TWI627272B - Non-vibrating box for transporting cells and tissue slices - Google Patents

Abstract

The box C1 is provided with a container holder 11, a guide 12, and a supporting device 13. The guide 12 has a spherical surface extending at least from the lower side of the container holder 11 toward the side and the entire circumference. The supporting device 13 is formed along the guide The spherical surface of 12 is made up of a plurality of free ball bearings 130 that can be rotated in all directions. The external force in the swing direction of the box C1 is determined by the relative distance between the support device 13 and the container holder 11. Movement to support the container holder 11 without shaking.

Description

Shake-free box for cell and tissue piece delivery

The present invention relates to a shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces, which is used when transporting cells such as iPS cells using vehicles and various other transport means.

The emergence of iPS cells has accelerated the clinical research of regenerative medicine in Japan. At present, research and development on culture and differentiation are progressing rapidly. In addition, iPS cells have recently been distributed to research institutions and companies in a living state without freezing, in order to eliminate defrosting and other efforts in order to improve efficiency.

However, when iPS cells are distributed in vivo without freezing, the iPS cell line is placed in a container such as a petri dish and transported by a vehicle or the like, but at this time, it is required to maintain viability without causing damage to the living cells. It is necessary to perform temperature management, gas (oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.) management, and protection from external forces such as vibration during transportation.

Such a container for cell transportation has been proposed in JP-2014-83002-A. The container described in this document is equipped with ambient gas A regulator, and a cell storage container having an isolation membrane that can penetrate gas but not substantially penetrate liquid, and can transport cells and / or cells in a manner that does not cause stress on the cells storage. In addition, in this container, a mounting portion and a swing mechanism portion for holding the cell containing container may be provided. At this time, the installation unit is installed in the closed container and can hold the cells, and the swing mechanism supports the installation unit on the inner wall surface of the closed container in a freely rocking manner, and can stably maintain the contents such as cells and culture medium . Furthermore, a temperature control mechanism and an impact buffer mechanism may be provided in the container.

However, the container described in this document holds the cell storage container by a mounting portion, and the mounting portion is supported by a swinging mechanism by a rocking mechanism. Therefore, for example, when the container is transported by a car, the container may It is shaken by the shaking during the running of the car, and therefore, the following problems may occur: the culture dish of iPS cells in the container is undulated, and the iPS cells may float due to the impact of the undulated culture dish. Worries about destruction.

The present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces, which can prevent shaking due to transport when using a vehicle or other various transport means to transport cells such as iPS cells And the destruction of cells caused by tilting movements.

In order to achieve the above object, the gist of the non-shake box for transporting cells and tissue pieces of the present invention is to include: a container holder; A container for holding cells and tissue pieces is held horizontally; a guide is mounted on the container holder and supports the container holder; and a support device is used to support the container holder through the guide; and the guide One of the supporting devices has a spherical surface extending at least from the lower side of the container holder toward the side of the container holder, and the other is contacted by the surface along the spherical surface and can face toward It is constituted by a plurality of free ball bearings rotating in all directions; and, with respect to an external force with respect to a rocking direction of the support device and the container holder, the container is held by a relative movement between the support device and the container holder. Support without shaking.

The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces is embodied as follows.

(1) The container holder includes: a support plate supporting the container; a pressing plate for pressing the container from above; and a screw device for fastening the support plate and the pressing plate.

(2) The guide is composed of a sealed box body with at least a bottom surface that can contain a container holder. The bottom of the bottom surface has a shaft insertion portion. The container holder and the guide are described above. The container holder is arranged in the guide, a shaft system protruding from the center of the lower part of the container holder passes through the shaft insertion portion and is integrated, and a weight and a support device are installed at the lower end of the shaft. The system includes a plurality of free ball bearings supporting the bottom surface of the box body at a plurality of points, and a mounting base configured to contact the bottom surfaces of the guides with the ball bearings.

At this time, it is preferable that the mounting base is provided with: setting a base; standing up front The plurality of free ball bearing mounting portions provided with the base are described.

(3) The guide is composed of a plurality of free ball bearings, and each of the aforementioned is mounted on the bottom surface of the container holder with the ball bearing system facing downward, and the supporting device is provided with: The bottom surface is a spherical closed box body; and the mounting base is configured to contact the box body on the bottom surface side of the container holder with the ball bearing.

At this time, the mounting base preferably includes: a setting base; a coil spring interposed between the center of the aforementioned mounting base and the center of the bottom surface of the box body; and the aforementioned mounting base interposed around the coil spring. A plurality of dampers between the base and the aforementioned box body.

The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to the present invention is formed to have: a guide attached to a container holder for holding a container for storing cells and tissue pieces horizontally, and supporting the container holder; and The support device supports the container holder through a guide; and one of the guide and the aforementioned support device has a spherical surface extending at least from the lower side of the container holder toward the side of the container holder over the entire circumference, and the other It consists of a plurality of free ball bearings that are in contact with each other along a spherical surface and can be rotated in all directions; and, for external forces relative to the rocking direction of the support device and the container holder, the support device and the container holder are used. The relative motion between the containers is supported without shaking; therefore, the unique and special effect of the invention can be achieved: when using the vehicle and various other transport methods to transport iPS cells, etc., it can reduce as much as possible. Small factor The wave-like undulation of the culture medium of the cells in the container caused by shaking prevents the destruction of the cells.

11, 21‧‧‧ container holder

12, 22‧‧‧ Guide

13, 23‧‧‧ support device

23A‧‧‧Box

111, 211‧‧‧ support plate

112、212‧‧‧Screw through holes

113, 213‧‧‧Pressing plate

114, 214‧‧‧ screw insertion holes

115, 215‧‧‧ screw device

116, 216‧‧‧ Screw

117, 217‧‧‧ Nuts

118‧‧‧axis

119‧‧‧ Heavy (hammer)

121, 231‧‧‧ lower box

122, 232‧‧‧ Upper Box

123, 124, 232, 234‧‧‧circle

125, 235‧‧‧ trench

126, 236‧‧‧‧O-ring

127、237‧‧‧‧Fasteners

128‧‧‧shaft insertion part

129‧‧‧closed tube

130, 220‧‧‧ free ball bearings

131, 23B‧‧‧Mounting base

132, 241‧‧‧ Set the base

133‧‧‧Free ball bearing mounting section

134‧‧‧Mounting frame

135‧‧‧Mounting shaft

136‧‧‧coil spring (spring member)

137‧‧‧Free ball bearing mounting arm

238, 241a‧‧‧ Engagement Department

239, 241b‧‧‧Installation Department

242‧‧‧ Coil Spring

243‧‧‧ Damper

1341, 1342‧‧‧ Pillars

1343‧‧‧ hinge

1344‧‧‧stop

1345, P2‧‧‧arm

a‧‧‧Fixed substrate

b‧‧‧ Joystick

c‧‧‧ movable body

C1, C2 ‧‧‧ Cell-free, tissue-free transport box (this box)

d‧‧‧ hanging frame

e‧‧‧ bracket

f‧‧‧box

g‧‧‧ball

h‧‧‧ cover

M‧‧‧ Vehicle

M1‧‧‧ Body

P1‧‧‧ central board

s0‧‧‧slit

s1‧‧‧locking part

s2‧‧‧locking hole

s3‧‧‧locking member

s31‧‧‧protrusion

S‧‧‧container

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2 (a) and (b) are front views showing the actions of the shake-free box of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view showing the structure of a shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4 (a) and (b) are front views showing the actions of the shake-free box of Figure 3.

Next, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using drawing.

The first embodiment is shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shake-free box C1 for transporting cells and tissue pieces (hereinafter referred to as the box C1 in the description of the first embodiment) is provided with a device for storing cells and tissue pieces. A container holder 11 that holds the container horizontally; a guide 12 that is mounted on the container holder 11 and supports the container holder 11; and a support device 13 that supports the container holder 11 through the guide 12.

The container holder 11 includes: a supporting plate 111 for supporting the container; a pressing plate 113 for pressing the container from above; and the supporting plate A screw device 115 fastened between 111 and the pressing plate 113.

At this time, the support plate 111 is a circular plate having a predetermined outer diameter, and four screw insertion holes 112 are formed at an outer peripheral edge portion thereof at intervals of 90 degrees. The pressing plate 113 is a circular plate having a predetermined outer diameter slightly larger than that of the support plate 111. Four screw inserts are formed at 90-degree intervals corresponding to the screw insertion holes 112 of the support plate 111 on the outer peripheral portion side.通 孔 114。 Through holes 114. The screw device 115 includes four sets of screws 116 and nuts 117. In this way, the container for holding cells and tissue pieces is supported by the support plate 111, and the container is pressed by the pressing plate 113 from above the container, and the screws 116 are passed through the screw insertion holes 112 of the support plate 111 and are inserted into the container. Each screw of the pressing plate 113 is inserted into the through hole 114, and each screw 116 and each nut 117 are locked on the pressing plate 113, thereby holding the container by the supporting plate 111 and the pressing plate 113.

In this container holder 11, a shaft 118 is protruded from the center of the lower portion of the container holder 11, and a weight (hammer) 119 is suspended from the shaft 118. At this time, the shaft 118 is connected by two shafts, and the shaft 118 penetrates from the side of the pressing plate to a shaft insertion portion formed in the center of the pressing plate 113 and the supporting plate 111 of the container holder 11 so that one end passes through The nut 117 is fixed to the pressing plate 113, and the other end side protrudes downward from the support plate 111. At the lower end of the shaft 118, one or a plurality of weights 117 are detachably mounted by screws or the like. In this way, the container holder 11 is arranged in the guide 12 described later, and the weight 119 below the container holder 11 faces the direction of gravity to keep the container holder 11 horizontal.

The guide 12 has a spherical surface extending at least from below the container holder 11 toward the side of the container holder 11 over the entire circumference.

The guide 12 is a sealed box with a spherical shape at least at the bottom of the container holder 11. In this case, it is composed of a box that can be divided into two spheres, and has: on the upper surface The lower case 121 having an opening hemispherical shape; and the upper case 122 having an opening hemispherical shape on the lower surface. The lower box 121 and the upper box 122 are each provided with rings 123 and 124 at the inner peripheral edge of each opening and abut on each other, and extend over one ring (in this case, the ring 123 on the lower box 121 side). A groove 125 is formed on the entire periphery of the upper surface, and an O-ring 126 is embedded in the groove 125 so that the lower case 121 and the upper case 122 are hermetically bonded to each other. In addition, a plurality of joints between the lower case 121 and the upper case 122 are installed at predetermined intervals (90-degree intervals at this time) in the circumferential direction to lock the lower case 121 and the upper case 122 together. (4 at this time) Fastener 127. These fasteners 127 are generally known as a universal product, and include a fixed substrate a, a movable body c supported by the fixed substrate a and a lever b at the front end, and more biased toward operation than the pivot point of the movable body c. The part on the side of the rod b is pivotally supported by the substantially U-shaped hanging frame d of the movable body c and the hook-shaped (inverted L-shaped) bracket e. At this time, the fixed substrate a is fixed by a fixing tool such as a screw. Mounted on the outer surface near the outer periphery of the opening of the upper case 122, the movable body c is rotatably mounted between the upper case 122 and the lower case 121 via the fixed substrate a, and the bracket e is fixed by screws The fixing device is mounted on the outer surface of the outer peripheral edge of the lower case 121 near the opening. In this way, the upper and lower boxes 121 and 122 are combined with each other with the rings 123 and 124, and in this state, the operation lever b is pulled up and the movable body c is turned away from the fixed substrate a, and , Rotate the hook frame d toward the bracket e, and move the hook frame d Hook on the bracket e, and then from this state, push the operating lever b down to rotate the movable body c toward the fixed substrate a, and the hook frame d (toward the upper portion) of the bracket e will be hooked by the movable body c. The side of the box 122) is stretched, whereby the upper and lower boxes 121 and 122 are locked and kept in a closed state by the pulling force of the hook frame d.

Furthermore, a shaft insertion portion 128 is provided on the guide 12 at the center of the bottom surface of the lower case 121, that is, at the lowest point of the bottom surface of the lower case 121. A sealed tube 129 is inserted in the shaft insertion portion 128 to seal the shaft insertion portion 128 and the shaft 118 passing through the shaft insertion portion 128.

In this way, the container holder 11 and the guide 12 are arranged in the lower case 121 of the guide 12, and the shaft 118 protruding from the center of the lower portion of the container holder 11 passes through the shaft insertion portion of the lower case 121. 128 is integrated, and a weight 119 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 118. Further, as described above, the lower case 121 is air-tightly coupled to the upper case 122, and this state is maintained by each fastener 127.

The support device 13 is composed of a plurality of free roller bearings 130 that are in contact with each other along the spherical surface of the guide 12 and are rotatable in all directions.

The supporting device 13 includes a plurality of (in this case, four) free balls that support the top surface of the guide 12 at a plurality of points (in this case, four-point support), that is, the top surface side of the upper case 122. Bearing 130; a plurality of points (in this case, four) on the bottom surface of the guide 12, that is, the bottom surface of the upper case 122 is supported at a plurality of points (in this case, four-point support) A ball bearing 130; and a mounting base 131 configured to contact the ball bearing 130 with the top and bottom surfaces of the guide 12, respectively.

The free ball bearing 130 is a generally known universal product, and includes a box f having a hemispherical concave surface, a ball g that is rotatably arranged on the hemispherical concave surface of the box f, and a hemispherical concave surface covering the box f. The cover h, etc., for holding the ball g is formed so that the ball g can be rotated in all directions in the box f.

The mounting base 131 is provided with a mounting base 132, and a plurality of (in this case, four) free ball bearings erected on the mounting base 132 at a predetermined height from the center of the mounting base 132 at equal distances from each other. Mounting portion 133; a gate-shaped mounting frame 134 standing at a predetermined height higher than each of the ball bearing mounting portions 133; mounted on the mounting frame 134 through a mounting shaft 135 and a spring member 136 in a vertically retractable manner A plurality of (four in this case) free ball bearing mounting arms 137 extending at an upper portion of the mounting frame 134 in the plural directions at equal intervals. At this time, the installation base 132 is formed by assembling a frame having an L-shaped cross section into a substantially rectangular shape, and the entire base is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the guide. Each free-ball bearing mounting portion 133 includes a substantially ㄈ -shaped frame having a predetermined height, and has a free-ball bearing mounting surface on the upper side where the free-ball bearing 130 can be mounted obliquely upward, and is fixedly provided before, after, and around the base 132. The center of each frame. The free ball bearings 130 are mounted on the respective free ball bearing mounting portions 133 such that the free ball bearings 130 are inclined obliquely upward, and are mounted on respective ball bearing mounting surfaces. The mounting frame 134 includes: a pair of pillars 1341, 1342; one end of the shaft 1343 is hinged between the pillars 1341, 1342, and is connected by a stopper 1344 An arm 1345 at the other end; a mounting shaft 135 suspended in the center of the lower surface of the arm 1345; and a coil spring 136 wound around the mounting shaft 135 as a spring member. In addition, at this time, the stopper 1344 includes a locking portion s1 formed on the other end side of the pillar 1342 and extending upward, and a portion of the locking portion s1 having a slit s0 elongated in the horizontal direction. The other end side of 1345 is a locking hole s2 through which the locking portion s1 of the pillar 1342 on the other end side can be inserted; and the upper surface of the other end side of the arm 1345 is rotatably mounted in a horizontal direction, and has an opposite side. The slit 0 of the locking portion s1 of the pillar 1342 on the other end side engages the locking member s3 of the detached projection s31; and the locking portion s1 of the pillar 1342 on the other end side is penetrated through the locking hole s2 of the arm 1345, and The locking member s3 on the arm 1345 is rotated so that its protrusion s31 is engaged with the slit s0 of the pillar 1342, thereby connecting and locking the pillar 1342 on the other end side with the arm 1345, and then from this state, it is engaged on the other end side. The locking member s3 on the arm 1345 of the slit s0 of the pillar 1342 is rotated, and the protrusion s31 thereof is removed from the slit s0. As a result, the locking of the pillar 1342 and the arm 1345 on the other end side can be released, and the arm 1345 can be released. Take out and pull up from the locking part s1 of the pillar 1342 on the other end sideEach free ball bearing mounting arm 137 includes: a central plate P1; and horizontally extending from the outer periphery of the plate P1 in four directions at equal intervals, and the front end is formed slanting downward, and the free ball bearing 130 can be slanted downward The four arms P2 mounted on the free ball bearing mounting surface of the front end; the mounting shaft 135 of the mounting frame 134 (arm 1345) is inserted and mounted at the center of the central plate P1, and the coil spring 136 is mounted so as to be compressed Between the central plate P1 and the arm 1345, it can expand and contract in the vertical direction. These free ball bearings 130 make the balls tilt down Each of these free ball bearing mounting arms 137 is mounted on a ball bearing mounting surface.

In this way, the supporting device 13 is such that the top surface of the guide 12 of the sphere is supported at a plurality of points by a plurality of (4) free ball bearings 130, that is, the outer surface of the top surface side of the upper case 122 The bottom surface of the guide 12 of the sphere is supported at a plurality of points by a plurality of (4) free ball bearings 130, that is, the outer surface of the bottom surface side of the lower case 121.

In this way, the shake-free box C1 for transporting cells and tissue pieces is a sphere-shaped guide 12 integrated with the container holder 11. Each of the support devices 13 above and below is supported by a ball bearing 130. The external force in the rocking direction of the container holder 11 is caused by the spherical surface of the guide 12 and the support device 13 respectively caused by the engagement and guidance of the ball bearing 130 between the support device 13 and the container holder 11. The relative movement supports the container holder 11 without shaking. In addition, the inertial force acting on the support device 13 and the container holder 11 is caused by the balls of the guide 12 and the support device 13 by balls. The relative movement between the support device 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the engagement guidance of the bearing 130 supports the container holder 11 to form a right angle with respect to the direction of the acceleration (combined acceleration) generated by the inertial force.

Using FIG. 2, a case where the present box C1 is equipped in a vehicle such as a so-called minivan and iPS cells are transported by the vehicle will be described.

<Equip this box with the vehicle>

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), first, the present box C1 is equipped in the vehicle M. At this time, the support device 13 (installation base 132) of the present box C1 is installed and fixed to the bucket M1 of the vehicle M, and is equipped in the vehicle. Moreover, at this time, it is preferable to set the present box C1 at the center in the vehicle width direction of the bucket M1.

<Loading iPS cells in a vehicle>

When the iPS cells are loaded in the box C1, the stopper 1344 (locking member s3) of the support device 13 is removed, and the arm 1345 is pulled up from the pillar 1342, and the container holder 11 and the guide 12 are in this state. Removed together from the supporting device 13.

The iPS cells are usually stored in a container S such as a petri dish under predetermined gas management. First, the container S is held in a container holder 11. At this time, each fastener 127 of the guide 12 is removed to remove the upper case 122 from the lower case 121, and each nut 117 of the container holder 11 is removed from each screw 116 to remove the pressing plate 113. Then, the container S containing the iPS cells is placed on the support plate 111 of the container holder 11, and the pressing plate 113 is covered from above. The screws 116 and the nuts 117 are used for locking, and the support plate 111 and the pressing plate are used. 113 to hold the container S. Next, the upper case 122 is mated to the lower case 121, and the two are locked by the fasteners 127 to keep the inside of the guide 12 airtight. At this point in time, the container holder 11 is disposed in the lower case 121 of the guide 12, and the shaft 118 protruding from the lower center of the container holder 11 is passed through the shaft insertion portion 128 of the lower case 121 to make the container holder 11 is integrated with the guide 12, and a weight 119 is mounted on the shaft 118 protruding from the bottom surface of the lower box 121. Therefore, the weight 119 will be in the direction of gravity, and in the lower box 121, the container holder 11 will hold water It is flat, and the container S in the container holder 11 is kept horizontal.

Then, the integrated container holder 11 and the guide 12 are supported by the supporting device 13. At this time, first, the lower case 121 of the guide 12 is placed on each of the ball bearing 130 of the supporting device 13 by the ball bearing mounting portion 133. Next, the arms 1345 of the supporting device 13 are lowered, and the shafts are supported on the arms 1345 by the ball bearing mounting arms 137 and by the ball bearings 130 on the upper case 122 of the guide 12, respectively. The arm 1345 is pushed down by the elastic thrust, and the arm 1345 is linked and locked to the pillar 1342 by the stopper 1344, and the ball guide 130 is supported by the 8 points supported by the ball bearings 130 at the top and bottom. As a result, the weight 119 mounted on the shaft 118 protruding from the lowest point of the guide 12 is in the direction of gravity. The container holder 11 will be kept horizontal in the guide 12 and the container S in the container holder 11 will be horizontal. Keep it horizontal.

<Delivering iPS cells by vehicle>

When the vehicle on which the iPS cell is mounted starts to drive, and at this time, an inertial force is applied to the box C1, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), on the support device 13, the container holder 11 and the guide 12 Together with the weight 119, it will swing (tilt movement) in the direction of acceleration (combined acceleration) due to inertial force. With respect to the inertial force, the container is held by the relative movement between the support device 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the spherical surface of the guide 12 and the support device 13 respectively by the engagement guidance of the ball bearing 130. The tool 11 is supported to form a right angle with respect to the acceleration direction generated by the inertial force, and the container S in the container holder 11 is held together with the culture medium of the iPS cells with respect to the acceleration direction generated by the inertial force. Form a right angle so that There is no wave-like undulation in the culture medium of iPS cells, or the wave-like undulation is suppressed to a minimum. This state is maintained until the container holder 11 (weight 119) returns to the direction of gravity.

When an external force in the direction of shaking of the box C1 is generated due to the lateral shaking of the vehicle or the like while the vehicle carrying the iPS cells is running, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), this is caused by the guide 12 The spherical surface and the supporting device 13 are each caused by the relative movement between the supporting device 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the engagement guide of the ball bearing 130. Even if the supporting device 13 will follow the vibration of the vehicle, the container holder 11 will also be supported without shaking. As a result, the container S in the container holder 11 is maintained at a level together with the culture medium of the iPS cells, so that the culture medium of the iPS cells does not have wave-like undulations, or the wave-like undulations are suppressed to a minimum. In addition, when the vehicle is traveling on a long curve at a high speed, and the centrifugal force is applied to the support device 13 and the container holder 11, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), on the support device 13, the container holder 11 and the guide The member 12 swings (inclines) with the weight 119 in the direction of the centrifugal force. With respect to this centrifugal force, the container holder is caused by the relative movement between the support device 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the spherical surface of the guide 12 and the support device 13 respectively by the engagement guidance of the ball bearing 130. 11 is supported to form a right angle with respect to the acceleration direction due to centrifugal force, and the container S in the container holder 11 is held together with the culture medium of the iPS cells to form a right angle with respect to the acceleration direction due to the centrifugal force. And the iPS cell culture medium does not have wave-like undulations, or suppresses wave-like undulations to a minimum. This state is maintained until the container holder 11 (weight 119) returns to the direction of gravity.

Furthermore, even when the iPS cell is placed and the vehicle is stopped, and the inertial force is applied to the box C1 at this time, the inertial force is similarly caused by the spherical surface of the guide 12 and the support device 13. The relative movement between the support device 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the engagement guidance of each free ball bearing 130, the container holder 11 will be supported to form a right angle with respect to the acceleration direction generated by the inertial force, and, The container S in the container holder 11 is held together with the culture medium of the iPS cells so as to form a right angle with respect to the acceleration direction generated by the inertial force, so that the culture medium of the iPS cells does not have wave-like undulations, or Wavy undulations are suppressed to a minimum. This state is maintained until the container holder 11 (weight 119) returns to the direction of gravity.

As described above, according to the present box C1, the container C includes: a container holder 11 mounted on the container S for holding the cells and tissue pieces horizontally, and a guide 12 supporting the container holder 11; and a transmission guide 12 to support the support device 13 of the container holder 11; and the guide 12 has a spherical surface extending at least from below the container holder 11 toward the side of the container holder 11 over the entire circumference, and the support device 13 is A plurality of free ball bearings 130 that are in contact with the spherical surface of the guide 12 and can be rotated in all directions are formed. The external force on the support device 13 and the container holder 11 in the swinging direction is determined by the ball of the guide 12 The relative movement between the support surface 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the engagement guidance of the ball-shaped bearing 130 and the support surface 13 respectively supports the container holder 11 without shaking. The inertial force of the box C1 (the supporting device 13 and the container holder 11) uses the spherical surface and the support through the guide 12 The relative movement between the supporting device 13 and the container holder 11 caused by the engaging guide of the ball bearing 130, respectively, of the supporting device 13 supports the container holder 11 to form a right angle with respect to the acceleration direction generated by the inertial force Therefore, when transporting cells such as iPS cells using vehicles and various other transport methods, the wave-like undulating action of the culture medium of the cells in the container S caused by shaking and tilting movement during transportation can be reduced, thereby preventing Destruction of cells.

In addition, in the box C1, the container holder 11 includes: a support plate 111 for supporting the container S; a pressing plate 113 for pressing the container S from above; and a bracket for fastening the support plate 111 and the pressing plate 113. Since the screw device 115 holds the container S containing the cells from above and below, the sealed state of the container S can be reliably maintained.

Furthermore, in this box C1, the spherical guide 12 integrated with the container holder 11 is supported at 8 points by the ball bearing 130 above and below the support device 13, respectively. Therefore, the container holder 11 can be supported. Stably supported by the supporting device 13.

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shake-free box C2 for transporting cells and tissue pieces (hereinafter referred to as the box C2 in the description of the second embodiment) is provided with a container for storing cells and tissue pieces A container holder 21 held horizontally; a guide 22 mounted on the container holder 21 and supporting the container holder 21; and a supporting device 23 for supporting the container holder 21 through the guide 22.

The container holder 21 includes: a support plate for supporting the container 211; a pressing plate 213 for pressing the container S from above; and a screw device 215 for fastening the support plate 211 and the pressing plate 213 therebetween.

At this time, the support plate 211 is a circular plate having a predetermined outer diameter, and four screw insertion holes 212 are formed at an outer peripheral edge portion thereof at intervals of 90 degrees. The pressing plate 213 is a circular plate having a predetermined outer diameter slightly larger than that of the support plate 211. On the outer peripheral side thereof, four screw insertion holes are formed at 90-degree intervals corresponding to the screw insertion holes 212 of the support plate 211.孔 214。 Hole 214. The screw device 215 includes four sets of screws 216 and nuts 217. In this way, the support plate 211 is used to support a container such as a petri dish containing cells and tissue pieces, and the container is pressed by the pressing plate 213 from above the container, and the screws 216 are passed through and inserted through the screw insertion holes 212 of the support plate 211. Each screw is inserted into the through hole 114 of the pressing plate 213, and each screw 216 and each nut 217 are locked on the pressing plate 213, thereby holding the container by the support plate 211 and the pressing plate 213.

The guide 22 is constituted by a plurality of free ball bearings 220 that are in contact with each other along a spherical surface of a support device 23 described later and are rotatable in all directions.

The guides 22 are plural. At this time, the guides 22 are composed of four free ball bearings 220, and each of the guides 22 is mounted on the container at equal intervals from the center of the bottom surface with the ball facing downward. The bottom surface of the holder 21, that is, the bottom surface of the support plate 211.

Furthermore, as already mentioned, the free ball bearing 220 includes a box f having a hemispherical concave surface, a hemispherical concave ball rotatably disposed on the box f, and a hemispherical shape covering the box f. The cover h, etc., which is used to hold the ball g on the concave surface, and is formed so that the ball g can face in the box f Rotate in all directions.

The support device 23 has a spherical surface extending at least from the lower side of the container 21 toward the side of the container holder 21 over the entire circumference.

The supporting device 23 is provided with a sealed box body 23A in which at least the bottom surface of the container holder 21 can be made into a spherical shape; and the box body 23A is contacted on the bottom surface side of the container holder 21 with each of the balls. The mounting base 23B is provided with the bearing 220.

At this time, the box body 23A includes a hemispherical lower box 231 composed of a hemispherical body and a cylinder which can be divided into two parts, and has an opening on the upper surface; and a hemispherical shape with the upper surface closed and the opening on the lower surface.的 上 盒 232。 The upper box 232. The lower box 231 and the upper box 232 are provided with rings 233 and 234 at the inner periphery of the respective openings and abut on each other throughout the entire circumference. Furthermore, the rings extend over one ring (in this case, the ring 233 on the lower box 231 side) A groove 235 is formed on the entire periphery of the upper surface, and an O-ring 236 is embedded in the groove 235 so that the lower case 231 and the upper case 232 are hermetically bonded to each other. In addition, a plurality of joints between the lower case 231 and the upper case 232 are installed in the circumferential direction at a predetermined interval (in this case, a 90-degree interval), and are used to lock and combine the lower case 231 and the upper case 232. (4 at this time) Fastener 237. These fasteners 237 are generally known universal articles, and include a fixed substrate a, a movable body c supported by the fixed substrate a and a lever b at the front end, and more inclined to the lever than the pivot point of the movable body c. The part on the b side is pivotally supported by the substantially U-shaped hanging frame d of the movable body c and the hook-shaped (inverted L-shaped) bracket e. At this time, the fixed substrate a is fixed by a fixing tool such as a screw. Mounted on the outer surface near the outer periphery of the opening of the upper case 232, the movable body c is rotatably mounted between the joint portion of the upper case 232 and the lower case 231 by the fixed substrate a, and the bracket e is mounted near the outer periphery of the opening of the lower case 231 by fixing means such as screws. Outer surface. In this way, the upper and lower boxes 231 and 232 are combined and combined with each other by the rings 233 and 234. In this state, the operation lever b is pulled up and the movable body c is turned away from the fixed substrate a, and , Rotate the hook frame d toward the bracket e, hook the hook frame d to the bracket e, and then from this state, push the operation lever b down to make the movable body c rotate toward the fixed substrate a, and by The movable body c is hooked on the hook frame d (toward the upper case 122 side) 31 of the bracket e, and thereby, the upper and lower boxes 231 and 232 are locked and held by the pulling force of the hook frame d. In a closed state.

In addition, an engaging portion for mounting a spring is formed convexly at the center of the bottom surface of the lower case 231, that is, at the lowest point of the bottom surface of the lower case 231, and is provided at a 90-degree interval on the upper portion of the bottom surface for mounting A mounting portion 239 of a damper.

The mounting base 23B includes: a mounting base 241; a coil spring 242 interposed between the center of the mounting base 241 and the center of the bottom surface of the box body 23A; and between the mounting base 241 and the box body 23A around it Of a plurality of dampers 243. At this time, the installation base 241 is assembled from a frame having an L-shaped cross section into a substantially rectangular shape, and has a size substantially the same as the outer periphery of the guide 22 as a whole. Engagement portions 241a for mounting springs are convexly provided at the center of the installation base 241, and mounting portions 241b for mounting dampers are provided at four corners, respectively. The coil spring 242 is interposed between the engaging portion 238 on the bottom surface of the box body 23A and the mounting base 241 provided on the mounting base 23B. Between the engaging portions 241a. The damper 243 is a general-known universal product, and includes a cylinder body and a rod which is telescopically inserted into the cylinder body. At this time, the four dampers 243 are respectively interposed between the mounting portions 239 on the upper portion of the bottom surface of the box body 23A and the mounting portions 241 b on the mounting base 23B (four corners of the mounting base 241).

In this way, the supporting device 23 is constituted by the box body 23A being elastically supported through the mounting base 23B (the coil spring 242 and the four dampers 243), and the box body 23A transmitting through the plurality of guide members 22 (four ) Free ball bearing 220 to support the container holder 21.

In this way, the shake-free box C2 for transporting cells and tissue pieces is formed in such a manner that the container holder 21 is supported by the support device 23 through the guide 22 composed of a plurality of free ball bearings 220 integrated with the container holder 21. Supported by the box body 23A, against external forces in the rocking direction of the support device 23 and the container holder 21, the guide members 22 are respectively guided by the ball bearing 220 and the ball-shaped surface of the support device 23 by the engagement guides The relative movement between the support device 23 and the container holder 21 causes the container holder 21 to be supported without shaking. In addition, the inertial force acting on the support device 23 and the container holder 21 is also caused by the guide 22 The relative movement between the support device 23 and the container holder 21 caused by the engagement guidance of the ball bearing 220 and the spherical surface of the support device 23 supports the container holder 21 without shaking.

The case where the box C2 is equipped in a vehicle such as a multi-purpose recreational vehicle and the iPS cells are transported by the vehicle will be described.

<Equip this box with the vehicle>

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), first, the present box C2 is equipped in the vehicle M. At this time, the support device 23 (installation base 241) of the present box C2 is installed and fixed in the vehicle body M1 of the vehicle M, and is equipped in the vehicle M. Further, at this time, it is preferable to set the present box C2 at the center in the vehicle width direction of the bucket M1.

<Loading iPS cells in a vehicle>

When the iPS cells are loaded in the box C2, the fasteners 237 of the box body 23A of the supporting device 13 are removed, the upper box 232 is removed from the lower box 231, and the nuts 217 of the container 21 are removed from the screws. 216 is removed and the pressing plate 213 is removed.

As described above, iPS cells are usually stored in a container S such as a petri dish under predetermined gas management. First, the container S is held in a container holder 11. At this time, the container S is placed on the support plate 211 of the container holder 21, and the pressing plate 213 is covered from above. The screws 216 and the nuts 217 are locked, and the container is held by the supporting plate 211 and the pressing plate 213. S. Next, the upper case 232 is mated with the lower case 231, and the two are locked by each fastener 127, so that the inside of the guide 22 is kept airtight. At this point in time, the box body 23A will be elastically supported by the coil spring 242 and the four dampers 243 around it to suppress the shaking, and in the box body 23A, the container holder 21 will cause The bottom surface is held horizontally in the direction of gravity.

<Delivering iPS cells by vehicle>

When the vehicle on which the iPS cell is mounted starts to drive and the inertial force is applied to the box C2 at this time, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the box body 23A of the supporting device 23 is generated by the inertial force. The direction of acceleration (synthetic acceleration) is to swing (tilt movement). In response to this inertial force, The relative movement between the support device 23 and the container holder 21 caused by the ball bearing 220 and the spherical surface of the box body 23A of the support device 23, even if the box 23A of the support device 23 is moving due to inertial force The resulting acceleration (synthetic acceleration) swings in the box body 23A, and the container holder 21 is also supported without shaking, and the container S in the container holder 21 is held together with the culture medium of the iPS cells as It is roughly horizontal, so that there is no wave-like undulation in the culture medium of iPS cells, or the wave-like undulation is suppressed to a minimum.

When an external force in the direction of shaking of the box C2 is generated during the running of the vehicle on which the iPS cells are mounted, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the The relative movement between the support device 23 and the container holder 21 caused by the ball guide 220 and the spherical surface of the box body 23A of the support device 23, even though the support device 23 will follow the vehicle The vibration of the container holder 21 is also supported in the box body 23A of the supporting device 23 without shaking. As a result, the container S in the container holder 21 is maintained at a level together with the culture medium of the iPS cells, so that the culture medium of the iPS cells does not have wave-like undulations, or the wave-like undulations are suppressed to a minimum. In addition, when the vehicle travels on a long curve at a high speed and a centrifugal force acts on the present box C2, the box body 23A of the support device 23 swings (inclinedly moves) in the direction of the centrifugal force. As for the centrifugal force, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the supporting device is caused by the guide of the ball 22 of the guide member 22 and the spherical surface of the box 23A of the supporting device 23, respectively. Relative movement between 23 and container holder 21, even if the box 23A of the supporting device 23 swings in the direction of centrifugal force, In 23A, the container holder 21 is also supported without shaking, and the container S in the container holder 21 is held horizontally together with the culture medium of the iPS cells, so that the culture medium of the iPS cells does not have undulating waves. Motion, or to suppress undulating motion to a minimum.

Furthermore, even when the iPS cell is placed and the vehicle is stopped, and the inertial force is applied to the box C2 at this time, the inertia force is similarly caused by the ball bearing 220 and the support device 23 due to the respective guide members 22. The relative movement between the supporting device 23 and the container holder 21 caused by the engagement guide of the spherical surface of the box body 23A, even if the box body 23A of the supporting device 23 swings in the direction of centrifugal force, it is inside the box body 23A The container holder 21 is also supported without shaking, and the container S in the container holder 21 is maintained at a substantially horizontal level together with the culture medium of the iPS cells, so that the culture medium of the iPS cells does not have wave-like undulations. , Or suppress the wave-like undulations to a minimum.

As described above, according to the present box C2, the container C is provided with: a container holder 21 installed to hold the container S for storing cells and tissue pieces horizontally, and a guide 22 supporting the container holder 21; and a transmission guide 22 to support the supporting device 23 of the container holder 21; and the guide 22 is composed of a plurality of free ball bearings 220 which are in contact with each other along the spherical surface of the supporting device 23 and are rotatable in all directions. The supporting device 23 is It has a spherical surface extending at least from the lower side of the container holder 21 to the side of the container holder 21 over the entire circumference, and against external forces in the rocking direction of the support device 23 and the container holder 21, Supporting device caused by the ball bearing 220 and the spherical surface of the supporting device 23 being engaged and guided The relative movement between 23 and the container holder 21 supports the container holder 21 without shaking. In addition, the inertial force acting on the support device 23 and the container holder 21 is also determined by the respective causes of the guide 22. The relative movement between the support device 23 and the container holder 21 caused by the ball bearing 220 and the spherical surface of the support device 23 to guide the container holder 21 without shaking, therefore, when using a vehicle and When various other transport methods are used to transport cells such as iPS cells, the wavy motion of the culture medium of the cells in the container caused by shaking and tilting during transport can be reduced to prevent cell destruction.

In addition, in the box C2, the container holder 21 includes: a supporting plate 211 for supporting the container S; a pressing plate 213 for pressing the container S from above; and a bracket for fastening the supporting plate 211 and the pressing plate 213 therebetween. The screw device 215 holds the container S, such as a petri dish containing cells, from above and below. Therefore, the sealed state of the container S can be reliably maintained.

Furthermore, in this box C2, the container holder 21 is supported in the substantially hemispherical closed box 23A of the support device 23 through the plurality of free ball bearings 220 of the guide 22, and therefore, the container can be held The tool 21 is stably supported by the supporting device 23.

In the case of the present box C2, the box body 23A of the supporting device 23 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, and the box body 23A is supported by the coil spring 242 and the damper 243. Therefore, it is similar to the first embodiment. As a result, the entire device can be miniaturized and can be installed in a vehicle or the like in a space-saving manner.

In the first embodiment, the guide 11 is It is a sphere, but it can also be formed into a substantially hemispherical shape similar to the case 23A of the second embodiment. Even so, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In this case, the entire device can be miniaturized. The advantages.

In addition, in the second embodiment, although the box body 23A of the supporting device 23 is substantially hemispherical, it may be formed into a spherical shape similar to the guide 12 (box body) of the first embodiment. The same effect as that of the second embodiment is obtained.

Claims (6)

A shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces, comprising: a container holder for holding a container for storing cells and tissue pieces horizontally; a guide member installed on the container holder and supporting the container holder And a supporting device supporting the container holder through the guide; one of the guide and the supporting device having a spherical shape extending at least from below the container holder toward the side of the container holder Surface, and the other is composed of a plurality of free ball bearings that are in contact with each other along the spherical surface and can be rotated in all directions; the external force on the rocking direction of the support device and the container holder is determined by the foregoing The relative movement between the supporting device and the container holder supports the container holder without shaking. The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the container holder comprises: a support plate for supporting the container; a pressing plate for pressing the container from above; and the support plate A screw device for fastening to the aforementioned pressing plate. The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces as described in item 1 or 2 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the guide is made of at least the bottom surface of the inner container holder as a spherical closed box. The shaft insertion portion is formed at the lowest point of the bottom surface. The container holder and the guide are arranged in the guide, and the shaft system protrudes from the center of the lower portion of the container holder. The shaft is inserted and integrated through the shaft insertion portion, and a weight is installed at the lower end of the shaft. The support device includes a plurality of free ball bearings that support the bottom surface of the box body at a plurality of points; A mounting base on which a ball bearing contacts the bottom surface of the guide. The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to item 3 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the mounting base is provided with: a mounting base; and a plurality of free ball bearing mounting portions standing on the aforementioned mounting base. The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to item 1 or 2 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the guide is composed of a plurality of free ball bearings, and each of the foregoing is mounted on the ball bearing system facing downward. The bottom surface of the container holder, and the supporting device includes: a sealed box body in which at least the bottom surface that can contain the container holder is spherical; and the box body is in contact with the bottom surface side of the container holder In the aforementioned mounting bases each configured by a ball bearing. The shake-free box for transporting cells and tissue pieces according to item 5 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the mounting base is provided with: a setting base; interposed between the center of the aforementioned setting base and the center of the bottom surface of the box body A coil spring; and a plurality of dampers interposed between the installation base and the box body around the coil spring.