Pretreatment apparatus and mass analyzing apparatus equipped with the same
View Patent ↗A biological sample preprocessing apparatus includes solid-phase extraction cartridges which purify/concentrate specific constituents of a biological sample, cartridge holders which hold one of the solid-phase extraction cartridges, a cartridge transport that carries the cartridge holders along a continuous track surface, a sample probe that discharges the biological sample into the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holders, a water-based solvent probe that discharges a water-based solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holder, an organic solvent probe that discharges an organic solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holder, a pressure loader that applies an air pressure load to the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holder, and a control unit that controls operation of the cartridge transport, the sample probe, the solvent probes, and the pressure loader, wherein sample addition and solvent addition alternate with pressure loading.
1. A biological sample preprocessing apparatus, comprising:
solid-phase extraction cartridges that each purify/concentrate specific constituents of a biological sample;
cartridge holders that each hold one of the solid-phase extraction cartridges;
cartridge transport means that carries the cartridge holders along a continuous track surface thereof;
a sample probe that discharges the biological sample into the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in one of the cartridge holders;
a water-based solvent probe that discharges a water-based solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holder;
an organic solvent probe that discharges an organic solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holder;
a pressure loader that applies an pressure load to the solid-phase extraction cartridge held in the cartridge holder;
an elute probe that suctions/discharges a eluted extract and introduced the eluate into a mass analyzer;
a washing port that washes the eluate probe;
a receiving tray transport means configured to carry receiving tray holders along a continuous track surface thereof, the receiving tray transport means and the cartridge transport means rotating about a first rotational axis, the cartridge transport means being disposed over the receiving tray transport means, and the washing port being disposed at a point on an edge of the receiving tray transport means; and
a controller that controls operation of the cartridge transport means, the sample probe, the water-based solvent probe, the organic solvent probe, the eluate probe, and the pressure loader;
wherein the cartridge holders are located in four places and the pressure loaders in two places, and the pressure loading positions B and D, and the sample and solvent adding positions A and C are located alternately on a circumference of the cartridge transport means, which is a rotating body;
wherein the controller is configured to perform:
a procedure of transporting the solid-phase extraction cartridge and a receiving tray to a cartridge storage unit and a receiving tray storage unit;
a procedure of discharging the organic solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge at the position A;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position B by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of applying a pressure in the solid-phase extraction cartridge by the pressure loader at the position B;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position C by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of discharging the water-based solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge at the position C;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position D by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of applying a pressure in the solid-phase extraction cartridge by the pressure loader at the position D;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position A by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of discharging a sample and an internal standard substance into the solid-phase extraction cartridge at the position A;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position B by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of applying a pressure in the solid-phase extraction cartridge by the pressure loader at the position B;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position C by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of discharging the water-based solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge at the position C;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position D by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge by the pressure loader at the position D;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position A by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of discharging the organic solvent into the solid-phase extraction cartridge at the position A;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position B by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of applying a pressure in the solid-phase extraction cartridge by the pressure loader at the position B;
a procedure of rotating the solid-phase extraction cartridge to the position C by the cartridge transport means;
a procedure of injecting an analyte-containing eluate into an eluate injection port by the eluate probe at the position C; and
a procedure of discarding the solid-phase extraction cartridge and the receiving tray.
2. A mass analyzing apparatus comprising: an eluate injection unit that introduces specific constituents of a biological sample eluted from the biological sample preprocessing apparatus according to claim 1 ; and a mass analytical unit that analyzes a mass of the eluate injected into the eluate injection unit.
3. The biological sample preprocessing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the cartridge transport means is circular, and a series of process steps are completed while the cartridge transport means rotates through three full turns.