JP3323294B2 - Spotting tip and liquid concentration preventing method using the spotting tip - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spotting tip fitted to the tip of a nozzle of a suction means for sucking a liquid in a container, and a method for preventing liquid concentration using the spotting tip. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spotting tip for sucking and holding a liquid or the like used in the above-mentioned method and dropping the sucked and held liquid on an instrument for biochemical analysis or the like, and a liquid concentration preventing method using the spotting tip.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Quantitative analysis of a specific chemical component in a liquid sample is generally performed in various industrial fields, for example, alcoholic beverages, drinks, tap water, particularly biological fluids (blood, urine, saliva). Various methods are known in which the activity (or concentration) of specific ions contained therein is quantitatively analyzed by potentiometry, and a sample solution is spotted. Instruments for measuring ion activity are disclosed in JP-A-58-211648 and JP-A-59-30055.

[0003] Generally, such an instrument for measuring ion activity is provided with at least one pair of ion selective electrodes having an ion selective layer on the outermost layer which selectively responds to specific ions such as Na, K and Cl. The ion selective electrode pair is supported between an upper frame and a lower support frame. A pair of liquid spotting holes are provided in the upper frame so as to correspond to the pair of ion selective electrodes. The sample liquid supplied to one of the pair of liquid spotting holes and the sample liquid supplied to the other pair are spotted. A porous bridge (preferably a twisted yarn made of fiber) for achieving electrical conduction (liquid junction) with the supplied reference liquid is usually provided on the upper frame.

In the ion activity measuring instrument thus constructed, a reference liquid having a known activity of these ions is spotted on one of a pair of liquid spots, and the activity of the ions is unknown. When the sample liquid is spotted on the other, both liquids penetrate the porous liquid distribution member and reach the corresponding ion selective electrode. On the other hand, the interface between the two liquids contacts (liquid junction) near the center of the porous bridge, and electrical conduction is established. As a result, a potential difference corresponding to the difference in the activity of the ions between the sample solution and the reference solution is generated between the electrodes of the pair of ion-selective electrodes. If this potential difference is measured, a calibration curve previously determined (in principle, Nernst Can be measured simultaneously, sequentially or at any time.

[0005] Since such an ion activity measuring instrument can easily measure the ion activity only by applying a small amount of a sample liquid and a reference liquid once each, analysis of an aqueous liquid sample, particularly blood or the like, is performed. It is extremely useful in clinical analysis of samples collected from the human body.

When the sample liquid and the reference liquid are spotted on such an ion activity measuring instrument, the two liquids are respectively adsorbed and held in different spotting tips, and these two solutions are adsorbed and held. The corresponding liquid spotting holes are supplied from the tips of these spotting tips.

Each of the spotting tips is adapted to be fitted to the tip of the nozzle of the suction / discharge means. In this fitted state, the tip of the spotting tip is immersed in a sample liquid or reference liquid in a container. In accordance with the suction operation of the suction / discharge means, the sample liquid or the reference liquid is caused to enter into the spotting tip by a predetermined amount from the opening at the tip, and is held in the spotting tip. Thereafter, when the sample liquid and the reference liquid are spotted, these two spotting tips are arranged at predetermined positions on the above-mentioned ion activity measuring instrument while being fitted to the nozzle tip of the suction / discharge means. According to the discharge operation of the discharge means, the sample liquid and the reference liquid respectively held in both the spotting tips are spotted almost simultaneously on the liquid spotting holes of the ion activity measuring instrument.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned container for storing the sample liquid and the reference liquid, the stored liquid evaporates from the opening for inserting the spotting tip, and the component of the stored liquid elapses for a long time. The concentration may change. In addition, if this opening is left open, there is a high possibility that the stored liquid will rot.

Therefore, conventionally, a lid is usually placed on the opening, the lid is removed only when the liquid is sucked by the spotting tip, the spotting tip is made to enter the container, and the liquid is sucked into the spotting tip. After being held, the spotted tip was taken out of the container, and immediately thereafter, the container was capped.

[0010] However, such an operation of attaching and detaching the lid is very troublesome, which has been an obstacle particularly in automating such an operation of sucking the stored liquid.

To solve such a problem, US Pat.
A reference liquid reservoir as shown in the specification of US Pat. No. 347,750 is known. The storage tank holds the bottle container containing the reference liquid upside down, and supplies the reference liquid into the closed flow path from the opening of the bottle, while the spotted chip is placed in the reference liquid in the flow path. The suction nozzle with the spotting tip is configured to hold the spotting tip down so that the tip is immersed. In addition, at the insertion portion where the tip of the spotting tip is inserted into the flow channel, a spotting tip support portion protrudes from the inner wall portion of the storage tank. The side wall and the support portion come into contact with each other, and the insertion port of the spotting tip is covered.

By using this reference liquid storage tank, the flow path containing the reference liquid is sealed, so that evaporation of the reference liquid can be prevented, concentration of the reference liquid can be prevented, and decay of the reference liquid can be prevented. Furthermore, no special lid is required to close the opening for inserting the spotting tip, so that a cumbersome detaching operation of the lid is not required, and the sucking operation of the stored liquid can be facilitated.

However, when the reference liquid storage tank as described above is used, it is difficult to perform the expected function if the shape of the opening of the reference liquid storage bin or the tip of the spotting tip is different from the predetermined shape. . In other words, in order to smoothly supply the reference liquid to the flow path, it is necessary to insert the opening of the vial into the inlet of the flow path, but there is a difference between the inlet diameter of the flow path and the diameter of the opening of the vial. In such a case, it becomes difficult to smoothly supply the reference liquid from the bottle container to the flow path. Also, if there is a difference between the inner diameter of the spotting tip support portion of the storage tank and the diameter of the spotting tip side wall in the spotting tip insertion part, when the spotting tip is inserted into this insertion part, As a result, it becomes difficult to keep the reference liquid satisfactorily, and it becomes difficult to seal the flow path. As a result, it becomes difficult to prevent the reference liquid from evaporating at the insertion portion, and it is difficult to prevent the reference liquid from rotting.

On the other hand, when the reference liquid storage tanks are manufactured in accordance with the shape of the opening of the bottle container for storing the reference liquid and the shape of the spotting tip, the cost of the apparatus increases depending on the number of storage tanks manufactured. In addition, there arises a problem that the operation of biochemical analysis becomes complicated due to the operation of replacing the storage tank.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to inexpensively and easily prevent liquid concentration caused by evaporation of liquid in a container and decay of the liquid to be sucked into the dropping tip, and An object of the present invention is to provide a spotting tip that can facilitate a liquid dispensing operation into the spotting tip, and a method for preventing liquid concentration using the spotting tip.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The tip of the present invention is in contact with the edge of the opening for inserting the tip of the liquid container when the tip is disposed at a predetermined depth position of the liquid container. And a lid for closing the opening.

Further, the method for preventing liquid concentration using a spotting tip according to the present invention prevents evaporation of liquid in a liquid container using the spotting tip provided with the lid. Fit the tip to the nozzle tip of the liquid suction means,
Thereafter, the dropper is inserted into the container through the opening of the container, and the lid of the dropper comes into contact with the edge of the opening of the container so as to close the opening. The dropping tip is held in the container until the dropping operation of the liquid by the dropping tip is started.

The lid may be integrated with the spotting tip main body, or may be configured to engage a separate body.

Further, as the spotted tip, a tip which has been subjected to a water-repellent treatment on the entire outer surface of the tip body, preferably the tip portion and the outer surface in the vicinity thereof, for example, by the method described in JP-A-3-131351 may be used. It is possible.

[0020]

According to the spotting tip of the present invention and the method for preventing liquid concentration using the spotting tip, a lid is formed on the spotting tip, and the spotting tip is inserted to a predetermined depth of the liquid container. The lid is in contact with the edge of the dropping tip insertion opening of the liquid container to close the opening, and the lid is closed during a period other than when the liquid is spotted by the dropping tip. By maintaining the closed state of the opening, it is possible to prevent the liquid from evaporating to the outside from the opening, thereby preventing the liquid from being concentrated. In addition, since foreign substances can be prevented from entering the container from outside, contamination and decay of the liquid can be prevented.

If the concentration and decay of the liquid can be prevented, the accuracy can be kept high even in biochemical analysis in which a slight change in the concentration of components becomes a problem.

Further, as in the prior art described in the above-mentioned publication, it is not necessary to manufacture the reference liquid storage tank according to the shape of the container or the spotting tip.

In other words, if the shape of the opening of the reference liquid container is different, a lid having a shape capable of closing the opening may be provided on the spotting tip in accordance with the difference. In addition, the replacement operation is extremely simple.

Further, the closing operation and the closing releasing operation of the liquid container are simultaneously performed by performing the operation of inserting the dropping tip into the liquid container and the operation of removing the dropping tip from the liquid container. In addition, there is no need to perform a special operation for attaching and detaching the lid as in the related art, and the liquid dispensing operation using the spotting tip becomes extremely easy.

If the tip of the spotting tip and the vicinity thereof are subjected to a water-repellent treatment as described above, the possibility that the liquid in the container is carried out to the outside is reduced. It is possible to further prevent the liquid from being concentrated.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a spotting tip according to one embodiment of the present invention. That is, the spotting tip 1 is fitted to a tip body 2 formed in a conical cylindrical shape with upper and lower ends opened, and an outer wall in the middle of the tip body 2.
And a lid portion 3 functioning as a lid for sealing the container.

The tip end 4 of the suction / discharge means is inserted into the tip body 2 from the large-diameter end 2a of the tip body 2, and the spotting tip 1 is fitted to the nozzle tip 4. On the other hand, a small-diameter end portion (hereinafter, referred to as a tip) 2b of the tip body 2 is inserted into a liquid in a container, and an opening of the tip 2b is filled with the liquid by the suction operation of the suction / discharge means. 2. Allow to enter.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state where the spotting tip 1 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the reference liquid container 5. A reference liquid 6 is stored in the container 5, and the lid 3 of the spotting tip 1 is attached to the opening 7 of the container 5 while the tip 2 b of the spotting tip 1 is immersed in the reference liquid 6. And the opening 3 is closed by the lid 3. In this state, the nozzle tip 4 of the suction / discharge means is inserted and fitted in this spotting tip 1 and the container 5
Is closed. The spotting tip 1 is held in the container 5 in the state shown in FIG.

As described above, since the container 5 is sealed by the dropping tip 1, evaporation of the reference liquid from the opening 7 of the container 5 is prevented with the dropping tip 1 inserted into the container 5. Thus, concentration of the reference liquid in the container 5 is prevented.

The material of the chip body 2 is formed of an organic polymer material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, fluorine resin, or silicone resin, while the lid 3 is formed of the same organic polymer material or rubber material as the chip body 2. It is formed.

The lid 3 may be formed separately from the chip body 2 as in the above embodiment, or may be integrally formed by, for example, molding.

In the above embodiment, the lid 3 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape with a downward convexity. However, the shape of the lid 3 is not limited to this, and the tip 2b of the chip body 2 is not limited to this. May be any shape as long as it can close the opening 7 of the container 5 in a state where it is inserted to a predetermined position of the container 5, for example, FIG.
As shown in (B), the small-diameter cylindrical portion and the large-diameter cylindrical portion are overlapped in order from the tip 12b side, and the small-diameter cylindrical portion is fitted into the opening of the container 15, and the lower surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion is It is also possible to adopt a shape in which the outer peripheral portion is in contact with the upper surface of the helicopter portion of the opening 17 of the bin.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A disk-shaped cover 23 is fitted in the middle of 22 and the cover 23
It is also possible to close the opening by contacting the lower surface of the container with the upper surface of the edge of the opening of the container 25.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2D, a cylindrical portion 33 fitted to the nozzle 34 of the suction / discharge means of the spotting tip 31 may be made to function as a lid. Can contact the upper surface of the edge of the opening 37 of the container 35 to close the opening 37.

In FIG. 2, (B), (C),
The reference numerals given to the respective parts in the drawings of (D) correspond to the reference numerals given to the respective parts in the drawings of (A) corresponding to the respective parts by 10, 2 respectively.
0 and 30 are added.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effect of the above embodiment. Among them, the first graph (circle) is shown in FIG. 2 (A) using the spotting tip 1 shown in FIG. It shows the evaporation rate (%) of the reference liquid 6 with respect to the elapsed time when the opening 7 of the container 5 is closed. The amount of the reference liquid stored in the container 5 at the start of the measurement was 8 mL. According to this graph, the evaporation rate can be kept within a standard value (0.70%) which does not cause deterioration of measurement accuracy due to concentration even at the time when three days have elapsed after the start of measurement.

The second graph shown in FIG. 3 (×
2) shows the evaporation rate of the reference liquid 6 with respect to the elapsed time when the opening 7 of the container 5 shown in FIG. 2 (A) is opened without using the spotting tip 1 of the present embodiment as described above. %). According to this graph, the evaporation amount of the reference liquid 6 is extremely large, and the evaporation rate exceeds the standard value (0.70%) after a lapse of 2 to 3 hours. This means that the concentration rate of the reference liquid 6 increases in a short time, and when used for long-time repeated measurement, the measurement accuracy is reduced.

FIG. 5 shows the shape of the container 5 used in this experiment. That is, the outer diameter a of the opening 7 of the container 5 is approximately
17mm, inner diameter b is about 15mm, height c is about 10mm,
The outer diameter d of the main body of the container 5 is about 21 mm, and the overall height e of the container 5 is about 45 mm. Further, the side wall thickness f of the main body of the container 5 is about 1 mm, and the bottom wall thickness g is about 0.6 mm.

During this experiment, the ambient temperature was 32 ± 0.1
° C, and the atmospheric humidity was kept at 30 ± 2%.

The experimental result shown in FIG. 3 shows that the lid 3 was fitted into the opening 7 of the container 5 using the spotting tip 1 according to the present embodiment, and the opening 7 was kept closed. This is a case where the spotting tip 1 is actually used when the spotting operation on the chemical analysis slide is performed.
Must be lifted out of the container 5 and transported to the spotting portion. Therefore, during this spotting operation period, the opening 7 of the container 5
Is in an open state, and during this period, the reference liquid 6 evaporates as shown by the second graph (x mark) in FIG.

Therefore, when a spotting operation is performed using the spotting tip 1 according to the above embodiment, the spotting tip 1 is fitted to the nozzle tip 4 of the liquid suction / discharge means, and then the spotting tip is fitted. The tip 2b of the tip 1 is inserted into the container 5, and the lid 3 of the spotting tip 1 is inserted into the opening 7 of the container 5 so that the opening 7 is closed. Until the spotting operation of the reference liquid 6 is started, the opening 5 is kept closed by the tipping tip 1, and the spotting operation by the tipping tip 1 is performed according to the instruction of the spotting operation. When this operation is completed, the dropping tip 1 is immediately inserted into the container 5 and the opening 7 of the container 5 is closed.
To be closed.

Thus, even when the spotting operation of the reference liquid 6 is repeatedly performed, the opening period of the opening 7 of the container 5 is minimized, and the evaporation of the reference liquid 6 is prevented, and the concentration of the reference liquid 6 is prevented. Is done. In addition, foreign matter is prevented from entering from outside,
Rot of the reference liquid is prevented.

When the container 5 is transported while the tip 1 is inserted into the container 5, it is necessary to remove the tip 1 from the nozzle tip 4 of the liquid suction / discharge means. In this case, since the reference liquid 6 may evaporate from the upper opening 8 through the interior of the spotting tip 1,
In order to prevent this evaporation, it is desirable that a transport lid 9 as shown in FIG. 4 be fitted over the spotting tip 1 and the upper opening 8 of the spotting tip 1 be closed.

It is preferable that the tip 2b of the spotting tip 1 and the outer wall in the vicinity of the tip 2b be subjected to a water-repellent treatment with a silicone polymer or a fluorinated polymer. This is because the position of the tip 2b of the spotting tip 1 from the bottom of the container is constant, and at the start of use, the tip 2b is immersed in the reference liquid 6 to a considerably upper part of the spotting tip 1. This is because the application makes it possible to prevent the reference liquid 6 from being carried out of the container 5 on the outer wall of the spotting tip 1.

The spotting tip of the present invention and the method for preventing liquid concentration using this spotting tip are not limited to those of the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications can be made. For example, the shape of the tip body of the spotting tip and the shape of the container to be inserted can also be various shapes, and the shape of the lid of the spotting tip may be determined according to this shape.

The liquid that is prevented from being evaporated by the spotting tip of the present invention is not limited to the reference liquid, but can be applied to, for example, a test liquid, a test liquid, and other liquids sucked and discharged by the spotting tip. is there.

(Embodiments) (1) The liquid suction means for sucking the liquid from the container containing the liquid is fitted to the nozzle tip of the liquid suction means, and the liquid in the container is inserted through the spotting tip insertion opening of the container. And when the liquid is sucked by the liquid suction means, the tip of the dropping tip is allowed to enter the liquid from the tip opening and holds the liquid. A spotting tip provided with a lid that contacts an edge of the spotting tip insertion opening and closes the opening in a state where the tip is placed at the position.

(2) The spotting tip according to item 1, wherein the tipping tip and the lid are made of an organic polymer integrally molded.

(3) The spotting tip according to item 1, wherein the tipping tip is formed by engaging a tip body formed separately from an organic polymer with the lid.

(4) The spotting tip according to item 1, wherein at least a part of the outer surface of the spotting tip is water-repellent.

(5) The spotting tip described in item 1 is fitted to the tip of the nozzle of the liquid suction means, and the lid of the tipping tip is attached to the edge of the spotting tip insertion opening of the container. The dropping tip is inserted into the container through the opening until it comes into contact with and closes the opening, and in the state where the dropping tip is inserted, the liquid is dropped by the dropping tip. A method for preventing liquid concentration using a dropping tip, wherein the dropping tip is held in the container until the operation is started.

(6) The method for preventing liquid concentration according to item 5, wherein the spotting tip and the lid are made of an organic polymer integrally molded.

(7) The method for preventing liquid concentration according to (5), wherein the spotting tip is formed by engaging a tip body formed separately from an organic polymer with the lid. .

(8) The method for preventing liquid concentration according to item 5, wherein at least a part of the outer surface of the spotting tip is subjected to a water-repellent treatment.

[0056]

As described above, according to the dropping tip and the method for preventing liquid concentration using the dropping tip of the present invention, the opening of the liquid container is closed by the lid provided on the dropping tip. If this closed state is maintained, evaporation of liquid and entry of foreign matter can be prevented, so that concentration and spoilage of liquid can be prevented. Accordingly, when a reference liquid for biochemical analysis measurement in which a minute change in analyte concentration is a problem is used as the liquid, the measurement accuracy can be kept high.

Even when the shape of the reference liquid container or the tip body of the spotting tip is changed, the shape of the lid of the spotting tip may be changed according to the change. It is extremely advantageous in cost as compared with the conventional technology used, and the replacement operation is also a container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a spotting tip according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a state where a spotting tip according to each embodiment of the present invention is inserted into a container.

FIG. 3 shows the case where the opening of the container is closed using the spotting tip according to the embodiment of the present invention (marked by ○) and the case where the opening of the container is completely opened (marked by ×). Graph showing changes in evaporation rate with elapsed time

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a transport lid is mounted on the spotting tip when the spotting tip according to the embodiment of the present invention is transported in a state of being inserted into a container.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the shape of a container used in an experiment for confirming the effect of the spotting tip according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,11,21,31 Pointing tip 2,12,22,32 Tip body 3,13,23,33 Lid 4,14,24,34 Nozzle tip 5,15,25,35 Container 6,16, 26, 36 Reference liquid 7, 17, 37 Opening

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-106794 (JP, A) JP-A-1-84065 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B01L 3/02 G01N 1/00 101 B01J 4/00-4/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquid suction means for sucking a liquid from a container containing the liquid, which is fitted to a nozzle tip of the liquid suction means, inserted into the liquid of the container through a spotting tip insertion opening of the container, and In a spotting tip that holds the liquid by allowing the liquid to enter from the tip opening when the liquid is sucked by the suction means, the tip of the spotting tip is arranged at a predetermined depth position of the container. 3. The spotting tip according to claim 1, further comprising a lid which abuts on an edge of the spotting tip insertion opening to close the opening. 2. The dropping tip according to claim 1 is fitted to a tip end of a nozzle of a liquid suction means, and a lid of the dropping tip is attached to an edge of an opening for inserting the dropping tip of the container. The dropping tip is inserted into the container through the opening until it comes into contact with and closes the opening, and in the state where the dropping tip is inserted, the liquid is dropped by the dropping tip. A method for preventing liquid concentration using a dropping tip, wherein the dropping tip is held in the container until the operation is started.