge 101.

[0040] Patent Documents 3 to 5 disclose techniques related to the analysis of samples using electrophoresis. Patent Document 3 discloses an analysis system enclosed in a suitcase-like housing. However, the structure of Patent Document 3 is clearly different from the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1 of the present embodiment, which has a foldable structure. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 does not mention that the system itself can be miniaturized to fit into a transport case, as with the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 1.

[0041] Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose electrophoresis devices with a removable unit. However, the electrophoresis devices in Patent Documents 4 and 5 do not have a foldable structure, and there is no description or suggestion as to whether they can be folded or made compact for transportation.

[0042] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, it has been described that the size of the pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device can be reduced by rotating the interface unit 109 using the hinge 110. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the size of the pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device is reduced by linearly moving the interface unit 109.

[0043] <Configuration Example of Pretreatment-Integrated Electrophoresis Apparatus> FIG. 6 is a top view (left) and a side view (right) of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 2 according to a second embodiment. The configuration of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus 2 of this embodiment is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment. However, the main body 111 does not have a protrusion 410. Instead, a positioning pin 401, a main body-side optical fiber connection portion 402, a main body-side sample connection portion 403, a main body-side reagent connection portion 404, and an anode actuator 405 are provided at locations on the interface unit 109 corresponding to the protrusion 410. The arrangement of fluidic and electrical components is the same as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the interface unit 109 is connected to the main body 111 by linear guide components such as a linear rail 601 (connecting member). This allows the interface unit 109 to move in the forward and backward directions. As shown on the right side of FIG. 6 , a space 602 for accommodating the interface unit 109 is provided inside the main body 111.

[0044] 7 is a side view showing the interface unit 109 with and without the capillary cartridge 101 mounted thereon. The connection between the interface unit 109 and the capillary cartridge 101 is the same as in the first embodiment. When using the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2, the user places the capillary cartridge 101 on the top surface of the interface unit 109. When the capillary cartridge 101 is not mounted, the interface unit 109 can be stored in the space 602 of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2, thereby reducing the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2. Furthermore, the fluid connection and electrical connection between the capillary cartridge 101 and the interface unit 109 are stored inside the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2. This protects the fluid connection and electrical connection from adhesion of dust and the like.

[0045] Summary of the Second Embodiment As described above, in the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2 of the second embodiment, the interface unit 109 (second main body) and the main body 111 (first main body) are connected by a linear guide component, allowing the interface unit 109 to move linearly. The main body 111 is provided with a space 602 for accommodating the interface unit 109. The size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2 can be adjusted by pulling the interface unit 109 out of or storing it in the space 602 within the main body 111. This allows the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2 to be miniaturized regardless of the size of the capillary cartridge 101, as in the first embodiment. By compactly transforming the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2 during transportation, portability is improved and transportation space can be reduced.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the interface unit 109 (second main body) has a mounting surface for the capillary cartridge 101 (detachable unit). Both the flow path components and the electrical components are arranged on the interface unit 109, and the orientation of the mounting surface for the capillary cartridge 101 does not change, so there is no risk of liquid from the flow path components getting onto the electrical components. The pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2 of the second embodiment is also easy to design.

[0047] Third Embodiment The second embodiment has described a pull-out type interface unit 109. The third embodiment will describe a configuration similar to that of the second embodiment, but in which the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device can be changed to match the size of the capillary cartridge 101.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a side view of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 3 according to a third embodiment. The configuration of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 3 is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 8 , a plurality of grooves 801 are provided on the interface unit 109 side, and a ball plunger 802 is provided on the main body 111 side. When the interface unit 109 is pulled out, the ball plunger 802 fits into the groove 801, making it possible to change the amount of pull-out of the interface unit 109. Although not shown in the figure, a plurality of grooves 801 are provided at intervals along the linear movement direction of the interface unit 109. In the example of FIG. 8 , the amount of pull-out of the interface unit 109 can be changed in three stages, but this is not limiting.

[0049] By forming a groove 801 in the interface unit 109 to match the size of the capillary cartridge 101 to be used, the user can easily change the amount of withdrawal of the interface unit 109. This allows the size of the pretreatment integrated electrophoresis apparatus 2 to be matched to the size of the capillary cartridge 101. Note that in this embodiment, the ball plunger 802 and groove 801 can be substituted with other positioning parts such as a magnet or a leaf spring, and the configuration is not limited thereto.

[0050] Fourth Embodiment In the first to third embodiments, the configuration has been described in which the interface unit 109 is movable relative to the main body 111. However, the interface unit 109 does not necessarily have to be movable.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a side view of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 4 according to a fourth embodiment. The configuration of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 4 is substantially the same as that of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 2 according to the second embodiment, except that the main body 111 is movable relative to the interface unit 109. Although not shown, a linear guide component such as a linear rail connects the top surface of the interface unit 109 to the bottom surface of the main body 111. In this case, the high-pressure pump 105, the optical system 104, and other components may be mounted on the interface unit 109. Some components included in the optical system 104, such as optical fibers and harnesses, are delicate. Minimizing movement of these components can reduce the risk of breakdown. Furthermore, highly durable components are generally expensive. By placing delicate components, such as optical components, on the non-moving side, it is possible to use less expensive components with relatively low durability. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device can be reduced.

[0052] Fifth Embodiment FIG. 10 is a front view (left side) and a side view (right side) of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 5 according to a fifth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10 , the capillary cartridge 101 may be connected to a main body 111 instead of an interface unit 109. In this case, various electrical and fluid components are disposed in the main body 111. As in the first embodiment, by disposing the flow path components vertically below the electrical components, liquid will not adhere to the electrical components even if liquid drips from the flow path components. In this embodiment, the interface unit 109 serves as a mounting base for the capillary cartridge 101 and, when closed, serves as a cover for the flow path components and electrical components of the main body 111.

[0053] Sixth Embodiment In the first to fifth embodiments, a description has been given of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device configured so that the capillary cartridge 101 is detachably attached to the interface unit 109 or the main body 111. The unit detachable from the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device is not limited to the capillary cartridge 101.

[0054] 11 is a side view of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 6 according to a sixth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11 , the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 6 does not have a touch panel 108, and instead of the touch panel 108, a tablet terminal 1011 can be installed in an interface unit 109. In this case, the interface unit 109 is provided with connecting components such as a connector for connecting to the tablet terminal 1011. The capillary cartridge 101 is installed on the upper surface of the main body 111.

[0055] In this embodiment, the tablet terminal 1011 may be configured to implement the functions of the PC 107. In this case, the PC 107 can be removed from the main body 111, thereby further reducing the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis apparatus. While a drawer-type interface unit 109 is shown in FIG. 11 , a foldable interface unit 109 (such as that of the first embodiment) may also be used.

[0056] Seventh Embodiment In the first to sixth embodiments, a configuration has been described in which one detachable unit is installed in the interface unit 109 of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device. As will be described in the seventh embodiment below, the interface unit 109 may be configured to be able to install multiple detachable units.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a side view of a pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 7 according to a seventh embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12 , a tablet terminal 1011 and a high-voltage power supply 103 are installed in an interface unit 109 as detachable units. The reason for configuring the high-voltage power supply 103 to be detachable is explained below. Connecting components of the optical system and components of the liquid delivery system (such as a high-pressure pump) both requires specialized tools and a certain amount of force, which may require skilled techniques by the user. In contrast, the high-voltage power supply 103 only needs to be electrically connected to the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 7, so no special skills are required for installation by the user. By configuring these components to be detachable from the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device 7 and removing them from the main body 111, the size of the main body 111 can be reduced.

[0058] In FIG. 12, the number of detachable units is two (the tablet terminal 1011 and the high-voltage power supply 103), but it may be three or more.

[0059] Eighth Embodiment In the seventh embodiment, a configuration in which multiple detachable units are installed in one interface unit 109 has been described. Alternatively, multiple interface units 109 may be provided. For example, the foldable interface unit 109 described in the first embodiment may be combined with the drawer-type interface unit 109 described in the second embodiment. Interface units 109 of the same type may also be provided. Furthermore, the multiple interface units 109 do not all need to be installed in the same location. For example, some may be installed on the front side of the main body 111 and other parts may be installed on the back side of the main body 111. The number of interface units 109 may be the same as the number of detachable units, or may be different.

[0060] The size of each of the multiple interface units 109 can be designed to match the size of the detachable unit to be installed, thereby optimizing the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device when in use.

[0061] [Modifications] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and it is not necessary to include all of the described configurations. Furthermore, a part of one embodiment can be replaced with a configuration of another embodiment. Furthermore, a configuration of another embodiment can be added to a configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, a part of the configuration of each embodiment can be added to, deleted from, or substituted for a part of the configuration of another embodiment.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the hinge 110 and the linear rail 601 are described as examples of connecting members between the interface unit 109 and the main body 111. However, the connecting members between the interface unit 109 and the main body 111 are not limited to these, and any member can be used as long as it allows the interface unit 109 and the main body 111 to move relatively and allows the size of the pretreatment-integrated electrophoresis device to be changed.

[0063] 1 to 7: Pretreatment integrated electrophoresis apparatus 101: Capillary cartridge 102: Sample cartridge 103: High voltage power supply 104: Optical system 105: High pressure pump 106: Pretreatment unit 107: PC 108: Touch panel 109: Interface unit (second main body) 110: Hinge (connecting member) 111: Main body (first main body) 201: Capillary 202: Heater 203: Irradiation and detection unit 204: Optical fiber connection unit 205: Cathode block 206: Anode block 207: Electrophoresis medium unit 208: Waste liquid unit 209: Electrophoresis reagent unit 210: Pretreatment reagent unit 211: Waste liquid unit 212: Electrical interface 213: High voltage interface 214: Sample connection unit 215: Coupling 216: Positioning hole 217: Pump 301: Capillary anode end 302: Valve 303: Pump 401: Positioning pin 402: Main body side optical fiber connection part 403: Main body side sample connection part 404: Main body side reagent connection part 405: Anode actuator 406: Latch 407: Power supply part 408: High voltage application part 409: Magnetic switch 410: Protrusion 501: Spigot structure 502: Packing 601: Linear rail (connecting member) 801: Groove 802: Ball plunger 1011: Tablet terminal

Claims

1. A pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device comprising: a pre-processing unit which performs pre-processing on a biological sample to prepare a sample for electrophoresis; and an optical system which irradiates light onto the sample which has been electrophoretically separated in a capillary and detects the light from the sample, the pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device comprising: a first main body portion and a second main body portion; and a connecting member which connects the first main body portion and the second main body portion, at least one of the first main body portion or the second main body portion having an installation surface on which a removable unit is installed, the connecting member connecting the first main body portion and the second main body portion so that one of the first main body portion and the second main body portion is movable relative to the other, thereby making it possible to change the overall size of the pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device.

2. The connecting member connects the first main body part and the second main body part so that the size of the pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device when the removable unit is not installed can be made smaller than the size of the pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device when the removable unit is installed, and the installation surface is sealed between the first main body part and the second main body part when the size of the pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device is reduced, and is exposed when the size of the pre-processing integrated electrophoresis device is increased.

3. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device described in claim 1, further comprising: a positioning part for positioning the removable unit; and a flow path part for fluid connection with the removable unit, wherein both the positioning part and the flow path part are arranged on the installation surface of one of the first main body part and the second main body part.

4. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device described in claim 3, further comprising electrical components for electrical connection with the removable unit, the electrical components being arranged on a surface different from the installation surface on which the positioning components and the flow path components are arranged.

5. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device according to claim 4, characterized in that, when the size of the pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device is reduced, the flow path components are positioned vertically below the electrical components.

6. The pretreatment integrated electrophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a hinge configured to enable one of the first main body portion and the second main body portion to be opened and closed relative to the other.

7. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device described in claim 6, characterized in that the first main body part has a protrusion part that protrudes towards the second main body part and has the hinge, and when the second main body part rotates around the hinge and opens relative to the first main body part, the height of the protrusion part and the height of the second main body part are at least partially the same, forming the installation surface.

8. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device described in claim 7, characterized in that the second main body part rotates around the hinge and closes against the first main body part, so that the installation surface of the protrusion part is surrounded by the second main body part.

9. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device described in claim 8, characterized in that the first main body portion and the second main body portion each have a spigot structure with a step, and the spigot structures engage with each other when the second main body portion is closed.

10. A pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device as described in claim 8, characterized in that the first body portion or the second body portion has a sealing member on the surface where the first body portion and the second body portion face each other when the second body portion is closed.

11. The pretreatment integrated electrophoresis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removable unit has at least one capillary, a reagent used for the electrophoresis, and a reagent used for the pretreatment.

12. The pretreatment integrated electrophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the detachable unit includes an input device for inputting operational instructions to the pretreatment integrated electrophoresis device.

13. The pretreatment integrated electrophoresis device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member has a linear guide component configured so that one of the first main body portion or the second main body portion can move linearly relative to the other.

14. The pre-treatment integrated electrophoresis device described in claim 13, characterized in that the first main body portion has a space capable of storing the second main body portion, and the second main body portion is stored in the first main body portion or pulled out from the first main body portion by linearly moving the second main body portion.

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