Patent ID: 12220654

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

Configuration of Cartridge with at Least One Filter

FIGS.1A and1B,FIG.2, andFIG.3A to3Cillustrate the configuration of cartridge100with at least one filter according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.FIG.1Ais a plan view of cartridge100with at least one filter, andFIG.1Bis a bottom view of cartridge100with at least one filter.FIG.2is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG.1A.FIG.3Ais a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG.1A,FIG.3Bis a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line B-B ofFIG.1A, andFIG.3Cis a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line C-C ofFIG.1A. In the following description, a direction in which first rib115extends is defined as the first direction (X direction), a direction which is orthogonal to the first direction (X direction), and in which second rib117extends, is defined as the second direction (Y direction), and the height (thickness) direction of first rib115and second rib117, which is orthogonal to the first direction (X direction) and the second direction (Y direction), is defined as the third direction (Z direction).

As illustrated inFIGS.1A and1B,FIG.2, andFIG.3A to3C, cartridge100with at least one filter includes mesh110and cylinder120.

The material of cartridge100with at least one filter is a resin such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin polymer (COP), polyacetal (POM), or polyamide (PA). Cartridge100with at least one filter can be manufactured by, for example, an injection molding method. Mesh110and cylinder120may be integrally molded, or mesh110and cylinder120may be separately molded. In the present embodiment, mesh110and cylinder120are integrally molded.

Mesh110captures foreign substances contained in a fluid such as a gas or a liquid by allowing the fluid to pass therethrough. Mesh110includes mesh portion111, rim portion112, and final filling portion113. Mesh110is made of a resin such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin polymer (COP), polyacetal (POM), or polyamide (PA), and is an integrally molded body.

Mesh portion111may have any shape in plan view. In the present embodiment, mesh portion111has a circular shape in plan view. Plurality of holes (openings)114are formed in mesh portion111. Plurality of holes (openings)114are open in the direction along central axis CA of cylinder120. Plurality of holes114in mesh portion111may have any shape in plan view. The shape of hole114in plan view may be a circle or a polygon. In the present embodiment, mesh portion111includes plurality of first ribs115and a plurality of second ribs117. Plurality of first ribs115and plurality of second ribs117form a plurality of holes114having a square shape in plan view. The sides of hole114may have any length. The length of one side of hole114(mesh opening of mesh110) is, for example, 10 to 500 μm. The number of holes114may be any number. For example, the number of holes114is 1 to 400 per mm2.

First rib115is a protrusion whose first ridge line116extends in the first direction (X direction). Plurality of first ribs115are disposed parallel to each other and at equal intervals in the second direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the first direction (X direction). In the present embodiment, plurality of first ribs115are disposed on the first surface (front surface) of virtual plane P. The cross section (YZ cross section), orthogonal to the extending direction (X direction), of first rib115may have any shape. In the present embodiment, the cross section is substantially in a shape of a triangle where one top including first ridge line116has a shape of an arc (seeFIGS.3A and3B).

As described below, final filling portion113is disposed in the central part of mesh portion111(seeFIGS.1A and1B). That is, regarding first rib115passing through the central part of mesh portion111, one end of first rib115is connected to the inner side surface of rim portion112and the other end is connected to the side surface of final filling portion113. Regarding first rib115not passing through the central portion of mesh110, both ends of first rib115are connected to the inner side surface of rim portion112.

Second rib117is a protrusion whose second ridge line118extends in the second direction (Y direction). Plurality of second ribs117are disposed parallel to each other and at equal intervals in the first direction (X direction). In the present embodiment, plurality of second ribs117are disposed on the second surface (back surface) of virtual plane P. The cross section (XZ cross section), orthogonal to the extending direction (Y direction), of second rib117may have any shape. In the present embodiment, the cross section is substantially in a shape of a triangle where one top including second ridge line118has a shape of an arc (seeFIG.3C).

As with first ribs115, regarding second rib117passing through the central part of mesh portion111, one end of second rib117is connected to the inner side surface of rim portion112and the other end is connected to the side surface of final filling portion113. Regarding second rib117not passing through the central part of mesh portion111, both ends of second rib117are connected to the inner side surface of rim portion112.

Plurality of first ribs115and plurality of second ribs117are disposed in a front-to-back relationship with virtual plane P as a boundary. That is, plurality of first ribs115and plurality of second ribs117are disposed in such a way that the positions of plurality of first ribs115differ from the positions of plurality of second ribs117in the height direction (Z direction) of the ribs. When mesh110is viewed in plan view from the top, plurality of second ribs117are disposed behind first ribs115and at equal intervals in the first direction (X direction). Further, when mesh110is viewed in plan view from the bottom, plurality of first ribs115are disposed behind second ribs117and at equal intervals in the second direction (Y direction).

Rim portion112holds mesh portion111. Rim portion112is disposed so as to surround mesh portion111. Rim portion112may have any shape in plan view. In the present embodiment, rim portion112has an annular shape in plan view. Plurality of first ribs115and plurality of second ribs117are connected to the inner side surface of rim portion112. In the third direction (Z direction), rim portion112may be formed thicker than mesh portion111, to have the same thickness as mesh portion111, or thinner than mesh portion111. In the present embodiment, rim portion112is formed thicker than mesh portion111in the third direction (Z direction).

Final filling portion113is disposed at mesh portion111inside rim portion112. In the present embodiment, final filling portion113is disposed at the central part of mesh portion111. Mesh portion111surrounds final filling portion113. Final filling portion113is a last part to be filled with a molten resin during injection molding, functions as a degassing portion during filling of a cavity with the molten resin, and may function as a part where an ejector pin comes into contact during releasing of an injection molded body. The ejector pin may come into contact from the front surface side of final filling portion113, or from the back surface side of final filling portion113. Final filling portion113may have any shape as long as the above functions are exhibited. In the present embodiment, final filling portion113has a shape of a column. One or more first ribs115among plurality of first ribs115and one or more second ribs117among plurality of second ribs117are connected to the side surface of final filling portion113.

In cartridge100with at least one filter according to the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of at least one of the ribs connected to final filling113is smaller than the cross-sectional area of at least one of the ribs not connected to final filling113. Herein, the “cross-sectional area of a rib” means the area of the cross section of the rib in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the rib. In the example illustrated inFIGS.1A,1B and3A to3C, all the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115and second ribs117connected to final filling portion113are the same. All the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115and second ribs117not connected to final filling portion113are also the same. As illustrated inFIGS.3B and3C, the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115and second ribs117connected to final filling portion113are smaller than the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115and second ribs117not connected to final filling portion113. (Herein “a first rib and a second rib connected to a final filling portion” means “a first rib connected to a final filling portion and a second rib connected to the final filling portion,” and “a first rib and a second rib not connected to a final filling portion” means “a first rib not connected to a final filling portion and a second rib not connected to the final filling portion.”)

Cylinder120holds mesh110. In the present embodiment, cylinder120is made of a resin such as polypropylene (PP), polyacetal (POM), or polyamide (PA), and is an integrally molded body. Cylinder120may have any shape as long as cylinder120can hold mesh110. In the present embodiment, cylinder120has a shape of a cylinder with a substantially circular cross section. At one end of cylinder120, pair of notched portions121and121are formed. Pair of notched portions121and121are disposed at the one end of cylinder120so as to be evenly spaced in the circumferential direction of the cylinder. Gate marks122are formed at pair of notched portions121and121, respectively. First opening123at the one end of cylinder120and second opening124at the other end of cylinder120may have any shape. The shape of first opening123and the shape of second opening124may be the same or different. In the present embodiment, first opening123and second opening124both have a circular shape. The opening edge of first opening123and the opening edge of second opening124are each formed in a tapered shape. Mesh110is connected to inner side surface125of cylinder120. Mesh110may be at any position in the direction connecting first opening123and second opening124(direction along central axis CA) in cylinder120. This position is appropriately set according to the application of cartridge100with at least one filter.

Modification

A cartridge with at least one filter according to the modification of embodiment 1 differs from cartridge100with at least one filter according to embodiment 1 only in the configuration of mesh210. Only mesh210thus will be described, and the same reference numerals are given to the configurations same as those of mesh110according to embodiment 1 and the descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Mesh210of the cartridge with at least one filter according to the present modification includes mesh portion211, rim portion112, and final filling portion113. In the cartridge with at least one filter according to the modification, plurality of first ribs215and plurality of second ribs217are disposed at the same position in the height direction (Z direction) of the ribs. That is, plurality of first ribs215and plurality of second ribs217are disposed such that first ribs215intersect with second ribs217in mesh210in the cartridge with at least one filter according to the present modification.

Effects

As described above, cartridge100with at least one filter according to the present embodiment includes integrally molded resin-made mesh110or210and cylinder120, and thus cartridge100with at least one filter can be manufactured at low cost with a high yield.

In the following, cartridge300with at least one filter according to embodiment 2 will be described.FIGS.5A to5Cillustrate the configuration of cartridge300with at least one filter according to embodiment 2.FIG.5Ais a plan view of cartridge300with at least one filter according to embodiment 2,FIG.5Bis a bottom view of the cartridge with at least one filter,FIG.5Cis a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG.5A.

Cartridge300with at least one filter according to embodiment 2 includes at least one mesh310, cylinder320, and cap330. In the present embodiment, mesh310and cylinder320are separately molded.

The number of meshes310may be any number. In the present embodiment, at least one mesh310include first mesh310aand second mesh310b. First mesh310aincludes mesh portion111, rim portion312, and final filling portion113. Second mesh310bincludes mesh portion111, rim portion312, and final filling portion113. First mesh310aand second mesh310bare the same as mesh110in embodiment 1 except that they are formed separately from cylinder320, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

Cylinder320holds mesh310. Cylinder320may have any shape as long as cylinder320can hold mesh310. In the present embodiment, cylinder320has a shape of a cylinder with a substantially circular cross section.

At one end of cylinder320, pair of notched portions121and121are formed. Pair of notched portions121and121are disposed at the one end of the cylinder so as to be evenly spaced in the circumferential direction of the cylinder. Gate marks122are formed at pair of notched portions121and121, respectively. First opening123at the one end of cylinder320and second opening124at the other end of cylinder320may have any shape. The shape of first opening123and the shape of second opening124may be the same or different. In the present embodiment, first opening123and second opening124both have a circular shape. The opening edge of first opening123and the opening edge of second opening124are each formed in a tapered shape. Step portion331is disposed on inner side surface325of cylinder320.

Step portion331may have any shape. In the present embodiment, step portion331is disposed on inner side surface325of cylinder320. Step portion331holds first mesh310afrom the other end side and the side surface side. Step portion331may be at any position in the direction connecting first opening123and second opening124in cylinder320. This position is appropriately set according to the application of cartridge300with at least one filter.

Cap330prevents first mesh310afrom coming out of cylinder320from the one end side. Cap330is to be disposed at one end of cylinder320. Cap330includes cap body332and outer wall portion333. Cap body332is formed in such a way that cap body432is to engage with the inner peripheral surface of cylinder320. Recess334is formed in the top surface of cap body332. In addition, communication portion335that communicates with the outside is formed in cap body332. Communication portion335functions, for example, as a channel for a liquid, such as a sample passing through first mesh310avia below-described reagent storage portion336, from the inside of cap330to the outside in the radial direction. Outer side wall portion333changes the flow direction of the liquid, which has passed through communication portion335, toward the lower side inFIG.5Calong the outer wall of cylinder320.

In the present embodiment, first mesh310ais placed into cylinder320from one end of cylinder320so as to come into contact with step portion331. Cap330is then placed by inserting cap330from the one end side of cylinder320. By press fitting second mesh310binto the other end of cylinder320, second mesh310bis placed into cylinder320.

The space between first mesh310aand second mesh310bcan function as, for example, reagent storage portion336. In such a case, cartridge300with at least one filter according to the present embodiment can also be used for a predetermined reaction using a biological sample or the like. For example, a biological sample is injected from the one end side or the other end side of cylinder320with a solid reagent previously placed in reagent storage portion336. When the biological sample is injected from the other end side, the biological sample passes through second mesh310band flows into reagent storage portion336. The biological sample flowing into reagent storage portion336reacts with the reagent previously stored in reagent storage portion336. First mesh310aretains a solid reagent, a solid carrier for capturing an object, and the like in reagent storage portion336.

Effects

Cartridge300with at least one filter according to the present embodiment provides substantially the same effects as that of cartridge100with at least one filter according to embodiment 1.

All the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115,215(second ribs117,217) connected to final filling portion113are the same, and all the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115,215(second ribs117,217) not connected to final filling portion113are the same in the above embodiments. However, the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115,215(second ribs117,217) connected to final filling portion113may be different from each other, and the cross-sectional areas of first ribs115,215(second ribs117,217) not connected to final filling portion113may also be different from each other.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-226276, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, the entire contents of which including the specification and the drawings are incorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The cartridges with at least one filter according to the present invention are advantageous for removing foreign substances from fluids such as liquids and gases. The cartridges with at least one filter according to the present invention include a finer mesh filter than conventional mesh filters, and thus particularly advantageous for removing foreign substances in biological samples.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100,300Cartridge with at least one filter110,210,310Mesh111,211Mesh portion112,312Rim portion113Final filling portion114Hole (opening)115,215First rib116First ridge line117,217Second rib118Second ridge line120,320Cylinder121Notched portion122Gate mark123First opening124Second opening125,325Inner side surface310aFirst mesh310bSecond mesh330Cap331Step portion332Cap body333Outer side wall portion334Recess335Communication portion336Reagent storage portionCA Central axisP Virtual plane