# US 12,594,552 B2 · Container and liquid handling device

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- Number: US 12,594,552 B2
- Document ID: US12594552B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/069,352
- Filed: 2022-12-21
- Published: 2023-06-29
- Granted: 2026-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-24
- Assignees: Enplas Corporation
- Applicants: Enplas Corporation
- Inventors: Shigeru Uemura; Koji Noguchi; Daiki Kurihara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594552B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures}
- C12M 27/00: {Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel (by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J)}
- B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof
- B01L 2400/0475: specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}

## Abstract

A container of the present invention includes a tube part and a spiral plate disposed inside the tube part. The spiral plate includes a spiral groove for converting a flow of a liquid moving inside the tube part into a vortex flow.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container, comprising:
a tube part; and
a spiral plate disposed inside the tube part, the spiral plate including a groove for converting a flow of a liquid moving inside the tube part into a vortex flow, the groove having a shape of a spiral,
wherein a center side end of the groove opens onto a central portion of the spiral plate, and a first recess having a depth larger than that of the center side end of the groove is disposed in the central portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container according to claim 1, wherein:
the spiral plate is disposed so as to be substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tube part; and
the spiral plate includes a communication part at an outer edge side end of the groove, the communication part connecting one end side of the tube part with another end side of the tube part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The container according to claim 1, wherein a first protrusion is disposed at a center of the first recess, the first protrusion having a height larger than the depth of the first recess.

### Claim 4

A container, comprising;
a tube part; and
a spiral plate disposed inside the tube part, the spiral plate including a groove for converting a flow of a liquid moving inside the tube part into a vortex flow, the groove having a shape of a spiral, wherein:
the spiral plate is disposed inside the tube part on one end side of the tube part; and
the container further comprises a collapsing part disposed inside the tube part closer to another end side of the tube part than the spiral plate is, the collapsing part being for collapsing the vortex flow of the liquid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The container according to claim 4, wherein the collapsing part includes mesh with at least one liquid passage hole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The container according to claim 4, further comprising, a rotation plate disposed inside the tube part between the spiral plate and the collapsing part, wherein the rotation plate is rotated about an axis of the tube part by the vortex flow of the liquid generated by the spiral plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The container according to claim 6, wherein the rotation plate includes a blade disposed on a side surface of the rotation plate, the blade being for receiving the vortex flow of the liquid generated by the spiral plate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A liquid handling device, comprising:
a container housing part; and
the container according to claim 1 housed in the container housing part,
wherein the container housing part is configured to house the container.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

A liquid handling device, comprising:
a container housing part; and
the container according to claim 4 housed in the container housing part,
wherein the container housing part is configured to house the container.