阅读说明：本技术 核酸提取仪、自动化核酸提取方法、过滤装置及方法 (Nucleic acid extraction instrument, automatic nucleic acid extraction method, filtering device and method ) 是由 卿志荣 郭新院 于 2020-06-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种核酸提取仪、核酸提取方法、过滤装置以及过滤方法。其中核酸提取仪,包括：第一壳体,限定第一空间,所述第一空间内设置有提取组件,用于在第一空间内进行自动化核酸提取,还包括空气泵以及过滤系统,所述过滤系统包括过滤件,所述过滤件包括容器,用于容纳过滤液；所述过滤系统分别连通所述第一空间以及所述空气泵,使得空气在所述空气泵的作用下经过所述过滤液的过滤再流入第一空间。(The invention provides a nucleic acid extraction apparatus, a nucleic acid extraction method, a filtration device, and a filtration method. Wherein nucleic acid extraction appearance includes: the device comprises a first shell, a second shell, a first air pump, a filter system and a second air pump, wherein the first shell defines a first space, an extraction assembly is arranged in the first space and used for carrying out automatic nucleic acid extraction in the first space, the filter system comprises a filter element, and the filter element comprises a container used for containing filter liquid; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space.)

1. A nucleic acid extractor, comprising:

a first housing defining a first space having an extraction assembly disposed therein for automated nucleic acid extraction within the first space;

an air pump; and

a filtration system comprising a filter element including a receptacle for receiving a filtered fluid; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space.

2. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 1, wherein the filtrate comprises 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution.

3. The nucleic acid isolation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle-shaped container, the interior of the container contains the filtrate, the container has an air inlet and an air outlet, air is introduced into the filtrate in the container through a pipeline, and the filtered air is discharged from the air outlet.

4. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 3, wherein the filter system further comprises a collection container located upstream of the air inlet such that air drawn from the first space is collected by passing through the collection container and filtered by a filtrate introduced into the filter member through a line.

5. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 4, further comprising a second housing providing a second space, the second space having the filtration system and the air pump disposed therein; the second shell is positioned at the bottom of the first shell; the collection container is disposed at the top of the first housing.

6. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 1, wherein the container has an air inlet and an air outlet, which are respectively connected to the first space, so that air circulates through the first space and the filter system by the air pump.

7. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 1, wherein the filtration system comprises:

an air intake assembly including a first filter element including a first receptacle for receiving a first filtered fluid; the first container is provided with a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first air inlet is communicated with the outside, the first air outlet is communicated with the first space, so that air flows through the first air inlet, the first filtrate and the first air outlet in sequence from the outside of the nucleic acid extractor under the action of the air pump and is conveyed to the first space; and

a vent assembly including a second filter element including a second receptacle for receiving a second filtered fluid; the second container has a second air inlet and a second air outlet; the second air inlet is communicated with the first space, and the second air outlet is communicated with the outside, so that air flows through the second air inlet, the second filtrate and the second air outlet from the first space in sequence under the action of the air pump and is discharged out of the nucleic acid extractor.

8. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 7, wherein the air pump comprises a first air pump and a second air pump, and the first air pump is connected to the first filter and the air inlet of the nucleic acid extractor at two ends thereof; and two ends of the second air pump are respectively connected with the second filter element and an air outlet of the nucleic acid extraction instrument.

9. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 1, wherein the first space includes an extraction region including an extraction portion and an air intake region surrounding the extraction region, and the filter system communicates with the air intake region to allow air filtered by the filtrate to enter the first space from the air intake region.

10. The nucleic acid extraction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the extraction region further comprises a pipetting tip recovery section, a pipetting tip placement section, and an amplification section, and the air intake region is provided at the periphery of the extraction section, the pipetting tip recovery section, the pipetting tip placement section, and the amplification section.

11. The nucleic acid extraction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the gas inlet region has a plurality of multi-well plates surrounding the extraction section, the pipette head recovery section, the pipette head placement section, and the amplification section.

12. The nucleic acid extractor of claim 11, further comprising a second housing providing a second space, the second space having the filtration system and the air pump disposed therein; the second shell is positioned at the bottom of the first shell; a plurality of box bodies are arranged in the second space, the box bodies are of an opening structure, and the openings of the box bodies are provided with the porous plates; and a circuit is arranged in at least one of the plurality of box bodies, and the filtering system is communicated with the plurality of box bodies.

13. An automated nucleic acid extraction method, comprising the steps of:

s1, introducing air into a filtrate for filtering to obtain filtered air;

s2, continuously introducing filtered air into an automatic operation space for nucleic acid extraction;

and S3, automatically extracting nucleic acid in the automatic operation space, and introducing air in the nucleic acid extraction operation space into a filtering liquid for filtering to obtain filtered air.

14. The method for extracting nucleic acid according to claim 13, wherein in S3, air in a nucleic acid extraction work space is subjected to the step of S1.

15. The method for extracting nucleic acid according to claim 13, wherein in S1, outside air is introduced into the filtrate and filtered to obtain first filtered air;

in S3, air in the nucleic acid extraction work space is introduced into the filtrate and filtered to obtain second filtered air, and the second filtered air is discharged.

16. The method for extracting nucleic acid according to claim 15, wherein in S2, first filtered air is introduced into the automated working space from an area surrounding an automated working for nucleic acid extraction.

17. The method for extracting nucleic acid according to claim 15, wherein in S2, the first filtered air is introduced into the automated working space from the bottom of the automated working space; in S3, the air in the nucleic acid isolation work space is led out from the top of the automated work space and then introduced into the filtrate.

18. The method for extracting nucleic acid according to claim 13, wherein a 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution is used as a component of the filtrate.

19. A filter device for nucleic acid extraction, air filtration of biosafety cabinets or clean benches, comprising an inlet section, an outlet section and a filter section comprising a container and a filtrate such that air enters the filter device from the inlet section and nucleic acids, viruses and/or bacteria therein are treated by the filtrate and exit the outlet section.

20. The filtration device of claim 19, wherein the filtrate comprises a 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution.

21. A method of filtration for nucleic acid extraction, air filtration in a biosafety cabinet or clean bench comprising:

a1: filtering the air through filtrate to remove nucleic acid, virus and/or bacteria in the air to obtain filtered air;

a2: the filtered air is directed into the space where the work is performed and/or directly discharged into the laboratory.

22. A biosafety cabinet is characterized by comprising

An air pump; and

the first shell defines a first space, and the first space is internally provided with a working space of the biological safety cabinet;

a filtration system comprising a filter element including a receptacle for receiving a filtered fluid; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space.

23. An ultra-clean workbench is characterized by comprising

Air pump, and

the first shell limits a first space, and the first space is internally provided with a working space of the clean bench;

a filtration system comprising a filter element including a receptacle for receiving a filtered fluid; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of biological detection, in particular to a nucleic acid extractor, a nucleic acid extraction method, a filtering device and a filtering method.

Background

In modern molecular biological assays, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic and detection techniques are increasingly showing crucial roles in a wide variety of fields.

For example, early detection and early isolation of patients are critical in the control of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Early detection of patients relies on rapid and accurate nucleic acid detection. Nucleic acid extraction is the starting point of downstream detection and genotyping, is one of the most critical basic methods in molecular biology, has widely penetrated into various life fields such as biology, genetics, medicine and the like, and the quality and integrity of the extracted isolated nucleic acid directly influence the subsequent detection efficiency and accuracy and play a key role after the inception.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to achieve rapid, accurate and large-scale nucleic acid extraction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid extractor.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an automated nucleic acid extraction method.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a filter device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of filtration.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a biosafety cabinet to reduce maintenance costs of the biosafety cabinet.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an ultraclean bench to reduce maintenance costs of the ultraclean bench.

A nucleic acid extractor according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first housing defining a first space, an extraction assembly disposed within the first space for automated nucleic acid extraction within the first space; an air pump; and a filtration system comprising a filter element comprising a receptacle for containing a filtrate; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extractor, the filtrate comprises 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus, the container is a bottle-shaped container, the interior of the container contains the filtrate, the container has an air inlet and an air outlet, air is introduced into the filtrate in the container through a pipeline, and the filtered air is led out from the air outlet.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extraction instrument, the filter system further includes a collection container located upstream of the air inlet such that air drawn from the first space is first collected by the collection container and then filtered by the filtrate introduced into the filter member through the line.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extractor, the nucleic acid extractor further comprises a second housing providing a second space in which the filtration system and air pump are disposed; the second shell is positioned at the bottom of the first shell; the collection container is disposed at the top of the first housing.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extracting apparatus, the container has an air inlet and an air outlet, which are respectively communicated with the first space, so that air circulates in the first space and the filter system by the air pump.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extractor, the filtration system comprises

An air intake assembly including a first filter element including a first receptacle for receiving a first filtered fluid; the first container is provided with a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first air inlet is communicated with the outside, the first air outlet is communicated with the first space, so that air flows through the first air inlet, the first filtrate and the first air outlet in sequence from the outside of the nucleic acid extractor under the action of the air pump and is conveyed to the first space; and

a vent assembly including a second filter element including a second receptacle for receiving a second filtered fluid; the second container has a second air inlet and a second air outlet; the second air inlet is communicated with the first space, and the second air outlet is communicated with the outside, so that air flows through the second air inlet, the second filtrate and the second air outlet from the first space in sequence under the action of the air pump and is discharged out of the nucleic acid extractor.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extractor, the air pump includes a first air pump and a second air pump, and both ends of the first air pump are respectively connected to the first filter and the air inlet of the nucleic acid extractor; and two ends of the second air pump are respectively connected with the second filter element and an air outlet of the nucleic acid extraction instrument.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extractor, the first space includes an extraction region including an extraction portion and an air intake region surrounding the extraction region, and the filter system communicates with the air intake region such that air filtered by the filter liquid enters the first space from the air intake region.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extracting apparatus, the extraction region further includes a pipetting tip recovery section, a pipetting tip placement section, and an amplification section, and the air intake region is provided at the periphery of the extraction section, the pipetting tip recovery section, the pipetting tip placement section, and the amplification section.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extracting apparatus, the gas inlet region has a plurality of multi-well plates surrounding the extracting section, the pipette head recovering section, the pipette head placing section, and the amplifying section.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extractor, the nucleic acid extractor further comprises a second housing providing a second space in which the filtration system and air pump are disposed; the second shell is positioned at the bottom of the first shell; a plurality of box bodies are arranged in the second space, the box bodies are of an opening structure, and the openings of the box bodies are provided with the porous plates; and a circuit is arranged in at least one of the plurality of box bodies, and the filtering system is communicated with the plurality of box bodies.

According to another aspect of the invention, an automated nucleic acid extraction method comprises the following steps:

s1, introducing air into a filtrate for filtering to obtain filtered air;

s2, continuously introducing filtered air into an automatic operation space for nucleic acid extraction;

and S3, automatically extracting nucleic acid in the automatic operation space, and introducing air in the nucleic acid extraction operation space into a filtering liquid for filtering to obtain filtered air.

In one or more embodiments of the method for extracting nucleic acid, in the S3, air of a nucleic acid extraction work space is subjected to the step of S1.

In one or more embodiments of the method for extracting nucleic acid, in S1, outside air is introduced into a filtrate and filtered to obtain first filtered air;

in S3, air in the nucleic acid extraction work space is introduced into the filtrate and filtered to obtain second filtered air, and the second filtered air is discharged.

In one or more embodiments of the method for extracting nucleic acid, in the S2, first filtered air is introduced into the automated working space from an area surrounding an automated working in which nucleic acid extraction is performed.

In one or more embodiments of the method for extracting nucleic acid, in the S2, the first filtered air is introduced into the automated working space from the bottom of the automated working space; in S3, the air in the nucleic acid isolation work space is led out from the top of the automated work space and then introduced into the filtrate.

In one or more embodiments of the nucleic acid extraction method, a 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution is used as a component of the filtrate.

A filter device according to a further aspect of the present invention, for use in nucleic acid extraction, air filtration of a biosafety cabinet or clean bench, comprises an inlet section, an outlet section and a filter section, the filter section comprising a container and a filtrate such that air enters the filter device from the inlet section and nucleic acids, viruses or bacteria therein are treated by the filtrate and exits the outlet section.

In one or more embodiments of the filtration device, the filtrate comprises 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a filtration method for nucleic acid extraction, air filtration of a biosafety cabinet or a clean bench, comprises:

a1: filtering the air through filtrate to remove nucleic acid, virus or bacteria in aerosol in the air to obtain filtered air;

a2: the filtered air is directed into the space where the work is performed and/or directly discharged into the laboratory.

The beneficial effects of the invention include but are not limited to:

the filter liquid is adopted to filter the air entering and the air exhausted in the nucleic acid extraction process, the nucleic acid in the aerosol generated in the nucleic acid extraction process is removed, the sample for nucleic acid extraction is prevented from being polluted, and the air in the nucleic acid extractor can also be directly exhausted into a laboratory, so that the nucleic acid extractor does not need to be placed into a biological safety cabinet for nucleic acid extraction operation, more nucleic acid extractors can be placed in a single laboratory, the construction requirement of the laboratory for nucleic acid extraction is also reduced, the filter liquid can be replaced quickly, simply, conveniently and safely, and the rapid, accurate and large-scale nucleic acid extraction operation can be performed in a short time. In addition, the filtrate is adopted for filtering, and because nucleic acid, virus or bacteria are killed in the filtrate, the filtrate is directly poured into a waste liquid tank and then is supplemented with new filtrate during maintenance, so that the operation is convenient, the required protection level is lower, and the maintenance cost is greatly reduced.

Drawings

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic block diagrams showing the structures of the nucleic acid isolation instrument according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall structure of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an internal structure of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the area a of fig. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the internal structure of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the area B of fig. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a filtration system of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an extraction unit of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an extraction region of the nucleic acid isolation apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an automated nucleic acid extraction method according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

The present invention is further described in the following description with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein the details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, but it is apparent that the present invention can be embodied in many other forms different from those described herein, and it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in many different forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, the nucleic acid extractor 100 includes a first housing 10, a filter system 20, and an air pump 5. The first casing 10 defines a first space 1, and an extraction module 2 is provided in the first space 1 to perform an automated nucleic acid extraction operation in the first space 1. The filter system 20 includes a filter element including a receptacle for receiving a filtered fluid; the filtering system 20 is connected to the first space 1 and the air pump 5 through a pipeline, so that the air is filtered by the air pump 5 and then flows into the first space 1. The specific form of the filtering system 20 may be a first embodiment as shown in fig. 1A and 2, the filtering system 20 includes an air intake assembly 3 and an air exhaust assembly 4, and the air flow movement is driven by an air pump 5. The intake assembly 3 comprises a first filter element 32, the first filter element 32 comprising a first receptacle 321 for receiving a first filtered liquid 322; the first container 321 has a first air inlet 31 and a first air outlet 33, the first air inlet 31 is communicated with the outside of the nucleic acid extractor 100, and the first air outlet 33 is communicated with the first space 1, so that air flows in from the outside of the nucleic acid extractor 100, i.e., the laboratory environment where the nucleic acid extractor 100 is placed, through the air inlet 301 of the nucleic acid extractor 100 under the action of the air pump 5, sequentially flows through the first air inlet 31, the first filtrate 322 and the first air outlet 33 via a pipeline, and is conveyed to the first space 1 via the pipeline, thereby preventing nucleic acid in the aerosol in the laboratory air from entering the first space 1 at the moment of opening the nucleic acid extractor, and causing contamination to the sample. The exhaust assembly 4 comprises a second filter element 42, the second filter element 42 comprising a second container 421 for containing a second filtrate 422; the second container 421 has a second air inlet 41 and a second air outlet 43, the second air inlet 41 communicates with the first space 1, the second air outlet 42 communicates with the outside of the nucleic acid extracting apparatus 100, so that air flows from the first space 1 through the second air inlet 41, the second filter 42, and the second air outlet 43 in this order by the air pump 5, and is discharged to the outside of the nucleic acid extracting apparatus 100 through a pipe and an air outlet (not shown) of the nucleic acid extracting apparatus 100, that is, in a laboratory environment in which the nucleic acid extracting apparatus 100 is placed, and the pipe from the first space 1 to the second air inlet 41 is provided with an air check valve to prevent air with aerosol drawn from the first space 1 from flowing back into the first space again. Of course, the pipelines between the air inlet 301 and the first air inlet 31, the pipelines between the first air outlet 33 and the first space 1, and the pipelines between the second air outlet 43 and the air outlet of the nucleic acid extractor can be provided with air check valves, so that the air flows in one direction, the air flow in one direction in the pipelines is accelerated, and the air with aerosol nucleic acid is prevented from stagnating in the pipelines. The exhaust assembly 4 has the beneficial effect that the nucleic acid aerosol generated in the nucleic acid extraction process can be prevented from polluting the laboratory environment. The first filter member 32 and the second filter member 42 may have the same structure or different structures. This embodiment adopts filtrate 322 filtered air, compare in prior art adopt HEPA filter or air filter's technical scheme, its beneficial effect lies in can filter the aerosol nucleic acid in the air more effectively, make the inside air of nucleic acid extraction appearance also can directly discharge to the laboratory, make the nucleic acid extraction appearance need not to put into biological safety cabinet and carry out the nucleic acid extraction operation, not only make single laboratory can place more nucleic acid extraction appearance, the construction requirement of the laboratory that carries out the nucleic acid extraction has also been reduced, be favorable to fast, the accuracy and carry out the nucleic acid extraction operation on a large scale. And, adopt the filtrate to filter, when changing filtration system 20 when maintaining, only need with the filtrate pour into waste liquid jar can, compare in prior art need the operating personnel possess high-level protective equipment and change filter screen or air filter membrane, and carry out sterile maintenance operation to the environment, greatly simplified the maintenance process to filtration system 20, realize quick, conveniently maintaining filtration system 20, this to need carry out the condition of a large amount of nucleic acid extraction operations in the short time, practical value more possesses, can significantly reduce the nucleic acid extraction appearance shut down the required time of maintaining, the biggest assurance nucleic acid extracts quick, the operation in succession. The specific form of the filter system 20 can also be a second embodiment as shown in fig. 1B and 5, the portion of the first space 1 of the second embodiment being identical to the first embodiment and not repeated here. In the filtering system 20, the air inlet 201 and the air outlet 202 are respectively communicated with the first space 1 through pipelines, and air circularly flows in the first space 1 and the filtering system 20 under the action of the air pump 5, specifically, under the action of the air pump 5, the air in the first space 1 is sucked, enters a container through the air inlet 201, is filtered by a filtering liquid, is discharged from the air outlet 202 and enters the first space 1, and the pipelines of the air inlet 201 communicated with the first space 1 and the pipelines of the air outlet 202 communicated with the first space 1 can be provided with air check valves so as to prevent the air pumped from the first space 1 from flowing back to the first space 1, so as to prevent the environment of the first space 1 from being polluted by aerosol. With the second embodiment, in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, the first space 1 can be continuously and cyclically filled with clean air, so that the air in the first space 1 can be refreshed more quickly, but the sealing performance of the nucleic acid isolation instrument 100 is required to be higher.

In some embodiments, the composition of the filtrate, i.e., the first filtrate 322 and/or the second filtrate 422, can comprise 0.1% to 10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution; the second filtrate comprises 0.1% -10% hypochlorite solution, or dilute hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide solution, or nuclease solution. The comprehensive cost and the filtering effect are good, and the effect of adopting 0.1-10% hypochlorite solution, such as sodium hypochlorite solution is good; and the sodium hypochlorite solution has strong bactericidal action and can well eliminate the influence of bacteria high-concentration plasmids, so that the protection requirement on the solution replacement is low, and the operation of replacing the filtrate is simple, safe and quick. The nuclease solution is also effective, but at a higher cost.

Referring to fig. 5 and 7, a specific structure of the filtering system 20 is illustrated by taking a second embodiment as an example, the filtering system includes a filtering member 203, including containers 204, 205, which contain filtering liquids 206, 207, and air is drawn from the first space 1, enters the filtering system 20 through the air inlet 201, is filtered by the filtering liquids 206, 207, and is discharged into the first space 1 through the air outlet 202. The filter system 20 thus configured is simple in construction and easy to machine and assemble. But should not be limited to the structures shown in the figures. The filtration system 20 can also be highly integrated, for example, it can be as small as a bottle-shaped container with a diameter similar to the diameter of the tube, so as to be integrated in the tube for integration in a smaller nucleic acid extractor. Furthermore, the pipelines upstream of the air inlet 201 and downstream of the air outlet 202 are respectively provided with a molecular filter 7, so that impurities in the air can be filtered, and the service lives of the air pump 5 and the filter elements are prolonged.

With continued reference to fig. 2 and fig. 3, the air pump 5 may be embodied by a first air pump and a second air pump, both ends of the first air pump are respectively connected to the first filter 32 and the air inlet 301 of the nucleic acid extractor; two ends of the second air pump are respectively connected with the second filter element 42 and the air outlet of the nucleic acid extractor. However, the above description is not limiting, and the entire filter system may be driven by only a single air pump. The use of the first and second filter elements 32, 42 in conjunction with an air pump facilitates control of the pressure of the air pump and thus the flow of air through the filter system 20 according to experimental requirements.

With continued reference to fig. 2, the particular construction of the venting assembly 4 may also comprise a collecting container 44, the collecting container 44 being located upstream of the filtering element, for example upstream of the second filtering element 42 in the first embodiment, so that the air extracted from the first space 1 enters the collecting container 44 through the collection inlet 401, is initially collected by the collecting container 44 and is then conveyed to the second filtering element 42 by means of a pipe, so that the air extracted from the first space 1 can be initially collected in order to control the flow of air towards the filtering liquid for filtering, in order to further optimize the filtering effect of the aerosol generated during the nucleic acid extraction process. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid extractor 100 further comprises a second housing 30, the second housing 30 providing a second space 6, the second space 6 having the filter system 20 and the air pump 5 disposed therein; the second housing 30 is located at the bottom of the first housing 10, and the collection container 44 and the collection inlet 401 are disposed at the top of the first housing 10. The beneficial effect of such setting lies in, to the three-dimensional circulation transport of air current top-down of first space 1, further improved the gas circulation degree of first space 1 to in time take out and handle the aerosol nucleic acid that produces in the nucleic acid extraction process, prevent the pollution of aerosol to the sample of being drawed, and the filter container that has the filtrate can all be placed in the bottom of nucleic acid extraction appearance, so also easily arrange filter container in nucleic acid extraction appearance 100, maintain, for example can operate in the lump when having inspected the filtrate and having added the filtrate, convenient to user's transport and maintenance to nucleic acid extraction appearance. An air line from the collection container 44 at the top to the second air inlet 41 in the second space 6 at the bottom may be embedded inside the wall surfaces of the first casing 10 and the second casing 30.

Referring to fig. 3, 8 and 9, the first space 1 includes an extraction area 11 and an air intake area 12, the extraction area 11 includes an extraction portion 111, the air intake area 12 is disposed around the extraction area 11, taking the first embodiment as an example, and the air intake area 12 communicates with the first air outlet 33, so that the air filtered by the air intake assembly 3 enters the first space 1 from the air intake area 12, which makes the filtered air preferentially reach the extraction area 11, ensures that the extraction area 11 is full of clean air, and prevents pollution of aerosol nucleic acid left after previous operation on the sample of the ongoing extraction operation. Further, the nucleic acid extracting apparatus 1 of the embodiment can perform PCR amplification, and the first space 1 is further provided with a pipette tip collecting part 112, a pipette tip placing part 113, and an amplifying part 114, and the air intake region 11 is provided at the periphery of the extracting part 111, the pipette tip collecting part 112, the pipette tip placing part 113, and the amplifying part 114 to fill clean air around the above components in time, thereby preventing aerosol remaining around each operation step from affecting the ongoing operation.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the air intake region 12 may have a specific structure having a plurality of multi-well plates 121, the plurality of multi-well plates 121 surrounding the extraction section 111, the pipette head collection section 112, the pipette head placement section 113, and the amplification section 114. With the structure of the porous plate, the air outlet area can be increased, and the air filtered by the air inlet assembly 3 forms airflow movement around the components, so that the components keep the air clean and prevent the pollution of aerosol nucleic acid generated in the residual and ongoing operation steps. Further, referring to fig. 5, a plurality of boxes 8 are disposed in the second space 30, each box 8 has an opening, a porous plate 121 is disposed on the opening, a circuit is disposed in at least one of the boxes 8, program control for automatically extracting nucleic acid, such as control of a robot arm and control of an air pump, is performed, and the air inlet 201 and the air outlet 202 communicate with the plurality of boxes 8. So set up, both can carry out the preliminary collection through the filtered air of filtrating, strengthen its gas flow effect from porous plate 121, also integrate filtration system 20 with the part of nucleic acid extraction appearance 100 itself, be favorable to the miniaturization of nucleic acid extraction appearance 100.

It will be appreciated that the filtration system 20 described above may also be used in a bio-safety cabinet, including an air pump, a first housing, and the filter system 20, as well as in an ultra clean bench. The first shell defines a first space, and the first space is internally provided with a working space of the biological safety cabinet; the filter system 20 includes a filter element including a receptacle for receiving a filtered fluid; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space. Similarly, the clean bench may also include an air pump, a first housing, and a filter system 20. The first shell defines a first space, and the first space is internally provided with a working space of the biological safety cabinet; the filter system 20 includes a filter element including a receptacle for receiving a filtered fluid; the filtering system is respectively communicated with the first space and the air pump, so that air is filtered by the filtering liquid under the action of the air pump and then flows into the first space. The air pump described above is intended to be a broad air pump, i.e. a machine for delivering air or for pressurizing air, and may take many forms, for example a fan or a type of air pump as described above. Adopt the filtrate to carry out filtered air's beneficial effect in biosafety cabinet, superclean bench lies in, because nucleic acid, virus or bacterium have been killed at the filtrate, consequently to biosafety cabinet, superclean bench and nucleic acid extraction appearance when maintaining directly pour into after the useless liquid jar with new filtrate can, for adopting HEPA filter or air filter membrane's technical scheme, the scheme introduced in the embodiment can be so that maintain convenient operation, the protection level that needs is also lower, make maintenance cost greatly reduced, and can carry out frequent change filtrate and maintain, so that the filter effect further improves. From the above description, and with reference to FIG. 10, it can be appreciated that the method for performing automated nucleic acid extraction comprises the following steps:

s1, introducing air into a filtrate for filtering to obtain filtered air; for example, in the first embodiment, air in a laboratory where the nucleic acid isolation apparatus 100 is located is introduced into the first filter 32 and filtered to obtain first filtered air; alternatively, as in the second embodiment, the air in the first space 1 is drawn through the air inlet 201 and directed into the filter element 203, and then filtered through the filtrates 206, 207 to obtain filtered air.

S2, continuously introducing filtered air into an automatic operation space for nucleic acid extraction; for example, in the first space 1 shown in fig. 2;

specifically, for example, in the first embodiment, in step S2, first filtered air is introduced into an automated work space from an area surrounding the automated work for nucleic acid extraction; introducing first filtered air through perforated plate 121 to a location around extraction zone 30, such as shown in FIG. 3; for example, in the second embodiment, the filtered air is reintroduced into the first space 1 through the air outlet holes 202.

S3, automatically extracting nucleic acid in the automatic operation space, and introducing air in the nucleic acid extraction operation space into a filtering liquid for filtering to obtain filtered air; for example, an automatic extraction operation of extracting nucleic acids by a magnetic bead method is performed in the extraction region by the extraction unit shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. In the first embodiment, the air in the first space 1 is introduced into the second filter pack 42 to obtain second filtered air, and the second filtered air is discharged into the laboratory space; in the second embodiment, the air from the first space 1 is subjected to the operation of step S1 to obtain filtered air, which is introduced into the first space 1. Specifically, in step S2, in the first embodiment, first filtered air is introduced into the automation working space from the bottom of the automation space; in step S3, the air in the nucleic acid extraction work space is led out from the top of the automated work space and then the filtrate is introduced. For example, as shown in fig. 2, the first filtered air is introduced into the first space 1 from the perforated plate 121 at the bottom of the first space 1, and the air inside the first space 1 is collected by the third filter provided at the top end of the first space and introduced into the second filter 4 for filtering.

So can realize preventing that the sample of nucleic acid extraction from being contaminated to the inside air of nucleic acid extraction appearance also can directly discharge to the laboratory, perhaps directly reuse inputs to first space in, makes the nucleic acid extraction appearance need not to put into the beneficial effect that biosafety cabinet carries out the nucleic acid extraction operation.

While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the steps are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein or not shown and described herein, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. For example, S2 and S3 may be performed simultaneously, that is, the nucleic acid extraction operation may be performed while introducing air.

As can be obtained from the above embodiments, the air filtration method for a nucleic acid extractor, a biosafety cabinet or an ultra clean bench may include:

step A1: filtering the air through filtrate to remove nucleic acid, virus and/or bacteria in the air to obtain filtered air;

step A2: the filtered air is directed into the space where the work is performed and/or directly discharged into the laboratory.

In summary, the beneficial effects of the nucleic acid extractor, the automated nucleic acid extraction method, the gas filtering device and the gas filtering method described in the above embodiments include, but are not limited to:

the filter liquid is adopted to filter the air entering and the air exhausted in the nucleic acid extraction process, the nucleic acid in the aerosol generated in the nucleic acid extraction process is removed, the sample for nucleic acid extraction is prevented from being polluted, and the air in the nucleic acid extractor can also be directly exhausted into a laboratory, so that the nucleic acid extractor does not need to be placed into a biological safety cabinet for nucleic acid extraction operation, more nucleic acid extractors can be placed in a single laboratory, the construction requirement of the laboratory for nucleic acid extraction is also reduced, and the rapid, accurate and large-scale nucleic acid extraction operation is facilitated. In addition, the filtering liquid is adopted for filtering, and because nucleic acid, virus or bacteria are killed in the filtering liquid, the nucleic acid, virus or bacteria are directly poured into the waste liquid tank and then are supplemented with new filtering liquid during maintenance, so that the operation is convenient, the required protection level is low, and the maintenance cost of the biological safety cabinet and the ultra-clean workbench is greatly reduced.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention, and variations and modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any modification, equivalent change and modification of the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention are within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention, unless departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention.