CELL SEPARATION CONTROL DEVICE

A cell separation control apparatus may include a separation disc having a plurality of chambers and configured to separate a target material from a sample by means of a centrifugal force generated by a rotation, a printed circuit board coupled to the separation disc and having heating terminals configured to transfer heat to valves in channels that connect the plurality of chambers of the separation disc, and a plurality of pressing parts provided on the printed circuit board and configured to transfer heat from the heating terminals to the valves by pressing the heating terminals toward the valves.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cell separation control apparatus, and more particularly, to a cell separation control apparatus capable of accurately and smoothly performing an operation of opening or closing a valve by properly transferring to the valve provided in a channel that connects chambers of a separation disc.

BACKGROUND ART

Most deaths from malignant tumors are caused by metastasis to tissues and organs located away from the site where the tumor initially originated. Therefore, early detection of metastasis is an important determinant of a cancer patient's chances of survival.

The process of detecting tumors early and monitoring the growth of tumors is considered very important for the successful treatment of cancer patients.

In general, cancer is diagnosed by a diagnostic technique called histopathology. The histopathology is a diagnostic technique that diagnoses tumors using tissue samples obtained from biopsies. This histopathologic approach enables direct observation of the tumor cells.

Meanwhile, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are known to be found in patients before the tumor is detected for the first time. Therefore, circulating tumor cells may serve as an important factor in the early diagnosis and prediction of cancer. Since cancer usually spreads through the blood, circulating tumor cells can be a diagnostic marker for cancer metastasis.

To this end, a disk-type device that extracts target cells such as circulating tumor cells from samples such as blood is being researched and developed.

For example, a disc device in the related art includes a disc having a plurality of chambers. The disc device generates a centrifugal force by rotating the disc and separates target cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from the blood by using the centrifugal force.

The plurality of chambers may schematically include a main chamber and a separation chamber connected to the main chamber through a channel. A valve is provided in the channel, and a material may be moved by an operation of opening or closing the valve.

In the disc device in the related art, the valve is generally made of wax or the like that reacts with heat. However, heat is not properly transferred to the valve, which causes a risk of an error in the operation of the valve.

Therefore, there is a need to develop a cell separation control apparatus having a new configuration capable of accurately and smoothly performing an operation of separating target cells by accurately operating the valve.

As a related art, there is Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2020-0143578 (entitled METHOD FOR MASS PROLIFERATION OF NK CELLS ISOLATED FROM WHOLE BLOOD).

Disclosure

Technical Problem

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cell separation control apparatus capable of accurately and smoothly performing an operation of opening or closing a valve by properly transferring heat to the valve provided in a channel that connects chambers of a separation disc.

Technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above- mentioned technical problem(s), and other technical problem(s), which are not mentioned above, may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following descriptions.

Technical Solution

A cell separation control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a separation disc having a plurality of chambers and configured to separate a target material from a sample by means of a centrifugal force generated by a rotation, a printed circuit board coupled to the separation disc and having heating terminals configured to transfer heat to valves in channels that connect the plurality of chambers of the separation disc, and a plurality of pressing parts provided on the printed circuit board and configured to transfer heat from the heating terminals to the valves by pressing the heating terminals toward the valves.

According to the embodiment, the plurality of pressing parts may be coupled to a pressing plate, and the pressing parts may press the heating terminals when the pressing plate is fixed to the printed circuit board.

According to the embodiment, the plurality of pressing parts each may include: a fixed rod fixed to the pressing plate so as to correspond to the heating terminal; a pressing rod coupled to the fixed rod and configured to be movable in a length direction of the fixed rod and press the heating terminal; and a spring mounted in the fixed rod and configured to generate a force for pressing the pressing rod toward the heating terminal.

According to the embodiment, the separation disc, the printed circuit board, the pressing plate, and a rotor configured to generate a rotational force may be coupled by a locking part that penetrates centers of the separation disc, the printed circuit board, the pressing plate, and the rotor.

According to the embodiment, a locking groove for locking an end of the locking part may be provided at a center of the rotor, and the end of the locking part may be locked when the end of the locking part is inserted into the locking groove and then rotated.

According to the embodiment, the pressing parts may be pressed against the heating terminals when the separation disc, the printed circuit board, the pressing plate, and the rotor are locked by the locking part.

According to the embodiment, the printed circuit board may be coupled to the separation disc by a plurality of locking bolts.

According to the embodiment, a fixing pin may be provided at an end of the locking bolt and have a straight shape (−) extending in two directions perpendicular to a length direction of the locking bolt, a pinhole, which corresponds to a shape of the fixing pin, may be formed through the printed circuit board, a through-hole, which is penetrated by the fixing pin, may be formed in a cover of the separation disc, and a fixing groove, to which the fixing pin is fixed, may be formed in an inner surface of the cover.

According to the embodiment, a material constituting the valve in the channel may be thermoplastic resin or a phase transition material that is in a solid state at room temperature and experiences phase transition by heat.

According to the embodiment, the phase transition material constituting the valve in the channel may be wax, and the wax may be paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum wax, animal or vegetable synthetic wax, or natural wax.

According to the embodiment, a recess hole may be formed through the separation disc in a depth direction from an upper surface of the separation disc, a cover hole may be formed in a cover of the separation disc so as to correspond to the recess hole, a board hole may be formed in the printed circuit board so as to correspond to the cover hole, an alignment hole may be formed in the pressing plate so as to correspond to the board hole, and an alignment pin for alignment may be coupled to the alignment hole, the board hole, the cover hole, and the recess hole.

According to the embodiment, a lower end of the alignment pin may have a conical shape having a diameter decreasing downward, a central portion of the alignment pin may have a cylindrical shape, and an upper end of the alignment pin may have a larger diameter than the alignment hole and be supported by the alignment hole.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of opening or closing the valve may be accurately and smoothly performed by properly transferring heat to the valve provided in the channel that connects the chambers of the separation disc. Therefore, the operation of separating the target cells may be reliably performed in the separation disc.

In addition, the printed circuit board may be quickly and simply coupled to the separation disc by the locking bolts. Further, the rotor, the separation disc, the printed circuit board, and the pressing plate may be easily fastened by the locking part.

*DESCRIPTION OF MAIN REFERENCE NUMERALS OF DRAWINGS

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Advantages and/or features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but will be implemented in various forms. The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided so that the present disclosure is completely disclosed, and a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can fully understand the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure will be defined only by the scope of the appended claims. Like reference numerals indicate like constituent elements throughout the specification.

FIG.1is a partially cut-out perspective view illustrating a cell separation control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.2is a cut-out perspective view illustrating a state in which components of the cell separation control apparatus illustrated inFIG.1are coupled by a locking part,FIG.3is a view schematically illustrating a process of pressing a heating terminal by using a pressing part illustrated inFIG.1,FIG.4is a view illustrating a state in which a separation disc and a printed circuit board illustrated inFIG.1are coupled by a locking bolt,FIG.5is a view sequentially illustrating a locking process using the locking bolt illustrated inFIG.5,FIG.6is an exploded perspective view of the cell separation control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.7is a view for explaining a configuration of an alignment pin illustrated inFIG.6.

As illustrated in the drawings, a cell separation control apparatus100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a rotor110configured to generate driving power for a rotation, a separation disc120coupled to the rotor110and configured to rotate together with a rotation of the rotor110and separate target cells from blood by using a generated centrifugal force, a printed circuit board140provided on an upper portion of the separation disc120, coupled to the separation disc120, and having heating terminals145, pressing parts160provided on an upper portion of the printed circuit board140, coupled to the printed circuit board140, and configured to press the heating terminals145, a pressing plate150coupled to the pressing parts and configured to allow the pressing parts160to press the heating terminals, and a locking part170configured to penetrate centers of the above-mentioned components initiating the above-mentioned components.

The components will be described. First, the rotor110of the present embodiment may be coupled to the separation disc120, the printed circuit board140, and the pressing plate150by means of the locking part170. The coupled components may be rotated together by the rotation of the rotor110.

A rotational speed or the like of the rotor110may be determined under the control of a controller of the present apparatus100. A centrifugal force is generated at a rotational speed, such that the target cells may be separated from the blood in the separation disc120.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, a case is described in which the target cells, such as circulating tumor cells, are separated from the blood by the operation of the separation disc120. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The control apparatus100of the present embodiment may be used to separate desired particles or cells contained in a biological sample. For example, the cell may be the circulating tumor cell (CTC).

The separation disc120of the present embodiment may include a disc body121having a disc shape, and a plurality of chambers provided in the form of grooves formed in an upper surface of the separation disc120. Therefore, the centrifugal force, which is generated when the separation disc120is rotated by the rotation of the rotor110, may be used to separate the target cells from the blood, for example.

As schematically illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the plurality of chambers of the present embodiment may include a main chamber122, a plasma separation chamber, a mixing chamber, a separation chamber, a target cell accommodation chamber, and the like.

For example, the chamber structure may separate the target cells from the blood. In order to smoothly perform this process, it is essential to smoothly operate valves135in channels130that connect the chambers.

That is, heat needs to be properly transferred to the valve135in the channel130to accurately open or close the valve135. To this end, in the present embodiment, the printed circuit board140and the pressing plate150have heat transfer structures.

First, the valve135provided in the channel130of the present embodiment will be described. The valve135of the present embodiment may be made of thermoplastic resin or phase transition material that is kept in a solid state when a passageway of the channel130is blocked, and is melted when heat is applied.

In the present embodiment, wax may be applied as the phase transition material of the valve135. Any one of paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum wax, animal or vegetable synthetic wax, and natural wax may be used as the wax. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, thermoplastic resin may be applied as a material for the valve135. The thermoplastic resin may be COC (cyclic olefin copolymer), PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), PS (polystyrene), POM (polyoxymethylene), PFA (perfluoralkoxy), PVC (polyvinylchloride), PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PA (polyamide), PSU (polysulfone), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), or the like.

With reference toFIGS.1to3, the printed circuit board140of the present embodiment has the heating terminals145provided to correspond to positions of the valves135provided in the separation disc120. Therefore, the passageway of the channel130may be opened or closed by means of the valve135made of wax as heat is applied from the heating terminal145to the valve135or the heat transfer is stopped.

More specifically, as illustrated inFIG.1, for example, the valve135is provided in the channel130that connects the main chamber122and the plasma separation chamber. The heating terminal145is provided on the printed circuit board140so as to correspond to the position of the valve135.

However, the valve135is not properly opened or closed when heat is not properly transferred even though the heating terminal145generates heat. Therefore, it is important to properly transfer heat by pressing the heating terminal145toward the valve135.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the pressing parts160are provided on the pressing plate150. The pressing part160presses the heating terminal145toward the valve135, such that the heat may be properly transferred from the heating terminal145to the valve135through a cover127of the separation disc (a top plate of the disc).

As illustrated inFIG.1, the pressing plate150of the present embodiment is provided in the form of a circular plate, and the pressing parts160are fixed to the pressing plate150so as to correspond to the positions of the heating terminals145.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, particularlyFIG.3, the pressing parts160may each include a fixed rod161fixed to the pressing plate150so as to correspond to the heating terminal145, a pressing rod163coupled to the fixed rod161and configured to be movable in a length direction of the fixed rod161and press the heating terminal145, and a spring165mounted in the fixed rod161and configured to generate a force for pressing the pressing rod163toward the heating terminal145.

With reference toFIG.3, the spring165in the fixed rod161may push the pressing rod163toward the heating terminal145, such that a lower end of the pressing rod163may apply a force to the heating terminal145. The heating terminal145may properly transfer heat to the valve135, such that the channel130may be properly opened or closed by the operation of the valve135.

In other words, the efficiency in opening or closing the valve135may be improved as the pressing part160improves the efficiency in transferring heat from the heating terminal145to the valve135. Therefore, as described above, the process of separating the target cells from the blood in the separation disc120may be reliably performed.

Meanwhile, with reference toFIGS.1and2, as described above, the pressing plate150, the printed circuit board140, the separation disc120, and the rotor110may be integrally coupled by the locking part170of the present embodiment.

That is, the pressing plate150, the printed circuit board140, and the separation disc120respectively have holes penetrated by the locking part170, a locking groove111is formed at a center of the rotor110, and the locking part170is inserted into the locking groove111. The locking part170is coupled to the holes and the locking groove111, and then the locking part170is rotated in one direction, such that the pressing plate150, the printed circuit board140, the separation disc120, and the rotor110may be locked by the locking part170.

Further, when the components are locked by the locking part170, the pressing part160comes into close contact with the heating terminal145, as illustrated inFIG.2, such that the heat may be properly transferred from the heating terminal145to the valve135.

Meanwhile, with reference toFIGS.4and5, the separation disc120and the printed circuit board140may be simply coupled by a plurality of locking bolts180. As illustrated inFIG.4, pinholes146for coupling the locking bolts180may be formed in four regions of the printed circuit board140, and through-holes128, which correspond to positions of the pinholes146, may also be formed in the cover127of the separation disc120corresponding to the printed circuit board140.

As illustrated inFIG.4, a fixing pin181may be provided at an end of the locking bolt180and have a straight shape (−) extending in two directions perpendicular to a length direction of the locking bolt180. The pinhole146formed in the printed circuit board140may have a shape corresponding to the fixing pin181.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.5, the through-hole128formed in the cover127of the separation disc120may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the pinhole146. Therefore, when the fixing pin181of the locking bolt180penetrates the pinhole146and the through-hole128and then the locking bolt180rotates, the printed circuit board140may be fastened to the separation disc120.

More specifically, a fixing groove129is formed in an inner surface of the cover127, and the fixing pin181is fixed to the fixing groove129. The fixing groove129is formed in a direction perpendicular to the through-hole128, such that the through-hole128and the fixing groove129may define a cross shape (+) as a whole.

Therefore, as illustrated inFIG.5, the fixing pin181of the locking bolt180penetrates the through-hole128, the locking bolt 180 rotates by 90 degrees, and then the locking bolt180is pulled, such that the fixing pin181may be inserted into the fixing groove129, and thus the printed circuit board140may be fastened to the separation disc120.

As described above, the separation disc120and the printed circuit board140may be simply and securely coupled by the locking bolts180.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, as described above, it is important to properly align the position of the pressing part160with the valve135. To this end, as illustrated inFIGS.6and7, holes for alignment are formed in the components, and alignment pins190for alignment are coupled to the holes, such that a valve control structure using heat may be implemented.

With reference toFIG.7, a recess hole120hmay be formed through the separation disc120in a depth direction from an upper surface of the separation disc120, and a cover hole127hmay be formed in the cover127of the separation disc120so as to correspond to the recess hole120h. In addition, a board hole140hmay be formed in the printed circuit board140so as to correspond to the cover hole127h, and an alignment hole150hmay be formed in the pressing plate150so as to correspond to the board hole140h.

Further, the alignment pin190for alignment is coupled to the alignment hole150h, the board hole140h, the cover hole127h, and the recess hole120h, such that the positions of the components may be accurately aligned. Therefore, the position of the pressing part160may also be accurately aligned with the valve135.

As illustrated inFIG.7, a lower end193of the alignment pin190of the present embodiment may have a conical shape having a diameter that decreases downward. Therefore, the lower end193may be easily inserted into the recess hole120h, the cover hole127h, and the board hole140h.

A central portion191of the alignment pin190has a cylindrical shape, and a spring197is mounted on an outer surface of the central portion191, such that the position of the pressing plate150with respect to the printed circuit board140may be securely maintained.

Further, an upper end195of the alignment pin190has a larger diameter than the alignment hole150h, such that the alignment pin190may fix the position of the pressing plate150. The upper end195of the alignment pin190may have a structure detachable from the central portion191. Therefore, as illustrated inFIG.4, the alignment process may be performed after coupling the alignment pin190to the pressing plate150.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above, the operation of opening or closing the valve135may be accurately and smoothly performed by properly transferring heat to the valve135provided in the channel130that connects the chambers of the separation disc120. Therefore, the operation of separating the target cells may be reliably performed in the separation disc120.

In addition, the printed circuit board140may be quickly and simply coupled to the separation disc120by the locking bolts180. Further, the rotor110, the separation disc120, the printed circuit board140, and the pressing plate150may be easily fastened by the locking part170.

While the specific embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described above, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiments, and should be defined by not only the claims to be described below, but also those equivalent to the claims.

While the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the limited embodiments and the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and may be variously modified and altered from the disclosure by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Therefore, the spirit of the present disclosure should be defined only by the appended claims, and all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.