JP2007183170A - Specimen sampling liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen sampling liquid container for preventing specimen sampling liquid from splashing like a water pistol in dropping a sample to a reaction reagent. <P>SOLUTION: The sampling liquid container includes a cylindrical vessel, a stopper slidably inserted into the cylindrical vessel and a cap detachably fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical vessel to install a liquid-tight dissolution liquid compartment in the cylindrical vessel, and an adaptor liquid-tightly fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical vessel. The cylindrical vessel at the lower end has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the stopper, and the adaptor accommodates the stopper pushed down when pressure is applied to the dissolution liquid compartment of the cylindrical vessel, and a gap is created between the inside wall of lower end of the cylindrical vessel and the external surface of the stopper, and the lower end of the cylindrical vessel has a nozzle. The filter is a continuous porous body where pore diameter is about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm and the thickness is about 1.0 mm to about 6.0 mm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a specimen collection liquid container for testing bacteria such as viruses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a specimen collection liquid container having a structure that allows an examiner to prevent a risk of contamination and infection by a virus when preparing a specimen collection liquid to be dropped into a reaction reagent container for detecting viruses such as influenza.

In recent years, influenza antigen test kits that can be tested at the bedside have been used as a test for virus antigens such as influenza. Furthermore, influenza A type and B type can be quickly determined by the test kit. Such a test kit generally uses an immunochromatography method, a flow-through method, an EIA method, or the like. In any of the methods, a sample collection solution prepared from a sample collected in advance from a patient is dropped into a reaction reagent container, for example, a reaction reagent cassette. Specifically, mucus is aspirated from a patient's nasal cavity or pharynx by a suction device or wiped off with a cotton swab, and then dissolved in a dissolving solution to prepare a sample collection solution, which is dropped into a reaction reagent container.
As one of the containers for preparing such a sample collection liquid, the present inventors have already provided a cylindrical container having an open upper end and a lower end, and a liquid-tight solution chamber in the cylindrical container. A stopper that is slidably inserted into the cylindrical container, an opening cap that is detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container, and an upper end that is liquid-tightly attached to the lower end of the cylindrical container, And an adapter having a filter and a nozzle at the lower end, and the cylindrical container has an inner diameter at the lower end that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper, and the adapter presses the dissolution chamber of the cylindrical container from the outside. A specimen collection liquid container has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-70840) in which a stopper that is pushed down is accommodated and a gap is formed between the inner wall of the lower end of the cylindrical container and the outer surface of the stopper.
In this container, the liquid can be communicated by squeezing the container from the outside to increase the internal pressure and sliding the stopper. Further, since the nozzle is integrally formed on the side opposite to the opening, after preparing the sample collection solution, the sample collection solution can be immediately dropped into the reagent container without inverting the cylindrical container.

  However, in the sample collection liquid container, a filter is provided in the inner cylindrical portion of the adapter adjacent to the nozzle, and the filter removes foreign matters in the sample collection liquid and is viscous. except for. However, since the stopper is usually formed of a material such as rubber or elastomer, blocking during the storage of the sample collection liquid container, that is, adhesion occurs between the materials, so that the cylindrical container is used for fluid communication. When the side part is squeezed and the internal pressure of the container is suddenly raised, the blocking is suddenly released, and the stopper slides with that moment, and the sample is taken when performing the communication operation to drop the sample onto the reaction reagent. There is a problem that the collected liquid may be scattered like a water gun.

  As a result of various intensive studies to prevent scattering of the sample collection liquid, the present inventors avoid such problems by appropriately selecting the pore diameter and thickness of the filter, the pore diameter of the nozzle, and the like. It became possible.

That is, the present invention relates to a cylindrical container having an open upper end and a lower end, and a stopper and a cylinder slidably inserted into the cylindrical container in order to provide a liquid-tight solution chamber in the cylindrical container. A cap 4 that is detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container, and an adapter that is liquid-tightly attached to the lower end of the cylindrical container. Further, the cylindrical container has a stopper with an inner diameter at the lower end. The adapter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical container. The adapter accommodates a stopper that is pushed down when the dissolution chamber of the cylindrical container is pressed, and a gap is formed between the inner wall of the lower end of the cylindrical container and the outer surface of the stopper. Further, in the sample collection liquid container having a nozzle at the lower end, a filter is provided adjacent to the nozzle in the inner tube portion of the adapter, and the filter has a pore diameter of about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm. And the thickness is about A specimen collection liquid container characterized by being a continuous porous body having a thickness of 1.0 mm to about 6.0 mm.
The nozzle preferably has a hollow groove having a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm and a length of about 6 mm to about 15 mm. Further, the amount of liquid filled in the solution chamber is about 0.1 to about 0.1 mm. It is preferably 2.0 mL. Further, it is preferable that a nozzle cap is provided on the nozzle in a detachable manner.

  In the present invention, by selecting the pore size and thickness of the filter, the diameter and length of the nozzle, and the liquid filling amount, the sample collection liquid is scattered like a water gun when the sample is dropped onto the reaction reagent. Can solve such problems.

  The sample collection liquid container of the present invention is slidably inserted into the cylindrical container in order to provide a cylindrical container having an open upper end and a lower end, and a liquid-tight solution chamber in the cylindrical container. A stopper and a cap detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container, the upper end is liquid-tightly attached to the lower end of the cylindrical container, and the lower end has an adapter with a filter and a nozzle, Further, the cylindrical container has an inner diameter at the lower end slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper, and the adapter accommodates the stopper pushed down when the dissolution chamber of the cylindrical container is pressed, and the cylindrical container It is a liquid container in which a gap is formed between the lower end inner wall and the outer surface of the stopper.

  The sample collection liquid container according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sample collection liquid container of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cotton swab obtained by collecting a sample from an opening is inserted into the sample collection liquid container of the present invention. 3 presses the dissolution chamber 7 of the cylindrical container of the sample collection liquid container of FIG. 1 from the outside, the stopper is pushed down, the sample collection liquid passes through the gap between the inner surface of the cylindrical container and the outer surface of the stopper, and the nozzle It is the schematic which shows the state dripped from.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample collection liquid container 1 of the present invention is provided with a cylindrical container 2 having an open upper end and a lower end and a liquid-tight solution chamber 7 in the cylindrical container. 2 has a stopper 3 slidably inserted into the cap 2 and a cap 4 detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container 2, and is liquid-tightly attached to the lower end of the cylindrical container 2. It has an adapter 5.

The cylindrical container 2 has an opening that can be screwed with the cap 4 at the upper end, and has a portion with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper 3 at the lower end. An adapter 5 can be inserted into the lower end portion. The cylindrical container 2 has a slidable stopper 3 inserted near its lower end, and a cap 4 is detachably attached to the upper end. By attaching the stopper 3 and the cap 4, a solution chamber 7 is formed in the cylindrical container 2. The lysing solution chamber 7 is filled with a solution that dissolves a sample (nasal swab, nasal suction, throat swab, etc.). Usually, the solution is water, and a surfactant is added to enhance the reactivity with the specimen when dropped into the reaction reagent. Further, sodium azide or the like is added as a preservative.
In order to push out the sample collection liquid processed in the cylindrical container 2, the cylindrical container 2 is pressed from the outside, the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical container 2 is deformed, and the dissolved liquid is relatively relative to the amount of the dissolved liquid. Not only the volume of the chamber 7 is reduced, but operations such as pushing out by other physical means or increasing the internal pressure by compressing the gas in the solution chamber 7 may be performed. Therefore, it is preferable that the cylindrical container 2 has transparency and flexibility that can confirm the state in the container and does not whiten even when repeatedly pressed, and examples of such materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, and vinyl chloride resin. A thermoplastic resin is preferably used.

  A cotton swab here refers to a medical swab, specifically a device with a non-woven fabric or the like attached to the tip of a plastic or paper rod-shaped shaft for collecting a bodily fluid sample. In addition, rayon, paper, polylactic acid, cotton and the like are used as the nonwoven fabric material.

Since the stopper 3 and the cap 4 are assembled while maintaining the liquid tightness of the solution chamber 7 of the cylindrical container 2, there is no risk of the solution leaking out from the cylindrical container 2.
The stopper 3 generally has a shape that does not impair liquid-tightness during manufacturing or long-term storage, and preferably has a cylindrical shape with a small length (dimension). Before the sample is added, the stopper 3 Close to the inner wall. However, when the stopper 3 slides and moves toward the lower end of the cylindrical container 2, a gap is formed between the stopper 3 and the inner wall. This gap is not blocked even when the deformation of the solution chamber 7 of the cylindrical container 2 is released.
Examples of the material for the stopper 3 include elastic materials such as normal butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, isobutylene rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomer is usually used.
Further, for the purpose of smooth sliding, the stopper 3 may be provided with an annular rib.

  The cap 4 is detachably attached to the cylindrical container 2 and is usually screwed together. In order to maintain liquid tightness, a sleeve that is joined to the inner wall of the open end of the cylindrical container 2 is usually provided. The cap 4 may be provided with a knob portion 41.

The adapter 5 is a cylindrical member connected to the lower end of the cylindrical container 2, accommodates the stopper 3 pushed down when the dissolution chamber 7 of the cylindrical container 2 is pressed, and the inner wall of the lower end of the cylindrical container 2 And an outer surface of the stopper 3, and a nozzle 8 is provided at the lower end. Before preparing the sample collection solution, usually only air is present in the adapter 5.
As long as the adapter 5 is attached to the cylindrical container 2 while maintaining liquid-tightness, the adapter 5 may be welded, adhered with a solvent, or further joined in a press-fit state. As such a material, thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS resin, polystyrene, BS resin, polycarbonate resin and the like are used.

A filter 6 is provided in the lumen of the adapter 5 adjacent to the nozzle 8 and above. The filter 6 has such a diameter that the nozzle is trapped so as not to be clogged when a specimen collected from a patient is highly viscous or contains a solid matter. In the present invention, examples of the filter include a sintered body, a foamed molded body, a nonwoven fabric, and a fiber laminate. As such a material, polyethylene, polypropylene, fluorine-based resin, nylon resin, and the like, as well as inorganic materials and the like are used. Usually, polyethylene sintered bodies are used.
In the present invention, the filter 6 has a pore diameter of about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm, preferably about 1.0 μm to about 10 μm, and a thickness of about 1.0 mm to about 6.0 mm, preferably about 1 It is a continuous porous body that is 5 mm to about 4.5 mm. The filter 6 may be one sheet or a plurality of sheets. If the pore size of the filter is less than about 0.1 μm, the nozzle may be clogged when the specimen collected from the patient is highly viscous or contains solid matter. On the other hand, when the thickness exceeds about 20 μm, the sample collection liquid easily passes through the filter and is easily scattered like a water gun. If the thickness is less than about 1.0 mm, the sample collection solution in the dissolution chamber and the gas in the lumen of the adapter are mixed and easily pass through the filter, and the sample collection solution is like a water gun from the nozzle. It becomes easy to scatter. If it exceeds about 7.5 mm, the path for the filter to pass through becomes too long and complicated, so that the surfactant and gas contained in the sample collection liquid are likely to mix and cause foaming. The bubbles become conspicuous.

  The nozzle 8 has a hollow groove having a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, preferably about 1.0 mm to about 3.3 mm, and a length of about 6 mm to about 15 mm, preferably about 6 mm to about 12 mm. Is preferred. Furthermore, the amount of the liquid filled in the adapter 5 is usually about 0.1 mL to about 2.0 mL, preferably about 0.4 mL to about 1.5 mL.

  The nozzle 8 is provided with a nozzle cap 9 that is detachably attached. The nozzle cap 9 may be detachably attached to the nozzle 8, and polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin or the like is used as a material. Further, it may be formed integrally with the adapter 5. Furthermore, the diameter of the dedicated container stand may be substantially the same as the trunk diameter of the cylindrical container 2 so that a plurality of sample collection liquid containers 1 can be set up on the dedicated container stand. The nozzle cap 9 may be provided with a knob portion 91.

  When preparing the sample collection liquid, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 4 is first opened with the cap 4 facing upward, and a collection rod such as a cotton swab to which the sample collected from the patient is attached is opened from the upper end opening. The sample is inserted into the lysing solution chamber of the cylindrical container 2 and moved up and down on the auxiliary means 21 (not shown), and the sample is spread and dissolved and extracted with the lysing solution to prepare a sample collecting solution.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the cap 4 is attached to the opening of the cylindrical container 2 again, the nozzle 8 located on the opposite side of the cylindrical container 2 is directed to the reaction reagent container, and then the cylindrical container 2 When the body part with the dissolution liquid chamber 7 is pressed, the stopper 3 advances downward due to an increase in internal pressure due to the pressing, and is moved and accommodated in the adapter 5. Between the outer surface of the stopper 3 accommodated and the inner wall of the adapter 5, there is provided a gap through which the sample collection liquid in the dissolution chamber 7 can be dropped. Therefore, the sample collection liquid can pass through this gap, pass through the filter 6, be guided to the outside from the nozzle 8, and be dropped into the reaction reagent container.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.
Example 1
A specimen collection liquid container (FIG. 1) provided with three kinds of sintered filters (manufactured by Filterlen) shown in Table 1 was prepared. Various changes were made to the amount of solution liquid (0.4 to 1.0 mL), the surface pore diameter (2.0 to 30 μm), and the thickness (1.5 to 6.0 mm × 5 sheets) of the solution chamber ( Tables 2-4), the outside of the cylindrical container was squeezed by hand, and the presence or absence of a water gun phenomenon during liquid communication was confirmed.

  The result of confirming the water gun phenomenon is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the case where no water gun phenomenon from the nozzle was observed when the liquid communicated was marked with a circle, and there was no water gun phenomenon from the nozzle tip when the liquid was communicated, but if a squeeze state was maintained, a few drops would appear △ mark, the case where the liquid comes out from the nozzle like a water gun when the liquid is connected is indicated as a cross mark.

  As is apparent from Table 5, when a filter (sample A) having a pore diameter of 2 μm and a thickness (1.5 mm × 5 sheets = 7.5 mm) is selected, the water gun phenomenon can be prevented regardless of the amount of filling liquid. Further, when the pore diameter is 10 μm (sample B), the amount of the filling liquid needs to be at least 1.0 mL. Furthermore, at a hole diameter of 30 μm (sample C), a water gun phenomenon occurred regardless of the amount of filling liquid.

  The sample collection liquid container of the present invention is not limited to virus tests such as influenza virus, but can be used for general biological tests including other pathogens.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state before use of the sample collection liquid container of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state at the time of solution preparation of the sample collection liquid container of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state at the time of dripping of the sample collection liquid container of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sample collection liquid container 2 Cylindrical container 3 Stopper 4 Cap 41 Knob part 5 Adapter 6 Filter 7 Solution chamber 8 Nozzle 9 Nozzle cap 91 Nozzle cap knob

Claims (5)

  A cylindrical container having an upper end and a lower end opened, a stopper slidably inserted into the cylindrical container, and an upper end of the cylindrical container in order to provide a liquid-tight solution chamber in the cylindrical container And a cap attached to the lower end of the cylindrical container in a liquid-tight manner, and the cylindrical container has an inner diameter at the lower end that is smaller than the outer diameter of the stopper. The adapter accommodates a stopper that is pushed down when the dissolution chamber of the cylindrical container is compressed, and a gap is formed between the inner wall of the lower end of the cylindrical container and the outer surface of the stopper, and further on the lower end. In the sample collection liquid container including a nozzle, a filter is provided adjacent to the nozzle in the inner cylindrical portion of the adapter, and the filter has a pore diameter of about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm, and The thickness is about 1.0 mm to about 6. A specimen collection liquid container, which is a continuous porous body having a thickness of 0 mm.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a hollow groove having a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm and a length of about 6 mm to about 15 mm.   The specimen collection solution container according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the solution filled in the solution chamber is about 0.1 to 2.0 mL.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the filter is a sintered body, a foam molded body, a nonwoven fabric, or a fiber laminate.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising a nozzle cap that is detachably attached to the nozzle.

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