U.S. patent application number 17/522057 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-03 for microtube.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is NEC Corporation. Invention is credited to Minoru ASOGAWA.
Application Number | 20220065830 17/522057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005960302 |
Filed Date | 2022-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220065830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ASOGAWA; Minoru |
March 3, 2022 |
MICROTUBE
Abstract
A microtube comprises a sample receptor, a lid and a strip
storage storing a chromatography strip. The chromatography strip is
stored in a hollow part of the strip storage. The hollow part of
the strip storage and an inner space of the sample receptor may be
communicated in a closed condition under a state where the sample
receptor and the lid are engaged.
Inventors: |
ASOGAWA; Minoru; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NEC Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
NEC Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005960302 |
Appl. No.: |
17/522057 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16498164 |
Sep 26, 2019 |
11199527 |
|
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PCT/JP2018/012339 |
Mar 27, 2018 |
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17522057 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12Q 1/686 20130101;
B01L 2400/0406 20130101; G01N 30/91 20130101; G01N 35/02 20130101;
G01N 33/543 20130101; B01L 2200/027 20130101; B01L 3/5082
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 30/91 20060101
G01N030/91; B01L 3/00 20060101 B01L003/00; C12Q 1/686 20060101
C12Q001/686; G01N 33/543 20060101 G01N033/543; G01N 35/02 20060101
G01N035/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2017 |
JP |
2017-062288 |
Claims
1. A microtube, comprising: a sample receptor, a lid, and a joint
which is arranged on at least one of the sample receptor and the
lid, and to which a strip storage storing a chromatography strip
may be jointed, wherein, under a state where the sample receptor
and the lid are engaged and the strip storage is jointed to the
joint, a hollow part of the strip storage and an inner space of the
sample receptor are brought into communication in a closed state by
breaking through the sample receptor or the lid with the
chromatography strip.
2. A strip storage, comprising: a second joint and a strip storage
enclosing a chromatography strip, wherein the second joint may be
jointed to a first joint arranged on at least one of a sample
receptor and a lid of a microtube comprising the sample receptor
and the lid, and under a state where the second joint is jointed to
the first joint, a hollow part of the strip storage and an inner
space of the sample receptor are brought into communication in a
closed state by breaking through the sample receptor or the lid
with the chromatography strip.
3. The strip storage according to claim 2, wherein the strip
storage has a bellows section so as to be stretchable and
contractable.
4. The strip storage according to claim 2, wherein the
chromatography strip comprises a bar member.
5. The strip storage according to claim 2, wherein the
chromatography strip comprises a tip end part that breaks through
the lid part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/498,164 filed on Sep. 26, 2019,
which is a National Stage of International Application No.
PCT/JP2018/012339 filed Mar. 27, 2018, which claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-062288 filed on
Mar. 28, 2017, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated in
their entirety by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates a microtube, particularly to a
microtube for executing a biochemical reaction.
BACKGROUND
[0003] For example, there is a microtube for executing a
biochemical reaction, such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction). In
addition, a technology for analyzing a result of a biochemical
reaction has been established with a chromatography strip, such as
a lateral flow strip (Patent Literature (PTL) 1). [0004] PTL: JP
Patent Application Publication JP 2015-230280A
SUMMARY
[0005] The following analysis has been made according to a view of
the present invention. Herein, the disclosure of the Prior Art
Literature above is incorporated into this application by reference
thereto.
[0006] There is a situation where a sample, for example, cells and
blood, is subjected to direct PCR for examination of virus
infection. In a case where PCR result is analyzed with a
chromatography strip, such as that disclosed in Patent Literature 1
above, an operator uncaps a microtube for applying the
chromatography strip to sample solution, for example, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. At that time, the microtube has a
possibility to include remaining sample infected by the virus, thus
the operator is required to care about secondary infection due to
splash of the sample solution and the like.
[0007] Therefore, it is a purpose of the present invention to
provide a microtube with which a risk of secondary infection may be
reduced.
[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a microtube comprising a sample receptor, a lid and a
strip storage storing a chromatography strip, wherein
[0009] the chromatography strip is stored in a hollow part of the
strip storage,
[0010] the hollow part of the strip storage and an inner space of
the sample receptor may be communicated in a closed condition under
a state where the sample receptor and the lid are engaged.
[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a microtube with which a risk of secondary
infection may be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C are explanatory views of a schema of a
microtube 10 of one exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2A-FIG. 2B are exemplary views of a microtube 10 of a
first exemplary embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C are exemplary views of a microtube 10 of a
second exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of a microtube 10 of a third
exemplary embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5A-5C are exemplary views of a microtube 10 of a fourth
exemplary embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for a conventional
technology.
PREFERRED MODES
[0018] Preferable exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be explained with reference to drawings. Herein, reference
signs in the following description are expediently attached to each
element as an explanatory aid for understanding, but not for
limitation of the present invention to an illustrated
configuration.
[0019] A microtube 10 comprises a sample receptor 11, a lid 12 and
a strip storage 13. A chromatography strip 14 is stored in a hollow
part of the strip storage 13. The hollow part of the strip storage
13 and an inner space of the sample receptor 11 may be communicated
in a closed state under a situation where the sample receptor and
the lid has been engaged.
[0020] A concrete example will be explained. The strip storage 13
is jointed with the lid 12 at its top as illustrated in FIG. 1A. A
biochemical reaction for sample solution in the sample receptor 11,
such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction), is executed under a state
where the sample receptor 11 and the lid 12 has been engaged as
illustrated in FIG. 1B. Under such state, the hollow part of the
strip storage 13 and the inner space of the sample receptor 11 are
communicated in a closed state. Therefore, after completion of the
biochemical reaction, the chromatography strip 14 may be inserted
into the sample receptor 11 while keeping the closed state of the
inner space of the sample receptor 11 as shown in FIG. 1C. Herein,
the chromatography strip 14 may fall into the sample receptor 11
with gravity force or may be pushed into the sample receptor 11 by
compressing the strip storage 13.
[0021] That is, in the microtube 10 above, when the sample solution
is applied to the chromatography strip 14, it is not required to
disengage the lid 12, thus a risk of secondary infection due to
splash of the sample solution and the like may be reduced.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0022] In a microtube 10 of a first exemplary embodiment, the lid
12 and the strip storage 13 have an integrated configuration, where
the chromatography strip 14 is enclosed in the hollow part of the
strip storage 13. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the lid
12 and the strip storage 13 have an integrated configuration made
of polypropylene and the like, and the lid 12 is provided with a
hole part at the center thereof, which will become an opening part
for the strip storage 13. The hole part is covered with a thin film
15. Thus, the hollow part of the strip storage 13 is sealed in a
state storing the chromatography strip 14. The strip storage 13 has
a bellows section 16, thus it is stretchable and contractable.
[0023] After completion of the biochemical reaction, the hollow
part of the strip storage 13 and the inner space of the sample
receptor 11 are brought into communication by breaking through the
lid 12 with the chromatography strip 14 under a state where the
sample receptor 11 has been engaged with the lid 12. Concretely, as
illustrated in FIG. 2B, the bellows section 16 is compressed in
axis direction for shortening the strip storage, and then the
chromatography strip 14 breaks through the thin film 15. As a
result, the hollow part of the strip storage 13 and the inner space
of the sample receptor 11 is brought into communication while
keeping the closed state. In such situation, the chromatography
strip 14 may be inserted into the inner space of the sample
receptor 11 so as to contact to the sample solution.
[0024] That is, in the microtube 10 of the first exemplary
embodiment, it is not required to disengage the lid 12 upon
application of the sample solution to the chromatography strip 14,
thus a risk of secondary infection due to splash of the sample
solution may be reduced. In addition, the risk of secondary
infection may be reduced in a point that the microtube 10 may be
disposed as it is after analysis of a result of the biochemical
reaction. Furthermore, a work for disengaging the lid 12 may be
also omitted.
[0025] Herein, in the first exemplary embodiment, it is important
that the chromatography strip 14 stored in the hollow part of the
strip storage 13 is able to be inserted into the inner space of the
sample receptor 11, thus a variety of modified modes may be brought
into consideration.
[0026] For example, the position of the bellows section 16 may be
changed taking a property of the chromatography strip 14 into
consideration. That is, in a case where the chromatography strip 14
is used, a result of the biochemical reaction is determined by
appearance or absence of a marker (line) on a membrane. Thus, the
position of the bellows section 16 may be pertinently changed so
that the marker (line) may be visually recognized. In addition, the
bellows section 16 itself is not essential. For example, the strip
storage 13 may be made of a flexible material, such as rubber, so
that it may be shortened. Furthermore, the strip storage 13 may
have a thin layer section so as to provide a flexibility for
shortening.
[0027] The strip storage 13 may be made of a transparent material
so that the marker (line) on the membrane is visually recognized,
and a monitoring window may also be provided.
[0028] In addition, the chromatography strip 14 is desired to have
at least a rigidity to an extent capable of breaking through the
thin film 15, thus may have various configurations, for example, a
plastic bar to which the membrane is attached. Furthermore, the
chromatography strip 14 may be provided with a tip end part so as
to easily break through the thin film 15. Also, the chromatography
strip 14 may be a glass strip on which silica gel etc. are applied,
like as a thin layer chromatography.
[0029] The thin film 15 may be integrated with the lid 12. That is,
the construction of the lid 12 may be modified based on the
rigidity of the chromatography strip 14. In addition, the sample
receptor 11 may be integrated with the strip storage 13 so that
chromatography strip 14 brakes through a wall of the sample
receptor 11.
[0030] The sample solution is not limited to PCR reaction solution.
That is, the sample may be a sample developed by chromatography,
thus a nucleic acid sample, protein, carbohydrate chain and the
like may be applied. In addition, a container storing solvent for
chromatography may be attached to the microtube 10.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0031] In the microtube 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, the
inner space of the sample receptor 11 is separated from the hollow
part of the strip storage 13 with the thin film 15 during PCR
reaction. Such configuration is for purposes of keeping evaporated
sample solution in the inner space of the sample receptor 11 during
PCR reaction, and preventing the evaporated sample solution from
contacting to the chromatography strip 14. However, the separation
of the inner space of the sample receptor 11 from the hollow part
of the strip storage 13 may be realized without using the thin film
15. For example, a communication part 17 may be provided, which
transiently allows the hollow part of the strip storage 13 to
communicate with the inner space of the sample receptor 11.
[0032] A concrete example will be explained as second exemplary
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the lid 12 of the microtube
10 has an approximately half circle shape so as to be fit with a
heat conducting syringe 18 of a heating lid (hot lid) provided on a
thermal cycler. A hole part is provided at a center section of the
lid 12 of the microtube 10, and a tubular communication part 17
joints the hole part with the strip storage 13. The communication
part 17 is made of an elastic material, such as polypropylene.
Thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the communication part 17 is
pinched (in other words, pressed) by the heat conducting syringe 18
when the microtube 10 is set on the thermal cycler. As a result,
the inner space of the sample receptor 11 is separated from the
hollow part of the strip storage 13.
[0033] When the microtube 10 is taken from the thermal cycler, the
inner space of the sample receptor 11 is brought into communication
with the hollow part of the strip storage 13 again. Thus, as
illustrated in FIG. 3C, the chromatography strip 14 may be inserted
into the inner space of the sample receptor 11 so as to contact to
the sample solution.
[0034] Herein, in the second exemplary embodiment, it is important
that the hollow part of the strip storage 13 is transiently
separated from the inner space of the sample receptor 11, thus
various modifications may be considered.
[0035] For example, the separation of the hollow part of the strip
storage 13 from the inner space of the sample receptor 11 may be
realized by pinching the communication part 17 with a pinch
cock.
[0036] In addition, not only for PCR reaction, but also for the
other biochemical reactions, it is desired to separate the hollow
part of the strip storage 13 from the inner space of the sample
receptor 11. That is, the microtube 10 is not limited to a PCR
tube.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0037] In the first and second exemplary embodiments, the cases are
explained, where the chromatography strip 14 is inserted into the
inner space of the sample receptor 11 so as to contact to sample
solution. However, the sample solution may be transferred from the
sample receptor 11 to the strip storage 13 so that the sample
solution is brought into contact to the chromatography strip
14.
[0038] A concrete example will be explained as third exemplary
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the sample receptor 11 may be
turned upside down so that the sample solution is transferred to
the hollow part of the strip storage 13. Herein, the chromatography
strip 14 may be fixed onto the strip storage 13 so that it does not
move. In addition, the strip storage 13 may be provided with a
liquid chamber (reservoir) part where the sample solution is
accumulated.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[0039] In the first to third exemplary embodiments, the strip
storage 13 is integrated with the microtube 10. However, the strip
storage 13 may have a separated configuration from the microtube 10
in a manner capable of being jointed with the microtube 10.
[0040] A concrete example will be explained as the fourth exemplary
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the microtube 10 is
integrally provided with a lid 12 and a female joint. In addition,
as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the strip storage 13 is provided with a
male joint 20 to be jointed with the female joint 19. Furthermore,
as illustrated in FIG. 5C, the female joint 19 and the male joint
20 are engaged in a snap fit manner or a screw manner. Herein, when
the female joint 19 and the male joint 20 are engaged and then the
chromatography strip 14 is inserted into the inner space of the
sample receptor 11, the hollow part of the strip storage 13 and the
inner space of the sample receptor 11 are brought into
communication while keeping a closed state.
[0041] As explained above, the strip storage 13 may be a separated
configuration from the microtube 10, where it is possible to be
jointed to the microtube 10. Therefore, for example, the strip
storage 13 may be separated from the microtube 10 during PCR, thus
the strip storage 13 does not cause objection upon PCR.
[0042] A part or entire of the exemplary embodiments may be
described as follows, but not limited thereto.
(Mode 1)
[0043] A microtube comprising a sample receptor, a lid and a strip
storage storing a chromatography strip, wherein,
[0044] the chromatography strip is stored in a hollow part of the
strip storage, and
[0045] under a state where the sample receptor and the lid are
engaged, the hollow part of the strip storage and an inner space of
the sample receptor may be communicated in a closed state.
(Mode 2)
[0046] The microtube according to Mode 1, wherein
[0047] the lid and the strip storage have an integrated
configuration, where the chromatography strip is enclosed in the
hollow part of the strip storage,
[0048] the hollow part of the strip storage and the inner space of
the sample receptor are brought into communication by breaking
through the lid with the chromatography strip under a state where
the sample receptor has been engaged with the lid.
(Mode 3)
[0049] The microtube according to Mode 2, wherein the strip storage
has a bellows section so as to be stretchable and contractable.
(Mode 4)
[0050] The microtube according to Mode 1 further comprising a
communication part which transiently separates the hollow part of
the strip storage from the inner space of the sample receptor.
(Mode 5)
[0051] The microtube according to Mode 4, wherein the communication
part is made of an elastic material.
(Mode 6)
[0052] The microtube according to Mode 4 or 5, wherein the
chromatography strip is fixed onto the strip storage.
(Mode 7)
[0053] The microtube according to Mode 4 or 5, wherein the strip
storage comprises a liquid chamber part.
(Mode 8)
[0054] A biochemical reaction kit comprising the microtube a
according to any one of Modes 1 to 7.
(Mode 9)
[0055] A method for analyzing a result of a biochemical reaction
with the microtube according to any one of Modes 1 to 7.
[0056] Herein, disclosure of the above Patent Literature is
incorporated in the present application. The exemplary embodiments
or examples may be modified or adjusted within the scope of the
entire disclosure of the present invention, inclusive of claims,
based on the fundamental technical concept of the invention. In
addition, a variety of combinations or selection of elements
disclosed herein, inclusive each element in each claim, each
element in each example, each element in each drawing etc., may be
made within the claims of the present invention. That is, the
present invention may cover a wide variety of modifications or
corrections that may be made by those skilled in the art in
accordance with the entire disclosure of the present invention,
inclusive of claims, and the technical concept of the present
invention.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0057] 10 microtube [0058] 11 sample receptor [0059] 12 lid [0060]
13 strip storage [0061] 14 chromatography strip [0062] 15 thin film
[0063] 16 bellows section [0064] 17 communication part [0065] 18
heat conducting syringe of thermal cycler [0066] 19 female joint
[0067] 20 male joint
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