Centrifugal rotor

A centrifugal rotor includes a rotor body, a diluent container, a piercing structure and a capping film. The rotor body has a receiving cavity. The diluent container is located within the receiving cavity and has a seal film. The piercing structure is located within the receiving cavity and in contact with the seal film. The capping film is located over the diluent container and the piercing structure for securing the diluent container and the piercing structure within the receiving cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International application No. PCT/CN2011/001650, filed on Sep. 29, 2011, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a centrifugal rotor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a centrifugal rotor in biochemical analyses.

Description of Related Art

Biological analysis of blood and other specimen usually require quickly distributing liquid to perform different tests. Biochemical analysis also requires cell bodies and body fluids to be separated prior to testing to prevent from being influenced by each other. The distributing step and separation step are usually achieved by a centrifugation step, and then be manually or automatically assigned to the quantity of each sample specimen vessel. The above quantitative allocation process is not only laborious but also time-consuming. Thus, a variety of automated specimen quantitative distribution systems have been proposed to improve these labor-consuming processes.

At present, the main distribution system improvement is the use of automated quantitative centrifugal rotor. After these centrifugal rotors are used with centrifuges, quantitative distribution of the specimen, sample mixing and diluting can be performed for optical analysis purposes. Although there are already several centrifugal rotor designs, more effort is still needed to enhance the convenience and precision of performing the biochemical analysis.

Therefore, inconvenience and defects still exist in the structure and use of a conventional centrifugal rotor, and need to be further improved. In order to solve the above problems, all the venders think hard to seek a solution, but it seems that no product can effectively solve the above problems. Accordingly, how to create a new type of centrifugal rotor is one of the currently important research topics, but also become the industry improvement goals in urgent needs.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an improved centrifugal rotor.

In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the present invention, a centrifugal rotor includes a rotor body, a diluent container, a piercing structure and a capping film. The rotor body has a receiving cavity. The diluent container is located within the receiving cavity and has a seal film. The piercing structure is located within the receiving cavity and in contact with the seal film. The capping film is located over the diluent container and the piercing structure for securing the diluent container and the piercing structure within the receiving cavity.

In order deal with the objectives of the present invention and its technical problems, the following technical features can be further implemented.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the piercing structure is a cover which includes a plurality of cones facing the seal film.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, one of the cones is located at a center of the cover.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the cone at the center of the cover is higher than the remaining cones of the cover.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, each cone includes at least one concave groove.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the cover has a concave liquid guiding area within which the cones are located.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the piercing structure is a piercing loop which includes a C-shaped ring and a piercing member, having an end coupled to the C-shaped ring.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, a free end of the piercing member includes a triangular tip.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the piercing member protrudes out of a level within which the C-shaped ring is located except two opposite ends of the piercing member.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the seal film is a plastic film or a metallic film.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the piercing structure is located above the diluent container.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the receiving cavity has a bottom hole that is aligned with the diluent container.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the diluent container is located above piercing structure.

According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the receiving cavity has a bottom hole that is aligned with the diluent container.

The present invention has the following advantages and benefits compared with the prior art. The centrifugal rotor disclosed herein is equipped with a piercing structure to penetrate a seal film of the diluent container, rather than removing the seal film of the diluent container manually. Therefore, the piercing structure design not only makes it easier to perform biochemical analysis, and the diluted solution can be released when needed, and prevented from being volatile or contaminated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates an exploded view of a centrifugal rotor according to one embodiment of this invention. A centrifugal rotor100should he used in a centrifugal device and biochemical analysis device (not shown in the drawings) for filling and distributing biochemical sample. The centrifugal rotor100basically includes a rotor body102, a diluent container104(contains diluents inside), a piercing structure106and a capping film112. An upper part of the driving rotor108is used to connect with the rotor body102, and a lower part of the driving rotor108is coupled with a centrifugal device such that the centrifugal device can drive the centrifugal rotor100to rotate so as to distribute biochemical sample, mix biochemical samples and diluents or separate cell bodies and body fluids. The rotor body102has a receiving cavity102ato accommodate the diluent container104. The diluent container104has a seal film104a,e.g., an aluminum film, to seal an opening of the container so as to prevent the diluents inside from being contaminated or volatile. The receiving cavity102ahas a bottom hole102bthrough which the driving rotor108is inserted. The piercing structure106is in contact with the seal film104aand used to penetrate the seal film104ato release the diluents inside the diluent container104according actual demands. The capping film112is covered over the diluent container104and the piercing structure106so as to secure the diluent container104and piercing structure106within the receiving cavity102a.

Referring to bothFIG. 2andFIG. 3,FIG. 2illustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are separated from each other according to one embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 3illustrates a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal rotor and the driving rotor inFIG. 2that are assembled. When the centrifugal rotor100is not used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal, rotor100and the driving rotor108are separated, and a cone107of the piercing structure106cannot penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104without an external push (referring toFIG. 2). When the centrifugal rotor100is used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100and the driving rotor108are assembled. A central axis108aof the driving rotor108is inserted through the bottom hole102bof the centrifugal rotor100and coupled with a bottom part104bof the diluent container104so as to lift the diluent container104to enable the cone107of the piercing structure106to penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104(referring toFIG. 3). The capping film112is covered over the piercing structure106to restrict an upward moving of the piercing structure106such that the cone107of the piercing structure106is able to penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104when the diluent container104is lifted upwards.

Referring toFIG. 4A, 4B and 4C,FIG. 4Aillustrates a bottom view of a piercing structure106,FIG. 4Billustrates a perspective view of the piercing structure106inFIG. 4A, andFIG. 4Cillustrates a lateral view of the piercing structure106inFIG. 4A. The piercing structure106is a cover which has a plurality of cones facing the seal film104a(also referring toFIG. 2). In this embodiment, the piercing structure106has four cones, wherein the cone107ais located at a center of the cover, the remaining cones107bare located around the cone107a,and, the cone107aat the center of the cover is higher than the remaining cones107bof the cover. The seal film104aof the diluent container104tends to be concave and its center is usually concave to the maximum extent such that the higher cone107ais beneficial to penetrate the seal film. However, quantities and heights of the cone are not limited to the aforesaid embodiments, e.g., more than four cones of equal heights. In this embodiment, each cone has four concave grooves107cat its lateral surfaces. The concave groove107cguides the diluent to flow out of an opening (i.e., penetrated by the cones) on the seal film. Each cone may include at least one concave groove to guide the diluent to flow out of the opening (i.e., penetrated by the cones) on the seal film. In addition, the cover may have a concave liquid guiding area106a, and the cones (107a,107b) are located within the concave liquid guiding area106a.The concave liquid guiding area106aaims to guide the flowed-out diluents to be easily carried out of the cover by a centrifugal force.

Referring to bothFIG. 5andFIG. 6,FIG. 5illustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are separated from each other according to another embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 6illustrates a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal rotor and the driving rotor inFIG. 5that are assembled. The centrifugal rotor100′ as illustrated inFIG. 5andFIG. 6is different from the centrifugal rotor100in the piercing structure. When the centrifugal rotor100′ is not used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100′ and the driving rotor108are separated, and a piercing member110aof the piercing structure110cannot penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104without an external push (referring toFIG. 5). When the centrifugal rotor100′ is used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100′ and the driving rotor108are assembled. A central axis108aof the driving rotor108is inserted through the bottom hole102bof the centrifugal rotor100′ and coupled with a bottom part104bof the diluent container104so as to lift the diluent container104to enable the piercing member110aof the piercing structure110to cut the seal film104aof the diluent container104to form a strip opening such that the diluents inside the container can be released (referring toFIG. 6).

Referring toFIG. 7A,FIG. 7BandFIG. 7C,FIG. 7Aillustrates a top view of a piercing structure110according to another embodiment of this invention,FIG. 7Billustrates a lateral view of the piercing structure110inFIG. 7A, andFIG. 7Cillustrates a perspective view of the piercing structure110inFIG. 7A. The piercing structure110is a piercing loop which comprises a C-shaped ring110band a piercing member110a. The piercing member110ahas an end110ecoupled to the C-shaped ring110band another free end110dwhich has a triangular tip (referring toFIG. 7A). Referring toFIG. 7B, the piercing member110aprotrudes out of a level within which the C-shaped ring110bis located except two opposite ends of the piercing member110a,and a bent part110fis an upper point of the piercing member110a.When the centrifugal rotor100′ and the driving rotor108are assembled, the bent part110fof the piercing member110ais in contact with the capping film112and the piercing member110ais pressed to bend downwards so as to cut the seal film104aof the diluent container104(referring toFIG. 6).

Referring to bothFIG. 8A. andFIG. 8B,FIG. 8Aillustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are separated from each other according to still another embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 8Billustrates a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal rotor and the driving rotor inFIG. 8Athat are assembled. The centrifugal rotor100ais different from the centrifugal rotor100in a position relationship between the diluent container104and the piercing structure106. Within the centrifugal rotor100a,the diluent container104is located above the piercing structure106, and both the diluent container104and the piercing structure106are accommodated within the receiving cavity102aof the rotor body102. When the centrifugal rotor100ais not used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100and the driving rotor108are separated, and the piercing structure106cannot penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104without an external push (referring toFIG. 8A). When the centrifugal rotor100is used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100and the driving rotor108are assembled. The central axis108aof the driving rotor108is inserted through the bottom hole102bof the centrifugal rotor100and in contact with a bottom part of the piercing structure106so as to lift the cone107of the piercing structure106to penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104(referring toFIG. 8B).

Referring toFIG. 9AandFIG. 9B.FIG. 9Aillustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are separated from each other according to yet another embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 9Billustrates a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal rotor and the driving rotor inFIG. 9Athat are assembled. The centrifugal rotor100bis different from the centrifugal rotor100′ in a position relationship between the diluent container104and the piercing structure110. Within the centrifugal rotor100b,the diluent container104is located above the piercing structure110, and both the diluent container104and the piercing structure110are accommodated within the receiving cavity102aof the rotor body102. When the centrifugal rotor100bis not used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100band the driving rotor108are separated, and the piercing structure110cannot penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104without an external push (referring toFIG. 9A). When centrifugal rotor100bis used to perform biochemical analysis, the centrifugal rotor100band the driving rotor108are assembled. A central axis108aof the driving rotor108is inserted through a bottom hole of the centrifugal rotor100band coupled with a bottom part of the piercing structure110so as to lift and bend the piercing structure110to enable the piercing member110ato cut the seal film104aof the diluent container104to form a strip opening such that the diluents inside the container can be released (referring toFIG. 9B).

Referring toFIG. 10AandFIG. 10B,FIG. 10Aillustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are assembled but the actuator is not pressed according to still another embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 10Billustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are assembled but the actuator is pressed according to still another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment is different from the embodiment as illustrated inFIG. 8AandFIG. 8Bin that the piercing structure106is not enabled to penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104when the centrifugal rotor100aand the driving rotor108′ are assembled. Therefore, an actuator120is used as an external push to press a top portion of the diluent container104and force the cone107of the piercing structure106to penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104(referring toFIG. 10B).

Referring toFIG. 11AandFIG. 11B,FIG. 11Aillustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are assembled but the actuator is not pressed according, to yet another embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 11Billustrates a cross-sectional view of a centrifugal rotor and a driving rotor that are assembled but the actuator is pressed according to yet another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment is different from the embodiment as illustrated inFIG. 9AandFIG. 9Bin that the piercing structure110is not enabled to penetrate the seal film104aof the diluent container104when the centrifugal rotor100band the driving rotor108′ are assembled. Therefore, an actuator120is used as an external push to press as top portion of the diluent container104and force the piercing member110aof the piercing structure110to cut the seal film104aof the diluent container104(referring toFIG. 11B).

According to the above-discussed embodiments, the centrifugal rotor disclosed herein is equipped with a piercing structure to penetrate a seal film of the diluent container, rather than removing the seal film of the diluent container manually. Therefore, the piercing structure design makes it easier to perform biochemical analysis, and the diluted solution can be released when needed and prevented from being volatile or contaminated.