Filter tip, adapter, and micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle

Abstract

A filter tip (2), an adapter (1), and a micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle. The filter tip (2) comprises a tubular structure penetrating up and down. An inner side wall (2-1) of the tubular structure gradually tapers from top to bottom towards the center line to form an inverted conical inner cavity structure. A bottom portion of the inverted conical inner cavity structure is a conical hole (2-3). A lower end of the tubular structure is provided with a filter joint (2-2), and a bottom flow guide groove (2-5) or a bottom flow guide region (2-6) is arranged between the conical hole (2-3) and the filter joint (2-2). The filter tip (2) is connected to an inner side wall of a lower end of the adapter (1). The micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle comprises a bottle body (3) and further comprises the adapter (1) disposed at a bottle mouth and extending downward into the bottle body (3), and the filter tip (2) is connected to a bottom portion of the adapter (1). The filter tip (2), the adapter (1), and the micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle can implement filtration or extraction of a micro-amount of a liquid sample and can directly draw the micro-amount of a liquid sample for analysis.

Description

Filter tip, adapter and micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of trace liquid sample pre-treatment devices, in particular to a filter tip, an adapter and a micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle for pre-treatment of trace liquid samples. Background Art

[0002] In the field of analytical testing, micro-liquid samples, such as serum, plasma, urine, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, tears, and digestive fluid, are sometimes collected for testing during the sample collection process. Due to the small volume and low sample concentration of micro-liquids, collection and testing are difficult.

[0003] Existing fluid sample pretreatment devices often struggle to effectively mix samples, requiring centrifugation or other methods to separate and transfer samples after the reaction. This is typically achieved by adding the sample to a solid-liquid separator, applying external pressure or relying on the liquid's own gravity to achieve dynamic solid-liquid separation. Alternatively, the sample is centrifuged to achieve solid-liquid separation. However, centrifuges are large, and the limited space available for instrument placement within some automated analytical equipment prevents installation within the device. Centrifugation must be performed externally before analysis.

[0004] Existing sample pretreatment may cause great losses. For trace liquids that are difficult to collect, it may result in insufficient sample volume, decreased metabolite fidelity, and decreased homogeneity between samples, resulting in large deviations in analytical results.

[0005] The applicant has focused on solid-liquid separation for sample pretreatment for many years. Its first-generation products include two solid-liquid separation devices: a sandwich solid-liquid separation assembly and device with publication number CN216484220U, and a sandwich solid-liquid separation device with publication number CN216484219U. These devices can achieve solid-liquid separation and can be connected to automated analytical equipment for use. The applicant's second-generation products, such as patent applications No. 202322212192X, a natural osmosis solid-liquid separation device, and No. 2023222121648, a solid-liquid separation cartridge and sleeve-type solid-liquid separation device (not yet publicly available online), utilize an outside-in natural osmosis filtration method. This shifts from the traditional inside-out dynamic filtration method of the original solid-liquid separator (filter device), where the filter disc is designed as a filter cartridge that extends outward in all directions. This effectively addresses technical issues such as limited filtration area and the need for external pressure, further simplifying the structure, making it smaller and conserving materials. On this basis, the applicant developed a third-generation product for filtering complex samples (a patent has been applied for but has not yet been made public online).

[0006] The applicant now plans to further develop the fourth-generation product to achieve the filtration or extraction of trace liquid samples. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This application proposes to improve upon previous inventions by providing a filter tip, adapter, and micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle for pre-treatment of trace liquid samples, enabling filtration or extraction of trace liquid samples. The filter tip, adapter, and micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle of this utility model can filter or extract trace liquid samples with simple and practical operation, allowing direct aspiration of trace liquid samples for analysis.

[0008] One of the technical solutions of this utility model:

[0009] A filter tip comprises a tubular structure extending from top to bottom, wherein the inner side walls of the tubular structure gradually converge from top to bottom toward the center line to form an inverted conical inner cavity structure, the bottom of the inverted conical inner cavity structure is a tapered hole, a filter disc connection is provided at the lower end of the tubular structure, and a bottom guide groove or a bottom guide area is provided between the tapered hole and the filter disc connection.

[0010] Preferably, at least one second sealing rib is provided on the outer wall of the tubular structure for tightly connecting the filter tip and the external adapter.

[0011] Preferably, the filter disc has grooves extending upward at both ends of the connection. The depth of the grooves extending upward is designed according to the volume of the sample to be filtered and can be longer or shorter, wider or narrower. The volume of the grooves extending upward determines the volume of the sample that can be measured. If the sample volume is very small, an upward groove is not required.

[0012] Preferably, a plurality of side wall guide grooves are provided on the outer side wall of the inverted cone-shaped inner cavity structure for guiding flow.

[0013] Preferably, the cross-sectional width of the tapered hole is smaller than the cross-sectional width of the bottom guide area and smaller than the cross-sectional width of the filter disc connection, which is beneficial for flow diversion.

[0014] Preferably, a filter disc is provided in the filter disc connection for solid-liquid separation and filtration.

[0015] Preferably, a filter disc or filter cartridge is disposed within the filter disc connection and the upwardly extending groove, and the filter disc or filter cartridge is connected to the outer sidewall of the inverted conical inner cavity structure. A sidewall guide groove is disposed between the outer sidewall and the filter disc or filter cartridge, and the sidewall guide groove is connected to the bottom guide groove or bottom guide area. The sample to be tested first passes through the filter disc or filter cartridge into the sidewall guide groove, then into the bottom guide groove, and finally into the filter tip through the tapered hole.

[0016] The material of the adapter is ABS, PP, PE, LCP, PA, PC, PPS, PFA, PEP, PEEK or glass; the material of the filter disc or filter cartridge is PE, PP or resin fiber, with a wall thickness of 0.2mm-5mm; the diameter of the filter cartridge is 2mm-50mm, and the pore size of the filter cartridge is 0.2µm-50µm.

[0017] The second technical solution of this utility model:

[0018] An adapter comprises a tubular body with a hollow interior, wherein the inner side wall of the lower end of the tubular body is connected with the filter tip.

[0019] Preferably, the outer wall of the outer wall adapter is provided with an annular groove, a first connecting section, an interference liquid receiving groove, a second connecting section, and a third connecting section in sequence from top to bottom.

[0020] Preferably, at least one first sealing rib is provided on the outer sidewall of the first connecting section, the second connecting section and / or the third connecting section, for sealing the adapter and the external bottle body.

[0021] The third technical solution of this utility model:

[0022] A micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle comprises a bottle body and an adapter arranged at the mouth of the sample bottle and extending downward into the bottle body. A filter tip is connected to the bottom of the adapter. The adapter and the filter tip are as described above.

[0023] Preferably, the first connecting section of the adapter is connected to the inner wall of the bottle mouth, and the annular groove is located above the bottle mouth, the outer walls of the second and third connecting sections are connected to the inner wall of the bottle body, and the inner wall of the third connecting section is connected to the filter.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0025] The filter tip of the utility model has a unique design. The inner cavity of the conical filter tip is an inverted conical inner cavity structure suitable for processing trace liquid samples, so that the liquid level of the trace liquid is as high as possible, which is conducive to the external injection needle to enter and absorb the sample to be tested.

[0026] 2. The micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle of the utility model adopts a filtration method from the outside to the inside, eliminating the steps of transferring liquid and applying external pressure required for dynamic filtration. It can achieve solid-liquid separation of target substances and formed components in protein mixtures or other samples. It can also be used directly with the sampling device of automated analysis equipment for sampling, greatly improving the efficiency of sample pretreatment, reducing the use of auxiliary equipment, and reducing processing costs.

[0027] 3. The top of the adapter is a bottle cap with a cross-shaped groove in the middle, allowing the needle of the analytical instrument to directly penetrate the bottle to absorb the sample. The multiple grooves around the bottle cap serve as ventilation slots to prevent the cross-shaped groove from being blocked by fingers pressing on the top of the bottle cap during manual use, resulting in inconsistent air pressure inside and outside and preventing liquid from penetrating. The sidewall structure of the adapter of this utility model can be well matched with the bottle body.

[0028] 4. The adapter of the present invention is provided with sealing ribs, which are in close contact with the inside of the sample bottle to achieve a good sealing effect. The sealing ribs not only have a sealing effect but also can apply positive pressure to the bottle through good sealing performance. By slowly squeezing the stopper downward, the pressure in the bottle becomes greater and greater, thereby promoting the mixed liquid to penetrate from the outside of the filter cartridge into the inside, realizing the technology of pressurizing the bottle. At the same time, the sealing and pressurizing effects can also be controlled by increasing or decreasing the number of sealing ribs without the need for additional pressurizing equipment.

[0029] The detailed structure of the present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle;

[0031] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of the microvolume ultrafiltration bottle of Example 1;

[0032] FIG3 is a perspective view of the adapter of Example 1;

[0033] FIG4 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Example 1;

[0034] FIG5 is a perspective view of the filter tip of Example 1;

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of each surface of the filter tip of Example 1, wherein Figure 6 (a) is a bottom view of the filter tip of Example 1; Figure 6 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the filter tip of Example 1; Figure 6 (c) is a top view of the filter tip of Example 1; and Figure 6 (d) is a three-dimensional view of the filter tip of Example 1.

[0036] FIG7 is a cross-sectional view of a microvolume ultrafiltration bottle of Example 2;

[0037] FIG8 is a perspective view of the filter tip of Example 2;

[0038] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of each surface of the filter tip of Example 2, wherein Figure 9 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the filter tip of Example 2; Figure 9 (b) is a top view of the filter tip; and Figure 9 (c) is a three-dimensional view of the filter tip of Example 2.

[0039] FIG10 is a cross-sectional view of a microvolume ultrafiltration bottle of Example 3;

[0040] FIG11 is a perspective view of the filter tip of Example 3;

[0041] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of each surface of the filter tip of Example 3, wherein Figure 12 (a) is a bottom view of the filter tip of Example 3; Figure 12 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the filter tip of Example 3; and Figure 12 (c) is a three-dimensional view of the filter tip of Example 3.

[0042] Among them, 1 is the adapter, 1-1 is the cross groove, 1-2 is the breathable groove, 1-3 is the annular groove, 1-4 is the first connecting section, 1-5 is the interference liquid receiving groove, 1-6 is the second connecting section, 1-7 is the third connecting section, and 1-8 is the sealing rib;

[0043] 2 is the filter tip, 2-1 is the inner wall, 2-2 is the filter disc connection, 2-3 is the tapered hole, 2-4 is the second sealing rib, 2-5 is the bottom guide groove, 2-6 is the bottom guide area, 2-7 is the side wall guide groove; 2-21 is the groove;

[0044] 3 is the bottle body;

[0045] 4 is a filter disc or filter cartridge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Example 1

[0046] As shown in Figures 5-6, a filter tip 2 comprises a tubular structure extending vertically. The inner sidewall 2-1 of the tubular structure gradually converges from top to bottom toward the centerline to form an inverted conical inner cavity structure. The bottom of the inverted conical inner cavity structure is a tapered hole 2-3. A filter disc connection 2-2 is provided at the lower end of the tubular structure, and a bottom guide groove 2-5 is provided between the tapered hole 2-3 and the filter disc connection 2-2. Two second sealing ribs 2-4 are provided on the outer wall of the tubular structure. A filter disc 4 is positioned within the filter disc connection 2-2.

[0047] As shown in FIG3-FIG4 , an adapter 1 includes a tubular body with a hollow interior, and the filter 2 is connected to the inner side wall of the lower end of the tubular body.

[0048] The outer wall of the outer wall adapter is provided with an annular groove 1-3, a first connecting section 1-4, an interference liquid receiving groove 1-5, a second connecting section 1-6, and a third connecting section 1-7 in sequence from top to bottom.

[0049] Two sealing ribs 1-8 are provided on the outer side walls of the first connecting section 1-4, the second connecting section 1-6 and / or the third connecting section 1-7.

[0050] As shown in FIG1-2 , a micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle includes a bottle body 3 and the adapter 1 provided at the mouth of the sample bottle and extending downward into the bottle body. The bottom of the adapter 1 is connected to the filter tip 2 .

[0051] The first connecting section 1-4 of the adapter is connected to the inner wall of the bottle mouth of the bottle body 3, and the annular groove 1-3 is located above the bottle mouth. The outer walls of the second connecting section 1-6 and the third connecting section 1-7 are connected to the inner wall of the bottle body 3, and the inner wall of the third connecting section 1-7 is connected to the filter 2.

[0052] The outer diameter of the interference liquid receiving groove is smaller than the outer diameters of the first connecting section, the second connecting section, and the third connecting section. The outer diameters of the annular groove, the first connecting section, the second connecting section, and the third connecting section are smaller than the outer diameter of the adapter body.

[0053] The inner diameters of the annular groove, the first connecting section, the interference liquid receiving groove and the second connecting section are equal and smaller than the inner diameter of the third connecting section.

[0054] A cover is provided on the top of the tubular body. The cover can be integrally formed with the tubular body or detachably connected. A cross groove is provided in the center of the cover, and a ventilation groove is provided on the upper surface of the cover.

[0055] At least one first sealing rib is provided on the outer side walls of the first connecting section, the second connecting section and / or the third connecting section.

[0056] The adapter is a non-porous tube without porous features.

[0057] The minimum volume of micro-liquid samples that can be processed by Example 1 is above 10 μl.

[0058] Working Principle: Liquid flows through the bottom guide groove 2-5 at the bottom of the filter 2 and then into the interior of the filter 2 through the tapered hole 2-3 at the bottom of the adapter. The filter disc is inserted into the filter disc connection 2-2 at the bottom of the filter 2 and slowly squeezed downward through the adapter 1. The sealing rib 1-8 on the adapter 1 creates positive pressure with the bottle. The trace liquid in the bottle is squeezed through the filter disc 4 and filtered into the bottom guide groove 2-5. Then, it flows from the bottom guide groove 2-5 to the tapered hole 2-3 and into the inner cavity of the adapter 1, thus filtering or extracting the trace liquid. The sampling device of the analytical equipment directly enters the sample bottle adapter and filter through the cross slot of the bottle cap of the sample bottle adapter to draw the test liquid for subsequent analysis. Example 2

[0059] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a filter tip includes a tubular structure extending from top to bottom. The inner sidewall 2-1 of the tubular structure gradually converges from top to bottom toward the centerline to form an inverted conical inner cavity structure. The bottom of the inverted conical inner cavity structure is a conical hole 2-3. A filter connection 2-2 is provided at the lower end of the tubular structure. A bottom guide area 2-6 is provided between the conical hole 2-3 and the filter connection 2-2. Two second sealing ribs 2-4 are provided on the outer wall of the tubular structure. Grooves 2-21 extending upward are provided at both ends of the filter connection 2-2. The cross-sectional width of the conical hole 2-3 is less than the cross-sectional width of the bottom guide area 2-6, which is less than the cross-sectional width of the filter connection 2-2. A filter cartridge is provided in the filter connection 2-2 and the groove 2-21 extending upward.

[0060] An adapter and a micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle, as shown in FIG7 , have a filter tip different from that in Example 1, and the rest of the parts are the same as those in Example 1.

[0061] The device of Example 2 can process trace liquid samples with a minimum volume of more than 20 μl.

[0062] The working principle is the same as that of Example 1, except that the bottom of the filter tip of Example 2 is the bottom guide area 2-6. The rest of the working principle is the same. One or more filter discs can also be set in the bottom guide area 2-6 to form multi-stage filtration. Example 3

[0063] As shown in Figures 11-12, a filter tip includes a tubular structure running through from top to bottom, wherein the inner side wall 2-1 of the tubular structure gradually converges from top to bottom toward the center line to form an inverted conical inner cavity structure, the bottom of the inverted conical inner cavity structure is a conical hole 2-3, a filter connection 2-2 is provided at the lower end of the tubular structure, a bottom guide groove 2-5 is provided between the conical hole 2-3 and the filter connection 2-2, and a plurality of side wall guide grooves 2-7 are provided on the outer side wall of the inverted conical inner cavity structure.

[0064] A filter cartridge is provided in the bottom guide groove 2-5 and the groove 2-21 extending upward, and the filter cartridge is connected to the outer wall of the inverted cone inner cavity structure. A side wall guide groove 2-7 is provided between the outer wall and the filter cartridge, and the side wall guide groove 2-7 is connected to the bottom guide groove 2-5.

[0065] There is a gap between the outer side of the filter cartridge and the groove 2-21.

[0066] Two second sealing ribs 2-4 are provided on the outer wall of the tubular structure.

[0067] The device of Example 3 can process trace liquid samples with a minimum volume of more than 50 μl.

[0068] The working principle is the same as that of embodiment 1, except that the sample to be tested first passes through the filter cartridge into the side wall guide groove 2-7, then enters the bottom guide groove 2-5, and finally enters the interior of the filter tip 2 through the tapered hole 2-3.

[0069] Description of working process:

[0070] 1. When in use, add the specimen directly into the bottle 3 pre-filled with the treatment reagent. The specimen is generally a supernatant of blood, human tissue fluid, etc. After mixing, the sample vial contains a solid-liquid mixed sample.

[0071] 2. Insert the connected sample bottle adapter and filter into the sample bottle 3 containing the mixed sample, and slowly press the adapter from top to bottom. The sample will be filtered from the outside to the inside through the filter and enter the tapered inner cavity of the filter and the adapter 1.

[0072] 3. After standing for a period of time, the mixed sample is separated into solid and liquid, and the conical inner cavity of the filter tip and the adapter 1 contain transparent and clear liquid to be tested.

[0073] 4. The sampling device of the analysis equipment directly enters the sample bottle adapter and the filter through the cross groove of the bottle cap of the sample bottle adapter to absorb the test liquid for subsequent analysis.

[0074] The above is a specific implementation method of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, who makes equivalent substitutions or changes based on the technical solution and concept of the present invention, should be covered by the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A filter tip, comprising a tubular structure extending vertically and horizontally, characterized in that: The inner side wall (2-1) of the tubular structure gradually converges from top to bottom toward the center line to form an inverted cone inner cavity structure, the bottom of the inverted cone inner cavity structure is a cone hole (2-3), a filter plate connection point (2-2) is provided at the lower end of the tubular structure, and a bottom guide groove (2-5) or a bottom guide area (2-6) is provided between the cone hole (2-3) and the filter plate connection point (2-2).

2. The filter according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one second sealing rib (2-4) is provided on the outer wall of the tubular structure.

3. The filter according to claim 1, characterized in that: Grooves (2-21) extending upwards are provided at both ends of the filter plate connection (2-2).

4. The filter according to claim 3, characterized in that: A plurality of side wall guide grooves (2-7) are provided on the outer side wall of the inverted cone-shaped inner cavity structure.

5. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The cross-sectional width of the tapered hole (2-3) is less than the cross-sectional width of the bottom guide area (2-6) and less than the cross-sectional width of the filter disc connection (2-2).

6. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A filter (4) is provided in the filter connection portion (2-2).

7. The filter according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: A filter disc or filter cartridge is provided in the filter disc connection portion (2-2) and the groove (2-21) extending upward, and the filter disc or filter cartridge is connected to the outer side wall of the inverted cone inner cavity structure, a side wall guide groove (2-7) is provided between the outer side wall and the filter disc or filter cartridge, and the side wall guide groove (2-7) is connected to the bottom guide groove (2-5) or the bottom guide area (2-6).

8. An adapter, comprising a tubular body with a hollow interior, characterized in that: The inner side wall of the lower end of the tubular body is connected to the filter (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The adapter according to claim 8, characterized in that: The outer wall of the adapter is provided with an annular groove (1-3), a first connecting section (1-4), an excess liquid receiving groove (1-5), a second connecting section (1-6), and a third connecting section (1-7) in sequence from top to bottom.

10. The adapter according to claim 9, characterized in that: At least one first sealing rib (1-8) is provided on the outer side walls of the first connecting section (1-4), the second connecting section (1-6) and / or the third connecting section (1-7).

11. A microvolume ultrafiltration bottle, comprising a bottle body (3), characterized in that: It also includes an adapter (1) arranged at the mouth of the sample bottle and extending downward into the bottle body, and a filter (2) is connected to the bottom of the adapter (1). The adapter is as described in any one of claims 8 to 10, and the filter (2) is as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. The microvolume ultrafiltration bottle according to claim 11, characterized in that: The first connecting section (1-4) of the adapter is connected to the inner wall of the bottle mouth of the bottle body (3), and the annular groove (1-3) is located above the bottle mouth, the outer side walls of the second connecting section (1-6) and the third connecting section (1-7) are connected to the inner wall of the bottle body (3), and the inner side wall of the third connecting section (1-7) is connected to the filter tip (2).

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