JP2019174188A - Reagent cartridge, nucleic acid extraction set, and method of disposing of solution - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to prevent a waste liquid from flowing out to the outside even if the waste liquid is discharged into a waste well of a reagent cartridge at a high speed. A reagent cartridge includes a main body having a waste liquid storage section in which a water absorbing member is disposed. The waste liquid storage section has an opening on an upper surface of the main body. A notch is formed in the upper surface 131a on the side of the opening 130a. The notch may be formed at the center of the upper surface 131a of the water absorbing member 131. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a reagent cartridge containing a reagent, a nucleic acid extraction set, and a solution disposal method.

  With recent developments in genetic testing technology, for example, nucleic acid can be extracted from a sample such as a biological sample collected from a patient, and genetic differences such as single nucleotide polymorphisms can be detected to predict drug sensitivity in advance. Sex has been suggested.

  When nucleic acid is extracted from a specimen, it is necessary to prevent cross contamination between specimens or to prevent the spread of infection sources. Therefore, reagents necessary for extracting nucleic acid from the subject are contained in the reagent cartridge, and each time the nucleic acid is extracted from the subject, these reagents are used up, and the used reagent cartridge is discarded (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the reagent cartridge included in the nucleic acid extraction kit described in Patent Document 2, a waste well is formed in the reagent cartridge. Therefore, waste liquid generated in the nucleic acid extraction process can be discarded in the waste liquid well, and the waste liquid can be discarded together with the reagent cartridge.

  It is preferable that a water absorbing member such as a sponge for absorbing the waste liquid is installed in the waste liquid well (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Since the water absorbing member such as a sponge absorbs the waste liquid existing in the waste liquid well, the waste liquid can be prevented from flowing out even when the reagent cartridge falls.

International Publication No. 2005/118772 Japanese Patent No. 4911264

  In order to perform the entire nucleic acid extraction process quickly, it is necessary to discharge the waste liquid to the waste liquid well as fast as possible. However, in the reagent cartridge described in Patent Document 2, when the waste liquid is discharged from the pipette to the waste liquid well at a high speed, the unit time of flowing into the waste liquid well from the amount of liquid per unit time of water absorption by a water absorbing member such as a sponge. There was a case where the amount of liquid per unit exceeded and the waste liquid overflowed from the waste liquid well. Further, when the waste liquid is discharged from the pipette to the waste well at high speed, the waste liquid may bounce off a water absorbing member such as a sponge and scatter to the outside of the waste liquid well.

  In light of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a reagent cartridge having a waste liquid well that can suitably prevent outflow of the waste liquid to the outside even if the waste liquid is discharged into the waste liquid well at high speed, and nucleic acid extraction including the reagent cartridge It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution disposal method using the set and the reagent cartridge.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The reagent cartridge of the present invention is a reagent cartridge including a main body having a waste liquid storage portion in which a water absorption member is disposed, the waste liquid storage portion having an opening on an upper surface of the main body, and the water absorption member is formed of the opening. A notch is formed on the side.

  In the nucleic acid extraction set of the present invention, a reagent storage unit that stores a reagent for extracting a nucleic acid from a specimen, and a water absorbing member having a notch formed on the upper surface are arranged. A waste liquid storage unit for discarding an unnecessary solution separated in the step of extracting nucleic acids, a reagent cartridge, and a dispensing pipette rack storing a dispensing pipette for dispensing the reagent .

  The solution discarding method of the present invention is a solution discarding method for discarding an unnecessary solution separated in the step of extracting a nucleic acid using a reagent cartridge, wherein the reagent cartridge includes a sample storage unit for storing a sample, A step of extracting a nucleic acid using the reagent, wherein a reagent storage unit storing a reagent for extracting a nucleic acid from the specimen and a water absorbing member having a notch formed on an upper surface are disposed. A waste liquid storage unit for discarding the separated unnecessary solution, and a dispensing pipette for dispensing the reagent is attached to the nozzle of the nucleic acid extraction device, using the nozzle equipped with the dispensing pipette, The reagent contained in the reagent container is dispensed into the sample container, and the unnecessary solution separated in the sample container into which the reagent has been dispensed is removed using the dispensing pipette. Or above It is discharged to the waste liquid storage portion.

  According to the reagent cartridge, the nucleic acid extraction set, and the solution disposal method of the present invention, even if the waste solution is discharged into the waste solution well at high speed, the outflow of the waste solution to the outside can be suitably prevented.

It is a perspective view showing the whole reagent cartridge composition concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the dispensing pipette rack in which multiple dispensing pipette tips used with the reagent cartridge are accommodated. It is sectional drawing of the waste liquid well in the reagent cartridge. It is a top view of the nucleic acid extraction apparatus equipped with the reagent cartridge. It is the side view and top view of a dispensing unit. It is sectional drawing of the waste liquid well in which the dispensing pipette tip was inserted. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the water absorption member of the reagent cartridge. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the same water absorbing member. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the same water absorbing member. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the same water absorbing member. It is sectional drawing of the waste liquid well in the reagent cartridge which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a reagent cartridge 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a dispensing pipette rack 200 in which a plurality of dispensing pipette tips 201 used with the reagent cartridge 100 are accommodated. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 to which the reagent cartridge 100 is attached.

  The reagent cartridge 100 stores a reagent for extracting a nucleic acid from a subject. By inserting the specimen into the reagent cartridge 100 and mounting the reagent cartridge 100 on the nucleic acid extraction device 300, the nucleic acid extraction device 300 can be mechanically performed with the nucleic acid extraction operation using the dispensing pipette tip 201.

<Reagent cartridge>
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the reagent cartridge 100 includes a main body 101 formed in a substantially box shape, a claw portion 102, a handle portion 103, and a sealing film 104. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the sealing film 104 (shown by a two-dot chain line) is peeled off from the main body 101.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the claw portion 102 is formed so as to protrude from the outer surface of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body 101. For example, when the reagent cartridge 100 is attached to the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 or the like, The claw portion 102 of the cartridge 100 is engaged with a part of the nucleic acid extraction device 300.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the handle portion 103 is formed on the outer surface of the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body 101, and the claw portion 102 and the handle portion 103 engage with a part of the nucleic acid extraction device 300. Thus, the reagent cartridge 100 can be reliably fixed to the nucleic acid extraction device 300. Moreover, the reagent cartridge 100 can be removed from the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 or the like by lifting the handle portion 103 upward.

  In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the main body 101 is “X axis”, the short side direction of the main body 101 is “Y axis”, and the height direction of the main body 101 orthogonal to the X axis and Y axis is “Z axis”. . In the X-axis direction, one end portion where the claw portion 102 is formed is referred to as a “tip”, and the other end portion where the handle portion 103 is formed is referred to as a “base end”.

  The main body 101 has a sample well (subject storage portion) 110 into which a subject such as a biological sample is placed, a reagent well portion 120 in which a reagent for extracting nucleic acid from the subject is stored, a subject A waste liquid well (waste liquid storage unit) 130 for discarding an unnecessary solution separated in the process of extracting nucleic acid from is integrally formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample well 110, the reagent well portion 120, and the waste liquid well 130 are cavities having openings only on the upper surface 101 a of the main body 101. The upper surface 101a of the main body 101 has an area in which the opening of the reagent well portion 120 is formed, an area in which the opening 130a of the waste well 130 is formed, and an opening of the sample well 110 from the distal end to the proximal end in the X-axis direction. Are formed in order.

  Each cavity of the sample well 110, the reagent well 120, and the waste liquid well 130 is closed at the bottom surface (the portion on the opposite side of the top surface in the Z-axis direction). Each cavity can be filled with a reagent or the like from an opening provided on the upper surface 101 a of the main body 101.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reagent well portion 120 includes a plurality of reagent wells (reagent storage portions) 121 and a preparation well 122.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reagent well (reagent storage unit) 121 is a cavity having a circular or rectangular opening (reagent storage unit opening) 121 a on the upper surface 101 a of the main body 101. The reagent well (reagent storage unit) 121 includes, for example, a solution that dissolves a biological substance such as a cell membrane, a diluent that dilutes the solution, an eluate that elutes nucleic acid from the carrier, a washing solution for washing away unnecessary solutions, and magnetic particles. A reagent for extracting a nucleic acid from a specimen such as a solution containing the is contained. These are all reagents in the present invention. The reagents stored in the reagent well 121 are not limited to these.

  Note that the reagent may be stored in the reagent well 121 in advance, or may be stored in the reagent well 121 by the user during use. In particular, ethanol or the like that is not suitable for long-term storage in the reagent cartridge 100 is preferably stored in the reagent well 121 by the user during use.

  The preparation well 122 is a cavity in which no reagent is stored in advance, and is used for preparation of the reagent stored in the reagent well 121. Reagents taken out from the plurality of reagent wells 121 are put into the preparation well 122 and prepared.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample well (subject housing portion) 110 is a cylindrical cavity having a circular opening (subject housing portion opening) 110 a on the upper surface 101 a of the main body 101. Two sample wells 110 are provided on the base end side of the main body 101, and form a cavity that is longer in the Z-axis direction than the reagent well 121 and the like provided in the reagent well portion 120. In addition, the interval between the two sample wells 110 is wider than the interval between the plurality of reagent wells 121 provided in the reagent well portion 120, and when the reagent cartridge 100 is attached to the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300, the sample Around the well 110, a heating unit, a magnet, or the like included in the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 can be disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the waste liquid well (waste liquid storage part) 130 has a rectangular opening (waste liquid storage part opening) 130 a whose short side is parallel to the X axis and whose long side is parallel to the Y axis on the upper surface 101 a of the main body 101. It is a concave cavity, and the cavity has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the waste liquid well 130, unnecessary solutions separated in the process of extracting nucleic acids from the subject are discarded.

In the waste liquid well 130, a water absorbing member 131 that absorbs the waste liquid is disposed. Since the water absorbing member 131 absorbs the waste liquid existing in the waste liquid well 130, the waste liquid can be prevented from flowing out even when the reagent cartridge 100 is overturned.
The water absorbing member 131 is preferably, for example, a porous body represented by a sponge or the like, or a water absorbing polymer represented by sodium polyacrylate.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the waste liquid well 130 in the YZ plane perpendicular to the X axis.
The water absorbing member 131 is formed by cutting off a part of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that can be accommodated in the waste liquid well 130 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the water absorption member 131 has a “notch 131 b” formed by cutting off a triangular prism shape having an axis extending in the X-axis direction on the upper surface 131 a on the opening 130 a side. Yes. Here, the upper surface 131a of the water absorbing member 131 is at a position lower than the opening 130a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the notch 131b has a V-shaped notch cross section in the YZ plane.
In the water absorbing member 131, adjacent surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped shape do not necessarily intersect at right angles, and each surface of the rectangular parallelepiped shape may have irregularities. In these cases, the V-shape of the cutout section in the YZ plane of the cutout portion 131b may not be an accurate V-shape.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the notch 131 b is formed in the center part (region including the center) of the upper surface 131 a of the water absorbing member 131, and the notch depth D (upper surface) at the center C of the upper surface 131 a of the water absorbing member 131. The depth of cut from 131a in the Z-axis direction) is the largest. Specifically, the notch depth D of the notch 131b is greater as the portion is closer to the center C of the upper surface 131a of the water absorbing member 131, as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the cross section perpendicular to the axis of the triangular prism shape that is cut off to form the notch 131b is a regular triangle. Therefore, the cut-out cross section in the YZ plane of the cut-out portion 131b is a V-shape composed of two sides of a regular triangle as shown in FIG. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the length of one side of the equilateral triangle is equal to the length obtained by dividing the length of the water absorbing member 131 in the Y-axis direction into three equal parts.

  There are clearances in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction between the waste liquid well 130 and the water absorption member 131, and the water absorption member 131 can be easily disposed in the waste liquid well 130 when the reagent cartridge 100 is manufactured.

  The water absorbing member 131 can absorb about 4000 μl of water. When the waste liquid discharged to the waste liquid well 130 is, for example, about 500 μl per one time, the water absorbing member 131 can absorb the waste liquid discharged about eight times.

  In the main body 101, the openings of the plurality of reagent wells 121, the preparation wells 122, and the waste liquid wells 130 are sealed with a sealing film 104. It is preferable that the sealing film 104 has a structure in which gas permeation or passage is suppressed and the film can be broken by piercing the pipetting pipette tip 201. For example, a metallic thin film, a plastic film, These laminated films can be used.

<Dispensing pipette rack>
As shown in FIG. 2, the dispensing pipette rack 200 includes a plurality of dispensing pipette tips 201 having the same shape and the same size. Since the liquid stored in the reagent cartridge 100 is dispensed or stirred by any one of the plurality of dispensing pipette tips 201, no cross-contamination occurs between the liquids by the dispensing pipette tips 201. The dispensing pipette rack 200 is also a container for collecting the used dispensing pipette tips 201. After the use of the dispensing pipette tips 201, the dispensing pipette tips 201 are dispensed as infectious waste. The entire rack 200 can be discarded.

  The material forming the main body 101, the dispensing pipette rack 200, etc. is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the sample, the reagent, etc. If a resin material containing any of polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylic is used in particular. Good visible light permeability can be ensured, and the state of the solution can be confirmed. As polypropylene, homopolypropylene or a random copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene can be used. Moreover, as an acryl, the copolymer of monomers, such as polymethyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate, and other methacrylic acid ester, acrylic acid ester, styrene, can be used. Moreover, when using these resin materials, the heat resistance and intensity | strength of a dispensing pipette tip can also be ensured.

<Nucleic acid extraction device>
The nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 is an apparatus for automatically performing nucleic acid extraction by mounting a nucleic acid extraction set (reagent cartridge 100 and dispensing pipette rack 200). In the present embodiment, the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 automatically performs only nucleic acid extraction, but the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 automatically performs processes from nucleic acid extraction to real-time PCR, detection of nucleic acid amplification reaction, and nucleic acid analysis. May be.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a reagent cartridge installation unit 310 for installing the reagent cartridge 100, a dispensing pipette rack installation unit 320 for installing the dispensing pipette rack 200, a plate member 303, and a dispensing unit 304. And comprising.

  The reagent cartridge installation unit 310 includes an opening formed in the plate member 303, a support plate that is vertically below the plate member 303, and a Z-axis direction that is provided to the left, right, and rear of the support plate. It is a recessed part comprised by the plate member. In plan view, the opening and the support plate have a slightly larger outline than the outer shape of the reagent cartridge installation unit 310, and the support plate is provided on the rear side of the opening. In the reagent cartridge 100, the lower end portion of the reagent cartridge 100 is supported vertically by a support plate, and the side surface of the reagent cartridge 100 includes an opening and a plate member provided on the left, right, and rear of the support plate. As a result, the reagent cartridge is installed in the reagent cartridge installation unit 310.

  The dispensing pipette rack installation unit 320 includes an opening formed in the plate member 303 and a support plate that is vertically below the plate member 303. In plan view, the opening has a slightly larger outline than the outer shape of the dispensing pipette rack installation part 320. The dispensing pipette rack 200 has a lower end portion that is vertically supported by a support plate, and a side surface of the dispensing pipette rack 200 that is supported by the plate member 303, whereby a dispensing pipette rack 200 is provided. It is installed in the rack installation unit 320.

5A and 5B are side views of the dispensing unit 304, and FIG. 5C is a plan view of the dispensing unit 304.
As shown in FIG. 5C, the dispensing unit 304 includes a nozzle 314, a pump 315, a vertical transfer unit 316, a front / rear transfer unit 317, and a left / right transfer unit 318.

  The nozzle 314 can be attached to and detached from the dispensing pipette tip 201 and the drilling pipette tip 202. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the nozzle 314 of the dispensing unit 304 is lowered from directly above the dispensing pipette tip 201, the dispensing pipette tip 201 is attached to the lower end of the nozzle 314. . Then, as the nozzle 314 is raised, the dispensing pipette tip 201 is extracted from the dispensing pipette rack 200. A hole 314 a is formed in the nozzle 314 so that liquid can be sucked and discharged from the lower end of the nozzle 314.

  The pump 315 is connected to the hole 314 a of the nozzle 314. The pump 315 applies a positive pressure and a negative pressure to the nozzle 314 and sucks and discharges the liquid through the dispensing pipette tip 201 attached to the lower end of the nozzle 314.

  The vertical transfer unit 316 includes a rail 316a extending along the Z axis and a stepping motor. The vertical transfer unit 316 drives the stepping motor to transfer the nozzle 314 in the Z-axis direction along the rail 316a. The front-rear transfer unit 317 includes a rail 317a extending along the X axis and a stepping motor. The front / rear transport unit 317 drives the stepping motor to transport the vertical transport unit 316 in the X-axis direction along the rail 317a. The left and right transfer unit 318 includes a rail 318a extending along the Y axis and a stepping motor. The left / right transfer unit 318 drives the stepping motor to transfer the front / rear transfer unit 317 in the Y-axis direction along the rail 318a.

  In this way, the nozzle 314 can be moved along the XYZ axes in the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 by the vertical transfer unit 316, the front-rear transfer unit 317, and the left-right transfer unit 318.

  The dispensing unit 304 transfers the sample and the reagent in the reagent cartridge 100 by performing a dispensing operation via the dispensing pipette tip 201 attached to the nozzle 314.

  Next, the operation of the reagent cartridge 100 configured as described above will be described. In the following, the operation of the reagent cartridge 100 will be described by taking as an example the operation of attaching the reagent cartridge 100 to a nucleic acid extraction apparatus having a dispensing and transporting function for transporting the dispensing pipette tip 201 and extracting the nucleic acid.

  First, for example, a biological sample, which is a subject, is injected into the sample well 110 of the reagent cartridge 100 manually by the user. The reagent cartridge 100 loaded with the biological sample is attached to the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300.

  When the liquid is sucked from the reagent well 121 into the dispensing pipette tip 201, the tip 201 a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is inserted into the sealing film 104 sealing the reagent well 121. Then, a through-hole is formed in the sealing film 104, and various reagents inside the reagent well 121 can be sucked by the dispensing pipette tip 201.

  Subsequently, various reagents stored in the reagent well 121 are dispensed and mixed by the dispensing unit 304 of the nucleic acid extraction apparatus 300 using the dispensing pipette tip 201 according to a predetermined procedure. As a result, the cells in the biological sample supplied to the sample well 110 are lysed to obtain a cell lysate.

  Unnecessary solution separated in the step of extracting nucleic acid from the subject is sucked by the dispensing pipette tip 201 and discarded in the waste well 130. The tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is inserted into the sealing film 104 sealing the waste liquid well 130. Then, a through-hole H1 is formed in the sealing film 104, and the waste liquid can be discarded inside the waste liquid well 130 by the dispensing pipette tip 201.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the waste well 130 in the YZ plane when the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is inserted into the waste well 130.
As shown in FIG. 6, the through hole H1 is formed at the center of the opening 130a of the waste well 130 from the viewpoint of ease of formation of the through hole H1 and the strength after the formation of the through hole H1. .

  Since the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 passes through the through hole H1, the tip 201a is disposed at a position facing the upper surface 131a in which the notch 131b is formed, as shown in FIG. Further, since the through hole H1 is formed at the center of the opening 130a, the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is located at a position facing the center having the largest notch depth D on the upper surface 131a as shown in FIG. Be placed.

  When the waste liquid is discharged from the dispensing pipette tip 201 toward the waste liquid well 130, a cutout is formed in a lower direction (downward direction in the Z-axis direction) in which the waste liquid is discharged from the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201. Since the part 131b is formed, as shown in FIG. 6, the area | region (temporary storage area | region) T which can temporarily store the waste liquid before water absorption without the water absorption member 131 is ensured. Therefore, even when the waste liquid is discharged at high speed into the waste liquid well, the waste liquid before being absorbed by the water absorbing member 131 can be temporarily stored in the temporary storage region T. Even if the amount of liquid per unit time flowing into the waste liquid well 130 exceeds the amount of liquid per unit time absorbed by the water absorbing member 131, it is possible to suitably prevent the waste liquid from overflowing from the waste liquid well 130. it can.

  Since the cutout section in the YZ plane of the cutout portion 131b is V-shaped as shown in FIG. 6, the cross section of the cutout portion 131b from which the waste liquid discharged from the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 can be reflected is , Not parallel to the upper surface 131a. Therefore, the waste liquid bounced off the cross section of the notch 131b does not reflect straight upward (upward in the Z-axis direction) but reflects in a different direction. As a result, it is possible to suitably prevent the waste liquid that has bounced out from the through-hole H <b> 1 and splashing outside the waste liquid well 130.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is disposed at a position facing the center having the largest notch depth D on the upper surface 131a. The waste liquid discharged from the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 has a long distance to contact with the cross section of the notch 131b, and the waste liquid bounced back to the cross section of the notch 131b flows out of the through hole H1 and is discharged. It is possible to suitably prevent scattering to the outside of the well 130.

Since the cutout section in the YZ plane of the cutout portion 131b is V-shaped as shown in FIG. 6, the volume of the portion cut out for forming the cutout portion 131b is kept as small as possible. The surface area of the water absorbing member 131 can be increased.
By reducing the volume of the portion that is cut out for forming the notch 131b as much as possible, a decrease in the volume of the water absorbing member 131 can be suppressed, and a decrease in the amount of water absorbed in the water absorbing member 131 can be suppressed. On the other hand, by increasing the surface area of the water absorbing member 131, the amount of liquid per unit time absorbed by the water absorbing member 131 can be increased.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the waste well opening (waste liquid storage opening) 130a is formed between the opening (sample storage opening) 110a of the sample well 110 and the opening (reagent storage opening) 121a of the reagent well 121. Is formed. Therefore, whether the waste liquid generated in the sample well 110 or the waste liquid generated in the reagent well 121 can be smoothly discharged to the waste liquid well 130 with a short flow line. In addition, when dispensing a reagent from the reagent well 121 to the sample well 110, the dispensing pipette tip 201 is moved across the waste liquid well 130. Even if the reagent falls into the waste liquid well 130, The waste liquid well 130 is not a problem because it is a place for discharging the waste liquid.

  According to the reagent cartridge 100 of this embodiment, even if the waste liquid is discharged into the waste liquid well 130 at a high speed, the outflow of the waste liquid to the outside can be suitably prevented.

  The first embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention are included. . In addition, the constituent elements shown in the above-described first embodiment and the modifications shown below can be combined as appropriate.

(Modification 1)
For example, in the above embodiment, the reagent cartridge 100 includes the sample well 110, the reagent well portion 120, and the waste liquid well 130, but the configuration of the reagent cartridge is not limited to this. For example, the reagent cartridge may include only the waste liquid well 130 or may further include a well (accommodating unit) for other purposes.

(Modification 2)
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the water absorbing member 131 is formed with the V-shaped cutout portion 131b having two cutaway cross sections, but the shape of the cutout portion is not limited thereto. . The shape of the notch may be a V-shape with a different notch cross section. Moreover, the notch cross section of a notch part may be U-shaped like the water absorption member 131B which is a modification of the water absorption member shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the notch 131Bb is formed at the center (region including the center) of the upper surface 131Ba of the water absorbing member 131B. Similarly to the water absorbing member 131, the water absorbing member 131B can suitably prevent the waste liquid from flowing out to the outside even if the waste liquid is discharged into the waste well 130 at a high speed.

(Modification 3)
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the water absorbing member 131 is formed with the notch 131b in which the triangular prism shape is cut off, but the form of the notch is not limited thereto. As for the shape of the notch, a notch 131Cb in which a conical shape having an axis extending in the Z-axis direction is cut off may be formed like a water absorbing member 131C which is a modification of the water absorbing member shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 8, the notch 131Cb of the water absorbing member 131C is formed at the center (region including the center) of the upper surface 131Ca of the water absorbing member 131C. Further, the notch depth D (the depth of cut from the upper surface 131Ca in the Z-axis direction) of the notch 131Cb is the largest at the center of the upper surface 131Ca of the water absorbing member 131C. Similarly to the water absorbing member 131, the water absorbing member 131C can suitably prevent the waste liquid from flowing out to the outside even if the waste liquid is discharged into the waste well 130 at a high speed.

(Modification 4)
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the water absorbing member 131 is formed with the V-shaped cutout portion 131b having two cutaway cross sections, but the shape of the cutout portion is not limited thereto. . The shape of the notch may be a concave shape in the notch cross section, as in a water absorbing member 131D which is a modification of the water absorbing member shown in FIG. The water absorbing member 131D cannot reflect the waste liquid bounced off the cross section of the notch 131Db in a direction different from the upper direction (upward direction in the Z-axis direction), but the temporary storage region T causes the waste liquid to overflow from the waste liquid well 130. It can be suitably prevented from exiting. Further, by increasing the surface area of the water absorbing member 131D, the amount of liquid per unit time absorbed by the water absorbing member 131D can be increased.

(Modification 5)
For example, in the above embodiment, the waste liquid well 130 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the water absorbing member 131 is formed by cutting off a part of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that can be accommodated in the substantially rectangular solid waste liquid well 130. However, the shapes of the waste well and the water absorbing member are not limited to this. The waste liquid well may be a cylindrical cavity having a circular opening 130Ba on the upper surface 101a of the main body 101B, like a waste well 130B of a reagent cartridge 100B which is a modification of the reagent cartridge shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the water absorbing member 131E is formed by cutting off a part of the cylindrical member that can be accommodated in the cylindrical waste liquid well 130B. As shown in FIG. 10, a conical shape having an axis extending in the Z-axis direction is cut off at the center (region including the center) of the upper surface 131Ea on the opening side to form a notch 131Eb. The notch depth D of 131Eb is larger as it is closer to the center of the upper surface 131Ea of the water absorbing member 131E. The notch 131Eb has a V-shaped notch cross section in the Z-axis direction. Similarly to the water absorbing member 131, the water absorbing member 131E can suitably prevent the waste liquid from flowing out to the outside even if the waste liquid is discharged into the waste liquid well 130B at high speed.
Further, a triangular prism shape having an axis extending in the Z-axis direction may be cut off to form a notch.

(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, components that are the same as those already described are assigned the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.
The reagent cartridge 100C according to the second embodiment is different from the reagent cartridge 100 according to the first embodiment in that the shape of the water absorbing member 131F stored in the waste liquid well 130 is not line symmetric with respect to the Z axis.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the waste liquid well 130 of the reagent cartridge 100C, and the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is inserted into the waste well 130 of the reagent cartridge 100C.
Similar to the reagent cartridge 100 of the first embodiment, the reagent cartridge 100 </ b> C includes a main body 101 formed in a substantially box shape, a claw portion 102, a handle portion 103, and a sealing film 104. Only the water absorbing member 131F stored in the waste well 130 of the main body 101 is different from the reagent cartridge 100 of the first embodiment.

  The water absorbing member 131F is formed by cutting off a part of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that can be accommodated in the waste liquid well 130 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the water absorbing member 131F has a “notch 131Fb” formed by cutting off a triangular prism shape having an axis extending in the X-axis direction on the upper surface 131Fa on the opening 130a side. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cutout portion 131Fb has a V-shaped cutout section in the YZ plane. Here, the V-shaped cutout section is not line-symmetric with respect to the Z-axis.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the notch 131Fb is formed in the central portion (region including the center) of the upper surface 131Fa of the water absorbing member 131F. As shown in FIG. 11, the notch 131Fb has the largest notch depth D at the center of the upper surface 131Fa of the water absorbing member 131F, and the notch depth D becomes the largest at a portion that is not the center of the upper surface 131Fa. ing.

  Since the cutout section in the YZ plane of the cutout portion 131Fb is V-shaped, the cross section of the cutout portion 131Fb that can reflect the waste liquid discharged from the tip 201a of the dispensing pipette tip 201 is not parallel to the upper surface 131Fa. Therefore, the waste liquid that has bounced off the cross section of the notch 131Fb does not reflect straight upward (upward in the Z-axis direction) but reflects in a different direction.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cross section of the notch 131 </ b> Fb that can reflect the waste liquid is a Z-axis in a downward direction (downward direction in the Z-axis direction) that is the direction in which the waste liquid is discharged from the tip 201 a of the dispensing pipette tip 201. It is provided with an inclination. Therefore, the waste liquid reflected on the cross section of the notch 131Fb is positively reflected in the right direction of the Y axis as shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to suitably prevent the waste liquid that has bounced out from the through-hole H <b> 1 and splashing outside the waste liquid well 130.

According to the reagent cartridge 100C of this embodiment, even if the waste liquid is discharged into the waste liquid well 130 at a high speed, the outflow of the waste liquid to the outside can be suitably prevented.
When the waste liquid is discharged to the waste well at high speed, even if the liquid amount per unit time flowing into the waste well is larger than the liquid amount per unit time absorbed by the water absorbing member 131F, the temporary storage area T The overflow of the waste liquid from the waste liquid well 130 can be suitably prevented. Further, it is possible to suitably prevent the waste liquid from splashing from the water absorbing member 131F and the splashed waste liquid from flowing out of the through hole H1 and splashing outside the waste liquid well 130 by the notch 131Fb.

  In the above embodiment, the cut-out cross section in the YZ plane is asymmetric, but the cut-out cross-sectional aspect is not limited to this. A cut-out cross section in a plane including the Z axis, such as the XZ plane, may be asymmetric. Even in this case, the direction of the waste liquid reflected by the cut-out cross section can be controlled so as not to go to the position where the through hole H1 is disposed.

  The present invention can be applied to a reagent cartridge including a waste well.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Main body 101a Upper surface 102 Claw part 103 Handle part 104 Sealing film 110 Sample well (analyte accommodating part)
110a opening (opening of subject container)
120 Reagent well part 121 Reagent well (reagent storage part)
121a Opening (reagent container opening)
122 Formulation well 130 Waste liquid well (Waste liquid storage part)
130a Opening (Waste liquid container opening)
131 Water-absorbing member 131a Upper surface 131b Notch 200 Dispensing pipette rack 201 Dispensing pipette tip 201a Tip 300 Nucleic acid extraction device 304 Dispensing unit

Claims (13)

A main body having a waste liquid storage portion in which a water absorbing member is disposed;
The waste liquid container has an opening on the upper surface of the main body,
The water absorbing member has a notch formed in the upper surface on the opening side,
Reagent cartridge. The notch is formed at the center of the upper surface of the water absorbing member,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 1. The notch depth of the notch is larger as the portion closer to the center of the upper surface of the water absorbing member,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 1. The notch depth of the notch is the largest at the center of the upper surface of the water absorbing member,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 1. The notch has a V-shaped notch cross section,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 1. The water absorbing member has a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
The notch is formed by cutting a triangular prism shape,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 5. The cross section perpendicular to the axis of the triangular prism shape is a regular triangle shape,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 6. One side of the equilateral triangle shape is equal to a length obtained by dividing the length of the water absorbing member in the short direction of the main body into three equal parts,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 7. The main body further includes a subject container and a reagent container,
The subject container has a subject container opening on the upper surface of the main body,
The reagent container has a reagent container opening on the upper surface of the main body,
The opening of the waste liquid storage part is formed between the subject storage part opening of the subject storage part and the reagent storage part opening of the reagent storage part.
The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A sealing film for sealing the opening;
The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The upper surface of the water absorbing member is lower than the opening of the waste liquid container;
The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10. A reagent container containing a reagent for extracting nucleic acid from the specimen;
A reagent cartridge comprising: a water-absorbing member having a notch formed on the upper surface; and a waste liquid storage unit for discarding an unnecessary solution separated in the step of extracting nucleic acid using the reagent. When,
A nucleic acid extraction set comprising: a dispensing pipette rack containing a dispensing pipette for dispensing the reagent. A solution disposal method for discarding an unnecessary solution separated in a step of extracting nucleic acid using a reagent cartridge,
The reagent cartridge includes a sample storage unit for storing a sample, a reagent storage unit for storing a reagent for extracting a nucleic acid from the sample, and a water absorbing member having a notch formed on the upper surface. A waste liquid storage unit for discarding an unnecessary solution separated in the step of extracting nucleic acid using the reagent,
Attach a dispensing pipette for dispensing the reagent to the nozzle of the nucleic acid extraction device,
Using the nozzle equipped with the pipetting pipette, dispensing the reagent stored in the reagent storage unit into the sample storage unit,
Using the dispensing pipette, the unnecessary solution separated in the specimen container into which the reagent has been dispensed is discharged from above the notch into the waste liquid container.
Solution disposal method.

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