# US 11,998,908 B2 · Preprocessing device, preprocessing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,908 B2 - Document ID: US11998908B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/721,572 - Filed: 2022-04-15 - Published: 2022-10-20 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-20 - Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation - Applicants: Shimadzu Corporation - Inventors: Hiroshi Iwata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998908B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/50255: {Multi-well filtration} - B01L 3/5635: {connecting two containers face to face, e.g. comprising a filter} - G01N 1/4077: {by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids} - G01N 33/491: {by separating the blood components (G01N15/05 takes precedence)} - B01L 2200/0647: Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles - B01L 2200/0684: Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles - B01L 2300/0627: Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated - B01L 2300/0681: Filter - G01N 2001/4088: {filtration} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract In a recovery device, a removing target such as a blood cell is removed from a liquid sample in a sample container using a first filter unit, and a microorganism is filtered from the liquid sample using a second filter unit. A controller causes a first switch to block a flow channel in response to a sensor detecting a bubble. A medium flows from a second connection unit of the second filter unit toward a first connection unit. Thus, the microorganism filtered by the second filter unit is recovered by a recovery container together with the medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A preprocessing device for a liquid sample, the preprocessing device comprising: a sample container that accommodates a liquid sample containing a blood cell; a first filter unit that includes a first filter for removing the blood cell from the liquid sample in the sample container; a second filter unit that includes a second filter, a first connection unit, and a second connection unit, the second filter configured to capture a microorganism that can be contained in the liquid sample, the first connection unit and the second connection unit facing each other with the second filter interposed therebetween, and a bubble point of the second filter being higher than a bubble point of the first filter; a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a third flow channel being formed in the preprocessing device, the first flow channel connecting the second filter unit to the sample container and the first filter unit through the first connection unit, the first flow channel connecting the second filter unit to a waste liquid recovery unit that receives a waste liquid discharged from the second filter unit, through the second connection unit, the second flow channel connecting the second filter unit to a cleaning solution accommodation unit that accommodates a cleaning solution for cleaning the second filter, through the first connection unit, the second flow channel connecting the second filter unit to the waste liquid recovery unit through the second connection unit, the third flow channel connecting the second filter unit to a recovered liquid accommodation unit that accommodates a recovered liquid for recovering the microorganism captured by the second filter, through the second connection unit, and the third flow channel connecting the second filter unit to a recovery unit that accommodates the recovered liquid passing through the second filter unit, through the first connection unit; and a blocking element configured to block the first flow channel in response to a decrease in a remaining amount of the liquid sample in an upstream position with respect to the second filter unit in the first flow channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The preprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element includes: a bubble sensor that detects presence or absence of a bubble upstream the second filter unit in the first flow channel; a switch that switches opening and closing of a predetermined portion upstream the second filter unit of the first flow channel; and a controller that controls the switch to close the predetermined portion in response to the bubble sensor detecting the bubble. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The preprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element includes: a sensor that detects the remaining amount of the liquid sample in the sample container; a switch that switches opening and closing of a predetermined portion upstream the second filter unit of the first flow channel; and a controller that causes the switch to close the predetermined portion in response to the sensor detecting that the remaining amount is less than or equal to a predetermined value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The preprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the sample container includes an opening through which the liquid sample in the sample container flows into the first flow channel, and the blocking element includes a member in which a state changes so as to close the opening according to a decrease in the remaining amount of the liquid sample in the sample container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The preprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the recovered liquid is a liquid medium used for culturing the microorganism. ### Claim 6 A preprocessing method comprising: removing a removing target from a liquid sample accommodated in a sample container using a first filter and filtering a microorganism from a filtrate of the first filter using a second filter, a bubble point of the second filter being higher than a bubble point of the first filter, the filtering the microorganism including supplying the filtrate of the first filter to one side of the second filter and receiving a waste liquid from another side of the second filter; blocking a flow channel between the second filter and the sample container in response to a decrease in a remaining amount of the liquid sample in an upstream position with respect to the second filter in the filtering the microorganism; supplying a cleaning solution to the one side of the second filter and receiving a waste liquid from the other side of the second filter to clean the second filter; and supplying a recovered liquid to the other side of the second filter and receiving the recovered liquid from the one side of the second filter to recover the microorganism from the second filter. ### Claim 7 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program executed by a computer to control a preprocessing device including a first filter and a second filter, wherein the computer is programmed to: remove a removing target from a liquid sample accommodated in a sample container using the first filter and filter a microorganism from a filtrate of the first filter using the second filter, a bubble point of the second filter being higher than a bubble point of the first filter, the filtering the microorganism including supplying the filtrate of the first filter to one side of the second filter and receiving a waste liquid from an other side of the second filter; block a flow channel between the second filter and the sample container in response to a decrease in a remaining amount of the liquid sample in an upstream position with respect to the second filter in the filtering the microorganism; supply a cleaning solution to the one side of the second filter and receive a waste liquid from the other side of the second filter to clean the second filter; and supply a recovered liquid to the other side of the second filter and receive the recovered liquid from the one side of the second filter to recover the microorganism from the second filter.