Abstract: When injecting a sample into carrier-liquid channels (3A and 3B), injection shock is prevented. Septa 13 and 14 constitute the upper wall and the lower wall of a sample injection part (11) of the carrier-liquid channels (3A and 3B). A needle (27) can vertically penetrate the septum (13) on the upper wall side and also penetrate the septum (14) on the lower wall side. A needle moving unit (28) induces the needle (27) to penetrate the septum (14) on the lower wall side and induces the tip of the needle to face the inside of a sample vessel (26). A measurement pump (29) is operated for drawing and as a result a sample is drawn into the needle (27). Next, the needle (27) is extracted from the septum (14) on the lower wall side, the tip of the needle is induced to face the inside of the sample injection part (11), the measurement pump (29) is caused to discharge and as a result the sample within the needle (27) is injected.

Abstract: Provided is a chromatography column stored in a storage container. The storage container for the column includes: a container body for storing the chromatography column; and a cover threadedly engaging with the container body. A groove for threaded engagement with the cover is formed in an inner wall of the container body. Sealing members are arranged on an inner bottom surface of the container body and a lower surface of the cover, respectively. When the container body and the cover are threadedly engaged with each other, the cover enters the container body to cause the sealing members on the inner bottom surface of the container body and the lower surface of the cover to press both a lower surface and an upper surface of the column, to thereby fix the column inside the container body and seal a fluid passage hole of the column.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a rapid, convenient, and highly accurate method for determining the prognosis of cancer. The present invention provides a method for determining the prognosis of a renal cell carcinoma patient, comprising: (1) treating genomic DNA prepared from a renal tissue of a subject with bisulfite; (2) amplifying the bisulfite-treated DNA by PCR; (3) subjecting the obtained PCR amplification product to ion exchange chromatography; (4) obtaining the retention time of a detection signal obtained by the chromatography; and (5) determining the renal cell carcinoma of the subject as having poor prognosis when the result of the step (4) is shorter than a retention time serving as a reference.

Abstract: The present invention provides eluent for ion-exchange chromatography, wherein the eluent allows separation and detection of a target nucleic acid such as a PCR-amplified product, a restriction enzyme fragment of the PCR-amplified product, or a restriction enzyme fragment of a nucleic acid in a short time with high separation performance. The present invention also provides a method of analyzing nucleic acid chains by ion-exchange chromatography using the eluent.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for rapidly and simply detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms. The present invention is a method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, comprising analyzing wild-type and mutant-type products amplified by an AS-PCR method using ion-exchange chromatography.

Abstract: Provided is a chromatography column stored in a storage container. The storage container for the column includes: a container body for storing the chromatography column; and a cover threadedly engaging with the container body. A groove for threaded engagement with the cover is formed in an inner wall of the container body. Sealing members are arranged on an inner bottom surface of the container body and a lower surface of the cover, respectively. When the container body and the cover are threadedly engaged with each other, the cover enters the container body to cause the sealing members on the inner bottom surface of the container body and the lower surface of the cover to press both a lower surface and an upper surface of the column, to thereby fix the column inside the container body and seal a fluid passage hole of the column.

Abstract: Provided are a reagent supply method and device capable of using up a reagent in a container without a remnant to the extent possible, and supplying the reagent to an analysis device without mixing air bubbles even when the remaining amount of the reagent is extremely small. The reagent supply device includes: at least one reagent container including: a container body for storing a liquid reagent; and a reagent supply port arranged on the container body; and a support member for supporting the at least one reagent container so that the reagent supply port is positioned on a lower side of the container body. The reagent supply port is sealed by a plug including at least one nozzle penetration portion. The at least one nozzle penetration portion is formed of a material having a Shore hardness of from A5° to A90°.

Abstract: A mechanism for collecting a trace of a biological sample to be used for a biological sample analysis, and for preparing a diluted solution of the sample. A container for specimen preparation includes: a biological sample collecting device; and a container for sample dilution. The biological sample collecting device includes: a capillary tube having openings formed at both ends thereof; and a support member for supporting the capillary tube. The container for sample dilution includes: an opening; and a swirl flow generating member formed on an inner wall of the container for sample dilution. The capillary tube of the biological sample collecting device is arranged inside the container for sample dilution by the support member.

Abstract: A gradient liquid feed device allows reduction in size of a high performance liquid chromatography type sample analyzer. The gradient liquid feed device includes a plurality of carrier liquid reservoir tanks configured to store carrier liquids of mutually different compositions, a plurality of single plunger pumps capable of drawing and discharging the carrier liquid from the plurality of carrier liquid reservoir tanks, a mixer configured to mix the carrier liquids discharged from the plurality of liquid feed pumps and feed the mixed carrier liquid, and a pulse damper in communication with the mixer and configured to absorb pulsation that may occur during liquid feeding. The single plunger pumps have a function for variably setting a length of stroke for drawing and discharging the carrier liquid and a function for variably setting a ratio between the carrier liquid drawing time and the carrier liquid discharge time.

Abstract: Provided is a rapid and simple method of detecting methylated DNA. The method of detecting methylated DNA includes the following steps of: (1) treating sample DNA with a hydrogen sulfite; (2) amplifying the sample DNA treated with the hydrogen sulfite by PCR; and (3) subjecting the resultant PCR amplification product to ion-exchange chromatography.

Abstract: A cylindrical column body (101) holds a filler. A pair of end caps (105, 106) covers both ends of the column body (101) and has a flow hole for a carrier liquid (111, 112) arranged in the center thereof. An end surface on the side of a large diameter portion (113a, 114a) of a pair of columnar joint members (113, 114) contacts an end surface of the pair of end caps (105, 106) and also has a communication hole (115, 116) arranged in the center thereof. A sealing member (117, 118) is arranged on a contact surface between the end cap (105, 106) and the joint member (113, 114). A bottomed cylindrical case (121) accommodates the pair of end caps (105, 106) and a large diameter portion of the pair of joint members (113, 114) in an engaged state. A cover member (124) is detachably installed on a side of an opening of the case (121).

Abstract: A liquid chromatography apparatus is provided with a sample preparation unit, a column that separates components of a sample, an eluent supplier that includes a feeder for supplying eluents to the column, a flow path directional valve capable of introducing fixed amounts of the sample and the eluents to the column, an analyzer for analyzing a test solution composed of the sample components separated by the column and one of the eluents, and a controller, wherein the eluent supplier supplies the eluents to the flow path directional valve in an unmixed state. As a result of employing this configuration, analysis time is shortened and eluent consumption is reduced.

Abstract: A switching valve includes: (A) a rotor including: (1) a center pipe connection port, (2) a first in-valve flow path in communication with the center pipe connection port, and (3) an arc-like second in-valve flow path; (B) a stator including: (4) a first pipe connection port group which is brought into communication independently with the center pipe connection port via the first in-valve flow path when the rotor is turned, and (5) a second pipe connection port group which is brought into mutual communication via the second in-valve flow path when the rotor is turned; and (C) an arrangement of the rotor and the stator satisfying the following relationship: the state of communication or non-communication among the second pipe connection port group via the second in-valve flow path is switched in accordance with the state of communication between the first pipe connection port group and the center pipe connection port.

Abstract: Provided is a sample injection device for flow-type analysis including a cylindrical needle (27) which penetrates through an upper wall and a lower wall of a sample injection portion (22) of a carrier-liquid channel through ring-like sealing members (25, 26). The needle (27) includes an inner hole (41) which is closed on a side of a lower end of the needle (27) and open on an outer peripheral surface as a horizontal hole (42). The needle moving unit (44) induces the needle (27) to move downward so that the horizontal hole (42) faces an inside of a sample vessel (40) to draw the sample to the inside of the needle (27). Then the moving unit (44) induces the needle (27) to move upward so that the horizontal hole (42) faces an inside of the sample injection portion (22) to inject the sample in the inside of the needle (27). At an intermediate position, washing liquid is discharged from the horizontal hole (42) of the needle (27), and the washing liquid is recovered via a discharge path (15).

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a liquid chromatography component including a column and a prefilter, which is hard to cause an increase of supplied liquid pressure even when the measurement of a sample is repeated. The present invention is a liquid chromatography component, which includes: a column with filler particles filled therein; and a prefilter, the filler particles having an average particle size in the range of 2 to 20 ?m, the prefilter having a filtering particle size in the range of ? to ? of the average particle size of the filler particles.