JP-2026074811-A - Dispensing and stirring device and culture system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a dispensing and stirring device that can perform cell culture while being compact. [Solution] The device comprises a dispensing unit that is vertically movable and capable of supplying and dispensing a dispensing material; a dispensing tip that is detachably attached to the dispensing unit so as to protrude downward from the dispensing unit and capable of dispensing and sucking up a dispensing material from its tip; a container that contains a culture medium and into which the dispensing tip is inserted and removed as the dispensing unit moves up and down; and a rotation mechanism that rotates the dispensing tip and the container relative to each other around an axis extending in the vertical direction while the dispensing tip is inserted into the container. [Selection Diagram] Figure 3

Inventors

• 岡本 真一
• 小松 由尚
• 遠藤 彰久
• 小川 尚樹
• 田邉 和男
• 浅野 伸
• 松澤 貴司
• 日比野 雄平

Assignees

• 三菱重工業株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241021

Claims (11)

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

Description

This disclosure relates to a dispensing and stirring device and a culture system. Patent Document 1 discloses a stirring device for agitating liquid in a well plate. The sealed space within the well plate contains multiple wells, each containing liquid. Each well contains both liquid and a stirring rod. A motor is provided on the external structure of the well plate, and the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the stirring rod via a magnetic coupling. Patent No. 6959105 This is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a dispensing culture apparatus according to the first embodiment of this disclosure.This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a dispensing culture apparatus according to the first embodiment of this disclosure.This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a dispensing culture apparatus according to the second embodiment of this disclosure.This is a front view showing the main parts of a dispensing culture apparatus according to the third embodiment of this disclosure.This is a plan view showing the main parts of a dispensing culture apparatus according to the third embodiment of this disclosure.This is a side view of a culture system according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure. <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, the dispensing and stirring device 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2. <Dispensing and stirring device> The dispensing and stirring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a device that can dispense culture medium and culture solution C containing cells added to the medium, and can also stir the culture solution C. The dispensing and stirring device 1 comprises a dispensing unit 10, a dispensing tip 50, and a storage case 60. <Dispensing Unit> The dispensing unit 10 is capable of supplying and dispensing substances such as culture medium C, culture medium, other liquids, cells, and air. The dispensing unit 10 includes a moving mechanism 11 and a unit body 20. <Movement mechanism> The moving mechanism 11 is a mechanism that can move in the vertical direction. The moving mechanism 11 is equipped with a drive source (not shown), and moves in the vertical direction by the driving force of the drive source. In addition to the vertical direction, the moving mechanism 11 may also be able to move in the horizontal direction. <Unit body> As shown in Figure 1, the unit body 20 is integrally provided at the lower part of the moving mechanism 11. The unit body 20 is capable of moving up and down and horizontally in conjunction with the movement of the moving mechanism 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the unit body 20 includes a casing 21, an air supply unit 23, a liquid supply unit 24, a discharge unit 25, a distribution pipe 30, a bearing 32, a seal unit 33, and a tip rotation mechanism 40. <Casing> The casing 21 is a box-shaped rectangular parallelepiped with a hollow interior. The top surface of the casing 21 is integrally fixed to the lower end of the moving mechanism 11. As shown in Figure 2, a through hole 21a is formed on the bottom surface of the casing 21, connecting the bottom surface to the interior of the casing 21. The through hole 21a is circular in shape when viewed from above. Multiple through holes 21a are formed at intervals in the horizontal direction. <Air supply unit> As shown in Figure 1, the air supply unit 23 is connected to the casing 21 from the outside and is configured to supply air into the casing 21. <Liquid supply section> The liquid supply unit 24 is connected to the casing 21 from the outside and is configured to supply various liquids and cells, excluding air, into the casing 21. <Discharge section> The discharge section 25 is connected to the casing 21 from the outside and is connected to a suction pump or the like (not shown). The discharge section 25 is configured to discharge the dispensed material from inside the casing 21. <Distribution pipe> As shown in Figure 2, the distribution pipe 30 is a pipe installed inside the casing 21. The distribution pipe 30 may be a pipe made of metal or plastic, or it may be a flexible tube. One end of the distribution pipe 30 is connected to the air supply section 23, the liquid supply section 24, and the discharge section 25. The other end of the distribution pipe 30 extends around an axis O that extends in the vertical direction, and the other end is open so as to face downwards. <Mounting pipe> The mounting pipe 31 is a pipe that extends vertically around axis O. The mounting pipe 31 is made of metal or plastic. The mounting pipe 31 extends vertically through the through hole 21a of the casing 21. The upper part of the mounting pipe 31 is located inside the casing 21, and the lower part of the mounting pipe 31 is exposed below the casing 21. The mounting pipe 31 has a uniform outer and inner circumferential surface in the vertical direction. The outer di