Abstract:
The present invention relates to a sampler which is capable of rapidly and easily separating blood corpuscles from blood, being operated conveniently, and directly using extracted plasma. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sampler includes a chamber and a membrane guide. Here, the chamber includes an insertion unit having an insertion hole on one side, wherein the other side is opened, and an inner side includes a receiving space for receiving a sample. Additionally, one side of the membrane guide is combined to the membrane, and the membrane guide includes a channel wherein filtered materials, which are filtered through the membrane among the samples received in the receiving space, are moved in a gravitational direction.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to samplers, and more particularly, to a sampler that is capable of rapidly and easily separating blood corpuscles from blood, is convenient to manipulate, and allows extracted plasma to be directly used. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In general, a fluid sample analysis has been widely applied not only in the fields of chemistry and biotechnology but also the field of diagnosis using blood or body fluids collected from patients. 
         [0003]    Recently, various small-sized analysis and diagnosis equipments and technologies thereof have been developed to more conveniently and efficiently conduct the fluid sample analysis. 
         [0004]    One of important factors of the fluid sample analysis is preprocessing of a fluid sample. 
         [0005]    Here, the processing of the fluid sample means, before the fluid sample analysis, extracting a desired amount of a sample, and then precisely processing the extracted sample, for example, in a dilution buffer at an appropriate rate or separating and refining the extracted sample by mixing the extracted sample with a reaction reagent that is in a solid or liquid state, filling the extracted sample with the reaction reagent, or using a support. 
         [0006]    In general, to this end, the fluid sample is preprocessed using a pipette or a fountain pen filter. However, an amount of a sample to be preprocessed is very small and the sample should be very precisely preprocessed when a sample analysis is performed in a unit of a lab-on-a-chip or a lab-on-a-tip. Thus, it is not easy to precisely preprocess the very small amount of the sample using the pipette or the fountain pen filter. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, in the case of a field inspection technique, a collected sample is preprocessed and injected again into a measurement device. However, an error occurs in the amount of the sample injected again. 
         [0008]    Thus, there is a growing need to develop a sampler that is capable of minimizing errors in processing a tiny amount of blood or other samples and that is easy to manipulate so that even persons who are not specially educated or trained can handle it after listening to a brief explanation thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0009]    To solve these problems, the present invention provides a sampler that is capable of easily and rapidly separating blood corpuscles from blood, is convenient to manipulate, and allows extracted plasma to be directly used. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a sampler comprising: a chamber in which an insertion unit having an insertion hole is formed at a side, another side of which is open, and in which a storage space is formed to store a sample; and a membrane guide, one side of which is coupled to a membrane, and which includes a channel in which a substance filtered from the sample stored in the storage space through the membrane moves in the direction of gravity. 
         [0011]    The storage space storing the sample is formed between the membrane and an inner wall of the chamber in a direction of a plane of the membrane, and a direction in which the filtered substance passes through the membrane is different from the direction of gravity. 
         [0012]    The channel comprises a microchannel, and the filtered substance moves due to at least one of a force of gravity and a capillary force. 
         [0013]    A hydrophilic surface treatment is performed on the membrane guide. 
         [0014]    The membrane guide comprises: a pressurizing portion formed to correspond to the storage space and including outer side surfaces to be in close contact with the storage space; a body portion which is formed at one side of the pressurizing portion, in which the membrane is disposed at both side surfaces thereof to cover the channel, and which is spaced a predetermined distance from wall surfaces of the storage space to allow the filtered substance to pass through the membrane and to be introduced into the membrane guide; and a discharging unit formed at another side of the pressurizing portion to be coupled to the insertion unit by being inserted into the insertion unit, and including an outlet passage therein to guide the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0015]    In the body portion, a collecting portion is further formed by cutting some parts of the body portion, the collecting portion including both sides covered with the membrane to form a space in which the introduced filtered substance is collected, and connected to the outlet passage. 
         [0016]    The outlet passage comprises a plurality of branched channels, one end of which is connected to the outlet passage and another end of which is connected to the collecting portion. 
         [0017]    The collecting portion comprises a plurality of pillars such that a space of the collecting portion that is not connected to the outlet passage and the plurality of branched channels is filled with the plurality of pillars. 
         [0018]    An auxiliary chamber into which the sample is primarily injected before being introduced into the storage space is further connected to one side of the chamber. 
         [0019]    The auxiliary chamber comprises a connection portion to which a tube or a syringe storing a collected sample is directly connected. 
         [0020]    The microchannel is formed at a central portion of the body portion in a lengthwise direction of the body portion by forming stepped portions to be stepped at both ends of side surfaces of the body portion in the lengthwise direction of the body portion. 
         [0021]    A plurality of protrusions and a plurality of grooves are formed at a bottom surface of the microchannel in the lengthwise direction of the body portion. 
         [0022]    Both ends of the membrane are attached to the stepped portions, respectively, such that the central portion of the membrane is spaced from the microchannel. 
         [0023]    A fixed-quantity exhaust chamber is coupled to the insertion unit, the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber configured to store the filtered substance discharged via the insertion hole, and including an exhaust unit via which the stored filtered substance is exhausted when a push portion is pressed. 
         [0024]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber is coupled to the insertion unit to be detachable from the insertion unit, and is replaceable with another fixed-quantity exhaust chamber including an exhaust unit, the internal diameter of which corresponds to an amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0025]    The exhaust unit is coupled to the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber to be detachable from the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber, and is replaceable with another exhaust unit, the internal diameter of which corresponds to an amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0026]    The push portion is integrally formed with an outer side surface of the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber to increase pressure in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber when the push portion is pressed by an external force. 
         [0027]    In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a sampler comprising: a membrane guide in which a sample is stored in an inner space formed by a membrane covering side surfaces of the membrane guide, and that allows a substance filtered from the sample through the membrane to be discharged; and a chamber including an internal storage space into which the membrane guide is inserted via another side of the chamber that is open, and an insertion unit having an insertion hole and formed in a tubular shape at another side of the chamber to cause the substance filtered through the membrane to move in the direction of gravity and then be discharged. 
         [0028]    A direction in which the filtered substance passes through the membrane is different from the direction of gravity. 
         [0029]    A hydrophilic surface treatment is performed on the membrane guide. 
         [0030]    The membrane guide comprises: a body portion covered with the membrane to be spaced a predetermined distance from wall surfaces of the storage space; a guide portion formed at a side of the body portion to correspond to the insertion unit to form a channel with inner side surfaces of the insertion unit and to guide movement of the filtered substance; and a discharging unit extending from an end of the guide portion to be spaced a predetermined distance from an inner side surface of the insertion unit, and configured to guide the filtered substance guided via the channel to be discharged via the insertion hole. 
         [0031]    The channel comprises a microchannel, and the filtered substance moves due to at least one of a force of gravity and a capillary force. 
         [0032]    A plurality of protrusions and a plurality of grooves are formed in at least one of an outer side surface of the guide portion and an inner side surface of the insertion unit in a lengthwise direction of the guide portion. 
         [0033]    A fixed-quantity exhaust chamber including an exhaust unit is coupled to the insertion unit, wherein a through-discharge film is formed in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber, and a fixed amount of the filtered substance is exhausted to the outside via the exhaust unit when a push portion of the chamber is pressed in a state in which the discharging unit passes through the through-discharge film. 
         [0034]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber is coupled to the insertion unit to be detachable from the insertion unit, and is replaceable with another a fixed-quantity exhaust chamber including an exhaust unit, the diameter of which corresponds to an amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0035]    The push portion is integrally formed with an outer side surface of the chamber to increase pressure in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber when the push portion is pressed by an external force. 
         [0036]    A flange portion is formed on the open side of the chamber, and an auxiliary chamber is coupled to the flange portion such that inner side surfaces of the auxiliary chamber come in close contact with outer side surfaces of the flange portion, wherein a connection portion through which a tube or a syringe storing a collected sample is directly connected is formed on an upper surface of the auxiliary chamber. 
       Advantageous Effects 
       [0037]    A sampler according to the present invention has the following effects. 
         [0038]    First, a desired substance can be filtered, collected, and discharged from a sample, which is injected once, through a membrane in one step. 
         [0039]    Second, a tube storing a collected sample can be directly inserted into a sampler without any manipulation, e.g., pipetting, thereby increasing user convenience. 
         [0040]    Third, a surface area of a membrane can be increased to improve the separation yield and decrease a separation time, and the membrane is thus prevented from being blocked by the sample when a large amount of the sample passes through only some surfaces of the membrane. 
         [0041]    Fourth, a sufficient amount of sample can be extracted even from a small amount of sample by setting a direction in which the sample passes through the membrane and a direction in which a filtered substance moves to be different and using both the force of gravity and a capillary force to move the filtered substance to be collected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to an embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a chamber of a sampler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other. 
           [0050]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other. 
           [0053]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other. 
           [0054]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other. 
           [0055]      FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of a first chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a first chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 17  is a bottom perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 18  is a top perspective view of a second chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 19  is a bottom perspective view of a second chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0061]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     MODE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0062]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0063]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to an embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a chamber of a sampler according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0064]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the sampler may include a chamber  10  and a membrane guide  20 . Here, a storage space  11  may be formed in the chamber  10  to store a sample, and an insertion unit  12  having an insertion hole  13  may be formed in one side of the chamber  10 . The membrane guide  20  may be included in the storage space  11  such that an outlet  28  is fixed by being coupled to the insertion unit  12 . A membrane  26  may be formed on an external surface of the membrane guide  20  to separate internal and external surfaces of the membrane guide  20 , and allow only plasma, i.e., a substance to be filtered, of the sample to be introduced into the sampler through the membrane  26 . 
         [0065]    A channel  24  is formed in the membrane guide  20  to move the introduced filtered substance therein. The channel  24  may cause the filtered substance to move in the direction of gravity. To this end, the sampler that is a combined structure of the chamber  10  and the membrane guide  20  may be placed on a predetermined rack (not shown) in a state in which the sample is injected into the sampler. The channel  24  may be formed to move the filtered substance in the direction of gravity in the state in which the sampler is placed on the predetermined rack. 
         [0066]    The channel  24  may be a microchannel through which a capillary force is additionally applied to move the filtered substance to be discharged via the outlet  28 . 
         [0067]    Specifically, in the present embodiment, the storage space  11  is formed in the chamber  10 . 
         [0068]    One side of the chamber  10  may be blocked, the insertion unit  12  is formed at a center of the blocked side of the chamber  10 , and the insertion hole  13  is formed in the insertion unit  12 . 
         [0069]    Thus, the storage space  11  is connected to the outside via the insertion hole  13 . 
         [0070]    Another side of the chamber  10  is open to be connected to the outside. 
         [0071]    That is, one end of the storage space  11  formed in the chamber  10  is connected to the outside via the insertion hole  13  and another end of the storage space  11  is connected to the outside via the open side of the chamber  10 . 
         [0072]    The membrane guide  20  may be inserted into the storage space  11  to be coupled to the storage space  11 . In this case, the membrane guide  20  is inserted into the storage space  11  via the open side of the chamber  10 . 
         [0073]    In this case, an introduction unit  15  may be formed at the open side of the chamber  10 . 
         [0074]    The introduction unit  15  may outwardly extend to be open. Through the introduction unit  15 , the membrane guide  20  may be guided to be smoothly inserted into the storage space  11 . 
         [0075]    The membrane guide  20  may include a pressurizing portion  21 , a body portion  22 , and the outlet  28 . 
         [0076]    First, the pressurizing portion  21  is inserted into the storage space  11  via the open side of the chamber  10 . 
         [0077]    Here, all of outer sides of the pressurizing portion  21  may be in close contact with wall surfaces  16  of the storage space  11 . 
         [0078]    The body portion  22  may be formed at one side of the pressurizing portion  21 . In this case, the pressurizing portion  21  and the body portion  22  may be integrally formed with each other. 
         [0079]    Also, the body portion  22  is formed to entirely correspond to the storage space  11 , and outer side surfaces of the body portion  22  may be formed to a thickness that causes the body portion  22  to be spaced a predetermined distance from the wall surfaces  16  of the storage space  11 . 
         [0080]    Stepped portions  23  may be formed at both side surfaces of the body portion  22 , and particularly, at spacious ends of both the side surfaces of the body portion  22  in a lengthwise direction of the body portion  22 . 
         [0081]    The stepped portions  23  may be stepped to be higher than the both side surfaces of the body portion  22 . 
         [0082]    Thus, in the body portion  22 , the stepped portions  23  may be formed at both ends and the channel  24  having a surface that is lower than the stepped portions  23  may be formed at the center. 
         [0083]    Also, the membrane  26  is attached to the stepped portion  23 . 
         [0084]    Here, both ends of the membrane  26  may be attached to the stepped portions  23 , respectively, and the membrane  26  may be disposed at both side surfaces of the body portion  22 . 
         [0085]    Also, the membrane  26  may be attached to cover a most part of the channel  24 , and a central portion of the membrane  26  may be spaced from the channel  24 . 
         [0086]    The outlet  28  having an outlet passage  27  may be formed at another side of the pressurizing portion  21 . 
         [0087]    Here, the outlet  28  may be formed to correspond to the insertion hole  13 . Thus, the outlet  28  may be coupled to the insertion hole  13  by being inserted into the insertion hole  13 . 
         [0088]    In this case, the outlet  28  inserted into the insertion hole  13  may extend to and protrude from the outside of the insertion unit  12 . 
         [0089]    Thus, when the membrane guide  20  is inserted into the storage space  11  via the open side of the chamber  10  and is then continuously pressurized, the outlet  28  is fixed while being coupled to the insertion unit  12 . 
         [0090]    In this case, all of the outer side surfaces of the pressurizing portion  21  are in close contact with the wall surfaces  16  of the storage space  11 . 
         [0091]    Since the body portion  22  is spaced the predetermined distance from the wall surfaces  16  of the storage space  11 , a clearance space is formed in the storage space  11 . 
         [0092]    The storage space  11 , i.e., the clearance space, in which the sample is stored is formed between inner walls of the membrane  26  and the chamber  10  in a direction of a surface of the membrane  26 . Thus, a surface area of the membrane  26  that the sample contacts may increase, and the membrane  26  may be thus prevented from being blocked by the sample when a large amount of the sample passes through only some surfaces of the membrane  26 . 
         [0093]    When the sample is introduced into the clearance space, the sample contacts a large area of the membrane  26 . 
         [0094]    In this case, the membrane  26  may be formed to have multiple holes, the diameters of which become smaller in a direction from an outer side of the membrane  26  that contacts the sample to an inner side of the membrane  26  opposite to the channel  24 . 
         [0095]    Thus, some of the sample is filtered through the membrane  26  and introduced into the sampler. In the present embodiment, a direction in which the sample is filtered, i.e., a direction in which the sample passes through the membrane  26 , is set to be different from the direction of gravity. That is, in the present embodiment, when the sampler is placed on the predetermined rack, the direction in which the sample passes though the membrane  26  is substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity. However, the direction in which the sample passes though the membrane  26  may be set to form a predetermined angle that is not perpendicular to the direction of gravity. 
         [0096]    The substance filtered as described above moves in the channel  24  due to the force of gravity. When the channel  24  is a microchannel, a capillary force is additionally applied to the filtered substance, thereby causing the filtered substance to move in a direction, e.g., a downward direction. 
         [0097]    That is, in the present embodiment, the filtered substance may move due to the force of gravity, a capillary force, or both of them. 
         [0098]    In this case, the sample may be blood, and the filtered substance may be plasma. 
         [0099]    A collecting portion  29  may be further formed at one side of the body portion  22  (or below the body portion  22 ) by cutting some parts of the body portion  22 . 
         [0100]    Both sides of the collecting portion  29  may be covered with the membrane  26  to form a space. 
         [0101]    The filtered substance that moves in the channel  24  due to the force of gravity and/or the capillary force is collected in the collecting portion  29  forming the space. 
         [0102]    One end of the outlet passage  27  may pass through the outlet  28  to be connected to the outside, and another end of the outlet passage  27  may be connected to the collecting portion  29 . 
         [0103]    Accordingly, the filtered substance collected in the collecting portion  29  may be discharged to the outside of the chamber  10  via the outlet passage  27 . 
         [0104]    In this case, since the outer side surfaces of the pressurizing portion  21  are in close contact with the wall surfaces  16  of the storage space  11 , the sample cannot be discharged via the insertion hole  13 . 
         [0105]    A hydrophilic surface treatment may be performed on the membrane guide  20  so that the filtered substance passing through the membrane  26  may be appropriately collected in the channel  24  of the membrane guide  20  and a capillary force may be appropriately used. 
         [0106]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a membrane guide  120  of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when a channel  124  is a microchannel, a plurality of protrusions  126  and a plurality of grooves  127  may be formed at a bottom surface of the membrane guide  120  in a lengthwise direction of a body portion  122 . Through the plurality of protrusions  126  and the plurality of grooves  127 , a capillary force may be more effectively applied to stably move a filtered substance. 
         [0107]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5(   a ), a plurality of pillars  230  may be formed in a collecting portion  229  such that a space of the collecting portion  229  may be filled with the pillars  230 . 
         [0108]    Here, the pillars  230  may be formed in the collecting portion  229  at predetermined intervals. 
         [0109]    Thus, a dead volume of the collecting portion  229  may decrease, and a filtered substance may be effectively introduced into an outlet passage  227  even when the amount of the filtered substance is not large. 
         [0110]    Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 5(   b ), an outlet passage  227  may include a plurality of branched channels  235 . 
         [0111]    In this case, one end of each of the branched channels  235  may be connected to the outlet passage  227  and another end of each of the branched channels  235  may be connected to a collecting portion  229 . 
         [0112]    Thus, a filtered substance stored in spaces between a plurality of pillars  230  may be introduced into and discharged via the outlet passage  227  through the branched channels  235 , thereby more effectively discharging the filtered substance. 
         [0113]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a chamber  310  of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. AS illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an auxiliary chamber  350  in which a sample is primarily injected before the sample is introduced into a storage space  311  may be further provided at a side of the chamber  310 , compared to the samplers according to the previous embodiments. 
         [0114]    To this end, inner sides of the auxiliary chamber  350  and the chamber  310  may be connected to each other. 
         [0115]    The auxiliary chamber  350  may include a connection portion  351  through which a tube (not shown) or a syringe (not shown) in which a collected sample is stored is directly connected to the auxiliary chamber  350 . 
         [0116]    With use of the connection portion  351 , a process of delivering the sample from the tube or the syringe to the chamber  310  to inject the sample into the chamber  310  may be omitted, thereby easily and rapidly performing a work. 
         [0117]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a chamber  410  of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  may be further coupled to an insertion unit  412  of the chamber  410 , compared to the previous embodiments. 
         [0118]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  may be coupled to the insertion unit  412  such that a space is formed in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450 . 
         [0119]    Thus, a filtered substance discharged via the insertion unit  412  may be introduced and stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450 . 
         [0120]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  may include an exhaust unit  452  via which the filtered substance stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  is exhausted. 
         [0121]    A push portion  454  may be further formed on the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450 . The push portion  454  may be integrally formed with an outer side surface of the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450 . 
         [0122]    Thus, when the push portion  454  is pushed by an external force, pressure in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  increases and the filtered substance stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  may be thus exhausted via the exhaust unit  452 . Otherwise, the chamber  410  may be configured such that the filtered substance is discharged by pushing both side surfaces of the chamber  410  to be pressurized without the push portion  454 . 
         [0123]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  may be detachable from the insertion unit  412 . Thus, the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  may be replaced with another fixed-quantity exhaust chamber including an exhaust unit, the diameter of which corresponds to the amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0124]    Otherwise, the exhaust unit  452  may be coupled to the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  to be detachable from the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450 , instead of the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450 . In this case, the exhaust unit  452  may be replaced with another exhaust unit, the internal diameter of which corresponds to the amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0125]    Whether the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  450  or the exhaust unit  452  is to be configured to be detachable may be appropriately selected as occasion demands. 
         [0126]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0127]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , the sampler may include a membrane guide  520  and a chamber  510 . 
         [0128]    A storage space  511  is formed in the chamber  510 , and an insertion unit  512  is formed at a side of the chamber  510 . 
         [0129]    The insertion unit  512  may be formed in a tubular shape such that a diameter of the insertion unit  512  becomes smaller in a direction of an end of the insertion unit  512 , and an insertion hole  513  may be formed in one end of the insertion unit  512 . 
         [0130]    Another side of the chamber  510  is open. 
         [0131]    The membrane guide  520  is inserted into the storage space  511  in the chamber  510  via the open side of the chamber  510 . 
         [0132]    The membrane guide  520  may include a body portion  522 , a guide portion  521 , and a discharging unit  528 . 
         [0133]    The body portion  522  may be formed to correspond to the storage space  511  and to be spaced a predetermined distance from wall surfaces  516  of the storage space  511  when the membrane guide  520  is inserted into the storage space  511 . 
         [0134]    Outer sides of the body portion  522  are covered with the membrane  526  to form an inner space  523  in the body portion  522 . A sample is stored in the inner space  523 . 
         [0135]    The membrane  526  may be formed to have multiple holes, the diameters of which become smaller in a direction from the inner space  523  to the outer sides of the body portion  522 . 
         [0136]    Thus, a substance filtered from the sample stored in the inner space  523  may be discharged to the outside through the membrane  526 . 
         [0137]    Here, the sample may be blood, and the filtered substance may be plasma. 
         [0138]    The filtered substance discharged by passing through the membrane  526  as described above flows into the storage space  511  in the chamber  510 . In this case, as described above in the previous embodiments, the sampler that is a combined structure of the chamber  510  and the membrane guide  520  may be placed in a predetermined rack (not shown) in a state in which the sample is injected into the sampler. The filtered substance moves in the direction of gravity in a state in which the sampler is placed on the predetermined rack. In this case, a direction in which the filtered substance passes through the membrane  526  may be set to be different from the direction of gravity as in the previous embodiments. 
         [0139]    Also, the guide portion  521  may be formed at a side of the body portion  522  to correspond to the insertion unit  512 . 
         [0140]    In this case, the guide portion  521  may be formed such that outer side surfaces form a predetermined angle with internal side surfaces of the insertion unit  512 . Thus, a channel  524  is formed between the guide portion  521  and the insertion unit  512 . 
         [0141]    Also, the discharging unit  528  may be formed at one end of the guide portion  521 . 
         [0142]    Here, the discharging unit  528  may be disposed in the insertion unit  512  to be spaced a predetermined distance from the inner side surfaces of the insertion unit  512 . 
         [0143]    Thus, the filtered substance discharged via the membrane  526  may move in the channel  524  due to a force of gravity and be then discharged via a gap between the discharging unit  528  and the insertion hole  513 . 
         [0144]    Here, the channel  524  may be a microchannel. In this case, a capillary force is additionally applied to the filtered substance to cause the filtered substance to move. In this case, a plurality of protrusions  527  and a plurality of grooves  529  may be further formed at an outer side surface of the guide portion  521  in a lengthwise direction of the guide portion  521 , thereby increasing an effect of the capillary force. 
         [0145]    Also, a plurality of protrusions (not shown) and a plurality of grooves (not shown) may be further formed on an inner side surface of the insertion unit  512  in a lengthwise direction of the insertion unit  512 , or may be formed only on the guide portion  521  or the insertion unit  512 , thereby increasing an effect of the capillary force causing the filtered substance to move. 
         [0146]    A flange portion  517  may be formed on the open side of the chamber  510 , and a stopper  524  may be formed on another side of the body portion  522 . 
         [0147]    Here, an external diameter of the stopper  524  may be greater than an internal diameter of the flange portion  517 . 
         [0148]    Thus, a bottom surface of the stopper  524  may come in close contact with a top surface of the flange portion  517 , thereby constantly maintaining a distance between the membrane guide  520  and the chamber  510  that are coupled to each other. 
         [0149]    That is, the stopper  524  and the flange portion  517  may be configured such that a distance between inner side surfaces of the discharging unit  528  and the insertion unit  512  is kept constant when the bottom surface of the stopper  524  comes in contact with the top surface of the flange portion  517 . 
         [0150]    Thus, the insertion hole  513  may be prevented from being blocked, and the filtered substance passing through the membrane  526  may be thus discharged via the insertion hole  513  without blocking the insertion hole  513 . Also, an auxiliary chamber  518  may be coupled to the flange portion  517 . 
         [0151]    Here, the auxiliary chamber  518  may be formed such that an inner side surface comes in close contact with an outer side surface of the flange portion  517 . 
         [0152]    The auxiliary chamber  518  may include a connection portion  519  through which a tube (not shown) or a syringe (not shown) storing a collected sample is directly connected to the auxiliary chamber  518 . 
         [0153]    With use of the auxiliary chamber  518 , a process of transferring a sample from the tube or the syringe to the chamber  510  so as to inject the sample to the chamber  510  may be omitted, thereby easily and rapidly performing a work. 
         [0154]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a state in which a chamber  610  and a membrane guide  620  of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other. 
         [0155]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650  may be coupled to an insertion unit  612  of the chamber  610 . 
         [0156]    Here, an exhaust unit  651  may be formed at a side of the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650 , and a through-discharge film  652  may be formed in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650 . 
         [0157]    Thus, when a discharging unit  628  of the membrane guide  620  sequentially passes through an insertion hole  613  of the chamber  610  and the through-discharge film  652 , a filtered substance may be introduced and stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650 . 
         [0158]    In this case, pressurizing portions  630  may be formed on the membrane guide  620  so that outer side surfaces of the membrane guide  620  may come in close contact with wall surfaces  611  of a storage space  611  in the chamber  610  to air-tightly block an upper portion of the storage space  611 . 
         [0159]    Thus, when a push portion  640  that is integrally formed with an outer side surface of the chamber  610  is pressed by an external force, pressures in the chamber  610  and the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650  may increase to discharge a fixed amount of the filtered substance stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650 . In this case, the push portion  640 , i.e., an external wall of the chamber  610 , may be formed of a flexible material. 
         [0160]    Here, movement of the membrane guide  620  is stopped when a stopper  624  comes in close contact with a flange portion  617  of the chamber  610 . 
         [0161]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650  may be detachable from the insertion unit  612 . Thus, the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  650  may be replaced with another fixed-quantity exhaust chamber including an exhaust unit, the diameter of which corresponds to the amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0162]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other.  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a chamber and a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention are combined with each other.  FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of a first chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a first chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 17  is a bottom perspective view of a membrane guide of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 18  is a top perspective view of a second chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.  19  is a bottom perspective view of a second chamber of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0163]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 12 to 19 , a sampler may include a chamber  710  and a membrane guide  760 . 
         [0164]    The chamber  710  may include a first chamber  720  and a second chamber  740 . 
         [0165]    A storage unit  721  is formed to be dented in the first chamber  720 , and the discharging unit  722  is formed to pass through the storage unit  721 . 
         [0166]    A microchannel  723  may be formed on a wall surface of the storage unit  721  in a radial form with respect to the discharging unit  722 . 
         [0167]    Also, coupling buckles  725  may be formed on an upper surface of the first chamber  720  at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. 
         [0168]    The second chamber  740  may include a first flange  741  and a tube insertion unit  745 . The first flange  741  may be formed in a shape corresponding to an upper side of the first chamber  720 , and first coupling holes  746  may be formed in the first flange  741  to be coupled with the coupling buckles  725 . 
         [0169]    Also, an assembly groove  747  may be formed in a bottom surface of the first flange  741  in a circumferential direction. 
         [0170]    The tube insertion unit  745  may be formed to be connected to the inside of the first flange  741 , and a storage space  743  may be formed in the tube insertion unit  745  to store a sample. 
         [0171]    The tube insertion unit  745  may be formed to become thinner in a direction in which it protrudes. Thus, a tube (not shown) storing a collected sample may be coupled to the tube insertion unit  745  by being screwed into the assembly groove  747 . 
         [0172]    The tube insertion unit  745  may further include a cover  730  into which a needle (not shown) of a syringe (not shown) storing a collected sample may be inserted. 
         [0173]    Thus, even when a sample is collected in a tube or a syringe, the sample may be easily introduced into the storage space  743 . 
         [0174]    The membrane guide  760  may include a lower dome  761  and a second flange  765 . 
         [0175]    The lower dome  761  may have a lower surface corresponding to the storage unit  721 , and a flat upper surface. 
         [0176]    A plurality of capillary tubes  762  may be formed to pass through the upper and lower surfaces of the lower dome  761 . 
         [0177]    The second flange  765  may extend from the upper surface of the lower dome  761 . 
         [0178]    In this case, the second flange  765  may be disposed between the first chamber  720  and the first flange  741 , and correspond to the first flange  741 . 
         [0179]    Second coupling holes  766  may be formed in the second flange  765  to correspond to the first coupling holes  746  and to be coupled with the coupling buckles  725 . 
         [0180]    An assembly protrusion  767  may be formed on the second flange  765  to be coupled with the assembly groove  747 . 
         [0181]    A membrane  750  may be disposed between the membrane guide  760  and the second chamber  740 . 
         [0182]    Thus, the sample is stored on an upper surface of the membrane  750 . 
         [0183]    In this case, the membrane  750  may be configured such that an exterior thereof is engaged with the assembly groove  747  and the assembly protrusion  767 . 
         [0184]    Also, multiple holes may be formed in the membrane  750  such that the diameters of the multiple holes become smaller from top to bottom, i.e., in a direction from the second chamber  740  to the membrane guide  760 . 
         [0185]    Thus, some of the sample may be filtered through the membrane  750  and be then introduced downward. 
         [0186]    The introduced sample, i.e., the filtered substance, moves to the discharging unit  722  due to a capillary force applied from the capillary tubes  762 . 
         [0187]    Here, the sample may be blood, and the filtered substance may be plasma. 
         [0188]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a sampler according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , a lower side of a first chamber  820  may be coupled to a fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 . 
         [0189]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  may be coupled to a discharging unit  822  such that an internal space is formed in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 . 
         [0190]    Thus, a filtered substance discharged via the discharging unit  822  may be introduced and stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 . 
         [0191]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  may include an exhaust unit  851  via which the filtered substance stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  is exhausted. 
         [0192]    A push portion  852  may be further formed on the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 . In this case, the push portion  852  may be integrally formed with an outer side surface of the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 . 
         [0193]    Thus, when the push portion  852  is pressed by an external force, the pressure in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  increases to discharge the filtered substance stored in the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  via the exhaust unit  851 . 
         [0194]    The fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  may be detachable from the first chamber  820  and be thus replaced with another fixed-quantity exhaust chamber including an exhaust unit, the diameter of which corresponds to the amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0195]    Otherwise, the exhaust unit  851  may be coupled to the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  to be detachable from the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 , instead of the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850 . In this case, the exhaust unit  851  may be replaced with another exhaust unit, the internal diameter of which corresponds to the amount of the filtered substance to be discharged. 
         [0196]    In this case, whether the fixed-quantity exhaust chamber  850  or the exhaust unit  851  is configured to be detachable is not particularly determined and may be appropriately selected. 
         [0197]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.