U.S. patent application number 13/770986 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for container for cell chip.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Bo Sung Ku, Dong Woo Lee.
Application Number | 20140102939 13/770986 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50474435 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140102939 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Dong Woo ; et
al. |
April 17, 2014 |
CONTAINER FOR CELL CHIP
Abstract
There is provided a container for a cell chip including: a lower
body including an installation space allowing a cell chip to be
installed therein and one or more holes connected to the
installation space; and an upper body coupled to the lower
body.
Inventors: |
Lee; Dong Woo; (Suwon,
KR) ; Ku; Bo Sung; (Suwon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon
KR
|
Family ID: |
50474435 |
Appl. No.: |
13/770986 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/525 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/70 20130101;
B65D 81/22 20130101; C12M 23/00 20130101; B65D 25/10 20130101; B65D
25/28 20130101; B65D 85/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/525 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0113817 |
Claims
1. A container for a cell chip, the container comprising: a lower
body including an installation space allowing a cell chip to be
installed therein and one or more holes connected to the
installation space; and an upper body coupled to the lower
body.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the installation space
includes a plurality of support members supporting an installation
position of the cell chip.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the upper body includes a
plurality of protrusions.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the protrusions are elongated
toward the installation space to press the cell chip in a state in
which the lower body and the upper body are coupled to each
other.
5. The container of claim 3, wherein the protrusions extends
upwardly in order to be used as handles for separating the upper
body in a state in which the lower body and the upper body are
coupled to each other.
6. The container of claim 3, wherein the protrusions has a size
sufficient to be inserted into the holes.
7. The container of claim 3, wherein the upper body has a size
sufficient to accommodate a portion of the lower body therein.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the lower body or the upper
body has a ventilation hole allowing external air to be introduced
therein.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the lower body includes a
water storage space storing water for maintaining humidity.
10. A container for a cell chip, the container comprising: a lower
body including an installation space for a cell chip and one or
more first holes connected to the installation space; an upper body
coupled to the lower body; and a cell chip installed in the
installation space and having second holes connected to the first
holes, wherein the second holes have a size smaller than that of
the first holes.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the installation space
includes a plurality of support members supporting an installation
position of the cell chip.
12. The container of claim 10, wherein the upper body includes a
plurality of protrusions.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the protrusions are
elongated toward the installation space to press the cell chip in a
state in which the lower body and the upper body are coupled to
each other.
14. The container of claim 12, wherein the protrusions extends
upwardly in order to be used as handles for separating the upper
body in a state in which the lower body and the upper body are
coupled to each other.
15. The container of claim 12, wherein the protrusions include
first extending portions inserted into the first holes and second
extending portions inserted into the second holes.
16. The container of claim 12, wherein the upper body has a size
sufficient to accommodate a portion of the lower body therein.
17. The container of claim 10, wherein the lower body or the upper
body has a ventilation hole allowing external air to be introduced
therein.
18. The container of claim 10, wherein the lower body includes a
water storage space storing water for maintaining humidity.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2012-0113817 filed on Oct. 12, 2012, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a container for a cell chip
and, more particularly, to a container for a cell chip capable of
easily separating a cell chip accommodated therein.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As research into genetic engineering has been actively
conducted, experiments determining properties of bio-materials have
increased. In determining properties of bio-materials,
bio-materials are cultivated in cell chips and the properties
thereof are subsequently measured by a measurement device such as a
scanner.
[0006] Experiments using cell chips have been iteratively
conducted. Thus, a cell chip used in a certain experiment may be
kept in a container and later re-used. However, in general, cell
chips are thin and small, and it is not easy to insert the cell
chip into the container and remove it therefrom. Thus, a cell chip
may be dropped while being removed from the container or a
bio-material of the cell chip may be damaged. Thus, the development
of a technique for easily separating a small cell chip from a
container is urgently required.
[0007] Meanwhile, the related art document includes Patent
Documents 1 and 2. However, these patent documents only describe a
configuration of accommodating a cell chip, without disclosing a
configuration for easily separating an accommodated cell chip from
a container.
Related Art Document
[0008] (Patent Document 1) JP2006-181567 A [0009] (Patent Document
2) U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,996 B2
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An aspect of the present invention provides a container for
a cell chip allowing a cell chip to be easily separated
therefrom.
[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a container for a cell chip, including: a lower body
including an installation space allowing a cell chip to be
installed therein and one or more holes connected to the
installation space; and an upper body coupled to the lower
body.
[0012] The installation space may include a plurality of support
members supporting an installation position of the cell chip.
[0013] The upper body may include a plurality of protrusions.
[0014] The protrusions may be elongated toward the installation
space to press the cell chip in a state in which the lower body and
the upper body are coupled to each other.
[0015] The protrusions may extend upwardly in order to be used as
handles for separating the upper body in a state in which the lower
body and the upper body are coupled to each other.
[0016] The protrusions may have a size sufficient to be inserted
into the holes.
[0017] The upper body may have a size sufficient to accommodate a
portion of the lower body therein.
[0018] The lower body or the upper body may have a ventilation hole
allowing external air to be introduced therein.
[0019] The lower body may include a water storage space storing
water for maintaining humidity.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a container for a cell chip, including: a lower body
including an installation space for a cell chip and one or more
first holes connected to the installation space; an upper body
coupled to the lower body; and a cell chip installed in the
installation space and having second holes connected to the first
holes, wherein the second holes have a size smaller than that of
the first holes.
[0021] The installation space may include a plurality of support
members supporting an installation position of the cell chip.
[0022] The upper body may include a plurality of protrusions.
[0023] The protrusions may be elongated toward the installation
space to press the cell chip in a state in which the lower body and
the upper body are coupled to each other.
[0024] The protrusions may extend upwardly in order to be used as
handles for separating the upper body in a state in which the lower
body and the upper body are coupled to each other.
[0025] The protrusions may include first extending portions
inserted into the first holes and second extending portions
inserted into the second holes.
[0026] The upper body may have a size sufficient to accommodate a
portion of the lower body therein.
[0027] The lower body or the upper body may have a ventilation hole
allowing external air to be introduced therein.
[0028] The lower body may include a water storage space storing
water for maintaining humidity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of a container for
a cell chip according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a coupled state of the
container for a cell chip illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container for a cell
chip illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along line A-A;
[0033] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating a process of separating
a cell chip from the container for a cell chip illustrated in FIG.
2;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a container for a cell
chip according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating a process of separating
a cell chip from the container for a cell chip illustrated in FIG.
6;
[0036] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a container for a cell
chip according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views illustrating a process of
separating a cell chip from the container for a cell chip
illustrated in FIG. 9;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a container for a cell
chip according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a container for a cell chip
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the container for a
cell chip illustrated in FIG. 13; and
[0041] FIGS. 15 and 16 are views illustrating a process of
separating a cell chip from the container for a cell chip
illustrated in FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set
forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the
drawings, the shapes and dimensions of elements maybe exaggerated
for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used
throughout to designate the same or like elements.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a disassembled
perspective view of a container for a cell chip according to an
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating
a coupled state of the container for a cell chip illustrated in
FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container for a
cell chip illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along line A-A. FIGS. 4 and
5 are views illustrating a process of separating a cell chip from
the container for a cell chip illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a
cross-sectional view of a container for a cell chip according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 are
views illustrating a process of separating a cell chip from the
container for a cell chip illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a
cross-sectional view of a container for a cell chip according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 10 and 11 are
views illustrating a process of separating a cell chip from the
container for a cell chip illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a
cross-sectional view of a container for a cell chip according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a
perspective view of a container for a cell chip according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a
cross-sectional view of the container for a cell chip illustrated
in FIG. 13. FIGS. 15 and 16 are views illustrating a process of
separating a cell chip from the container for a cell chip
illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0044] A container for a cell chip according to an embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
through 5.
[0045] A container 1000 for a cell chip according to an embodiment
of the present invention may include a lower body 100 and an upper
body 200. Here, the lower body 100 and the upper body 200 may be
coupled to each other and separated from each other as necessary.
In addition, the lower body 100 and the upper body 200 may include
a coupling unit (e.g., a clip, or the like) for firmly coupling the
lower body 100 and the upper body 200.
[0046] The lower body 100 may accommodate a cell chip 302. To this
end, the lower body 100 may include an installation space 110. In
addition, the lower body 100 may further include support members
120 surrounding the installation space 110 to allow the cell chip
302 to be stably maintained in the installation space 110.
[0047] The installation space 110 may have a size such that the
cell chip 302 is fitted therein. For example, the installation
space 110 may be formed by a plurality of the support members 120
dividing a bottom surface of the lower body 100 into sections
having a predetermined size.
[0048] The support members 120 may be formed to entirely surround
the installation space 110 or may be formed to partially surround
the installation space 110. The support members 120 thusly formed
may restrain the cell chip 302 accommodated in the installation
space 110 from being detached from the installation space 110 due
to an external impact.
[0049] The lower body 100 may include first holes 130. In detail,
the first holes 130 may be formed in the installation space 110 in
which the cell chip 302 is placed. In addition, the first holes 130
may penetrate the bottom of the lower body 100 in a vertical
direction. Thus, the cell chip 302 may be in contact with the
bottom of the lower body 100 through the first holes 130.
[0050] The first holes 130 may be formed in edge portions of the
installation space 110. In detail, the first holes 130 may be
formed in positions corresponding to edge portions of the cell chip
302 in a state in which the cell chip 302 is placed in the
installation space 110. However, the formation position of the
first holes 130 is not limited thereto and may be changed as
necessary. In addition, it is illustrated that four first holes 130
are formed in each installation space 110 of the lower body 100,
but the number of the first holes 130 may be varied according to a
size and type of the cell chip 302.
[0051] The upper body 200 may be coupled to the lower body 100. In
detail, the upper body 200 may be coupled to the lower body 100 to
form an airtight space for accommodating one or more cell chips 302
therein.
[0052] The upper body 200 may include ventilation holes 400. The
ventilation holes 400 may be used as a passage allowing air to move
to the interior or exterior of the container 1000 for a cell chip.
Meanwhile, it is illustrated that two ventilation holes 400 are
formed in the upper body 200, but the number of the ventilation
holes 400 may be increased or decreased as necessary. In addition,
in the present embodiment, the ventilation holes 400 are described
and illustrated as being formed in the upper body 200, but they may
be formed in the lower body 100 or in both of the lower body 100
and the upper body 200 as necessary.
[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container 1000 for a
cell chip configured as described above may have an airtight space
formed by coupling the lower body 100 and the upper body 200 to
accommodate one or more cell chips 302 therein. In particular, the
cell chip 302 (Please see FIG. 4) may be stably maintained by the
support members 120 formed on the edge portion of the installation
space 100.
[0054] In addition, the lower body 100 of the container 1000 for a
cell chip includes the plurality of first holes 130, but since the
first holes 130 may be enclosed by the cell chip 302 mounted in the
installation space 100, they do not significantly affect an
experiment using the cell chip 302.
[0055] Meanwhile, as described above in the related art, the cell
chip 302 has a thin plate shape, so it may be difficult to separate
the cell chip 302 from the container 1000 for a cell chip. However,
in the present embodiment, the cell chip 302 may be easily
separated from the container 1000 for a cell chip in the following
manner. The cell chip 302 will be separated in the order described
with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0056] The separation of the cell chip 302 from the container 1000
for a cell chip may include separating the upper body 200, coupling
the lower body 100 and a separation tool 600, and selecting the
cell chip 302.
[0057] 1) Separating the Upper Body 200
[0058] In the separating of the upper body 200, the upper body 200
may be separated from the lower body 100. Here, the upper body 200
is relatively large as compared to the cell chip 302 and may be
easily grasped and accordingly, may be easily separated from the
lower body 100.
[0059] 2) Coupling the Lower Body 100 and the Separation Tool
600
[0060] In the coupling of the lower body 100 and the separation
tool 600, the lower body 100 and the separation tool 600 may be
coupled to each other. Here, the separation tool 600 may include
protrusions 610 extending upwardly. In addition, the protrusions
610 of the separation tool 600 may have a size sufficient to be
inserted into the first holes 130 of the lower body 100.
[0061] The lower body 100 may be coupled to the separation tool 600
by inserting the first holes 130 of the lower body 100 into the
protrusions 610 of the separation tool 600. In this manner, when
the lower body 100 is slowly coupled to the separation tool 600,
one or more cell chips 302 may be pushed up by the protrusions 610.
Accordingly, the cell chips 302 may be moved out of the
installation space 110 surrounded by the support members 120
(Please see FIGS. 4 and 5). For reference, a height h2 of the
protrusions 610 may be greater than a height h1 from the bottom of
the lower body 100 to an upper surface of the support members
120.
[0062] 3) Selecting the Cell Chip 302
[0063] In the selecting of the cell chip 302, one cell chip among
the one or more cell chips 302 moved upwardly by the protrusions
610 may be selected.
[0064] As described above, when the lower body 100 and the
separation tool 600 are coupled, all the cell chips 302 installed
in the lower body 100 may be separated from the installation space
110 by the protrusions 610 of the separation tool 600. Thus, a user
may select only a required cell chip 302 among the one or more cell
chips 302 moved upwardly by the protrusions 610.
[0065] For reference, the cell chip 302 selected by the user may be
subjected to a separate experiment and may be re-accommodated in
the container 1000 for a cell chip. In addition, the
re-accommodated cell chip 302 maybe re-separated from the container
1000 for a cell chip through the foregoing process.
[0066] Hereinafter, containers for a cell chip according to other
embodiments of the present invention will be described. For
reference, the same elements of an embodiment as those of the
former embodiment will be described by using the same reference
numerals as those of the former embodiment and a detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0067] A container for a cell chip according to another embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
6 through 8.
[0068] The container 1000 for a cell chip according to another
embodiment of the present invention may be differentiated from that
of the former embodiment, in terms of a shape of the upper body
200. In detail, in the present embodiment, the upper body 200 may
include protrusions 210. Hereinafter, the container 1000 for a cell
chip according to another embodiment of the present invention will
be described based on the configuration of the upper body 200.
[0069] The upper body 200 may include one or more protrusions 210.
In detail, one or more protrusions 210 extending downwardly may be
formed on the upper body 200. The protrusions 210 may be in contact
with an upper surface of the cell chip 302 in a state in which the
lower body 100 and the upper body 200 are coupled to each other,
whereby the cell chip 302 is prevented from being released from the
installation space 110.
[0070] Meanwhile, the protrusions 210 may be inserted into the
first holes 130. For example, in a state in which the reversed
upper body 200 and the lower body 100 are coupled, the protrusions
210 may be inserted into the first holes 130 of the lower body 100.
To this end, the protrusions 210 may be formed in positions of the
upper body 200 corresponding to the first holes 130 of the lower
body 100. For reference, a height h3 of the protrusions 210 may be
greater than the height h1 from the bottom of the lower body 100 to
the upper surface of the support members 120.
[0071] Thus, in the case of the container 1000 for a cell chip
configured as described above, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the
cell chip 302 may be separated from the installation space 110 by
using the upper body 200 without using a separation tool.
[0072] A container for a cell chip according to another embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
9 through 11.
[0073] The container 1000 for a cell chip according to another
embodiment of the present invention may be differentiated from that
of the former embodiment, in terms of a formation position of the
protrusions 210. In detail, in the present embodiment, the
protrusions 210 may be formed on an upper surface of the upper body
200.
[0074] The protrusions 210 may be elongated upwardly from the upper
surface of the upper body 200. The protrusions 210 may be used as
handles for grasping the upper body 200 in a state of being coupled
to the lower body 100.
[0075] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the
protrusions 210 may be inserted into the first holes 130 of the
lower body 100. Namely, in a state in which the lower body 100 is
coupled to the upper body 200, the protrusions 210 may be inserted
into the first holes 130 of the lower body 100.
[0076] The container 1000 for a cell chip configured as described
above is advantageous in that the protrusions 210 of the upper body
200 may be variously utilized both as handles of the upper body and
as a protrusions for separating a cell chip.
[0077] A container for a cell chip according to another embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
12.
[0078] The container 1000 for a cell chip according to another
embodiment of the present invention may be differentiated from that
of the former embodiment, in that it includes a water storage space
500.
[0079] In general, a bio-material of the cell chip 302 is required
to be kept in storage in a predetermined humidity environment. In
order to take this into consideration, in the present embodiment,
the water storage space 500 is formed in the container 1000 for a
cell chip to uniformly maintain internal humidity.
[0080] The water storage space 500 may be a portion of the space
formed by the support members 120 of the lower body 100. For
example, the lower body 100 may be divided into the installation
space 110 and the water storage space 500 by the support members
120. Alternatively, the water storage space 500 may be formed by a
receiving container installed in the lower body 100.
[0081] A container for a cell chip according to another embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
13 through 16.
[0082] The container 1000 for a cell chip according to another
embodiment of the present invention maybe differentiated from that
of the former embodiment, in that it includes a dedicated cell chip
300. In detail, the container 1000 for a cell chip according to the
present embodiment may include the lower body 100, the upper body
200, and the cell chip 300. For reference, a configuration of the
lower body 100 is the same as that of the lower body of the former
embodiment as described above, so a detailed description thereof
will be omitted.
[0083] The upper body 200 may include the protrusions 210. The
protrusions 210 maybe elongated downwardly, and in a state in which
the lower body 100 and the upper body 200 are installed, the
protrusions 210 may press the cell chip 300.
[0084] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the protrusions 210 may include
first extending portions 212 and second extending portions 214. The
first extending portions 212 may extend downwardly from a lower
surface of the upper body 100 and may be inserted into the first
holes 130 of the lower body 100. The second extending portions 214
may extend downwardly from the first extending portions 212 and may
be inserted into second holes 310 of the cell chip 300. Here, a
length h5 of the second extending portions 214 maybe equal to or
different from a depth h4 of the second holes 310 of the cell chip
300. Meanwhile, a size of the cross section of the second extending
portion 214 may be smaller than that of the cross section of the
first extending portion 212.
[0085] The cell chip 300 may include a plurality of the second
holes 310. The second holes 310 may be formed in positions
corresponding to the first holes 130 of the lower body 100. In
detail, the second holes 310 may be connected to the first holes
130 of the lower body 100 in a state in which the cell chip 310 is
installed in the installation space 110. Thus, the protrusion 210
inserted through the first hole 130 may be inserted into the second
hole 310. Meanwhile, the second hole 310 may be smaller than the
first hole 130.
[0086] The container 1000 for a cell chip configured as described
above may stably maintain and support the cell chip 300. In detail,
in a state in which the upper body 200 is coupled to an upper
portion of the lower body 100 to keep the cell chip 300 in storage,
the cell chip 300 in the installation space 110 is fixed by the
support members 120 and the protrusions 210, and thus, the cell
chip 300 may be stably maintained in storage, rather than being
shaken by an external impact. Similarly, in a state in which the
lower body 100 is coupled to the upper portion of the upper body
200 in order to separate the cell chip 300, since the cell chip 300
is supported by the second extending portions 214 inserted into the
second holes 310, the cell chip 300 may not be easily separated by
an external impact.
[0087] As set forth above, according to the embodiments of the
present invention, a cell chip accommodated in a container for a
cell chip can be easily separated.
[0088] Thus, according to the embodiments of the present invention,
a repetitive experiment using a cell chip can be stably
conducted.
[0089] While the present invention has been shown and described in
connection with the embodiments, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *