Abstract:
Provided is a biomaterial detecting device for confirming or detecting a biomaterial reaction, and more particularly to a biomaterial detecting device, which is formed in a stick type to thereby be immersed in a tube containing a biomaterial solution to be tested; has an upper portion with a cap structure to thereby induce reaction with a biomaterial, and thus facilitate confirmation and detection of the biomaterial; and is formed in a cap structure to thereby prevent evaporation of a sample and infiltration of an external material at the time of a biomaterial reaction in the tube, and thus improve reliability in analysis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0021278, filed on Feb. 29, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The following disclosure relates to a biomaterial detecting device for confirming or detecting a biomaterial reaction, and more particularly to a biomaterial detecting device, capable of facilitating confirmation and detection of a biomaterial by being coupled with a tube containing a biomaterial solution to be tested such that a detector is immersed in the biomaterial solution, to thereby induce a reaction between the biomaterial and the detector, and capable of improving reliability in analysis by having a cap structure to thereby prevent evaporation of a sample and infiltration of an external material at the time of a biomaterial reaction in the tube. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, a DNA microarray (DNA chip) technology is used in order to confirm or detect genes, infection sources, germs, mutants, genotyping, gene expression, or the like. 
     This technology is realized by immobilizing a nucleic acid probe, an antibody, or the like, on various solid surfaces such as a glass substrate, a metal substrate, a bead, a plastic, and the like, and has been employed for performing medical diagnosis in hospitals or clinics since many different targets can be simultaneously analyzed. 
     Meanwhile, convenience and reliability are very important factors in view of clinical diagnosis. In cases of the existing DNA microarrays and protein chips, a chamber called a frame seal is formed on a flat slide glass, and a solution is put thereinto, so that a bioreaction is allowed to proceed. However, after the reaction, the seal needs to be torn and washed. Therefore, this work may require a large amount of labor and skilled workers and moreover be cumbersome. 
     In addition, a multi-well plate where a plurality of wells (containing spaces) is formed in a plate shape such that samples are contained therein for reaction with biomaterials is sometimes used. In addition, a small amount of sample from the solution containing biomaterials, which is contained in a reaction container such as a tube or the like, is injected into the well from the solution by using a pipette or the like, and then the biomaterial reaction is allowed to occur by using a DNA chip. 
     However, these methods may not be widely employed in hospitals or clinics, since it is inconvenient to transfer some samples from the reaction container and inject them into the wells or frame seals, and it is difficult to automate a series of procedures such as injection of samples, reaction of biomaterials, detection of results, and analysis of results. 
     Moreover, in the case of gene amplification reaction, the samples are evaporated at the time of heating for reaction of the samples, which may have a large effect on the results of the biomaterial reaction, and thus, reliability in analysis may be deteriorated. 
     In this regard, Korean Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2006-0060069 discloses an apparatus for minimizing evaporation or condensation of samples in tubes of a multi-well plate, installed in a heat circulator for PCR. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         (Patent Document 1) KR 10-2006-0060069 A (May 6, 2006.) 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a biomaterial detecting device, capable of obviating inconveniences arising from injecting a sample into the existing well or frame seal, and automating a series of procedures such as injection of the sample, reaction with a biomaterial, detection of results, and analysis of results. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a biomaterial detecting device capable of, in the case of a gene amplification reaction, preventing the sample from being evaporated at the time of heating for reaction of the sample, to thereby improve reliability in analysis of a biomaterial reaction. 
     In one general aspect, there is provided a biomaterial detecting device, including: a head  100 ; a tube coupler  200  protruded downwardly from the head  100 ; a rod  300  extended downwardly from the tube coupler  200 ; and a detector  400  formed at a lower side of the rod  300 . 
     The rod  300  may be detachable from the tube coupler  200 . 
     The tube coupler  200  may have protrusions  210  formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. 
     The head  100  may have an adaptor  600  formed thereon. 
     Here, in the adaptor  600 , an upper portion may have a larger diameter than a lower portion. 
     The detector  400  may include materials coated on a lower surface thereof, the materials being selected from the group consisting of protein, nucleic acid, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), aptamer, and antibody. 
     The detector  400  may include materials arrayed on a lower surface thereof, the materials being selected from the group consisting of protein, nucleic acid, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), aptamer, and antibody. 
     The biomaterial detecting device may further include a direction indicator  500  for confirming a direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing an apparatus for minimizing evaporation or condensation of a sample in a tube of a multi-well plate installed in a heat circulator for PCR of the related art; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are a perspective view and a front view showing a first embodiment of a biomaterial detecting device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view showing a reaction container containing a sample, which is coupled with the structure of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are a perspective view and a front view showing a second embodiment of a biomaterial detecting device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view showing a reaction container containing a sample, which is coupled with the structure of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are a perspective view and a front view showing a third embodiment of a biomaterial detecting device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 [Detailed Description of Main Elements] 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1000: biomaterial detecting device (of the present invention) 
               
               
                   
                 100: head 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 200: tube coupler 
                 210: protrusion 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 300: rod 
               
               
                   
                 400: detector 
               
               
                   
                 500: direction indicator 
               
               
                   
                 600: adaptor 
               
               
                   
                 700: tube (reaction container) 
               
               
                   
                 800: sample 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are a perspective view and a front view showing a first embodiment of a biomaterial detecting device of the present invention. 
     As shown in the drawings, a biomaterial detecting device  1000  of the present invention may include: a head  100 ; a tube coupler  200  protruded downwardly from the head  100 ; a rod  300  extended downwardly from the tube coupler  200 ; and a detector  400  formed at a lower side of the rod  300 . 
     First, the head  100  may be formed in a flat plate shape, a block shape, or the like. When the biomaterial detecting device  1000  is manually transferred by a hand of the user or coupled with or decoupled from the tube (reaction container) containing the sample, the head may receive a force applied thereto or may be combined with an automated device to be movable. 
     The tube coupler  200  is protruded downwardly from the head  100 , and the tube may be outwardly inserted into and coupled with the tube coupler  200 . Herein, a groove is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the tube coupler  200  along a circumferential direction thereof, and an elastic sealing member such as an O-ring is combined with the groove, so that an inside of the tube can be sealed when the tube is inserted into and coupled with the tube coupler  200 . 
     The rod  300  may be extended downwardly from the tube coupler  200 , and may be lengthily formed in a stick shape along a lower direction thereof. Here, the rod  300  preferably has a smaller diameter than the tube coupler  200 . Since the rod  300  is contacted with the sample such as a biomaterial solution, the rod  300  is preferably formed of glass having no reactivity with the sample. 
     In addition, the rod  300  may be detachable from the tube coupler  200 . That is, a hole is formed in a lower portion of the tube coupler  200 , and the rod  300  is inserted into the hole and coupled with the tube coupler  200 . Thus, the rod  300  may be replaced, as necessary. 
     In addition, the detector  400  is formed at the lower side of the rod  300 . The detector  400  is immersed in the sample, to thereby react with the sample, and thus, can detect a target material. 
     Here, materials selected from the group consisting of protein, nucleic acid, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), aptamer, and antibody may be coated on a lower surface of the detector  400 . That is, target gene probes may be coated and immobilized on the lower surface of the detector  400 , to thereby detect a biomaterial. 
     In addition, materials selected from the group consisting of protein, nucleic acid, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), aptamer, and antibody may be arrayed (arranged) on the lower surface of the detector  400 . That is, the target gene probes may be arrayed so as to detect the biomaterial, such that they are immobilized to have particular directivity. 
     As such, the biomaterial detecting device  1000  of the present invention includes the head  100 , the tube coupler  200 , the rod  300 , and the detector  400 , and the tube coupler  200  may be inserted into and coupled with the tube  700  containing the sample, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Here, the detector  400  formed at the lower side of the rod  300  is immersed in the sample  800  in the tube  700 . Hence, gene application and hybridization may be allowed to proceed in the tube  700 , and simultaneously, the amplified gene may react with the target gene probes of the detector  400  during the hybridization procedure, to thereby induce conjugation and reaction with the target gene probes. 
     That is, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR, gene amplification) is allowed to proceed in the tube  700 , and a fluorescent signal generated in the tube  700  is acquired in real-time by using a monitoring apparatus. After that, the hybridization is allowed to proceed, and the rod  300  and the detector  400  are separated from the tube  700 , and then washed. Then a fluorescent signal reacting with the probe is obtained by using an exclusive fluorescent detector, and then the DNA chip (detector) analysis may be carried out. Therefore, the real-time PCR and the DNA chip analysis can be integratedly carried out in one tube. 
     In addition, the biomaterial detecting device is coupled with the reaction container (tube) containing the sample in a cap type while the detector formed at the end portion of the rod is immersed in the sample therein, so that the biomaterial reaction can be easily detected, thereby obviating the cumbersomeness of transferring the amplified gene, preventing contamination due to external factors generable during this procedure, and automating a series of procedures such as injection of the sample, reaction of the biomaterial, and detection of results. 
     In addition, in the case of gene amplification reaction, the sample can be prevented from being evaporated at the time of heating for reaction of the sample, thereby improving reliability in analysis of the biomaterial reaction. 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. 
     First, protrusions  210  may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tube coupler  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the protrusions  210  may be formed at both sides of the tube coupler  200  below the head  100 . The reason is that, when the tube  700  is outwardly inserted into the tube coupler  200 , the upper side of the tube  700  is caught by the protrusions  20  to thereby not be further inserted into the tube coupler  200 , so that the head  100  is spaced apart from the tube  700  by a predetermined height (h) to thereby form a space, as shown in  FIG. 7 . That is, the space is generated between the tube  700  and the head  100  by the protrusions  210 , and thus, this space allows the tube  700  and the head  100  to be easily separated from each other while they are held with both hands. 
     Here, the protrusions  210  may be formed in various shapes, at various positions, and in various numbers. The protrusions  210  may be formed at both sides of the tube coupler  200  as described above, or may be protruded from only one side of the tube coupler  200 . Also, the protrusions  210  may be spaced apart from the lower surface of the head  100  at a predetermined distance. 
     In addition, an adaptor  600  may be extended from an upper side of the head  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     Due to the adaptor  600 , the biomaterial detecting device  1000  of the present invention can be easily moved and detached from the tube  700  by using an automating equipment. In addition, by combining the adaptor  600  with the automation equipment, the biomaterial detecting device  100  of the present invention can be easily coupled with the tube  700 , decoupled therefrom after reaction, washed after being transferred, and transferred to a monitoring device for detection, and used for other procedures. 
     In addition, as for the adaptor  600 , an upper portion thereof may have a larger diameter than a lower portion thereof. Therefore, in the case where the adaptor  600  is inserted into and combined with a mounting portion of the automation equipment, since the diameter of the upper side of the adaptor  600  is large, separation of the adaptor  600  can be prevented while the biomaterial detecting device  1000  is decoupled from the tube  700 . Here, the adaptor  600  may be inclined outwardly and upwardly, or an upper portion of the adaptor  600  may have a large diameter to thereby form a step protrusion. In addition, an inside of the adaptor  600  may be hollow, such that, the mounting portion of the automation equipment is inserted into and coupled with the hollowed portion of the adaptor  600 . 
     In addition, the biomaterial detecting device  1000  may have a direction indicator  500  for confirming a direction. Since the target gene probes may be arrayed and immobilized to have a particular directivity such that the materials are arrayed (arranged) on the lower surface of the detector  400  to thereby detect the biomaterial, the materials being selected from protein, nucleic acid, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), aptamer, and antibody, the direction indicator  500  may be formed to confirm a direction of the biomaterial detecting device  1000 . 
     That is, the direction indicator  500  may be formed in various types such that the direction of the biomaterial detecting device  1000  can be confirmed. The direction indicator  500  may be formed on one side of the lower surface of the tube coupler  200  such that it is protruded to a space where the coupling with the tube  700  is not interfered. The direction indicator  500  may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the head  100 , the tube coupler  200 , or the rod  300  in an intaglio type, or in a type where particular indication is printed. 
     As such, the biomaterial detecting device of the present invention may be variously applied in various experiment fields below due to the above advantages. 
     (1) Gene amplification+DNA chip analysis: A plurality of target gene probes are arrayed and immobilized on a bottom of the rod, and a reagent for gene amplification is inputted into the tube. Then, when the biomaterial detecting device is coupled with the tube, the rod is partially immersed in the reagent. Here, as gene amplification and hybridization proceed in the tube, the amplified gene reacts with and combined with the target gene probes (the detector) immobilized underneath the rod during the hybridization procedure. After the reaction is finished, the cap is opened and washing is carried out, and then a fluorescent signal may be measured by using an exclusive fluorescent detector. 
     (2) Real-time PCR+DNA chip analysis: A plurality of target gene probes are arrayed and immobilized on a bottom of the rod, and the real-time PCR is carried out. A fluorescent signal generated in the tube during the gene amplification procedure is obtained in real-time by using a camera. Then, after hybridization proceeds, a cap is opened and the glass rod attached to the cap is washed. A fluorescent signal reacting with the probes is obtained by using an exclusive fluorescent detector, and then DNA chip analysis is carried out. Therefore, the real-time PCR and DNA chip analysis can be integratedly carried out in one tube. 
     (3) ELISA analysis: A lower surface of the rod is coated with antibody, followed by washing; a residual portion is filled with a blocking reagent, followed by washing; a glass bar of the cap is immersed in the tube containing a sample to be tested to thereby induce an antibody-antigen reaction, followed by washing; in order to confirm the presence or absence of the antibody-antigen reaction, the glass rod of the cap is again immersed in the tube containing a secondary antibody for signal confirmation, to thereby induce a reaction, followed by washing; and a fluorescent or a substrate is injected to obtain a signal of color formation or light emission. 
     (4) RIA analysis: Reactivity may be confirmed by carrying out the same procedure as Item 3) to obtain a radioisotope signal as a final signal. 
     (5) Protein array (Protein chip): A plurality of target antibodies are arrayed and immobilized on a lower surface of the rod, and then the same procedure as Item 3), from the process of blocking the residual portion, is carried out to obtain a signal. 
     As set forth above, according to the biomaterial detecting device of the present invention, the biomaterial detecting device is coupled with the reaction container (tube) containing a sample in a cap form while the detector formed at an end of the rod is immersed in the sample therein, thereby facilitating detection of the biomaterial reaction and automating a series of procedures such as injection of the sample, reaction with the biomaterial, detection of results, and analysis of results. 
     Further, the biomaterial detecting device of the present invention, in the case of gene amplification reaction, can prevent the sample from being evaporated at the time of heating for reaction of the sample, thereby improving reliability in analysis of the biomaterial reaction. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and an applied range thereof may be various. Also, various modifications of the present invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention.