EP0562947B1 - Marking device for spangles used in cryogenic preservation of biological liquids - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for identifying so-called flake tubes for the cryogenic conservation of biological liquids, in particular viral cultures, and comprising an envelope consisting of a section of tube made of suitable transparent material of regular current diameter with its ends. flattened forming autogenous seal of width greater than the current diameter.

In the field of marking articles with circular cross section, such as electrical conductors, document US-A-3 491 472 describes an elliptical identification sleeve, bearing reference marks, which has a plastic memory. The internal dimension along the minor axis is less than the diameter of the article to be identified, while the internal dimension along the major axis is greater than the diameter of the article. Two ribs inside the passage along a part of the internal surface of the passage provide three-point contact on the article contained.

Patent document FR-A-2 651 793 describes a so-called flake tube for the cryogenic preservation of biological samples, in particular viral culture, formed of a section of tubular envelope calibrated in substantially transparent polymer material, biologically neutral, provided with '' a seal at each of its two ends and comprising, in the vicinity of a first end, a sliding shutter comprising an aqueous gel between two pads of porous elastic material, which differs from the prior art in that the material polymer is an ionomer resin, and the end seals are formed by autogenous welding of the tube over a determined axial extent.

These flakes are, thanks to the physical properties of ionomer resins, in particular their thermoplastic behavior at ambient and higher temperatures, which allows an excellent autogenous welding seal, their resistance to thermal shocks between temperature. ambient and cryogenic temperatures, and their absence of embrittlement at these temperatures, extremely reliable for the cryogenic conservation of rare or dangerous biological liquids, such as genetic engineering products or viruses.

However, it has been found that ionomer resins, and in particular those whose properties at cryogenic temperature are more attractive, are less suitable for printing than the materials used for the manufacture of widely used flakes (for example flakes for artificial insemination of cattle or sheep), components of inks used for printing diffusing less well in ionomer resins, leading to less clear characters and more sensitive to erasure.

In addition, even if these ink components diffuse less well in ionomer resins, there is a risk that the diffusion of solvents through the thin wall (a few tenths of a millimeter) will interfere with the biological liquid, or that the diffusion of solvent in the thickness of the wall deteriorates the properties of the ionomer resin at cryogenic temperatures.

Finally, it seems desirable, since the scarcity of samples of biological liquids, or their dangerousness, leads to reducing the number of specimens of flakes containing the same biological liquid, to improve the distinctiveness of the flakes to reduce the frequency of errors of choice. Especially since the cryogenic conservation has the effect of covering the flakes with frost as soon as they come out of liquid nitrogen, and therefore making identification difficult from the printed indications alone.

The invention also proposes a device for identifying so-called flake tubes used for the cryogenic conservation of biological liquids, in particular viral cultures and comprising an envelope made up of a section of tube made of suitable transparent material of regular current diameter with its flattened ends. forming autogenous seals of width greater than the current diameter, device characterized in that it consists of a length of sheath of polymer material forming support for identification signs, threaded on the section of tube between the end seals with an internal diameter sufficient in itself to allow sliding on the tube under its own weight, but less than the width of the seals.

The length of sheath is thus trapped between the two end seals of the straw, without the possibility of escaping until a sealed end has not been cut.

In other words, the sheath is put in place at the same time as the content of the straw is enclosed, and cannot leave the straw until we have undertaken to remove the contents by cutting off one end.

The length of sheath can be chosen from a material which accepts printing in an excellent manner and which, moreover, is capable, by its own appearance, of constituting elements of identification. And there is no risk that the printing ink components disposed on the sheath will migrate into the glitter material.

The identification signs may include printed characters, a coloring of the sheath material, or even a length ratio between glitter and sheath.

In a preferred arrangement, the sheath is deformed at one end to resiliently clamp the tube at at least two diametrically opposite points. Threading the sheath thus remains easy, before the end seals, but, once the deformed end has passed, the sheath will remain in a position fixed on the straw. It is understood that the identification of a straw would become difficult if the length of sheath could freely slide along the straw, and thus slide towards the lower end of the straw when it is introduced into the cryogenic vessel. , necessarily by the upper part of the vase.

• La figure 1A représente une paillette avant remplissage;
• La figure 1B représente une gaine d'identification selon l'invention;
• La figure 2 représente une paillette remplie et scellée, et munie d'une gaine d'identification;
• La figure 3 représente, en vue perspective, un détail de l'arrêt de la gaine sur la paillette;
• La figure 4 est une vue en bout du montage de la gaine sur la paillette.

Secondary characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1A represents a straw before filling;
• FIG. 1B represents an identification sheath according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 represents a straw filled and sealed, and provided with an identification sheath;
• Figure 3 shows, in perspective view, a detail of the stop of the sheath on the straw;
• Figure 4 is an end view of the mounting of the sheath on the straw.

According to the embodiment chosen and shown in the figures, a tube or flake 1 is originally presented, as shown in Figure 1A, in the form of a calibrated section of tube, that is to say of a regular current external diameter, open at its two ends 1 a and 1 b , and consisting of an ionomer resin as described in document FR-A-2 651 793. Near the end 1 a is disposed a sliding shutter such as described in document FR-A-995 878 of September 20, 1948. This shutter consists of a dose of powder capable of gelling on contact with an aqueous liquid, between two porous pads.

A length of sheath 3 (FIG. 1B) has been prepared with an internal diameter 30 (see FIG. 4) greater than the external diameter 10 of the straw 1, this length corresponds approximately to one third of that of the straw 1. The sheath 3 is in easily extrudable thermoplastic material, such as poly (vinyl chloride) and mass-colored. As best seen in the Figures 3 and 4, the sheath 3 has been at one end 3a, oval stretch along a major axis 31 so as to have a minor axis 32 which, in the free state (Figure 1B ), is slightly smaller than the outside diameter 10 of the straw 1.

Immediately before filling the straw 1, the length of sheath 3 of a chosen color, was provided, by printing on its peripheral surface, with identification data of the biological liquid with which the corresponding straw 1 must be filled; the color of the sheath constitutes an identification element, which is added to the printed data, in order to subsequently allow the sample to be taken out of cryogenic storage vessels at first glance, subject to verification of the printed data, of course.

After printing, the length of sheath 3 is threaded through its end opposite the ovalized end 3 a , leaving the end of the straw 1 b beyond at least 1 cm.

Then the straw 1, provided with its identification sheath, is carried on a filling machine, which are caused to penetrate by suction by the end 1a through the shutter 2, the biological fluid that the straw is intended to contain. As is known, the biological liquid reaching the shutter causes the powder to gel and seal the shutter.

After filling, the ends 1a and 1b are sealed by being clamped between parallel flat heated jaws. The welded ends are formed into spatulas 1 c and 1 d , the width of which, perpendicular to the axis of the glitter exceeds the internal diameter 30, and even the major axis 31 of the ovalized end 3 a of the length of sheath 3. The latter will therefore be trapped between the sealed ends 1 c and 1 d of the straw, until one end has been cut to recover the contents of the straw.

It will be noted that the sheath can without disadvantages possess, at cryogenic temperatures, less favorable properties than ionomer resins, since it is not subjected to any mechanical stress, and that it plays no role in reliable preservation. Even a crack in the sheath is without consequences.

It will be understood that the ovalization 3 a of the length of sheath 3 is intended to avoid the sliding of the sheath 3 along the straw 1, so that this sheath with its identification data remains clearly visible during storage at temperatures cryogenic, without however the establishment of the sheath 3 around the straw 1 is difficult. It is obvious that immobilization of the sheath 3 on the straw 1 could be obtained anyway which causes localized tightening of the sheath, bearing on the straw by at least two diametrically opposite points. In fact, the immobilization of the sheath 3 on the straw is not strictly essential for identification, if the latter is facilitated by the immobilization of the sheath.

Furthermore, the sheath length 3 threaded on the straw is not limited necessarily by the need to leave open the ends 1a and 1b of the straw to allow sealing. However, it is useful to provide at least bare lengths of straw in the vicinity of the ends to facilitate the use of transport racks for filling, and allow slicing of the ends for the recovery of the contents. In addition, it will be preferable that at least half of the length of straw 1 remains bare to allow visual inspection of the contents. But a length of sheath 3 less than a quarter of the length of glitter 1 may leave insufficient space for printing identification data.

These considerations confirm that the invention is not limited to the examples described, but embraces all of the variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Claims (6)

1. An arrangement for the identification of tubes, referred to as small tube members, which are used for the cryogenic conservation of biological liquids, in particular viral cultures, and comprising a casing (1) formed by a tube portion of suitable transparent material of regular running diameter (10) with its flattened ends (1c, 1d) forming autogenous sealing means of a width greater than the running diameter, the arrangement being characterised in that it consists of a length of sheathing (3) of polymer material forming a carrier for identification signs, which is fitted on to the tube portion (1) between the end sealing means (1c, 1d) with an internal diameter (30) which is sufficient in itself to permit sliding movement on the tube (1) under its own weight but smaller than the width of the sealing means (1c, 1d).
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the identification signs comprise characters which are printed on the sheathing (3).
3. An arrangement according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the identification signs comprise colouring of the sheathing material (3).
4. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the length of the sheathing (3) is less than half the length of the tube portion (1).
5. An arrangement according to Claim 4, characterised in that the length of the sheathing (3) is greater than a quarter of the length of the tube portion (1).
6. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sheathing (3) is deformed at one end for elastically gripping the tube (1) at at least two diametrally opposite points.

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