JPH0431739B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing device for dispensing a fixed amount of a liquid sample in various fields such as clinical tests and food, chemical, and drug experiments. Specifically, for example, a bacterial liquid dispenser for dispensing a fixed amount of bacterial liquid at a predetermined concentration into a large number of cells of a bacterial identification kit, a quantitative spotting device such as thin-layer chromatography or paper chromatography, and a micrometer. The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing device suitable for dispensing trace components into cells of a cell culture container such as a plate or multi-plate, or as a blood intake device for a vacuum blood collection tube.

<Prior art and its problems> Conventionally, droppers, measuring pipettes, syringes, and micropipettes have been used as simple liquid dispensing instruments when it is necessary to quantitatively dispense a large number of liquids in clinical tests, etc. , Stepspur, etc.

Measuring pipettes and syringes require dispensing while keeping an eye on the scale, and the burden placed on workers when handling large amounts of samples is considerable. Regarding droppers, the amount of each drop dropped can be controlled by adjusting the diameter of the nozzle tip, but there are subtle and large variations depending on how hard you press the droplet, and continuous operation can cause hand fatigue. Accumulated. Micropipettes and steppers allow for highly accurate dispensing, but are expensive.

<Objective of the present invention> An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device that has a simple structure, low manufacturing cost, good operability for quantitative dispensing, and can perform highly quantitative dispensing.

<Means to achieve the above objectives> The configuration of the liquid dispensing device of the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment, the liquid dispensing device of the present invention can be used as a lid, stopper or cap for a test tube or other sample container containing a sample liquid to be dispensed. An instrument main body 1 that can be fitted liquid-tight inside or outside the mouth of a container, and a sample container fitted with the instrument main body 1 with the instrument main body 1 facing forward, when the sample container is held with one hand, the finger can be placed against it. A small-diameter intake port 2a that can be closed with a finger is opened at a desired position of the instrument main body 1 so as to be in a position where
and an air introduction hole 2 that communicates with the inlet port 2a and is cut in the instrument body 1 so as to open into the sample container when the instrument body 1 is fitted into the sample container; is opened into the sample container, and the other end is provided at a predetermined position of the instrument body 1 so that the hole 3a is on the front side or the bottom side when the sample container is gripped as described above, and It is characterized in that the other end comprises a discharge pipe 3 which is a small diameter opening into which the sample liquid can be dropped.

Next, the function and method of using the liquid dispensing device of the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the liquid dispensing device of the present invention is fitted into a test tube or other sample container s containing a sample liquid l to be dispensed, Hold the sample container s with one hand h so as to block the intake port 2a, turn it horizontally or upside down, and keep the outlet 3a of the discharge hole downward and approximately horizontal.
Bring the bacterial identification kit indicated by the symbol p, thin layer chromatography, paper chromatography, multi-well plate, microplate, etc. directly above the desired cell or desired location, and open the air introduction hole 2 for a few seconds. . Then, the atmosphere flows into the sample container s through the air introduction hole 2, and the inside of the sample container s comes under the action of atmospheric pressure.
At this time, since the filter 4 limits the amount of air inflow to a small amount, the sample liquid L passing through the discharge hole 3 is controlled to have a minute flow rate, and the sample liquid L passes through the hole 3a at the outer end of the discharge hole. A drop g is slowly formed and grows to a relatively large constant size. Then, as soon as the drop g that has grown to a certain size falls, if the inlet port 2a is blocked with the finger f as described above, the dropping can be easily controlled so that the next drop g does not form. Therefore, the required number of drops can be applied to the same cell, and there will be no variation in the amount of drops.
Therefore, it is suitable as a bacterial liquid dispenser, a quantitative spotting device, a trace component dispensing device for cell culture, etc.

<First Example...Figures 1 and 2> The liquid dispensing device of this example is suitable for use as a bacterial liquid dispenser, quantitative spotter, and trace component dispenser for cell culture. . First, the configuration will be explained.

As shown in Figure 1, it functions as a lid, stopper, or cap for a test tube or other sample container containing a sample solution to be dispensed, and fits liquid-tight inside or outside the mouth of the sample container. The main body is formed by a wearable instrument body 1.

The device body 1 has small diameter air introduction holes 2, respectively.
and a discharge pipe 3 are provided. As shown in FIG.
However, when the sample container s into which the instrument body 1 is fitted is held with one hand h with the instrument body 1 facing forward, the finger f
It is provided above or beside the instrument body 1 so that the instrument body 1 can be closed with the inner end of the instrument body 1.
It is designed to open inside. Discharge hole 3
is on the front or bottom side of the instrument body 1,
In addition, the hole 3a is formed downward and is provided so that the sample liquid 1 can be dropped therein.

The explanation up to this point is the same as the structure of the present invention described in the claims and the means for achieving the object, and the explanation of the operation will be omitted since it is redundant. Hereinafter, as an example, more limited constituent parts will be explained along with their effects.

The instrument main body 1 is of a double fitting type having a long outer cylinder part 1a that fits on the outside of the mouth of the sample container s, and an inner cylinder part 1b that has a short length and fits inside the mouth of the sample container s. , a highly liquid-tight fit to the sample container s is ensured. The air introduction hole 2 is bored within the thickness of the end wall 1c of the instrument body 1 so that the air intake port 2a at the outer end is located at the tip of the outer cylindrical portion 1a of the instrument body 1. It is formed to extend rearward from the inner surface of the end wall 1c so as to have a thin tube portion 2b. It is preferable that the hole 2a be formed so as to protrude slightly, since this makes it easier to apply the finger f. The reason why the air introduction hole 2 is formed by extending the thin tube portion 2b rearward is that the liquid level of the sample liquid l in the sample container s is at the thin tube portion 2 at the time of dispensing.
It is preferable to keep it lower than the upper end of b because this allows for smooth air introduction, which in turn allows for smooth liquid discharge. (If the liquid level of the sample liquid l is made higher than the upper end of the thin tube portion 2b,
Air cannot be introduced smoothly. ) A filter 4 is provided to block the air introduction hole 2. Although the filter 4 may be provided at any position in the air introduction hole 2, the filter 4 is inserted into the thin tubular shape forming the air introduction hole 2 in the figure so as to be retracted slightly from the inner end. The filter 4 limits the flow rate of air passing through the air introduction hole 2 to a small amount, and also prevents the passage of microorganisms such as microscopic dust and bacteria floating in the atmosphere. The filter 4 is preferably made of porous plastics or an air permeable thin film made of tetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc., or a porous sintered body treated to be hydrophobic. Figure 2 shows the sample container s being held in a pen-hold with one hand h.
The figure shows the point where the index finger f is removed from the air introduction hole 2, a drop g is formed at the hole 3a at the outer end of the discharge pipe 3, and the drop g is dropped into a desired cell of the bacteria identification kit p.

The discharge pipe 3 is formed to extend forward from the outer surface of the end wall 1c of the instrument main body 1, so that the state of formation of a drop g of the sample liquid 1 can be easily seen during dispensing. The tip of the discharge pipe 3 is cut flat with a diagonal downward direction, so that during dispensing as shown in FIG. 2, the hole 3a becomes horizontal and surface tension is generated around the whole hole 3a. As a result of gravity acting on the hole 3a,
One drop g of the sample liquid l formed in the above example does not fall easily and grows to a relatively large constant size.

The device main body 1, the thin tube portion forming the inner end of the air introduction hole 2, and the discharge tube 3 may be separate members, but in this embodiment, they are integrally injection molded from plastic. There is. Examples of such plastics include LDPE (low density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene),
Polypropylene, TPE (thermoplastic elastomer)
etc. are suitable.

<Second Example...Figures 3 and 4> The liquid dispensing device of this example was also materialized as suitable as a bacterial liquid dispenser, quantitative spotting device, and trace ingredient dispenser for cell culture. .

The explanation of this embodiment will be limited to a comparative explanation of the constituent parts that are different from the first embodiment.

The instrument main body 1 has a cylindrical portion 1a. The cylinder part 1
a corresponds to the outer cylinder portion 1a of the first embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 4, it fits on the outside of the mouth of the sample container s. The air introduction hole 2 is located in the thick end wall 1c of the instrument body 1.
An L-shaped hole is formed inside the hole, and a filter 4 is housed on the inlet side where the hole diameter is large. Discharge pipe 3
consists of a thin tube of a separate member, and the end wall 1 of the instrument body 1
It extends downward diagonally forward from the lower part c in a short length, and a liquid reservoir 6 is formed at the inner end of the discharge hole 3. Fig. 4 shows how to grasp the sample container s with one hand h in a shake hold, remove the index finger f from the air introduction hole 2, and form a drop g in the hole 3a of the discharge pipe 3 to obtain the desired bacterial identification kit p. It shows where to drop it into the cell.

<Third Embodiment...Figs. 5 and 6> The liquid dispensing device of this example was embodied as one suitable for a blood intake device for a vacuum blood collection tube. The explanation of this embodiment will also be limited to a comparative explanation of the constituent parts that are different from the first embodiment.

The instrument main body 1 has a cylindrical portion 1a. Thin tube portion 2b forming air introduction hole 2 and discharge pipe 3
is a separate member from the instrument body 1, and is made of stainless steel pipe or other rust-resistant metal pipe. Unlike the first embodiment, the discharge pipe 3 extends through the end wall 1c of the instrument body 1 in parallel to the thin tube portion 2b, and
It extends slightly shorter than the thin tube portion 2b.

As shown in FIG.
When the tube is placed so that it faces down, the upper end of the thin tube portion 2b extending to the rear (right side of the drawing) is cut diagonally to form the needle tip 2c, and the lower inner end of the discharge tube 3 is cut diagonally. The needle tip 3b is formed. The thin tube portion 2b and the discharge tube 3 have needle tips 2c and 3b inside the cylindrical portion 1a of the device body 1, respectively, so both of these needle tips 2c and 3b are inserted into the rubber stopper m of the vacuum blood collection tube s that has taken the blood. 6, hold the sample container s in a pen-hold with one hand h, and insert the index finger f into the air introduction hole. 2, a drop g can be formed at the tip of the capillary portion 2b and dropped onto a test plate or a desired cell of the bacteria identification kit P.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the liquid dispensing device of the present invention described above, it is easy to fit liquid-tightly into test tubes, vacuum blood collection tubes, etc.
By controlling the opening and closing of the vent hole with your fingers, you can easily control the formation of a single drop and the rate of dripping, making quantitative dispensing and micro dispensing operations easy and highly accurate.

Since the formation of a single drop and the dropping speed can be easily controlled, even when dispensing multiple times, it can be done efficiently, the dispensing time can be significantly shortened, and the burden on the operator can be lightened.

Compared to conventional micropipettes and steppers that have high dispensing accuracy, it can significantly reduce costs.
It can be mass-produced by injection molding at roughly the same cost as conventional spots.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 relate to the first embodiment of the liquid dispensing device of the present invention, Figures 3 and 4 relate to the second embodiment, and Figures 5 and 6 relate to the third embodiment. It is related to
Figures 1, 3, and 5 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the liquid dispensing device, respectively, and Figures 2, 4, and 6 are respectively views of the liquid dispensing device fitted with a sample container and a one-handed The illustration shows the part where the sample is squeezed with the handle and dripped onto the test plate or bacterial identification kit. 1... Apparatus main body, 2... Air introduction hole, 2a... Intake port, 3... Discharge pipe, 3a... Hole opening.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Functions as a lid, stopper or cap for a test tube or other sample container containing a sample solution to be dispensed, and is fitted liquid-tight inside or outside the mouth of the sample container. an opening at a predetermined position in the instrument body so that the sample container into which the instrument body is fitted is placed in a position where a finger can be placed when the sample container into which the instrument body is fitted is held with one hand, with the instrument body facing forward; a small-diameter intake port that can be closed with a finger; and an air introduction provided in the instrument body that communicates with the intake port and opens into the sample container when the instrument body is fitted into the sample container. a hole, one end of which opens into the sample container, and the other end of which is provided at a predetermined position on the instrument body so that it is on the front side or below the sample container when the sample container is gripped as described above; A liquid dispensing device characterized in that the other end comprises a discharge tube having a small diameter opening into which the sample liquid can be dropped. 2 It is provided to block the air introduction hole, and limits the amount of air flowing into the sample container through the air introduction hole to a small amount, and also prevents minute dust, bacteria, etc. floating in the air. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a filter that prevents passage of microorganisms. 3. The opening at the other end of the discharge pipe is configured such that when dispensing,
The liquid dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening edge is formed at a required inclination with respect to the axis of the sample container so that the opening edge is downward and substantially horizontal. utensils.