DE2343763A1 - TEST SAMPLE HOLDER FOR AN INSERT TRAY - Google Patents

Description

P- \ TENT. \ NWALTE

DIPL.-ING. LEO FLHUCHAUS -

DR.-ING. HANS LEYH / O4J / DO

DIPL.-ING. ERNST RATHMANN

Munich 71, ^. August 1972 Melchloretr. 42

Uneer reference: SR2P-10 58

DG Searle & Go. PO Box 5110 Chicago , Illinois V.St.A.

Test sample holder for an insert tray

The invention relates to a test sample holder for an insert tray, preferably for use in an analysis device.

Conventionally used insert trays for test tubes and also other sample containers provided for this purpose are provided with a Provided carrier element which is basically planar in any way for horizontal placement. These Carrier elements are provided with a field of openings arranged next to one another at a certain distance, wherein the openings are vertical and can accommodate a large number of samples. "Samples" are understood here also the sample container in which the substance to be examined may or may not be located. Have these sample containers usually in the form of tubes, which have a lip-shaped edge at the upper end, which protrudes outwards. These

Fs / wi 409814/0836 test tube

SR2P-1038

Test tubes are inserted vertically into the carrier element, hanging loosely in the openings so that a upward force acting on the test tubes push the test tubes so far out of the carrier element can fall over and spill its contents. Therefore, such tray-like ^ support elements must be attached to the edges be supported when test tubes are in the openings are used. This is often difficult or inconvenient in the laboratory, as smooth surfaces such as tables, Storage borders and the like are not always available in sufficient quantities and also for such flat insert trays are not suitable for setting down, unless opposing edges of these insert trays are supported. In addition, specially designed support elements that are expediently designed for a single application prove to be very useful, but they require a relatively large amount of space in the laboratory area for storage.

In order to avoid such inconveniences, it is already known to provide insert trays with legs or supports, see above that they can be used as a detachable unit. Although this design for the storage of such with test tubes When filled insert trays are very useful, considerable storage space is required when these insert trays Nuts are stored in large numbers. The feet or supports also have such insert trays a certain amount. If some or all of the test tubes are to be examined in a device that is connected to the Test tubes cooperate, it is necessary to be able to adjust the test tubes to a certain height. These Height adjustment is usually achieved through the use of edge-attachable support means, with the test tube however, they can only be held at a single certain level. In this case too, it cannot be avoided that problems with storing these bulky insert trays

- 2 - · result

4098 1 4/0836

SR2P-1038

result and a considerable amount of storage space is required.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a test sample holder for creating insert trays, with the use of on opposite edges of the insert tray attached feet or the like for parking is omitted. In particular, it should be possible to use the sample containers or test tubes to be able to use even as a support for a filled insert tray, the insert tray in the unfilled one State only requires an extremely small amount of space for stowing.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the an upper part and a lower part comprising and insertable in the insert tray sample holder substantially circular and on the lower part with sections running in the longitudinal direction and distributed over the circumference is provided with a curved cross-section, at least some of these sections being designed to run radially inward is.

Further features and refinements of the invention are the subject matter of further claims.

A test sample holder made according to the features of the invention offers the possibility of designing an insert tray as a self-supporting unit without the need for special support elements, such as feet or the like. Are required. In addition, this can be done with the sample holders according to the invention provided insert tray can be stowed in a space that is not significantly larger than the insert tray. Particularly Another advantage is the fact that the test tubes are attached in this way using the sample holder in the insert tray that they either hang all the way down from the insert tray or the insert tray into

- 3 - one

4098U / 0836

SR2P-1038

V 23A3763

is clamped in an area between the upper and lower end, so that the test tubes protrude partially above and partially below, or protrude all the way up from the insert tray. In any of these arrangements of the test tubes in use tray can be parked self-supporting this, wherein the test tubes can be lowered or raised by only a ¹ pressure on the feed tray from above or below is exercised. The possibility of easy adjustment of the test tubes in the insert tray results in a very simple change in the height setting for the test tubes, if this is necessary, for example to place the insert tray over a device with support at the edges.

These advantages result from the sample holder according to the invention, which can be inserted into the openings in the insert tray and clamp the test tubes at any height can. As a result, the test tubes are stabilized by the sample holder itself and can be used to place a filled one Insert trays can be used on a level surface itself. There is no risk of the insert tray due to its own weight slips and the test tubes fall over; however, it is only a small one in the longitudinal direction of the Force required to remove the test tube from the insert tray. Also can through the special Design of the sample holder, the lower end of the test tube can be moved laterally, which is also relatively voluminous measuring devices attached under the test tubes can be brought close enough to the insert tray to take an isolated measurement from just one or more test tubes. If e.g. with the help of this Test tube radioactivity is to be measured, the radioactivity measuring device is placed under the test tube and raised so far that only one test tube is inserted into the measuring device. The

- 4- - lower

4 0 9 8 14/0836

SR2P-1038

The lower ends of the remaining test tubes are tipped sideways, with appropriate protective screens being used to ensure this ensure that the radioactivity emanating from these test tubes does not affect the measurement result. If the If the radioactivity measuring device is moved away from the insert tray, take the inclined test tube return to their normal vertical position * '

The advantages and features of the invention also emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment in FIG Connection with the claims and the drawing. Show it:

1 shows a perspective view of a sample holder using sample holders according to the invention with samples filled insert trays;

Figure 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Figure 1; 3 shows a sectional side view of the sample holder.

The insert tray 10 shown in Fig. 1 consists of a board running planar in the horizontal plane glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, in which vertically extending openings 20 are provided in a right-angled arrangement. In the illustrated insert tray 10, three by twelve openings are provided in a rectangular field. One of those designed insert board is particularly favorable for use for radioimmunity analyzes, as the three openings in a row are suitable for holding test tubes contain equal amounts of the same sample. Ideally, "the three repeating samples should be identical Have properties, thereby determining the uniformity and reliability of the results obtained can be. However, if only two samples of the same type are used, an insert tray with a field of two

- 5 - times

4098 U / 0836

SR2P-1023

times twelve openings are used. As a result, the
Processing of samples for radio immunity analysis requires less space. The number of twelve rows is cheap at
a radioimmunity analysis, as the samples typically
be diluted either two or three times. As the number
twelve is divisible by both two and three,
it is very unlikely that the dilution of a single sample will be spread across multiple insert trays.

The openings 20 are circular. On the underside 22 of the insert trays 10, circular recesses are made in the region of each opening 20. The diameter E of the circular recesses is larger than the diameter C of the associated opening 20, the increase in diameter preferably being at least 25%. Furthermore, ribs 19 are provided on the underside of the insert tray 10, which run radially against the openings 20 and increase the stability of the insert tray. A sample holder 13, which in turn can accommodate a test tube 11, can be inserted into each of these openings 20. Each sample holder 13 has an upper part and a lower part 16. The lower part 16 comprises four
Sections 17 distributed on the circumferential area and running in a curve. These sections 17 extend in the longitudinal direction from the lower surface 22 of the insert tray 10
below when the sample holder 13 is inserted. At the bottom
At the end of the section 17, a lip 18 is provided which is directed inward in the radial direction onto the vertical axis of the opening and which grips the suspended test tube 11. The upper part 14 of the sample holder 13 widens conically outwards in order to facilitate the insertion into an opening 20 of the insert tray. The top of the top
Part 14 is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 15, which promotes the holding of the sample holder 13 in an opening 20.

- 6 - The

A098U / 08 3 6

SR2P-1038

The sample holder 13 preferably consists of a compressible one Material, such as polypropylene, so that it can be inserted into an opening 20 such that it can be removed. Im deployed In the state, it is compressed radially by being in contact with the insert 10.

It has been found that conventional 12mm test tubes have multiple dimensional sizes for preferred designs Sample holders are possible. These test tubes typically have a length of 8.095 cm and an outside diameter of 1.194cm. To use these test tubes, the inside diameter D of the sample holder is preferably 1.257 cm, while the lips 18 at the lower end of the section 17 radially further run inwards so that there is a circular opening with a diameter of about 1.067cm. The total height B of the sample holder is preferably about 1.511 cm, while the length A of the circumferential sections 17 preferably corresponds to a value of about 1.11 cm.

If you have a sample holder with the example proposed Using dimensions, lips 18 capture and hold a 12mm test tube. The lower end of the The test tube can then be moved slightly to the side, but it always swivels into the vertical position back when it is released. The lips 18 exert sufficient force on the outer surface of the test tube so that this does not fall out of the specimen holder due to its own weight or the weight of the filled specimen and in particular, the test tube retains that position, in relation to the longitudinal axis, in the insert tray 10 in which it is was plugged in. However, the force exerted by the lips 18 is small enough to move the insert tray 10, based on Shift the longitudinal axis of the test tube, applying either a force from above or a force from below to the Test tube works. The lips 18 stabilize the test tubes

- 7 - sufficient

4098U / 0836

SR2P-103S

sufficient so that the tablet filled with test tubes remains and is held by the test tube when the tray od on a board. The like. Is placed and that the lower end of the test tube is at a suitable surface level. The insert tray 10 always remains itself stand when samples are inserted into the openings 20 and the openings 20 are at a distance from one another? have that at least is equal to two thirds of the length of the test tube. If the insert tray is more than half the length of the test tube is shifted downwards, there is no limitation with regard to the spacing of the openings into which the test tubes are placed can be used, provided that the required distance for the sample holder due to the physical dimensions given is.

The insert tray 10 is provided with an identification device which comprises an identification card holder 24. This identification card holder 24 hangs vertically downwards and has a slot 23 into which a coded plastic card can be inserted. Right- angled openings 25 are provided in the identification card holder 2Pr. If the identification card comprises correspondingly removable parts, it is possible to provide the identification card with a unique code by removing several of these parts. With the aid of light beams directed at each opening 25, which can then only pass through the removed parts, it is possible to identify the insert tray. For this purpose, an optical detector is attached to the other side of the holder, which converts the detected code pattern into an identification number.

Above was an insert tray with sample holders according to the invention based on preferred dimensions and one structural design described, it being understood that both the dimensions and the

- 8 - constructive

4 0 981 A / 0836

SR2P-1038

constructive Aus'gstaltung can be changed within the scope of the invention. The sample holders are particularly suitable for Insert trays that are more demanding in their structural design than the insert tray shown. To the For example, such insert trays can be identification devices with respect to both the patient and the object and be provided with means for displaying the width of the insert tray. Furthermore, facilities to operate switches or displays on the tablet to indicate the presence or absence of a Display trays or test tubes in the analyzer.

- 9 - Claims

409814/0836

Claims (6)

SR2P-1038 Claims ly test sample holder for an insert tray, preferably S for use in an analysis device, characterized in that the sample holder (13) comprising an upper part (14) and a lower part (16) and which can be inserted into the insert tray (10) is essentially circular and on the lower part (16) is provided with sections (17) running in the longitudinal direction and distributed over the circumference with a curved cross section, at least some of these sections being designed to run radially inward. 2. Test sample holder according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η draws that at the bottom of the sections (17) a radially inwardly directed lip (18) is attached. 3. Test sample holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper part (1 ^) a outwardly radially extending flange (15) is attached. 4. Test sample holder according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η records that the in a multitude about the Insert tray distributed openings for receiving the sample holder arranged at a distance from one another A 09 814/0836 SR2P-1058 which is at least two thirds of the length of the test tube (11) held in the sample holder. 5. Test sample holder according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the sample holder is made of a deformable material and can be inserted ^{removably into the openings of the insert tray (1O) 1} , the sample holder being pressed radially along the contact surface in the opening (20 ) of the insert tablet. 6. Test sample holder according to claim 4, characterized in that the openings in the insert tray are circular, and that in a lower region of the insert tray below each opening (20) a circular area is excluded, the diameter of which is the diameter of the opening (20) in the insert tray exceeds by at least 25%. 40981 4/0836 Jl Blank page