EP0285496A1 - Assembling and closing device for immunological test tubes - Google Patents

Assembling and closing device for immunological test tubes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0285496A1
EP0285496A1 EP88400673A EP88400673A EP0285496A1 EP 0285496 A1 EP0285496 A1 EP 0285496A1 EP 88400673 A EP88400673 A EP 88400673A EP 88400673 A EP88400673 A EP 88400673A EP 0285496 A1 EP0285496 A1 EP 0285496A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plugs
tubes
bridge
test
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88400673A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Dominque L. Delacroix
Christian Saussez
Charles Tixhon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ire-Medgeniz SA
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Ire-Medgeniz SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ire-Medgeniz SA filed Critical Ire-Medgeniz SA
Publication of EP0285496A1 publication Critical patent/EP0285496A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/508—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above
    • B01L3/5082—Test tubes per se
    • B01L3/50825—Closing or opening means, corks, bungs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to test vessels, for example to test tubes, intended to be used in particular for the immunoassays of antigens and antibodies.
  • the present invention relates to a device adaptable to said containers allowing, inter alia, their closing and their assembly.
  • these tubes When these tubes, generally ten centimeters long, are delivered in the dosing kits, they are most often packaged by a number of ten in closed bags protecting the tubes from all impurities. This protection is particularly necessary when the tubes are coated with substances, for example monoclonal antibodies adsorbed on their internal wall. Losses of immunoreactivity can result from their pollution in the open air or even dropouts of the substances adsorbed on the walls of the tube can occur.
  • Opening the bag to take out a tube inevitably causes pollution of all the other tubes, which can become particularly annoying if they are not used simultaneously or quickly.
  • these tubes covered with an antibody of a given specificity are sometimes delivered with beads introduced inside said tubes and covered with an antibody endowed with another specificity, in order to allow the simultaneous assay of two analytes. through a single tube. It also often happens that these beads are coated with substances such as monoclonal antibodies, or frequently these beads spread out of the bag when it is opened.
  • the aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a device bringing together a whole series of functions facilitating the use of test tubes in immunoassays and thus offering everything at the same time - a means for closing the tubes, - a means for keeping the tubes connected to each other in one piece and in a certain order, - A means for closing and holding the tubes together but which also makes it possible to separate them, possibly individually, in any order.
  • closure means being useful as we have seen previously to preserve the cleanliness of the tube, preserve the stability of the possible coating adsorbed on its internal wall and maintain within it beads and also preserve them when they are coated with using a substance adsorbed on their surface.
  • the means of securing the different tubes to one another makes it possible to handle them all together in one piece, the tubes being well ordered with respect to each other and thus facilitates their use in the context of immunoassays.
  • the subject of the present invention is a device for assembling and closing several test containers, such as test tubes, useful in particular for immunological assays, device adaptable to the opening of test containers, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of plugs intended to close the opening of said containers, the plugs being connected to each other by a bridge of material made of a flexible elastic material, but ensuring a certain resistance to the device and to the assembly of tubes when adapted to them.
  • the term “material bridge” in fact means an amount of material sufficient to occupy essentially the entire space between the plugs, the latter therefore being able, however, to be partially hollowed out.
  • the material bridge is such that it ensures a certain resistance to the device itself and to the assembly of the tubes when the device is adapted to them. This holding essentially resides in a certain resistance to any lateral torsion applied to the tubes or to the device itself.
  • This device therefore combines well the sealing and sealing function of the various test pieces with all the advantages mentioned above.
  • the material bridge is made of plastic, in particular polypropylene or plastic of the elastomer type.
  • the device has a certain flexibility with for example the possibility that the lower ends of the assembled tubes are brought together with respect to each other so that the assembly can hold in one hand or even the possibility of detaching any tube by exerting a twist on said tube relative to the cap while ensuring good behavior of the other caps.
  • the device can consist of a strip comprising aligned plugs, connected by the material bridge, for example from 5 to 15 plugs.
  • the device may consist of a mat comprising a plurality of parallel alignments of plugs, the plugs being connected by the bridge of material.
  • the different alignments of parallel plugs can constitute a plurality of adjacent strips integral over their length but detachable from one another.
  • each strip has at one of its ends or at its two ends a tongue.
  • This feature allows the opening by simple pull on the tongue of all the plugs of the same band with a single gesture, as well as the progressive opening of each tube in the order of their arrangement.
  • the material bridge connecting the plugs directly adjacent to each other is partially hollowed out in its central part between two plugs of the same strip.
  • This characteristic gives the device additional flexibility, in particular improving the faculty of movement of a tube relative to the other tubes, while ensuring good resistance of said tubes.
  • the material recess avoids transmitting the deformation to the plugs when there is a twist of one or more tubes. Consequently, the plugs hold better despite a certain flexibility in the assembly of the device and the tubes.
  • the plugs and the material bridge are made of the same material and in particular the plugs come from the material with the bridge.
  • the devices according to the invention can be prepared by injection molding, in particular of polypropylene.
  • the mass of the stopper is hollowed out in its central and upper part, which makes it easier to adapt to the opening of the tubes as well as to remove it, the elastic force exerted by the stopper against the wall of the tube being thus reduced.
  • test vessels consisting of test tubes (1).
  • These tubes (1) being intended to be coated with a test substance on their internal wall, for example monoclonal antibodies, they can be made of any material, capable of being thus shaped for example in glass.
  • a test substance on their internal wall for example monoclonal antibodies
  • they can be made of any material, capable of being thus shaped for example in glass.
  • plastics such as polystyrene and polypropylene are very suitable.
  • Figure 1 there are therefore shown six polystyrene tubes adapted to the device of the invention. They are shown to scale, as well as the device of the invention. However, this dimension is not limiting of the scope of the invention, the scale corresponds to a diameter of 10 mm for the tubes.
  • This device is shown in top view in FIG. 2 and in side view in FIGS. 1 and 3.
  • the device according to the invention forms a whole, however, it can be analyzed in two parts, on the one hand, plugs 3 and, on the other hand, bridges of material 4 between said plugs.
  • Said plugs 3 adapt forcefully in the opening 5 of the tubes 1 shown in FIG. 3.
  • the device of the invention is made of a single elastomeric plastic, which facilitates the adaptation of the device according to the invention on the tubes.
  • material recesses 6 appear in the central part of the material bridges 4.
  • the material bridge therefore consists of two tongues 4a and 4b (FIG. 2) which provide the connection between the upper parts 7 of the plugs 3 ( Figures 1 and 3).
  • test vessels for example which are not of circular opening.
  • shape of the lower part 3 of the stopper must be adapted in accordance with that of the opening of the test container.
  • the device according to the invention comprises a tongue 8.
  • a tongue 8 can include such a tongue at each of its ends.
  • the device according to the invention comprises six plugs, but of course we can consider a device of the desired length and therefore with a variable number of plugs.
  • the device according to the invention is assembled on the test tubes by forcibly applying the lower part 3 of the plugs to the opening 5 of the test tubes, the elastic material constituting the device according to the invention makes this attachment hermetic.
  • the device of the invention By pulling on the tongue 8, the device of the invention can be separated from the tubes 1.
  • a pull on the tongue 8 makes it possible to separate the device from all the tubes in a single gesture, a weaker traction makes it possible to separate the device of the invention from only part of the tubes.
  • any tube can be detached from the device according to the present invention, without pulling on the tongue 8, but by simple twisting applied to the tube with respect to the horizontal plane of the upper part 9 of the plug 3.
  • the mass of the plug is hollowed out in its central part 9, which makes its adaptation to the opening 5 of the tube as well as its removal easier.
  • the elastic force exerted by the plug on the internal walls of the tube at the opening 5 is reduced.
  • Figure 4 is shown a device of the carpet type in top view.
  • the plugs 3 and the material bridge 4 come from material, the assembly was manufactured by injection molding of polypropylene.
  • the material bridge 4 occupies the entire space between the plugs, the lines 10 represent the grooves made in the material bridge. These lines correspond to an area where the thickness of the material is reduced so that by pulling on a tongue 8 at the end of a strip, the strip can be separated from the corresponding tubes, on the one hand, and the rest of the carpet, on the other hand.
  • This type of mat device is particularly suitable when the tubes are arranged in a flat support of the rack type of test tubes in the form of a rack-plane.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)

Abstract

Device for assembling and closing a number of test containers such as test tubes, adaptable to the opening of the test containers. According to the invention the device consists of a plurality of stoppers intended to close the opening of the said containers, the stoppers being connected together by a bridge of matter made of a resilient flexible material but providing the device and the assembly of tubes with some strength when fitted thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention est relative aux récipients d'essai, par exemple aux éprouvettes, des­tinés à être utilisés notamment pour les dosages immu­nologiques d'antigènes et d'anticorps.The present invention relates to test vessels, for example to test tubes, intended to be used in particular for the immunoassays of antigens and antibodies.

Plus précisément, la présente invention concerne un dispositif adaptable sur desdits récipients permettant entre autres leur fermeture et leur assemblage.More specifically, the present invention relates to a device adaptable to said containers allowing, inter alia, their closing and their assembly.

Lorsque ces tubes, d'une longueur en général d'une dizaine de centimètres, sont livrés dans les kits de dosages, ils sont conditionnés le plus souvent par nombre d'une dizaine dans des sachets fermés protégeant les tubes de toutes impuretés. Cette protection est particulièrement nécessaire lorsque les tubes sont revêtus à l'aide de substances par exemple d'anticorps monoclonaux adsorbés sur leur paroi interne. Des pertes d'immunoréactivité peuvent résulter de leur pollu­tion à l'air libre ou même des décrochages des substances adsorbées sur les parois du tube peuvent intervenir.When these tubes, generally ten centimeters long, are delivered in the dosing kits, they are most often packaged by a number of ten in closed bags protecting the tubes from all impurities. This protection is particularly necessary when the tubes are coated with substances, for example monoclonal antibodies adsorbed on their internal wall. Losses of immunoreactivity can result from their pollution in the open air or even dropouts of the substances adsorbed on the walls of the tube can occur.

L'ouverture du sachet pour en sortir un tube entraîne inévitablement la pollution de l'ensemble des autres tubes, ce qui peut devenir particulièrement gênant si ceux-ci ne sont pas utilisés simultanément ou rapidement.Opening the bag to take out a tube inevitably causes pollution of all the other tubes, which can become particularly annoying if they are not used simultaneously or quickly.

D'autre part, ces tubes sont souvent utili­sés par série, tous les tubes de la série devant être bien ordonnés les uns par rapport aux autres.On the other hand, these tubes are often used in series, all the tubes in the series having to be well ordered with respect to each other.

Pour ce faire, il est utile de pouvoir les maintenir reliés les uns aux autres dans un ordre dé­terminé, par exemple pour procéder à des inscriptions sur leur paroi externe ou à des collages d'étiquettes et, d'une manière générale, pour les repérer lors de leur utilisation pour les dosages proprement dits.To do this, it is useful to be able to keep them connected to each other in a determined order, for example for making inscriptions on their external wall or for sticking labels and, in general, for locating them. when used for actual dosages.

En outre, ces tubes couverts d'un anticorps d'une spécificité donnée sont parfois livrés avec des billes introduites à l'intérieur desdits tubes et cou­vertes d'un anticorps doué d'une autre spécificité, afin de permettre le dosage simultané de deux analytes grâce à un seul tube. Il arrive également souvent que ces billes soient revêtues à l'aide de substances telles que des anticorps monoclonaux, or fréquemment ces billes se répandent hors du sachet lors de son ouverture.In addition, these tubes covered with an antibody of a given specificity are sometimes delivered with beads introduced inside said tubes and covered with an antibody endowed with another specificity, in order to allow the simultaneous assay of two analytes. through a single tube. It also often happens that these beads are coated with substances such as monoclonal antibodies, or frequently these beads spread out of the bag when it is opened.

Le but de la présente invention est donc de proposer un dispositif réunissant toute une série de fonctions facilitant l'utilisation de tubes à essai dans les dosages immunologiques et offrant ainsi tout à la fois
- un moyen de fermeture des tubes,
- un moyen pour maintenir les tubes reliés les uns aux autres et ce d'un seul tenant et dans un certain ordre,
- un moyen pour fermer et maintenir les tubes ensemble mais qui permet également de les désolidariser, éven­tuellement individuellement, et ce dans n'importe quel ordre.The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a device bringing together a whole series of functions facilitating the use of test tubes in immunoassays and thus offering everything at the same time
- a means for closing the tubes,
- a means for keeping the tubes connected to each other in one piece and in a certain order,
- A means for closing and holding the tubes together but which also makes it possible to separate them, possibly individually, in any order.

Le moyen de fermeture étant utile comme nous l'avons vu précédemment pour préserver la propreté du tube, préserver la stabilité du revêtement éventuel adsorbé sur sa paroi interne et maintenir en son sein des billes et les préserver elles aussi quand elles sont revêtues à l'aide d'une substance adsorbée sur leur surface.The closure means being useful as we have seen previously to preserve the cleanliness of the tube, preserve the stability of the possible coating adsorbed on its internal wall and maintain within it beads and also preserve them when they are coated with using a substance adsorbed on their surface.

Le moyen de solidarisation des différents tubes les uns aux autres permet de les manipuler tous ensemble d'un seul tenant, les tubes étant bien ordonnés les uns par rapport aux autres et facilite ainsi leur utilisation dans le cadre des dosages immunologiques.The means of securing the different tubes to one another makes it possible to handle them all together in one piece, the tubes being well ordered with respect to each other and thus facilitates their use in the context of immunoassays.

Pour ce faire, la présente invention a pour objet un dispositif d'assemblage et de fermeture de plusieurs récipients d'essais, tels que des éprouvettes, utile notamment pour des dosages immunologiques, dispo­sitif adaptable sur l'ouverture des récipients d'essais, caractérisé en ce qu'il est constitué d'une pluralité de bouchons destinés à fermer l'ouverture desdits réci­pients, les bouchons étant reliés les uns aux autres par un pont de matière réalisé dans un matériau souple élas­tique, mais assurant une certaine tenue au dispositif et à l'assemblage de tubes lorsqu'il leur est adapté.To do this, the subject of the present invention is a device for assembling and closing several test containers, such as test tubes, useful in particular for immunological assays, device adaptable to the opening of test containers, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of plugs intended to close the opening of said containers, the plugs being connected to each other by a bridge of material made of a flexible elastic material, but ensuring a certain resistance to the device and to the assembly of tubes when adapted to them.

Dans la présente demande de brevet, on entend en effet par pont de matière une quantité de matière suffisante pour occuper essentiellement tout l'espace entre les bouchons, celui-ci pouvant donc être toutefois partiellement évidé. Le pont de matière est tel qu'il assure une certaine tenue au dispositif lui-même et à l'assemblage des tubes lorsque le dispositif leur est adapté. Cette tenue réside essentiellement dans une cer­taine résistance à toute torsion latérale appliquée sur les tubes ou sur le dispositif lui-même.In the present patent application, the term “material bridge” in fact means an amount of material sufficient to occupy essentially the entire space between the plugs, the latter therefore being able, however, to be partially hollowed out. The material bridge is such that it ensures a certain resistance to the device itself and to the assembly of the tubes when the device is adapted to them. This holding essentially resides in a certain resistance to any lateral torsion applied to the tubes or to the device itself.

Ce dispositif combine donc bien la fonction d'obturation étanche et de solidarisation des différentes éprouvettes avec tous les avantages évoqués ci-dessus.This device therefore combines well the sealing and sealing function of the various test pieces with all the advantages mentioned above.

Dans un mode particulier de réalisation, le pont de matière est en matière plastique, notamment en poly­propylène ou en matière plastique du type élastomère.In a particular embodiment, the material bridge is made of plastic, in particular polypropylene or plastic of the elastomer type.

Le dispositif présente une certaine souplesse avec par exemple la possibilité que les extrémités infé­rieures des tubes assemblés soient rapprochées les unes par rapport aux autres pour que l'ensemble puisse tenir dans une main ou encore la possibilité de désolidarisation d'un tube quelconque en exerçant une torsion sur ledit tube par rapport au bouchon tout en assurant une bonne tenue des autres bouchons.The device has a certain flexibility with for example the possibility that the lower ends of the assembled tubes are brought together with respect to each other so that the assembly can hold in one hand or even the possibility of detaching any tube by exerting a twist on said tube relative to the cap while ensuring good behavior of the other caps.

Dans un premier mode de réalisation, le dispositif peut consister en une bande comportant des bouchons alignés, reliés par le pont de matière, par exemple de 5 à 15 bouchons.In a first embodiment, the device can consist of a strip comprising aligned plugs, connected by the material bridge, for example from 5 to 15 plugs.

Dans un deuxième mode de réalisation, le dispositif peut consister en un tapis comportant une pluralité d'alignements parallèles de bouchons, les bouchons étant reliés par le pont de matière.In a second embodiment, the device may consist of a mat comprising a plurality of parallel alignments of plugs, the plugs being connected by the bridge of material.

Selon ce deuxième mode de réalisation, les différents alignements de bouchons parallèles peuvent constituer une pluralité de bandes adjacentes solidaires sur leur longueur mais détachables les unes par rapport aux autres.According to this second embodiment, the different alignments of parallel plugs can constitute a plurality of adjacent strips integral over their length but detachable from one another.

Pour ce faire, on peut pratiquer dans le pont de matière une rainure et donc une réduction de l'épais­seur de matière entre les alignements de bouchons,de manière à délimiter plusieurs bandes. Chaque bande est alors détachable du tapis par simple traction à une de ses extrémités, compte tenu de ladite rainure.To do this, it is possible to make a groove in the material bridge and therefore a reduction in the thickness of material between the plug alignments, so as to delimit several strips. Each strip is then detachable from the mat by simple pulling at one of its ends, taking into account said groove.

De préférence, chaque bande comporte à une de ses extrémités ou à ses deux extrémités une languette.Preferably, each strip has at one of its ends or at its two ends a tongue.

Cette caractéristique permet l'ouverture par simple traction sur la languette de l'ensemble des bou­chons d'une même bande d'un seul geste, aussi bien que l'ouverture progressive de chaque tube dans l'ordre de leur disposition.This feature allows the opening by simple pull on the tongue of all the plugs of the same band with a single gesture, as well as the progressive opening of each tube in the order of their arrangement.

Dans un mode particulier de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention, le pont de matière reliant les bouchons directement adjacents les uns aux autres est évidé partiellement dans sa partie centrale entre deux bouchons d'une même bande.In a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention, the material bridge connecting the plugs directly adjacent to each other is partially hollowed out in its central part between two plugs of the same strip.

Cette caractéristique confère au dispositif une souplesse supplémentaire, notamment améliorant la faculté de mouvement d'un tube par rapport aux autres tubes, tout en assurant une bonne tenue desdits tubes.This characteristic gives the device additional flexibility, in particular improving the faculty of movement of a tube relative to the other tubes, while ensuring good resistance of said tubes.

Mais surtout, l'évidement de matière évite de transmettre la déformation aux bouchons lorsqu'il y a une torsion d'un ou plusieurs tubes. En conséquence, les bouchons tiennent mieux en dépit d'une certaine souplesse de l'assemblage du dispositif et des tubes.But above all, the material recess avoids transmitting the deformation to the plugs when there is a twist of one or more tubes. Consequently, the plugs hold better despite a certain flexibility in the assembly of the device and the tubes.

Avantageusement, les bouchons et le pont de matière sont réalisés dans la même matière et en par­ticulier les bouchons viennent de matière avec le pont.Advantageously, the plugs and the material bridge are made of the same material and in particular the plugs come from the material with the bridge.

Les dispositifs selon l'invention peuvent être préparés par moulage par injection, notamment de polypropylène.The devices according to the invention can be prepared by injection molding, in particular of polypropylene.

De préférence, la masse du bouchon est creusée dans sa partie centrale et supérieure, ce qui rend son adaptation sur l'ouverture des tubes ainsi que son retrait plus facile, la force élastique exercée par le bouchon contre la paroi du tube étant ainsi réduite.Preferably, the mass of the stopper is hollowed out in its central and upper part, which makes it easier to adapt to the opening of the tubes as well as to remove it, the elastic force exerted by the stopper against the wall of the tube being thus reduced.

D'autres avantages de la présente invention, visant à faciliter l'emploi des tubes à essai dans les immunodosages, peuvent être imaginés, les avantages de la présente invention ne se limitant pas à ceux énoncés précédemment.Other advantages of the present invention, aimed at facilitating the use of test tubes in immunoassays, can be imagined, the advantages of the present invention not being limited to those stated above.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention apparaîtront d'ailleurs à la lumière de la description d'un mode détaillé de réalisation de l'in­vention qui va suivre fait en référence à des dessins sur lesquels :

  • . la figure 1 représente un dispositif selon l'invention adapté sur une série de six tubes à essai,
  • . la figure 2 représente le dispositif de la figure 1 vu de dessus,
  • . la figure 3 représente un dispositif des figures 1 et 2 vu en coupe longitudinale,
  • . la figure 4 représente un dispositif selon l'invention du type tapis en vue de dessus.
Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will also appear in the light of the description of a detailed embodiment of the invention which follows, made with reference to the drawings in which:
  • . FIG. 1 represents a device according to the invention adapted on a series of six test tubes,
  • . FIG. 2 represents the device of FIG. 1 seen from above,
  • . FIG. 3 represents a device in FIGS. 1 and 2 seen in longitudinal section,
  • . FIG. 4 represents a device according to the invention of the carpet type in top view.

Sur la figure 1, sont représentés des réci­pients d'essai consistant en des tubes à essai (1). Ces tubes (1) étant destinés à être enduits d'une subs­tance d'essai sur leur paroi interne, par exemple d'anti­corps monoclonaux, ils peuvent être faits de toute ma­tière, susceptibles d'être ainsi façonnés par exemple en verre. Cependant, comme les instruments d'essai, suivant l'invention, sont conçus pour être jetés après un seul essai, plusieurs matières plastiques telles que le polystyrène et le polypropylène conviennent excellem­ment.In Figure 1 are shown test vessels consisting of test tubes (1). These tubes (1) being intended to be coated with a test substance on their internal wall, for example monoclonal antibodies, they can be made of any material, capable of being thus shaped for example in glass. However, since the test instruments according to the invention are designed to be discarded after a single test, several plastics such as polystyrene and polypropylene are very suitable.

Sur la figure 1, sont donc représentés six tubes en polystyrène adaptés au dispositif de l'inven­tion. Ils sont représentés à l'échelle, ainsi que le dispositif de l'invention. Cependant, cette dimension n'est pas limitative de la portée de l'invention, l'échelle correspond à un diamètre de 10 mm pour les tubes.In Figure 1, there are therefore shown six polystyrene tubes adapted to the device of the invention. They are shown to scale, as well as the device of the invention. However, this dimension is not limiting of the scope of the invention, the scale corresponds to a diameter of 10 mm for the tubes.

Ce dispositif est représenté en vue de dessus sur la figure 2 et en vue de côté sur les figures 1 et 3. Le dispositif selon l'invention forme un tout, cepen­dant, il peut s'analyser en deux parties, d'une part, des bouchons 3 et, d'autre part, des ponts de matière 4 entre lesdits bouchons.This device is shown in top view in FIG. 2 and in side view in FIGS. 1 and 3. The device according to the invention forms a whole, however, it can be analyzed in two parts, on the one hand, plugs 3 and, on the other hand, bridges of material 4 between said plugs.

Lesdits bouchons 3 s'adaptent en force dans l'ouverture 5 des tubes 1 représentés figure 3.Said plugs 3 adapt forcefully in the opening 5 of the tubes 1 shown in FIG. 3.

Dans le mode de réalisation représenté dans les figures 1 à 3, le dispositif de l'invention est fait d'une seule matière plastique élastomère, ce qui facilite l'adaptation du dispositif selon l'invention sur les tubes.In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the device of the invention is made of a single elastomeric plastic, which facilitates the adaptation of the device according to the invention on the tubes.

Sur la figure 2, apparaissent des évidements de matière 6 dans la partie centrale des ponts de matière 4. Le pont de matière est donc constitué de deux languettes 4a et 4b (figure 2) qui assurent la liaison entre les parties supérieures 7 des bouchons 3 (figures 1 et 3).In FIG. 2, material recesses 6 appear in the central part of the material bridges 4. The material bridge therefore consists of two tongues 4a and 4b (FIG. 2) which provide the connection between the upper parts 7 of the plugs 3 (Figures 1 and 3).

Bien entendu, on peut envisager d'autres formes de récipients d'essai par exemple qui ne soient pas à ouverture circulaire. Dans ces conditions, la forme de la partie inférieure 3 du bouchon devra être adaptée en conformité à celle de l'ouverture du réci­pient d'essai.Of course, it is possible to envisage other forms of test vessels for example which are not of circular opening. Under these conditions, the shape of the lower part 3 of the stopper must be adapted in accordance with that of the opening of the test container.

A une de ses extrémités, tel que représenté sur les figures 1 à 3, le dispositif selon l'invention comporte une languette 8. Bien entendu, il peut compor­ter une telle languette à chacune de ses extrémités.At one of its ends, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the device according to the invention comprises a tongue 8. Of course, it can include such a tongue at each of its ends.

Tel que représenté sur les figures 1 à 3, le dispositif selon l'invention comporte six bouchons, mais bien entendu on peut envisager un dispositif de la longueur voulue et donc avec un nombre de bouchons variable.As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the device according to the invention comprises six plugs, but of course we can consider a device of the desired length and therefore with a variable number of plugs.

Le dispositif selon l'invention s'assemble sur les tubes à essai en appliquant en force la partie inférieure 3 des bouchons sur l'ouverture 5 des tubes à essai, la matière élastique constituant le dispositif selon l'invention rend cette attache hermétique.The device according to the invention is assembled on the test tubes by forcibly applying the lower part 3 of the plugs to the opening 5 of the test tubes, the elastic material constituting the device according to the invention makes this attachment hermetic.

En tirant sur la languette 8, on peut déso­lidariser le dispositif de l'invention des tubes 1. Une traction sur la languette 8 permet de désolidariser le dispositif de l'ensemble des tubes d'un seul geste, une traction moins forte permet de ne désolidariser le dispositif de l'invention d'avec une partie seulement des tubes. Enfin, on peut désolidariser un tube quel­conque du dispositif, selon la présente invention, sans tirer sur la languette 8, mais par simple torsion appli­quée sur le tube par rapport au plan horizontal de la partie supérieure 9 du bouchon 3.By pulling on the tongue 8, the device of the invention can be separated from the tubes 1. A pull on the tongue 8 makes it possible to separate the device from all the tubes in a single gesture, a weaker traction makes it possible to separate the device of the invention from only part of the tubes. Finally, any tube can be detached from the device according to the present invention, without pulling on the tongue 8, but by simple twisting applied to the tube with respect to the horizontal plane of the upper part 9 of the plug 3.

Comme on le voit sur la figure 3, la masse du bouchon est évidée dans sa partie centrale 9, ce qui rend son adaptation sur l'ouverture 5 du tube ainsi que son retrait plus faciles. La force élastique exercée par le bouchon sur les parois internes du tube au niveau de l'ouverture 5 est plus réduite.As seen in Figure 3, the mass of the plug is hollowed out in its central part 9, which makes its adaptation to the opening 5 of the tube as well as its removal easier. The elastic force exerted by the plug on the internal walls of the tube at the opening 5 is reduced.

Sur la figure 4 est représenté un dispositif du type tapis en vue de dessus. Dans ce mode de réali­sation, les bouchons 3 et le pont de matière 4 viennent de matière, l'ensemble a été fabriqué par moulage par injection de polypropylène.In Figure 4 is shown a device of the carpet type in top view. In this embodiment, the plugs 3 and the material bridge 4 come from material, the assembly was manufactured by injection molding of polypropylene.

Le pont de matière 4 occupe tout l'espace entre les bouchons, les lignes 10 représentent les rainures pratiquées dans le pont de matière. Ces lignes corres­pondent à une zone où l'épaisseur de la matière est plus réduite de telle sorte qu'en tirant sur une languette 8 à l'extrémité d'une bande, on peut désolidariser la bande des tubes correspondants, d'une part, et du reste du tapis, d'autre part. Ce type de dispositif en tapis est particulièrement adapté lorsque les tubes sont dis­posés dans un support-plan du type rack de tubes à essais en forme de ratelier-plan.The material bridge 4 occupies the entire space between the plugs, the lines 10 represent the grooves made in the material bridge. These lines correspond to an area where the thickness of the material is reduced so that by pulling on a tongue 8 at the end of a strip, the strip can be separated from the corresponding tubes, on the one hand, and the rest of the carpet, on the other hand. This type of mat device is particularly suitable when the tubes are arranged in a flat support of the rack type of test tubes in the form of a rack-plane.

Bien entendu, plusieurs modifications et adjonctions peuvent être apportées par un homme de l'art aux dispositifs qui viennent d'être décrits à titre de simples exemples non limitatifs, sans sortir du cadre de protection de la présente invention.Of course, several modifications and additions can be made by a person skilled in the art to the devices which have just been described by way of simple nonlimiting examples, without departing from the protective framework of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. Dispositif d'assemblage et de fermeture de plusieurs récipients d'essais, tels que des éprouvettes (1), utile notamment pour des dosages immunologiques, dispositif adaptable sur l'ouverture (5) des récipients d'essais, caractérisé en ce qu'il est constitué d'une pluralité de bouchons (3) destinés à fermer l'ouverture (5) desdits récipients, les bouchons étant reliés les uns aux autres par un pont de matière réalisé dans un matériau souple élastique, mais assurant une certaine tenue au dispositif et à l'assemblage de tubes lorsqu'il leur est adapté.1. Device for assembling and closing several test vessels, such as test tubes (1), useful in particular for immunoassays, device adaptable to the opening (5) of the test vessels, characterized in that '' It consists of a plurality of plugs (3) intended to close the opening (5) of said containers, the plugs being connected to each other by a bridge of material made of a flexible elastic material, but ensuring a certain hold to the device and to the assembly of tubes when adapted to them. 2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le pont de matière est réalisé en matière plastique, notamment en polypropylène ou en ma­tière du type élastomère.2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the material bridge is made of plastic, in particular polypropylene or of material of the elastomer type. 3. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les bouchons (3) et le pont de matière (4) sont réalisés dans le même matériau et viennent de matière.3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plugs (3) and the material bridge (4) are made of the same material and come from material. 4. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste en une bande comportant une pluralité de bouchons alignés, reliés par un pont de matière.4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a strip comprising a plurality of aligned plugs, connected by a bridge of material. 5. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste en un tapis cons­titué d'une pluralité d'alignements parallèles de bouchons, chaque bouchon étant relié par un pont de matière aux bouchons avoisinants.5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it consists of a mat consisting of a plurality of parallel alignments of plugs, each plug being connected by a bridge of material to the neighboring plugs. 6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, carac­térisé en ce que le tapis consiste en plusieurs bandes selon la revendication 4, solidaires sur leur longueur, mais détachables les unes par rapport aux autres.6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the mat consists of several strips according to claim 4, integral over their length, but detachable from each other. 7. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le pont de matière comporte une rai­nure provoquant une réduction de l'épaisseur de matière entre les alignements de bouchons de manière à délimiter plusieurs bandes, chaque bande étant détachable du tapis par simple traction à une de ses extrémités.7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the material bridge has a groove causing a reduction in the thickness of material between the plug alignments so as to delimit several strips, each strip being detachable from the mat by simple pulling one of its ends. 8. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte à une de ses extrémités ou à chacune de ses extrémités une ou plusieurs languettes (8).8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at one of its ends or at each of its ends one or more tongues (8). 9. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le pont de matière (4) reliant les bouchons (3) les uns aux autres est évidé dans sa partie centrale (6), et consiste donc en deux languettes (4a) et (4b).9. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the material bridge (4) connecting the plugs (3) to each other is hollowed out in its central part (6), and therefore consists of two tongues (4a) and ( 4b). 10. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la masse de chaque bouchon est creusée dans sa partie centrale et supé­rieure (9).10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mass of each plug is hollowed out in its central and upper part (9). 11. Tubes pour dosages immunologiques dont la paroi interne est éventuellement revêtue à l'aide d'anticorps monoclonaux et comportant également éven­tuellement en son sein des éléments de dosages immuno­logiques tels que des billes pouvant être revêtues elles aussi à l'aide d'anticorps monoclonaux, caractérisés en ce qu'ils sont assemblés à l'aide du dispositif selon l'une des revendications précédentes.11. Tubes for immunoassays, the internal wall of which is optionally coated with the aid of monoclonal antibodies and also optionally comprising within it immunoassay elements such as beads which can also be coated with the aid of monoclonal antibodies , characterized in that they are assembled using the device according to one of the preceding claims.
EP88400673A 1987-03-23 1988-03-21 Assembling and closing device for immunological test tubes Withdrawn EP0285496A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8703976 1987-03-23
FR8703976A FR2613071B1 (en) 1987-03-23 1987-03-23 DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING AND CLOSING TUBES FOR IMMUNOLOGICAL ASSAYS

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EP0285496A1 true EP0285496A1 (en) 1988-10-05

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FR (1) FR2613071B1 (en)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0606534A1 (en) * 1993-01-11 1994-07-20 The Perkin-Elmer Corporation Cover for array of reaction tubes
EP0916397A2 (en) * 1997-11-14 1999-05-19 Rohm And Haas Company Apparatus and method used in multiple, simultaneous synthesis of general compounds
GB2334954A (en) * 1998-03-03 1999-09-08 Chromacol Ltd Array of connected closures
WO1999044745A1 (en) * 1998-03-03 1999-09-10 Chromacol Limited Closure plug array with blind bores
US6258323B1 (en) 1998-11-16 2001-07-10 Rohm And Haas Company Apparatus and method used in multiple, simultaneous synthesis of general compounds
EP1122181A2 (en) * 2000-02-02 2001-08-08 Soltec, Inc Flexible septa closure plug mats for well plate mounted arrays of sample vials
DE102006001882A1 (en) * 2006-01-13 2007-07-19 Roche Diagnostics Gmbh Composite group of reagent carriers
WO2014075153A1 (en) * 2012-11-15 2014-05-22 THE WALKING EGG, vereniging zonder winstoogmerk Device and method for in vitro fertilisation.
GB2537637A (en) * 2015-04-21 2016-10-26 4Titude Ltd Improved cap strips
EP3055068A4 (en) * 2013-10-09 2017-07-05 University Of Utah Research Foundation Sample tube adapters and methods of use thereof
IT201700075491A1 (en) * 2017-07-05 2019-01-05 Eltek Spa DEVICE FOR MULTI-COCKPIT CELL CULTURE PLATES, AND ITS EQUIPMENT
EP3967624A1 (en) * 2020-09-11 2022-03-16 A. Raymond et Cie Delivery tray and packaging system for medical items

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FR1211229A (en) * 1958-12-17 1960-03-15 Temporary assembly of cylindrical tubes
US3098721A (en) * 1961-02-20 1963-07-23 Moeller Mfg Company Inc Multiple stopper unit
FR2007707A1 (en) * 1968-05-02 1970-01-09 Eppendore Geratebau
US4392389A (en) * 1980-10-07 1983-07-12 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Sampling tube having closing caps

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FR1211229A (en) * 1958-12-17 1960-03-15 Temporary assembly of cylindrical tubes
US3098721A (en) * 1961-02-20 1963-07-23 Moeller Mfg Company Inc Multiple stopper unit
FR2007707A1 (en) * 1968-05-02 1970-01-09 Eppendore Geratebau
US4392389A (en) * 1980-10-07 1983-07-12 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Sampling tube having closing caps

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0606534A1 (en) * 1993-01-11 1994-07-20 The Perkin-Elmer Corporation Cover for array of reaction tubes
CN1114702C (en) * 1993-01-11 2003-07-16 Pe股份有限公司（纽约） Cover for array of reaction tubes
EP0916397A2 (en) * 1997-11-14 1999-05-19 Rohm And Haas Company Apparatus and method used in multiple, simultaneous synthesis of general compounds
EP0916397A3 (en) * 1997-11-14 1999-05-26 Rohm And Haas Company Apparatus and method used in multiple, simultaneous synthesis of general compounds
JP2002505183A (en) * 1998-03-03 2002-02-19 クロマコル リミテッド Closed plug array with blind holes
US6202878B1 (en) 1998-03-03 2001-03-20 Chromacol Limited Closures
AU739801B2 (en) * 1998-03-03 2001-10-18 Chromacol Limited Closure plug array with blind bores
GB2334954B (en) * 1998-03-03 2002-01-16 Chromacol Ltd Array of connected closures for vials
WO1999044745A1 (en) * 1998-03-03 1999-09-10 Chromacol Limited Closure plug array with blind bores
GB2334954A (en) * 1998-03-03 1999-09-08 Chromacol Ltd Array of connected closures
US6258323B1 (en) 1998-11-16 2001-07-10 Rohm And Haas Company Apparatus and method used in multiple, simultaneous synthesis of general compounds
EP1122181A2 (en) * 2000-02-02 2001-08-08 Soltec, Inc Flexible septa closure plug mats for well plate mounted arrays of sample vials
EP1122181A3 (en) * 2000-02-02 2003-05-28 Soltec, Inc Flexible septa closure plug mats for well plate mounted arrays of sample vials
DE102006001882A1 (en) * 2006-01-13 2007-07-19 Roche Diagnostics Gmbh Composite group of reagent carriers
WO2014075153A1 (en) * 2012-11-15 2014-05-22 THE WALKING EGG, vereniging zonder winstoogmerk Device and method for in vitro fertilisation.
BE1021451B1 (en) * 2012-11-15 2015-11-25 THE WALKING EGG vereniging zonder wonstoogmerk DEVICE FOR IN VITRO FERTILIZATION
EP3055068A4 (en) * 2013-10-09 2017-07-05 University Of Utah Research Foundation Sample tube adapters and methods of use thereof
GB2537637A (en) * 2015-04-21 2016-10-26 4Titude Ltd Improved cap strips
IT201700075491A1 (en) * 2017-07-05 2019-01-05 Eltek Spa DEVICE FOR MULTI-COCKPIT CELL CULTURE PLATES, AND ITS EQUIPMENT
WO2019008505A1 (en) * 2017-07-05 2019-01-10 Eltek S.P.A. Device for multi-well cell-culture plates and corresponding kit
US11732228B2 (en) 2017-07-05 2023-08-22 Eltek S.P.A. Device for multi-well cell-culture plates, and corresponding kit
EP3967624A1 (en) * 2020-09-11 2022-03-16 A. Raymond et Cie Delivery tray and packaging system for medical items
FR3114081A1 (en) * 2020-09-11 2022-03-18 A. Raymond Et Cie DELIVERY TRAY AND PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL ITEMS

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2613071A1 (en) 1988-09-30
FR2613071B1 (en) 1991-05-03

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