DE2922208A1 - CENTRIFUGAL CONTAINER - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorneys Dipl .-! Ng. C u rt whale laughs

Dipl.-Ing. Günther Koch

Dipl.-Phys. Dr Tino Haibach

"^" Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Feldkamp

D-8000 Munich 2 Kaufingerstraße 8 Telephone (0 89) 24 02 75 Telex 5 29 513 wakai d

Date: May 31, 1979

Our reference: 16644 H / Bu

Beckman Instruments, Inc., Fullerton, Calif., USA

"Centrifuge container"

909849/0867

description

The invention relates to a permanently closed container for receiving a liquid sample and for inserting it into a centrifuge rotor, and in particular a permanently closed centrifuge tube that does not have any Locking devices are required.

The common tubes or tubes used in centrifuge rotors usually have an essentially one uniform cylindrical shape with one end of the centrifuge tube fully open to the sample which is then to be centrifuged. After filling the sample into the tube are for the open end of the tubes closure devices are required if these tubes are to be used in rotors in which the Tube arranged in a fixed position at an acute angle or even an angle zero to the axis of rotation of the rotor is. The removable closure device is required to prevent part of the sample from coming out emerges from the tube, because strong hydrostatic forces occur during centrifugation at high speed.

Attaching or securing the closure device to the centrifuge tubes is a constant problem with an open end, because a secure, reliable seal must be created between the closure and the tube to prevent some of the contents from escaping to the outside during centrifugation. Although rocking cup rotors do not require any closure devices to ensure that the top of the centrifuge tube is sealed, because the centrifugal forces are directed towards the bottom of the cup, a seal is all the more so more required if the tube is arranged in the rotor so that the angle between the tube and the axis of rotation is less than 90 °. The highest demands on the

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gasket äes centrifuge tube are set when the angle between the tube and the axis of rotation is zero, or when the tube is arranged practically parallel to the axis of rotation. Numerous proposals have already been made for centrifuge tubes with caps to prevent possible leakage of the sample liquid. The closure devices currently in use are very complicated in terms of their construction and method of manufacture, as well as in terms of their use and attachment to the tubes.

It is extremely important that any leakage of sample liquid from the sample container in a centrifuge that is with works at high speed, is prevented because the sample may contain bacteria or other valuable substances, which should not be lost during the centrifugation process. In addition, the leakage of sample liquid makes the centrifugation container during the centrifugation the centrifugation process worthless, so that the efficiency and the profitability of centrifuging decreases sharply. Since many samples that are subjected to centrifugation, contain important ingredients for further use by a scientist or technician, the throws Leakage of sample liquid from the centrifuge tube causes major problems and leads to high losses of working time of the user.

In many cases, the leakage of sample liquid is caused by an inadequate seal between the closure device and the centrifuge tube, because either the closure device is defective or not is satisfactorily designed, or because the closure device is not properly attached to the centrifuge tube became. It is not only important that the closure device is designed so that between the test tube and the closure device before the centrifugation process

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secure and reliable sealing is achieved, it is also particularly important that the closure device is designed so that after the centrifugation process can be easily removed without shaking the sample components after centrifugation. Because then the sample components are mixed up again and the centrifugation process has become worthless.

Usually the closure is associated with a Used disposable centrifuge tube that is somewhat resilient. Many of the closures used are designed to that they closely encompass the open end of the centrifuge tube, which is compliant or flexible, and with these closures the upper end of the tube corresponds to the fastening or clamping part of the closure. The top of the However, the pipe must be correctly and completely inserted or pushed into the closure in order to ensure a secure seal when the clasp is tightened. Unfortunately, the tube is often not completely in the breech inserted so that a secure seal is not guaranteed when the closure is tightened.

The currently used closures, with which a secure seal is to be achieved, are not only in Structure and design complicated, so that the centrifuge tube is closed with great difficulty and not very reliably In addition, these closures are also an expensive part of the centrifuge rotor and centrifuge tube assembly attention.

Another significant issue that the Opposite centrifuges, in which tubes with the currently used.ι closures are used, consists in the possible contamination of the sample in the tube due to the sample coming into contact with the material from which the Closure is made. In other words, the metal or plastic parts that are usually used for

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Final used may be an impurity or cause a reaction in the sample. This will nullify an examination carried out on this sample.

Apart from the problems caused by contamination of the sample in the tube by the material of the closure occur, it is also very disadvantageous that the parts or links of the closure through the sample in the tube corrode after repeated use. This makes the closures unusable or no longer seals securely.

As previously described, the centrifuge tubes used in numerous rotors are commonly made Made of a very pliable and flexible material, and it is necessary that the tube be completely filled with the sample should be filled in order to achieve the necessary internal counter pressure or resistance for the centrifugation process To create tubes so that the side of the tube facing away from the axis of rotation does not burst and the tube does not burst the locking device is pulled out.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a centrifuge container to create, which does not have the disadvantages of conventional centrifuge containers described, and at which no attachable or removable lock is required.

This object is according to the invention with the characterizing Part of claim 1 specified feature solved.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are set out in the subclaims specified.

The present invention thus provides a centrifuge tube with a central part on which a base part is integral and an upper part is formed with a filler opening. The filling opening has a much smaller diameter

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than the pipe itself. A projecting neck or nozzle is formed around the filler pipe in one piece with the pipe, through which the sample is filled into the tube. When the tube is completely filled with the sample, the neck is heated so that it is melted and a hermetic, permanent seal of the sample in the tube is ensured. The components of the sample or of the liquid are therefore closed in the centrifuge tube and there is no removable closure or a corresponding one Setup related to the tube required. This is the only way to restore the sample after centrifugation taken from the tube so that the tube is pierced or cut near the protruding neck.

Since the sample in the centrifuge tube is closed for the entire time, nothing of the sample can get out of the Exit centrifuge tube. A leakage of sample liquid between the tube and the closure in the conventional Establishments is therefore no longer possible. In addition, the sample is not outstanding with any other substance than that which the pipe is made in contact. Therefore, the sample does not become a closure with substances and materials contaminated, as was the case with conventional centrifuge tubes.

In that, according to the present invention, there is no closure device If more is required, the centrifuge rotor and the centrifuge tubes are much cheaper to manufacture. In addition, the normally very unsatisfactory type of attachment and removal is no longer necessary of the cap to or from the tube, reducing the frequent risk of losing part of the sample goes or leaks from the container, is avoided.

After the closed tube has been pushed or inserted into the rotor, a closing element is required,

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that fits both the rotor and the top of the tube, and that the tube during centrifugation holds in the rotor. The closing element forms a firm and secure holder for the upper part of the tube, so that the tube covers the entire outer surface is safely stored.

The filling opening can be located at any point on the tube end. Preferably, however, it should be on the upper part of the tube. It can be in the middle of the tube or anywhere between the middle and the outer one be attached to the cylindrical jacket of the tube. When the filling openings are close to the one facing the axis of rotation Side of the tube, a lower hydrostatic force acts on the area of the filling opening, see above that this reduces the force that creates the enamel seal must withstand the tube. In addition, it is also possible to avoid melting completely by removing the tube is provided with a nozzle or neck, which is so long that the opening in the neck or nozzle from the pipe inside or closer to the axis of rotation of the rotor than the tube itself can be bent. This allows the tube without that it is sealed, subjected to the centrifugation process will.

Usually the centrifuge tube is cylindrical. The container or the centrifuge tube can, however, also be sector-shaped, rectangular or cylindrical with the top and bottom being flat. The shape of the pipe or container can be selected according to the requirements and configurations of the rotor.

One of the most essential features of the present invention is a hermetically sealed centrifuge tube without removable locking device. Another essential feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the material used for the enamel seal

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is applied, is formed integrally with the tube. According to a further embodiment of the invention, additional Melting material can be used to seal the tube. Another important feature is there in that the tube is used together with a correspondingly designed closing element to the upper part to hold or store the pipe securely.

The inventive centrifuge tube is preferably through produced a blow molding process, which is cheaper than the tubes produced by injection molding. There no Metal fasteners are more required, the present invention further enables a substantial reduction in the costs associated with centrifuge tubes. In addition, there is no longer a need for a gluing process that is normally required is needed for a large plastic cap that is sometimes placed on top of the centrifuge tube will.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, for example. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 1,

3 is a partial side view of a further embodiment of the present invention,

4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, 5 shows a partial side view of the preferred exemplary embodiment with the filling opening fused shut,

6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention with < in a long neck or socket,

Figure 7 is a partial side view of another embodiment of the present invention, without a neck or nozzle around the filling opening,

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FIG. 8 is a partial side view of that shown in FIG Embodiment of the present invention, with a sealing cap inserted into the filling opening,

Figure 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention having a flat top and a sealing cap in the filling opening,

10 is a partial side view of a further embodiment of the present invention having a flat top and a neck around the Filling opening around,

11 shows a perspective illustration of a sector-shaped Container according to a further embodiment of the invention>

Fig.12 is a schematic representation of a rotor, partially in cross section, with a chamber in which the centrifuge tube is at an acute angle to the axis of rotation, and

I ¹ Ig-IJ a schematic representation, partly in cross section, of a rotor with the centrifuge tube according to the present invention, which in this rotor lies parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor.

A preferred embodiment 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and essentially comprises one cylindrical central part 12 with a bottom part 14 which is substantially in the shape of a hemisphere, as well as an upper part 16, which is also formed substantially in the shape of a hemisphere. Both the bottom part 14 as the upper part 16 are also formed in one piece with the cylindrical central part 12. Located on the upper part 16 a neck 18 which is formed in one piece with this and which forms a filling opening 20.

As can be seen more clearly from Fig. 2, the neck forms the filling hole or opening 20 through which the Eluidprobe is brought into the interior 22 of the centrifuge tube 10.

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Preferably, the axis of the filling opening 20 lies on the longitudinal axis 24 · of the tube 10. When the fluid sample is inside 22 of the centrifuge tube 10 has been filled, the neck 18 with a (not shown) device or a corresponding process is melted so that a hermetically sealed seal is created, as shown in Fig. 5 is shown, with an integral termination or Closure 26 is formed on neck 18. The centrifuge tube 10, in which the liquid or fluid sample is located, is therefore permanently and hermetically sealed. As FIG. 12 shows, the centrifuge tube 1C can be inserted into a chamber 28 of the Rotor 30 are inserted, the longitudinal axis of the tube 10 enclosing an acute angle with the axis of rotation 32 of the rotor. A closing or closure element 34 is located above the tube, which the tube 10 during centrifugation holds in the chamber 28. The closing element 34- is formed with a lower surface 35 which is shaped to correspond to the shape of the upper part 16 of the tube. The closing element 34 therefore forms a firm hold for the upper part 16 of the tube, so that together with the rotor chamber 28 a solid, secure holder for the entire outer surface of the tube 10 is created. The final element 34- can be screwed into the upper area of the chamber 28. Preferably, however, the closing element 34 is designed in such a way that, because of its own hatred and the forces that occur during centrifugation, it is in its Is held position and the upper part 16 of the tube gives a hold during centrifugation.

Since the tube 10 does not have a removable closure, nothing of the contents of the tube can escape to the outside during centrifugation reach. Since the melted or fused closure 26 in the tube in FIG. 12 points towards the axis of rotation 32 or closer lies on the axis of rotation 32 than the remainder of the tube and the tube contents, grip the permanent closure 26 no significant hydrostatic forces.

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When the angle between the longitudinal axis of the tube 10 and the axis of rotation 32 is essentially zero (cf. the rotor 40 in Fig. 13) is the hydrostatic forces acting on the Attack melted closure 26, larger. Since the closure has melted or fused, that is However, the pipe is a completely closed and hermetically sealed container in which the forces are evenly distributed over the upper part 16 and the bottom part 14 of the tube as well as above the cylindrical central region 12 are distributed. On the inner side or side 38 facing the axis of rotation In the rotor chamber 39 there are essentially no hydrostatic forces. With the commonly used, conventional Centrifuge tubes that have one open end with a removable cap is a safe and secure one A tight seal is very difficult to achieve because very large hydrostatic forces act on the seal. In the rotor 40 shown in FIG. 13, in which the centrifuge tube is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation, is located a spacer 42 extends over the top 16 of the tube 10, and a threaded closure 24 is screwed into the upper region of the chamber 39 of the rotor 40, around the tube 10 during centrifugation in the chamber to keep. The spacer element 42 has a lower surface 43 which corresponds to the upper part 16 of the tube is shaped so that a secure, firm hold is created for the pipe. The chamber 39 in the rotor 40 creates together with the spacer element 42 a secure support for the entire outer surface of the pipe. The spacer 42 and that with A threaded closing element 44 can be formed in one piece.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. In the case of this sample tube 50, a neck 52 is formed integrally with the upper part 54 of the tube. Of the However, the neck 52 surrounding the fill opening is located between the side wall 56 and the longitudinal axis 24 of the tube. When the tube is placed in a rotor, that is

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Neck 52 therefore as close as possible to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so that the hydrostatic forces acting on the fused-up filling area 52 are lower.

In the embodiment of a centrifuge tube 60 shown in FIG. 4 with a centrifuge tube 60 on the upper part 64 integrally formed neck 62, the neck 62 is located very close to or directly on the pipe side wall 66 Tube 60 is inserted into the rotor chamber, the neck 62 is therefore the axis of rotation of the rotor on that of the axis of rotation facing side of the chamber closest, so that only very low hydrostatic forces on the filling area and the Neck 62 are exercised. The neck 62 is melted off or closed, so that the entire tube 60 after filling the liquid sample is permanently closed.

In Fig. 6, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which a centrifuge tube 70 a elongated integrally formed on the upper portion 74 of the tube Has neck 72. The length of the neck 72, which forms the filling opening for the tube, is greater than the radius or half the width of the central portion of the tube 70. The neck 72 can therefore be curved or dashed be designed so that the opening 76 in the neck is closer to the axis of rotation of the rotor than the the side of the rotor chamber facing the axis of rotation, in which the tube is located. When the tube is centrifuged, the centrifugal force prevents the liquid from escaping from the neck 72, since the opening 76 is closer to the axis of rotation lies than the side wall 78 of the tube 70.

In all of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 10, where a neck integrally formed with the tube is used, the material of the neck is also used used to form the seal when the neck is melted off or closed. Hence there is no additional Closure or no additional material for closing of the pipe is required.

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The one in Pig. 7 centrifuge tube 80 is shown an open fill opening 82 without a neck is used. Vie in As shown in Fig. 8, therefore, a fusible material must be used 84 can be inserted into the filling opening 82 after the liquid sample has been filled into the test tube 80.

An important feature of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge tube or container which is permanently closed such that the container can be closed without the use of any removable closure means is completely sealed. The design of the container or the tube can be designed in a variety of ways modify and adapt to the respective requirements, without leaving the inventive concept.

Fig. 9 shows a centrifuge tube 90 having a substantially cylindrical middle part 92, a bottom portion formed integrally therewith 94 in the form of a hemisphere and a single piece with the central part 92 formed in the substantially flat upper part 96, a Einfülloffnung 98, but no neck having. A closure 100 must be melted into the filling opening 98 after the sample has been filled. According to a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, a centrifuge tube 102 has a flat upper part 104 with a neck 106 which forms the filling opening 108.

Fig. 11 shows another embodiment of the present Invention. A container 110 in the form of a sector can be used for insertion into a rotor which has chambers, which can accommodate multiple sector-shaped containers, with the inner surface 112 closest to the axis of rotation of the rotor lies. A fill port 114 is located in the inner surface 112. Ba the fill port 114 during centrifugation lies on the side of the centrifuge container facing the axis of rotation, none of them engage the filling opening 114 hydrostatic forces, so that no liquid; aas the filling opening 114 is printed out- therefore

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in this embodiment no sealing closure is required as long as the level of the liquid is within itself the non-rotating rotor is not above the filler opening 114-.

There are numerous embodiments of the containers or centrifuge tubes possible without leaving the concept of the invention. Since according to the present invention Container or the centrifuge tube is completely and hermetically sealed after filling the sample Do not expose the contents of the container during centrifugation. The containers according to the invention are expensive and locking devices that do not work reliably are dispensable. The contents of the centrifuge tube can after Centrifugation process can only be removed from the centrifuge tube by opening the upper part or the neck of the The tube is cut off or the tube is pierced.

For melting or melting the neck in the various embodiments of the centrifuge tube according to the invention there are different options. One option is to use a mounting mechanism on which the tube is brought after filling the sample. A heating element is lowered onto the neck so that it quickly closes and a hermetically sealed sample tube with the sample therein is created.

The centrifuge tubes and containers described above are preferably produced using an extrusion blow molding process. The tube can be made of a thermoplastic material, which is preferably translucent or transparent is. A homopolymer or a copolymer, for example a polyallomer, is advantageous, with one of the monomers Is propylene.

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Claims (3)

Claims Permanently closed container for holding a liquid sample and inserting it into a centrifuge rotor, marked by - a cylindrical having a uniform shape middle part (12), - A bottom part (14) in the form of a hemisphere and formed in one piece with the central part (12) - An upper part (16) formed in one piece with the middle part (12), essentially in the form of a Hemisphere, and a filling opening (20) in the upper part (16), the diameter of which is much smaller than is the width of the middle part (12), the filling opening (20) being permanently closed and a hermetically sealed container is formed such that the liquid sample is substantially occupies the entire interior of the container (10) and with no other material than the material from which the container (10) is made, comes into contact so that the liquid sample is not contaminated. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized by a protruding neck forming the filling opening (20) (18) which is formed in one piece with the upper part (16). 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the neck (18) when using an external sealing device a permanent closure of the filling opening (20) without the use of an additional one creates to be attached closure material. 4-. Arrangement for a container according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by a closing element (34-; 9098A9 / 0867 42, 44), which is arranged above the sample container (10) in a chamber (28; 39) of a centrifuge rotor (30; 40) and has a lower surface (35; 43) corresponding to the upper part (16) of the container (10) and together with the inner surface of the chamber (28; 39) essentially the entire outer surface of the container (10) Holds completely and securely during the centrifuging process. 909849/0867