# US 2021/0333300 A1 · Pre-processing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0333300 A1 - Document ID: US20210333300A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/479,700 - Filed: 2018-01-30 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-03 - Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation - Applicants: Shimadzu Corporation - Inventors: Masahide GUNJI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210333300A1 ## CPC - C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)} - G01N 35/10: Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} - C12M 47/00: {Means for after-treatment of the produced biomass or of the fermentation or metabolic products, e.g. storage of biomass (filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - G01N 35/00: Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor - G01N 35/1004: {Cleaning sample transfer devices} - G01N 35/1009: {Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids} - G01N 1/00: Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation - G01N 30/20: using a sampling valve - G01N 30/24: Automatic injection systems - G01N 35/08: using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis - G01N 2035/00475: {Filters} - 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} - 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 pre-processing system, a state in which a sample dispensing probe 20a and a syringe pump 81 communicate with each other through a channel 91 and a state in which the sample dispensing probe 20a and a culture tank 301 communicate with each other through the channels 91, 93, and 94 can be switched by operation of the three-way valves 82 and 83. For this reason, the liquid sample in the culture tank 301 can be automatically discharged from the sample dispensing probe 20a without requiring the user to directly sample the liquid sample. As a result, in the pre-processing system, the user's manual sampling work can be omitted, and the user's work can be simplified. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-6. (canceled) ### Claim 7 A pre-processing system for performing pre-processing for a liquid sample from a liquid sample storage unit, the pre-processing system comprising: a sample setting unit in which a sample container is installed; a probe configured to suck a liquid sample from an inside of a sample container installed in the sample setting unit and discharge the liquid sample to a dispensing position; a pump driven when the probe sucks and discharges a liquid sample; a switching unit configured to switch to a state in which the probe communicates with the pump or a state in which the probe communicates with the liquid sample storage unit; and a cleaning solution storage unit configured to store a cleaning solution, wherein the switching unit switches to a state in which the probe communicates with the pump, a state in which the probe communicates with the liquid sample storage unit, or a state in which the probe communicates with the cleaning solution storage unit, and the liquid sample storage unit is a culture medium storage unit provided in a cell culture apparatus, the pre-processing system further comprising a tube pump provided in a channel between the switching unit and the culture medium storage unit, and is configured to be driven when a liquid sample in the culture medium storage unit is sent out to the probe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The pre-processing system according to claim 7, further comprising a dispensing control unit configured to cause the probe to be in a state of communicating with the pump by switching the switching unit after a liquid sample is introduced to a sample container installed in the sample setting unit via the probe in a state where the probe communicates with the liquid sample storage unit, and, in this state, drive the pump so that a liquid sample is sucked from the inside of the sample container to the probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pre-processing system according to claim 8, wherein a separation container configured to separate a specific component in a liquid sample by filtering the liquid sample is installed at the dispensing position, and the dispensing control unit moves the probe, which has sucked a liquid sample, to the dispensing position and drives the pump to discharge the liquid sample from the probe to the separation container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The pre-processing system according to claim 7, further comprising a cleaning control unit configured to clean a channel from the cleaning solution storage unit to the probe by introducing a cleaning solution into the probe in a state where the probe communicates with the cleaning solution storage unit.