Dispensing and stirring device and culture system

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a dispensing unit which can be raised and lowered and can supply and discharge a substance to be dispensed; a dispensing tip which is detachably attached to the dispensing unit so as to protrude downward from the dispensing unit and via which the substance to be dispensed can be ejected and suctioned through the distal end of the dispensing tip; a container which accommodates a culture solution and into and from which the dispensing tip is inserted and withdrawn as the dispensing unit is raised and lowered; and a rotation mechanism that causes the dispensing tip and the container to relatively rotate about an axis extending in the vertical direction in a state in which the dispensing tip is inserted into the container.

Description

Dispensing Stirring Device and Culture System

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dispensing stirring device and a culture system. This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-185379 filed in Japan on October 21, 2024, and incorporates its content herein by reference.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a stirring device for stirring a liquid in a well plate. A plurality of wells containing a liquid are provided in a sealed space within the well plate. Each well contains a liquid and a stirring rod. A motor is provided in an external structure of the well plate, and the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the stirring rod via a magnetic coupling.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 6959105

[0004] By the way, when constructing a cell culture system, various devices such as a dispensing device and a stirring device are required. Therefore, the size and weight of the entire system increase.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a dispensing stirring device capable of performing cell culture while achieving compactification.

[0006] The dispensing stirring device according to the present disclosure includes a dispensing unit that can be raised and lowered and can supply and discharge a dispensed substance, a dispensing tip that is detachably attached to the dispensing unit so as to protrude downward from the dispensing device and can discharge and suck in the dispensed substance from its tip, a container that stores a culture solution and into which the dispensing tip is inserted and withdrawn as the dispensing unit moves up and down, and a rotation mechanism that relatively rotates the dispensing tip and the container around an axis extending in the vertical direction in a state where the dispensing tip is inserted into the container.

[0007] The dispensing culture system according to the present disclosure includes the above-described dispensing stirring device, a building that partitions a clean area for housing the dispensing stirring device, a stage on which a housing plate of the dispensing stirring device is placed and can move horizontally, and a pass box that is connected to the building and through which the stage can move between the inside and outside of the building.

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to increase the amount of oxygen dissolved in the culture medium.

[0009] This is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a dispensing culture apparatus according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the dispensing culture apparatus according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the dispensing culture apparatus according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. This is a front view showing the main parts of the dispensing culture apparatus according to the third embodiment of this disclosure. This is a plan view showing the main parts of the dispensing culture apparatus according to the third embodiment of this disclosure. This is a side view of a culture system according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure.

[0010] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, the dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0011] <Dispensing and stirring device> The dispensing and stirring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a device that can dispense culture medium and culture solution C containing cells added to the culture medium, and can also stir the culture solution C. The dispensing and stirring device 1 comprises a dispensing unit 10, a dispensing tip 50, and a storage case 60.

[0012] <Dispensing Unit> The dispensing unit 10 is capable of supplying and dispensing substances such as culture medium C, culture medium, other liquids, cells, and air. The dispensing unit 10 is equipped with a moving mechanism 11 and a unit body 20.

[0013] <Movement Mechanism> The movement mechanism 11 is a mechanism that can move in the vertical direction. The movement mechanism 11 is equipped with a drive source (not shown), and moves in the vertical direction by the driving force of the drive source. In addition to the vertical direction, the movement mechanism 11 may also be able to move in the horizontal direction.

[0014] <Unit Body> As shown in Figure 1, the unit body 20 is integrally provided at the lower part of the moving mechanism 11. The unit body 20 is capable of moving up and down and horizontally in conjunction with the movement of the moving mechanism 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the unit body 20 includes a casing 21, an air supply unit 23, a liquid supply unit 24, a discharge unit 25, a distribution pipe 30, a bearing 32, a seal unit 33, and a tip rotation mechanism 40.

[0015] <Casing> The casing 21 is a box-shaped rectangular parallelepiped with a hollow interior. The top surface of the casing 21 is integrally fixed to the lower end of the moving mechanism 11. As shown in Figure 2, a through hole 21a is formed on the bottom surface of the casing 21, connecting the bottom surface to the interior of the casing 21. The through hole 21a is circular in shape when viewed from above. Multiple through holes 21a are formed at intervals in the horizontal direction.

[0016] <Air supply unit> As shown in Figure 1, the air supply unit 23 is connected to the casing 21 from the outside and is configured to supply air into the casing 21.

[0017] <Liquid Supply Unit> The liquid supply unit 24 is connected to the casing 21 from the outside and is configured to supply various liquids and cells, excluding air, into the casing 21.

[0018] <Discharge section> The discharge section 25 is connected to the casing 21 from the outside and is connected to a suction pump or the like (not shown). The discharge section 25 is configured to discharge the dispensed material from inside the casing 21.

[0019] <Distribution Pipe> As shown in Figure 2, the distribution pipe 30 is a pipe installed inside the casing 21. The distribution pipe 30 may be a pipe made of metal or plastic, or it may be a flexible tube. One end of the distribution pipe 30 is connected to the air supply section 23, the liquid supply section 24, and the discharge section 25. The other end of the distribution pipe 30 extends around an axis O that extends in the vertical direction, and the other end is open so that it faces downward.

[0020] <Mounting Pipe> The mounting pipe 31 is a pipe that extends vertically around the axis O. The mounting pipe 31 is made of metal or plastic. The mounting pipe 31 extends vertically through the through hole 21a of the casing 21. The upper part of the mounting pipe 31 is located inside the casing 21, and the lower part of the mounting pipe 31 is exposed below the casing 21. The mounting pipe 31 has a uniform outer and inner circumferential surface in the vertical direction. The outer diameter of the mounting pipe 31 is smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 21a. An annular gap is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the mounting pipe 31 and the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 21a.

[0021] The upper part of the mounting pipe 31 is provided so as to cover the other end portion of the distribution pipe 30 from the outer circumference. The inside of the mounting pipe 31 and the inside of the distribution pipe 30 are in communication with each other. The mounting pipe 31 and the other end portion of the distribution pipe 30 are arranged coaxially with each other. An annular gap is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the mounting pipe 31 and the outer circumferential surface of the other end portion of the distribution pipe 30.

[0022] The bearing 32 is annular in shape with axis O as the center. The bearing 32 is installed in the annular gap between the mounting pipe 31 and the distribution pipe 30. The bearing 32 connects the mounting pipe 31 to the distribution pipe 30 while allowing the mounting pipe 31 to rotate about axis O relative to the distribution pipe 30.

[0023] <Sealing section> The sealing section 33 is annular in shape with axis O as the center. The bearing 32 is provided in the annular gap between the mounting pipe 31 and the distribution pipe 30. The gap is sealed by the sealing section 33, which prevents leakage of the dispensed material from the mounting pipe 31 through the gap.

[0024] <Tip Rotation Mechanism> The tip rotation mechanism 40 is a mechanism that rotates the mounting tube 31 around the axis O. The tip rotation mechanism 40 is provided inside the casing 21 of the dispensing unit 10. The tip rotation mechanism 40 has a first electric motor 41 and a transmission mechanism 42.

[0025] The first electric motor 41 is housed within the casing 21 and comprises a first electric motor body 41a and a first output shaft 41b. Current is supplied to the first electric motor body 41a, causing the first output shaft 41b to rotate. The first output shaft 41b extends horizontally.

[0026] The transmission mechanism 42 transmits the rotation of the first output shaft 41b to the mounting pipe 31, thereby driving the mounting pipe 31 to rotate around axis O. The transmission mechanism 42 includes a first bevel gear 43, a second bevel gear 44, a driven shaft 45, a first pulley 46, a belt 47, and a second pulley 48.

[0027] The first bevel gear 43 is located at the tip of the first output shaft 41b and rotates around the horizontal axis as the first output shaft 41b rotates. The second bevel gear 44 meshes with the second bevel gear 44 and rotates around the vertical axis as the first bevel gear 43 rotates around the horizontal axis.

[0028] The driven shaft 45 extends vertically and its upper end is attached to the second bevel gear 44. The driven shaft 45 rotates around the vertical axis in conjunction with the rotation of the second bevel gear 44 around its vertical axis. The first pulley 46 is disc-shaped with respect to the vertical axis and is coaxially mounted at the lower end of the driven shaft 45. The first pulley 46 rotates around the vertical axis in conjunction with the rotation of the driven shaft 45 around its vertical axis.

[0029] The belt 47 is annular in shape and extends horizontally with a portion wrapped around the first pulley 46. The second pulley 48 is an annular member centered on axis O and is integrally fixed to the outer surface of the mounting pipe 31. The first pulley 46 and the second pulley 48 are located at the same height. A portion of the belt 47 is wrapped around the second pulley 48. As a result, the rotation of the first pulley 46 is transmitted to the second pulley 48, and the mounting pipe 31, which is integral with the second pulley 48, rotates around axis O.

[0030] In this embodiment, the other end of the distribution pipe 30 is branched into multiple pipes. A connecting pipe 31 is rotatably attached to each of the multiple distribution pipes 30 via a bearing 32 and a sealing portion 33. In addition, multiple first electric motors 41 and transmission mechanisms 42 are provided corresponding to the number of connecting pipes 31. As a result, each connecting pipe 31 is rotationally driven by each first electric motor 41.

[0031] Alternatively, a configuration may be provided in which only one first motor 41 is installed, and multiple mounting pipes 31 are rotationally driven by the rotational drive of the first motor 41. In this case, for example, multiple first pulleys 46 may be provided on the dependent shaft, and the rotation of the first pulleys 46 may be transmitted to the second pulleys 48 of each mounting pipe 31 via the belt 47.

[0032] <Dispensing Tip> Multiple dispensing tips 50 are provided to correspond to multiple mounting tubes 31. The dispensing tip 50 is a cylindrical member with a hollow interior around the axis O, and its outer and inner circumferential surfaces are tapered, decreasing in diameter as they go downwards. The outer circumferential surface of the dispensing tip 50 is convex downwards.

[0033] The base end of the dispensing tip 50, which is the upper end, opens upward. The upper end of the dispensing tip 50 is attached to the lower end of each mounting tube 31 coaxially with the mounting tube 31 and is detachable. As a result, the dispensing tip 50 is positioned to protrude downward from the dispensing unit 10. The inside of the mounting tube 31 and the inside of the dispensing tip 50 are in communication with each other. The tip end of the dispensing tip 50, which is the lower end, opens downward. As a result, the dispensing tip 50 is capable of dispensing and sucking up the dispensed material from its tip.

[0034] <Storage Case> The storage case 60 is a case capable of storing culture medium C in small portions. The storage case 60 includes a storage plate 61, a container V, a lid 70, an air supply pipe 75, and a filter 76.

[0035] <Storage Plate> The storage plate 61 is a plate that extends horizontally. The upper surface 61b of the storage plate 61 is provided with a storage recess 62 that is recessed downward from the upper surface 61b. Multiple storage recesses 62 are provided at intervals in the horizontal direction. Multiple storage recesses 62 are provided at locations corresponding to multiple dispensing tips 50 attached to the dispensing unit 10. The storage recess 62 is composed of an inner surface 62a connected to the upper surface 61b and forming a cylindrical inner circumference around the axis O, and a bottom surface 62b connected to the lower end of the cylindrical inner circumference and forming a circle in plan view.

[0036] <Container> Container V is made of plastic, glass, or the like, and is capable of containing culture medium C. Multiple containers V are provided corresponding to the containment recess 62. Each container V is placed inside the containment recess 62, on the bottom surface 62b of the containment recess 62, with a gap between it and the inner surface 62a of the containment recess 62.

[0037] Container V has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top and centered on axis O. The inner circumferential surface of container V is a cylindrical surface that extends uniformly in the vertical direction around axis O. The upper end of container V protrudes above the upper surface 61b of the containment plate 61.

[0038] <Lid> The lid 70 is provided to cover the multiple containers V housed in the storage plate 61. The lid 70 has a lid edge 71 and a lid plate 72.

[0039] The lid edge 71 is provided along the entire circumference of the side surface 61a of the storage plate 61 and is detachably attached to the side surface 61a. The lid edge 71 extends above the storage plate 61. The lid edge 71 covers the upper part of the storage plate 61 from all sides.

[0040] The lid portion 72 is connected to the lid edge portion 71 and covers the entire upper surface 61b of the storage plate 61 from above. The lid portion 72 is positioned above the upper surface 61b of the storage plate 61 and the upper end of the container V. The attachment of the lid portion 72 to the storage plate 61 creates a storage space within the storage case 60.

[0041] The lid portion 72 has multiple through holes 72a that penetrate the lid portion 70 in the vertical direction. Multiple through holes 72a are formed at intervals in the horizontal direction. Multiple through holes 72a are formed corresponding to the dispensing tip 50 and the container V. In a plan view, the through holes 72a form a circle centered on axis O. The inner diameter of the through holes 72a is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the dispensing tip 50. The dispensing tip 50 is inserted through the through holes 72a from above and below. When the dispensing tip 50 is inserted through the through holes 72a, an annular gap is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the dispensing tip 50 and the inner circumferential surface of the through holes 72a.

[0042] Inside the lid portion 70, an air passage 73 is formed. The air passage 73 has a main passage 73a and a branch passage 73b. The main passage 73a has one end opening to the outer surface of the lid plate portion 72 and extends horizontally within the lid plate portion 72. The main passage 73a, for example, extends over the entire area of the lid plate portion 72 in a plan view. The branch passage 73b has one end communicating with the main passage 73a and the other end communicating with the lower surface of the lid plate portion 72, that is, the accommodation space in which the container V is accommodated.

[0043] <Air supply pipe> The air supply pipe 75 is a pipe connected to the opening on the outer surface of the lid portion 70 in the main passage 73a of the air passage 73. The air supply pipe 75 is capable of supplying air from an air supply source disposed outside the housing case 60 into the main passage 73a.

[0044] <Filter> The filter 76 is provided in the middle of the air supply pipe 75. The filter 76 removes impurities from the air supplied to the air passage 73 through the air supply pipe 75.

[0045] <Operation and effect> Next, the operation and effect of the dispensing and stirring device 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, the dispensing operation by the dispensing and stirring device 1 is performed. As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing unit 10 and the dispensing chip 50 are set to an initial position at a position separated above the housing case 60. From this initial state, the dispensing unit 10 is moved downward by the moving mechanism 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of dispensing chips 50 attached to the dispensing unit 10 passes through the insertion hole 72a of the lid portion 70 of the dispensing case. Then, the dispensing chip 50 is inserted into the container V from above, and the tip of the dispensing chip 50 faces the bottom of the container V with a clearance (for example, 0.5 to 5 mm). The position of the dispensing unit 10 in this state is the lowest position of the dispensing unit 10 and is the operating position for operating the dispensing culture device.

[0046] Then, the culture medium introduced into the dispensing unit 10 through the liquid supply unit 24 is supplied to the dispensing chip 50 through the distribution pipe 30 and the attachment pipe 31. The culture solution C supplied to the dispensing chip 50 is discharged from the tip of the dispensing chip 50 into the container V. As a result, the inside of the container V is filled with the culture solution C.

[0047] Next, a stirring operation (culturing operation) by the dispensing and stirring device 1 is performed. That is, when the attachment pipe 31 is rotationally driven by the first electric motor 41, the dispensing chip 50 rotates around the axis O (clockwise when viewed from above) accordingly. Then, since the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing chip 50 is in contact with the culture solution C, a flow force around the axis O is imparted from the dispensing chip 50 to the culture solution C. As a result, a Taylor vortex around the axis O is formed in the culture solution C within the container V. Since the tip of the dispensing unit 10 reaches near the bottom of the container V, a Taylor vortex can be formed throughout the upper and lower parts of the culture solution C.

[0048] Also, simultaneously with the rotation of the dispensing chip 50, air is introduced into the dispensing unit 10 from the air supply part 23, and the air is supplied into the culture solution C from the tip of the dispensing chip 50. Further, air from the air supply pipe 75 is supplied into the accommodation space through the air passage 73 of the accommodation case 60.

[0049] During the stirring, various liquids and cells from the liquid supply part 24 may be supplied to the culture solution C through the dispensing chip 50. When measuring the progress of the culture or when the culture is completed, the discharge part 25 of the dispensing unit 10 operates, so that the culture solution C is sucked from the tip of the dispensing chip 50, and the culture solution C can be discharged outside the container V and outside the dispensing unit 10.

[0050] As described above, according to the dispensing and stirring device 1 of the present embodiment, by adopting a configuration in which the dispensing chip 50 can rotate around the axis O, in addition to the dispensing function which is the original function of the dispensing chip 50, a configuration having a stirring function for stirring the culture solution C can be provided. Thereby, there is no need to provide a stirring device separately from the dispensing device. That is, since the dispensing and stirring device 1 has a configuration that combines the dispensing device and the stirring device, the number of devices can be reduced, and the entire system can be made more compact.

[0051] The outer peripheral surface of the dispensing chip 50 has a uniform shape in the circumferential direction of the axis O. Therefore, the shear force in the culture solution C when the culture solution C is stirred by the rotation of the dispensing chip 50 can be reduced. Thus, the survival rate of cells can be improved.

[0052] Since the tip rotation mechanism 40 that rotates the dispensing tip 50 is housed within the dispensing unit 10, there is no need to arrange multiple devices around the dispensing case, allowing for efficient use of space. Even if the mounting tube 31 is configured to rotate, it does not affect the dispensing function, so accurate amounts of dispensed material can be supplied and discharged.

[0053] Since each of the multiple mounting tubes 31 is rotatable, dispensing and stirring can be performed on the culture medium C in multiple containers V using the corresponding dispensing tip 50. This improves the efficiency of the culture process.

[0054] The presence of the lid 70 allows the containment space holding the culture medium C to be sealed during cultivation. This prevents contamination during cultivation. In addition to supplying air to the culture medium C from the tip of the chip, air is also supplied to the containment space via the air passage 73 of the lid 70, ensuring a sufficient amount of air for cell culture. This promotes cell growth and improves cell viability.

[0055] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 3. In Figure 2, the same reference numerals are used for components similar to those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0056] The dispensing and stirring device 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with a container rotating mechanism 78 instead of the tip rotating mechanism 40 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the dispensing and stirring device 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it further has a tip cover 85.

[0057] In this embodiment, the mounting tube 31 of the dispensing unit 10 is not rotatable around the axis O, but is fixed immovably to the casing 21 of the dispensing unit 10.

[0058] <Container Rotation Mechanism> The container rotation mechanism 78 is a mechanism that rotates the container V around the axis O. Preferably, the container rotation mechanism 78 is provided in pairs on the storage plate. The container rotation mechanism 78 has an internal stage 80, an external stage 81, and a second electric motor 82.

[0059] <Internal Stage> The internal stage 80 is provided within the housing recess 62 of the housing case 60. The internal stage 80 is disc-shaped with an axis O and is positioned below the housing recess 62, facing the bottom surface 62b of the housing recess 62 in an upward and downward direction. The internal stage 80 is configured to be rotatable around the axis O. The container V is placed on the internal stage 80.

[0060] <External Stage> The external stage 81 is disc-shaped with an axis O and is positioned below the housing plate 61, sandwiching the bottom surface 62b of the housing recess 62 together with the internal stage 80. The external stage 81 is configured to be rotatable around the axis O. The internal stage 80 and the external stage 81 are coupled to each other via a magnetic coupling. As a result, the rotation of the internal stage 80 and the external stage 81 is configured to be linked to each other.

[0061] The second electric motor 82 has a second electric motor body 82a and a second output shaft 82b. When the second output shaft 82b is rotationally driven, the external stage 81 connected to the second output shaft 82b rotates around axis O.

[0062] <Tip Cover> The tip cover 85 is fitted onto the outer surface of the dispensing tip 50. The tip cover 85 is cylindrical in shape, extending vertically around axis O. The outer surface of the tip cover 85 is a cylindrical surface that is uniform in the vertical direction, centered on axis O. The inner surface of the tip cover 85 is tapered, decreasing in diameter from top to bottom. The shape of the inner surface of the tip cover 85 corresponds to the shape of the outer surface of the dispensing tip 50.

[0063] As a result, the outer surface of the dispensing tip 50 contacts the inner surface of the tip cover 85 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the portion of the dispensing tip 50 that protrudes downward from the lid 70, excluding a part of the tip, is covered by the tip cover 85. That is, a part of the tip of the dispensing tip 50 protrudes downward from the tip cover 85.

[0064] In this embodiment, the upper end of the chip cover 85 is fixed to the lower surface of the lid portion 70. The opening at the upper end of the chip cover 85 has the same inner diameter as the insertion hole 72a of the lid portion 70 and is in continuous communication with the insertion hole 72a.

[0065] In this embodiment, the main passage 73a of the air passage 73 inside the lid 70 opens into the insertion hole 72a. As a result, some of the air flowing through the main passage 73a enters the small gap between the dispensing tip 50 and the tip cover 85 via the insertion hole 72a. This air is then released into the culture medium C from the lower end of the tip cover 85. This prevents the culture medium C from entering the space between the tip cover 85 and the dispensing tip 50.

[0066] <Effects> This embodiment employs a mechanism in which the container V rotates, rather than the dispensing tip 50 rotating. This also allows the dispensing tip 50 and the container V to rotate around the axis O, similar to the first embodiment, thereby providing the culture medium C with a fluid force around the axis O. Therefore, the overall system can be made more compact.

[0067] In order to form a more favorable Taylor vortex, it is preferable to agitate the culture medium C within a uniformly cylindrical region in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, by fitting a tip cover 85 having a cylindrical outer surface onto a tapered dispensing tip 50 from the outside, a uniformly cylindrical region in the vertical direction can be formed within the container V. Therefore, an appropriate Taylor vortex can be formed, and the cell viability can be further improved.

[0068] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 4. In Figure 4, the same reference numerals are used for components similar to those in the first and second embodiments, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0069] In the third embodiment of the dispensing culture apparatus, an eccentric rotation mechanism 95 is employed as a mechanism for relative rotation of the dispensing tip 50 and the container V.

[0070] In the third embodiment, each container V is provided with a container lid 90 that closes the opening of each container V. As shown in Figure 5, the container lid 90 has an annular slit 91 formed around the axis O, which is the central axis of the container in a plan view. The dispensing tip 50 attached to the mounting tube 31 of the dispensing unit 10 is inserted from above to below through the slit 91.

[0071] An eccentric rotation mechanism 95 is provided inside the casing 21 of the dispensing unit 10. The eccentric rotation mechanism 95 rotates the mounting tube 31 around the axis O along the extending direction of the slit 91. That is, the eccentric rotation mechanism 95 rotates the dispensing tip 50 around the axis O of the container V while the axis O of the dispensing tip 50 is horizontally separated from the axis O of the container V. As a result, the dispensing tip 50 revolves around the axis O while inserted inside the container V, that is, it performs circumferential motion around the axis O. This also allows the culture medium C inside the container V to be stirred, similar to the first and second embodiments.

[0072] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a culture system 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 5. In Figure 5, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as in the other embodiments, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0073] <Culture System> The culture system 100 according to the fourth embodiment includes, in addition to the dispensing and stirring device 1 described above, a building 101, a table 102, a pass box 103, a moving stage 105, and various other devices 110.

[0074] <Building> Building 101 is a structure positioned on the floor and has a hollow interior. The interior of Building 101 is designated as a highly clean area.

[0075] Table 102 is placed on the floor surface inside building 101.

[0076] <Pass Box> The pass box 103 is provided so as to protrude horizontally from the side of the building 101. In this embodiment, a pair of pass boxes 103 are provided so as to sandwich the building 101 from one horizontal direction. Note that the pass box 103 is not limited to a pair, and a configuration with only one pass box is also possible.

[0077] The pass box 103 has a box body 103a, a first opening / closing section 103b, and a second opening / closing section 103c. One end of the box body 103a is provided to communicate with the inside of the building 101 in one horizontal direction, and the other end on the opposite side in one horizontal direction is open to the outside. The first opening / closing section 103b opens and closes the space inside the box body 103a and the space inside the building 101. The second opening / closing section 103c opens and closes the space inside the box body 103a and the space outside.

[0078] <Moving Stage> The moving stage 105 extends horizontally in one direction from the table 102 inside the building 101 to the space inside the pair of pass boxes 103. The upper surface of the moving stage 105 is configured to allow items placed on the upper surface to move within the extension range of the moving stage 105. Various configurations can be adopted for the moving stage 105, such as a linear motion mechanism or a belt mechanism.

[0079] <Dispensing and stirring device> The dispensing unit 10 of the dispensing and stirring device 1 is located in the upper part of the space inside the building 101, directly above the moving stage 105. The housing case 60 of the dispensing and stirring device 1 is arranged on the moving stage 105 together with other equipment 110. The housing case 60 and the equipment 110 are arranged in a line in the direction of movement of the moving stage 105.

[0080] <Equipment> Equipment 110 can include various configurations such as a tip rack for housing multiple dispensing tips 50, a reagent unit, a consumables unit, other storage cases 60, and a waste box. All of the equipment 110 is necessary for performing automated culture within the building 101.

[0081] <Effects and Effects> According to this embodiment, dispensing from the containment case 60 into container V and stirring of the culture medium C in container V are performed within the clean area inside the building 101. Since it is not necessary to provide a separate dispensing device and stirring device, the clean area itself can be made compact.

[0082] Furthermore, the moving stage 105 moves the items on it, enabling the dispensing unit 10 to access the various devices 110. Therefore, there is no need to provide a horizontal movement mechanism in the dispensing unit 10 itself, allowing for a simple configuration. Consequently, the entire system can be compact and simple, enabling continuous automated culture.

[0083] Furthermore, with the first opening / closing section 103b of the pass box 103 in the open position, various items can be moved into the space inside the box body 103a using the moving stage 105. Then, by closing the first opening / closing section 103b and opening the second opening / closing section 103c, various items can be accessed from the outside while maintaining the cleanliness of the clean area.

[0084] Furthermore, since a pair of pass boxes 103 are provided, external access to various items can be easily facilitated. In addition, for example, if an item has been accessed, access can be made via the pass box 103 that is closer to the item, thereby shortening the time the first opening / closing section 103b is open when an item is moved. This minimizes changes in the clean area environment.

[0085] (Other Embodiments) Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and may include design changes and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0086] For example, a dispensing and stirring device 1 equipped with both the tip rotation mechanism 40 of the first embodiment and the container rotation mechanism 78 of the second embodiment may be used. This makes it possible to perform dispensing and stirring with greater flexibility.

[0087] The tip cover 85 of the second embodiment may also be applied to the first embodiment. In this case, the tip cover 85 is integrally fitted onto the outer surface of the dispensing tip 50, and the tip cover 85 rotates together with the dispensing tip 50. This allows for the formation of a more appropriate Taylor vortex.

[0088] The size of the containment case 60 may be the same as the size of the existing well plate. In this case, it is preferable that the pitch of the containment recess 62 be the same as the pitch of the wells of the existing well plate. This makes it possible to easily repurpose an existing dispensing device for well plates as the dispensing unit 10 of the embodiment. <Note> The dispensing and stirring device 1 and culture system 100 described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0089] (1) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a dispensing unit 10 that is vertically movable and capable of supplying and discharging a dispensing material, a dispensing tip 50 that is detachably attached to the dispensing unit 10 so as to protrude downward from the dispensing unit 10 and capable of discharging and sucking up the dispensing material from its tip, a container V that contains a culture medium C and into which the dispensing tip 50 is inserted and removed as the dispensing unit 10 moves up and down, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the dispensing tip 50 and the container V relative to each other around an axis O that extends in the vertical direction while the dispensing tip 50 is inserted into the container V.

[0090] The relative rotation between the dispensing tip 50 and the container V allows for agitation of the liquid inside the container V. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate stirring device.

[0091] (2) The stirring device according to the second embodiment is the dispensing stirring device 1 of (1), wherein the rotating mechanism is a tip rotating mechanism 40 that rotates the dispensing tip 50 around the axis O of the dispensing tip 50.

[0092] The rotation of the dispensing tip 50 allows the dispensed material in the container V to be agitated.

[0093] (3) The stirring device according to the third embodiment is the dispensing stirring device 1 described in (3), wherein the tip rotating mechanism 40 is housed within the dispensing unit 10.

[0094] This allows for a compact overall configuration without increasing the number of devices.

[0095] (4) The stirring device according to the third embodiment is the dispensing stirring device 1 of (1), wherein the rotating mechanism is a container rotating mechanism 78 that rotates the container V around the axis O of the container V.

[0096] The rotation of container V allows the dispensed contents inside container V to be agitated.

[0097] (5) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the fifth embodiment is the dispensing and stirring device 1 according to (1), wherein the rotating mechanism is an eccentric rotating mechanism 95 that eccentrically rotates the dispensing tip 50 around the axis O of the container V.

[0098] The eccentric rotation of the dispensing tip 50 allows the dispensed material in the container V to be agitated.

[0099] (6) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the sixth embodiment is the dispensing and stirring device described in (5), wherein the eccentric rotation mechanism is housed within the dispensing unit.

[0100] This allows for a compact overall configuration without increasing the number of devices.

[0101] (7) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the seventh embodiment is the dispensing and stirring device 1 according to any one of (1) to (5), further comprising a tip cover 85 fitted onto the outer circumference of the dispensing tip 50 and having a cylindrical outer surface centered on the axis O of the dispensing tip 50.

[0102] This allows for the proper formation of Taylor vortices.

[0103] (8) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the eighth embodiment is the dispensing and stirring device 1 according to any one of (1) to (6), comprising a plurality of containers V and a storage plate 61 having a plurality of storage recesses 62 capable of accommodating the plurality of containers V in a side-by-side arrangement, and the dispensing unit 10 is capable of mounting a plurality of dispensing tips 50 in a side-by-side arrangement.

[0104] This allows for simultaneous stirring of the contents dispensed into multiple containers V.

[0105] (9) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the ninth embodiment further comprises a lid portion 70 which is fitted into the housing plate 61 so as to cover the plurality of housing recesses 62 from above, and which has a plurality of insertion holes through which each of the dispensing tips 50 can pass in the vertical direction.

[0106] This allows dispensing and stirring using the dispensing tip 50 to be performed while housing multiple containers V inside.

[0107] (10) The dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the tenth embodiment is the dispensing and stirring device 1 according to (9), wherein the lid portion 70 has an air passage 73 that can supply air to the receiving recess 62 from outside the lid portion 70.

[0108] This allows for an appropriate supply of air to the culture medium C.

[0109] (11) The culture system 100 according to the eleventh embodiment comprises a dispensing and stirring device 1 according to any of (1) to (10), a building 101 that partitions a clean area housing the dispensing and stirring device 1, a stage on which the housing plate 61 of the dispensing and stirring device 1 is placed and which is horizontally movable, and a pass box 103 connected to the building 101, which allows the stage to move between the building 101 and the inside of the building 101.

[0110] This makes it possible to realize a compact dispensing and stirring device 1 overall.

[0111] According to this disclosure, it is possible to increase the amount of oxygen dissolved in the culture medium.

[0112] 1 Dispensing and stirring device 10 Dispensing unit 11 Moving mechanism 20 Unit body 21 Casing 21a Through hole 23 Air supply section 24 Liquid supply section 25 Discharge section 30 Distribution pipe 31 Mounting pipe 32 Bearing 33 Seal section 40 Tip rotation mechanism 41 First motor 41a First motor body 41b First output shaft 42 Transmission mechanism 43 First bevel gear 44 Second bevel gear 45 Driven shaft 46 First pulley 47 Belt 48 Second pulley 50 Dispensing tip 60 Housing case 61 Housing plate 61a Side 61b Top 62 Housing recess 62a Inner side 62b Bottom 70 Lid section 71 Lid edge 72 Lid plate section 72a Through hole 73 Air passage 73a Main passage 73b Branch passage 75 Air supply pipe 76 Filter 78 Container rotation mechanism 80 Internal stage 81 External stage 82 Second motor 82a Second motor body 82b Second output shaft 85 Chip cover 90 Container lid 91 Slit 95 Eccentric rotation mechanism 100 Culture system 101 Building 102 Table 103 Pass box 103a Box body 103b First opening / closing part 103c Second opening / closing part 105 Moving stage 110 Equipment V Container C Culture medium O Axis

Claims

A dispensing unit that is adjustable in height and capable of supplying and dispensing the dispensed material, A dispensing tip is detachably attached to the dispensing unit so as to protrude downward from the dispensing unit, and is capable of dispensing and aspirating the dispensing material from its tip, A container for holding culture medium and through which the dispensing tip is inserted and removed as the dispensing unit moves up and down, With the dispensing tip inserted into the container, a rotation mechanism is provided to rotate the dispensing tip and the container relative to each other around an axis extending in the vertical direction. A dispensing and stirring device equipped with the following features. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism is a tip rotating mechanism that rotates the dispensing tip around the axis of the dispensing tip. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 2, wherein the tip rotation mechanism is housed within the dispensing unit. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism is a container rotating mechanism that rotates the container around the axis of the container. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation mechanism is an eccentric rotation mechanism that rotates the dispensing tip eccentrically around the axis of the container. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 5, wherein the eccentric rotation mechanism is housed within the dispensing unit. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 1, further comprising a tip cover fitted onto the outer circumference of the dispensing tip and having a cylindrical outer surface centered on the axis of the dispensing tip. 　 Multiple containers, The storage plate has multiple storage recesses capable of accommodating multiple containers in a side-by-side arrangement, The dispensing and stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of dispensing tips are attached to the dispensing unit in a parallel arrangement so as to correspond to each of the containers housed in the receiving recess. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 8, further comprising a lid that is fitted onto the housing plate so as to cover the plurality of housing recesses from above, and which has a plurality of insertion holes through which each of the dispensing tips can pass in the vertical direction. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 9, wherein the lid portion has an air passage that can supply air to the receiving recess from outside the lid portion. 　 The dispensing and stirring device according to claim 8, A building that partitions the clean area housing the aforementioned dispensing and stirring device, A stage on which the housing plate of the dispensing and stirring device is placed and which is movable horizontally, A pass box connected to the aforementioned building, the stage being able to move between the inside and outside of the building, A culture system equipped with the following features.

Images