EP3558526A1 - Device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, set for handling them, and the use thereof - Google Patents

Device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, set for handling them, and the use thereof

Info

Publication number
EP3558526A1
EP3558526A1 EP17837846.9A EP17837846A EP3558526A1 EP 3558526 A1 EP3558526 A1 EP 3558526A1 EP 17837846 A EP17837846 A EP 17837846A EP 3558526 A1 EP3558526 A1 EP 3558526A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
insert
holder
lid
opening
sample
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP17837846.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3558526B1 (en
Inventor
Karel KOBERNA
Anna LIGASOVA
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.)
Univerzita Palackeho V Olomouci
Original Assignee
Univerzita Palackeho V Olomouci
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 Univerzita Palackeho V Olomouci filed Critical Univerzita Palackeho V Olomouci
Publication of EP3558526A1 publication Critical patent/EP3558526A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3558526B1 publication Critical patent/EP3558526B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5021—Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
    • B01L2200/023—Adapting objects or devices to another adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
    • B01L2200/028—Modular arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/041—Connecting closures to device or container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/041—Connecting closures to device or container
    • B01L2300/042—Caps; Plugs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/046—Function or devices integrated in the closure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/046—Function or devices integrated in the closure
    • B01L2300/047—Additional chamber, reservoir
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/0609—Holders integrated in container to position an object
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/0681—Filter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0832—Geometry, shape and general structure cylindrical, tube shaped
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0848—Specific forms of parts of containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0848—Specific forms of parts of containers
    • B01L2300/0858—Side walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0475—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
    • B01L2400/0487—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure fluid pressure, pneumatics
    • B01L2400/049—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure fluid pressure, pneumatics vacuum

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures containing liquid substances and operations with samples on carriers, as well as to a set for handling of solvents and mixtures containing liquid substances and operations with samples on carriers, and to the use thereof. It enables to work in principle in any containers/vessels with a neck in a shape of basically a hollow cylinder, and together with various tools, which can be placed in the device, it enables various operations with substances, such as filtration, sedimentation of particles, incubation of samples or washing thereof. Its primary use is aimed at the situations when centrifugal forces and forces generated by a vacuum pump are used for the treatment of samples. Background Art
  • the present invention relates to a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures containing liquid substances (hereinafter only mixtures) and operations with samples on carriers, which can be advantageously used together with vessels with a neck in a shape of basically a hollow cylinder.
  • Tools can be placed in the device, which upon their placement in the device enable the various kinds of handling of solvents, mixtures and operations with samples on carriers.
  • Examples of handling include, for instance, filtration, sedimentation or washing of samples of mixtures, and washing samples on carriers. Centrifugal or gravitational forces or vacuum-pumped suction forces are mainly used during these operations, although the device according to the present invention also allows for the use of other types of suction, for example by means of a pipette.
  • the samples treated are e.g.
  • the samples can also be particles or other materials captured on the surfaces of the carriers, which are placed in the device, and the device is subsequently used e.g. for their washing.
  • One single device supplemented with tools which may also be fixed (non-detachable) parts of the device, can therefore be used for various handling of solvents, mixtures and/or samples on carriers according to the appropriate tool used.
  • the device according to the present invention enables to work in vessels with a neck in a shape of basically a hollow cylinder, preferably in centrifugal tubes, and also to capture solvents and mixtures processed by means of tools.
  • the device comprises a lid, an insert, a holder and at least one tool.
  • the lid and the holder are equipped with a thread and have an opening or openings in the vertical axis.
  • the thread serves for connecting the two parts and to create a pressure on the insert, placed inside the holder, and on the at least one tool, also placed inside the holder.
  • the insert and the tool(s) are therefore fixed in this manner.
  • Certain tools e.g. filters and seals, can be non-detachable components of the insert. Preferably, the tools are used separately.
  • the tools together with the device enable individual operations with substances.
  • the tools include, besides filters and seals, for instance, supports or separation parts or sample carriers.
  • the device can be equipped with a stand for easier handling.
  • the subject of the present invention is a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, which comprises a holder, an insert, a lid and at least one tool, wherein: - the holder contains the sample part in the shape of basically a cylinder containing a recess for insert placement, wherein the bottom part of the recess is furnished with at least one opening for the drainage of the solvents and mixtures from the sample part of the holder, wherein the outer shell of the sample part of the holder is at least in one of its parts equipped with a thread, and wherein in this threaded part, the outer shape of the holder is basically a cylinder;
  • the insert is composed of an outer part and an inner part
  • the outer part of the insert is furnished with an opening for the inner part of the insert, connecting the opposite bases of the outer part of the insert.
  • the inner part of the insert is furnished with at least one opening connecting its opposite bases, wherein the outer shape of the outer part of the insert is adjusted to the size and shape of the recess of the sample part of the holder, and the outer shape of the inner part of the insert is at least in part of the inner part of the insert adjusted to the opening in the outer part of the insert, and, at the same time, it is at least in part of the inner part of the insert larger than the narrowest part of the opening in the outer part of the insert.
  • the insert serves primarily as a container for solvents and mixtures.
  • the insert may further contain tools, such as a filter and/or a seal, which are non- detachably attached to the insert.
  • the lid contains a recess of the shape of basically a cylinder, wherein the inner shell of the recess of the lid is at least in one part equipped with a thread, which is compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part, and wherein the part of the lid opposite to the part of the lid containing the recess, is equipped with at least one opening, preferably circular; and wherein the part of the lid around the opening(s) in the lid in the area facing the recess of the lid at least in some of its parts exceeds the ground plan of the outer part of the insert and/or tools placed in the device, and wherein at least one of the openings enables the filling of the sample part with solvents and/or mixtures;
  • the shape and size of the tool is adjusted for insertion in the sample part of the holder, and it is selected from a group comprising filters, supports, seals, separation parts, sample carriers or combinations thereof.
  • the holder or its sample part, provides the bottom for the insert and possibly other tools placed in the device, and, along with the lid, fixes them in the desired positions; the holder, after being screwed into the lid, always at least partially protrudes from the lid towards the vessel on which the device is placed, so that its screwing and unscrewing would be trouble-free.
  • the mixtures can include inter alia various solvents or solutions containing e.g. protein components, entire cells or remnants thereof, or nucleic acids, or particles, for example nanoparticles, or mixtures thereof.
  • the supports also include the sample carriers.
  • the sample carriers include for instance glass, metal, paper or plastic parts, most often in the form of variously thick plates, which carry on their surface the samples or are intended for capturing the samples.
  • the samples attached to the carriers include for example cells, histological sections or various particles, such as nanoparticles.
  • the thread on the holder and the lid enable the connection of the lid with the holder.
  • One preferred embodiment of the holder has a drainage circular opening, which is situated in the centre of the bottom of the sample part of the holder.
  • the drainage opening can serve for connecting to the vacuum pump using other elements, e.g. hose.
  • the bottom can preferably be roughened or equipped with drainage canals to enable the rapid drainage of solvents and/or mixtures.
  • the surface of the holder For easier handling and tightening, it is preferable for at least a part of the surface of the holder to be furnished with grooves or otherwise roughened.
  • the ring can be furnished with grooves or otherwise roughened.
  • the insert serves as a container of solvents and/or mixtures that are used in the course of the treatment of the sample and at the same time, especially in the embodiment when it is equipped e.g. with a filter and/or a seal, enable certain operations with the processed solvents and/or mixtures.
  • the insert is pressed onto the other inner parts of the device (tools) by the threaded connection between the lid and the holder.
  • the outer shape of the insert depends on the shape of the recess in the sample part of the holder.
  • the insert must fit into the recess in the sample part of the holder.
  • the ground plan shape of at least some parts of the insert lean tightly to the wall of the recess of the sample part of the holder and prevent its rotation. From this perspective, a suitable ground plan of these parts corresponds to a polygon, a circle, or possibly an ellipse or a circular segment.
  • the insert is in all its parts basically a cylinder, it is preferable to equip the insert on its shell with grooves or protrusions, which prevent its slippage in the sample part of the holder and fit into the complementary elements in the sample part of the holder. It does not matter if these elements will be placed on the shell of the inner part of the insert, on the outer part of the insert, or on both parts.
  • the shape of the opening(s) of the inner part of the insert connecting its bases is not determinant, nevertheless their ground plan and possible distribution in the base that is closer to the bottom of the sample part of the holder defines, depending on the application of the device, for instance the range and position where the particles will sediment on the carrier.
  • the shape of the opening in the outer part of the insert can vary; preferable shapes include a cylinder, a cylinder with the base of an ellipse, a prism, a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid.
  • the shape can also be a combination of the mentioned shapes. It is also possible to combine mutually various prisms, truncated cones or truncated pyramids or cylinders or cylinders with a base in the shape of an ellipse with various diameters.
  • the inner part of the insert is made in an outer shape that enables its at least partial insertion in the opening in the outer part of the insert and at the same time prevents it from going entirely through the opening in the outer part of the insert.
  • a shape is basically a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid or their combination with prisms and cylinders or with cylinders with the base in the shape of an ellipse.
  • a suitable shape is a combination of various prisms or cylinders with various diameters or a combination of cylinders and prisms or a combination of cylinders, truncated pyramids, truncated cones and prisms with shapes, which have the shape of a circular segment or an ellipse in the ground plan.
  • a particularly preferable example of the shape of the inner part of the insert is a system of two cylinders that adjoin with their bases and share a common axis of symmetry.
  • either a cylinder or the set of two cylinders is the complementary shape of the opening in the outer part of the insert.
  • the inner part of the insert is made so that the diameter of the cylinder with the smaller diameter is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the outer part of the insert, and the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter is larger than the diameter of the opening in the outer part of the insert. This assures that the inner part of the insert can be partially but not entirely inserted in the opening in the outer part of the insert (complete insertion is prevented by the cylinder of a larger diameter).
  • the diameter of the cylinder with a smaller diameter of the inner part of the insert is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder with the smaller diameter forming the opening in the outer part of the insert, and the cylinder with a larger diameter of the inner part of the insert is preferably also smaller than the diameter of the cylinder with a larger diameter forming the opening in the outer part of the insert and at the same time is larger than the diameter of the cylinder with a smaller diameter forming the opening in the outer part of the insert.
  • a seal to seal off the space between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
  • the seal can be an inseparable component of the inner or outer parts of the insert or, preferably, it can be separated from these parts.
  • the use of the seal is advantageous e.g. in the case of the usage of vacuum pumps during the work with solvents and mixtures.
  • the section of the inner part of the insert which is adjusted by its shape and size for the passage through the opening in the outer part of the insert, is longer than the height of the outer part of the insert, and, preferably, it has a smaller diameter than the opening in the lid.
  • this section of the insert then passes through the opening in the lid and forms the neck of the insert.
  • the neck of the insert may be equipped with a thread for the lid, e.g. in order to prevent the evaporation of solvents.
  • the inner part of the insert is furnished with a recess or roughened on its edge closer to the lid opening; this facilitates the handling of the insert.
  • the inner part of the insert it is preferable to roughen the inner part of the insert on its base closer to the bottom of the sample part. This concerns above all the cases when the device is used to wash the samples.
  • the seals or filters can be a fixed part of both the inner and the outer parts of the insert.
  • the lid is used to close the device; it enables the filling of the device with solvents and/or mixtures and eventually enables the removal of the solvents and/or mixtures; it also prevents the falling of the device into the vessel and, along with the holder and the insert, it is used to fix tools, such as seals and filters, in their desired positions.
  • the lid fixes the device on the neck of the vessel also against movements into the side towards the neck of the vessel and prevents the evaporation of the solvents and/or mixtures from the vessel.
  • the opening in the part of the lid opposite the part of the lid containing the recess is used to apply or remove solvents and/or mixtures.
  • the area around the opening(s) forms its ceiling, which serves for the fixation of the inner parts by creating pressure against the bottom of the holder part.
  • the opening has a shape of a cylinder with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical recess equipped with thread, and the centre of its base corresponds vertically with the centre of the base of the cylindrical recess with thread.
  • the lid may have a non-detachable part in the form of a seal that is situated around the opening/openings in the ceiling of the lid, heading towards the recess, and/or a separation part positioned similarly as the seal.
  • the outer part of the insert may also form a non-detachable part of the lid, which means that the outer part of the insert and the lid may be non-detachably connected or possibly made from a single piece of material.
  • the lid can be used to connect a vacuum pump through other elements such as a vessel with a neck in the shape of basically a hollow cylinder or using a hose or by means of thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread.
  • the insert is made from an outer and an inner part, assembled detachably; in other embodiments, it is assembled non-detachably, e.g. from a single piece of material.
  • the term insert denotes both: a set consisting of detachable inner and outer parts, and an insert made from a single piece of material, or possibly produced by the gluing of the inner and the outer parts of the insert.
  • the holder further contains a collecting part that has the shape of basically a hollow cylinder or two hollow cylinders one inserted inside the other, wherein the hollow cylinder or the inner of the two mutually inserted hollow cylinders has the same or larger internal diameter than the diameter of the opening in the base of the sample part of the holder; preferably, this diameter is equal to the diameter of the opening in the base of the sample part of the holder, wherein the collecting part of the holder is attached to the lower base of the sample part of the holder.
  • the opening (the cavity of the inner hollow cylinder) is adjusted for the drainage of the solvent and/or mixture from the sample part of the holder, and it may serve for the connection to a vacuum pump.
  • the collecting part is particularly preferable in the case of a device with small dimensions, where it facilitates the handling of the device thanks to increasing its area. Increasing the overall area also improves the user comfort thanks to increased area that is well protected against contamination by the solvents and/or mixtures used.
  • the collecting part is comprised of two basically hollow cylinders, one of them preferably tightly lines the outlet of the bottom of the sample part of the holder, and the other one has an external diameter similar to the external diameter of the sample part in the area of its bottom.
  • the sample part and the collecting part of the holder are assembled in a non-detachable manner, and even more preferably they are made from a single piece of material.
  • the thread with which the sample part is furnished may also continue on the collecting part of the holder.
  • a ring which is in some embodiments a part of the sample part, is situated on the collecting part.
  • the collecting part can be used to connect a vacuum pump through other elements, for example by a hose or by means of thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread.
  • the inner and outer part of the insert are mutually connected in a non-detachable manner; for example, they are made from a single piece of material or glued together. Even in these embodiments, the insert may contain glued seals and/or filters.
  • the filter firmly attached to the insert contains opening/openings in its ground plan, in other embodiments it contains no opening/openings.
  • the opening(s) are situated in the areas where there is an opening(s) in the inner part of the insert.
  • the seal which is a fixed part of the insert in certain embodiments and which, after the device is set up, seals the part between the lid and the insert, contains an opening in its ground plan that enables the filling of the insert.
  • a single insert is made in the form of a cylinder with an opening or openings that connect its bases.
  • this embodiment is equipped with projections and/or grooves on the outer shell of the insert that are complementary to the projections and/or grooves in the sample part of the holder and prevent partial turning of the insert when tightening the lid.
  • the insert consists of an inner and an outer part of the insert that are assembled in a detachable manner, as two pieces modularly fitting one into the other.
  • Such an embodiment is for example the assembly wherein the inner part of the insert is basically in the shape of two cylinders adjacent by their bases that share an axis of symmetry and having a common opening along this axis.
  • the outer part of the insert is basically in the shape of a hollow cylinder.
  • the inner part of the insert is made of two coaxial cylinders in such a way that the outer diameter of the cylinder with the smaller diameter is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the outer part of the insert, and the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter is basically equal to the diameter of the outer part of the insert.
  • the cylinder with the smaller diameter of the inner part of the insert has a smaller diameter than the opening in the lid, and it forms a neck that passes through the opening in the lid.
  • the outer part of the insert fixes the insert in the recess of the sample part of the holder.
  • the neck of the insert may be equipped with thread for the lid, e.g. in order to prevent the evaporation of solvents and/or mixtures.
  • the inner part of the insert is furnished with a recess or roughened area near its upper edge; this facilitates the handling of the insert.
  • the inner part of the insert may be preferably equipped with projections on its basis facing the area of the bottom of the sample part, for instance in the form of a protruding hollow cylinder.
  • the device according to the present invention contains a lid basically in the shape of two hollow cylinders of the same height or of different heights, inserted one into the other, wherein both hollow cylinders are equipped with the same common base containing an opening, preferably a circular opening, preferably situated in the centre of the common base, and wherein the inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is at least in one its part equipped with a thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder.
  • the base is a hollow cylinder or a set of several hollow cylinders of various heights with a shared axis of symmetry and a shared centre of their base that is more distant from the part of the lid equipped with the thread.
  • the outer surface of the lid and/or the outer surface of the holder are roughened, for example by grooves or projections. This roughing facilitates the connection and disconnection of the thread between the holder and the lid.
  • the recess of the sample part of the holder has a shape selected from a group including a cylinder, a prism, preferably a right prism, an elliptic cylinder or a shape derived from a cylinder whose base is a circle segment.
  • it is a recess in the shape of basically a right prism, particularly a cuboid, a cube or a hexagonal prism, or of a cylinder, or possibly its ground plan may have basically elliptic shape.
  • the recess has the ground plan shape of a part of a circle that is delimited by a secant on at least one side, i.e. of a circle segment.
  • the inner side of the sample part of the holder is at least in a part equipped with one groove and/or one projection with a ground plan shape of basically a polygon, a semi-circle or a polygon with rounded vertices with a height parallel to the axis of the thread.
  • At least one groove in the sample part passes through the whole wall of the sample part of the holder.
  • This groove starts at the upper edge of the sample part and may continue to the border of its bottom; preferably it ends above the level of the bottom of the sample part of the holder.
  • the groove facilitates the insertion and removal of samples and possibly tools into/from the holder. If there is a need to prevent partial rotation of the inner parts and the recess of the sample part of the holder is in the shape of a cylinder, this groove may also be used as a prevention against partial rotation of the sample and/or of the inner parts when tightening the lid, which might cause their damage.
  • a multiple-element system preventing partial rotation can be used, for example a combination of several grooves in which projections on the insert or eventually on other tools inserted into the device fit.
  • the grooves may but not need to pass through the whole thickness of the wall.
  • shallow grooves in order not to considerably weaken the wall of the sample part of the holder.
  • the use of two grooves on the opposite sides of the recess is sufficient to secure the insert and/or the inner parts (tools) against partial rotation.
  • the recess in the sample part of the holder can be equipped with projections that fit into the groove(s) in the insert and/or some inner parts.
  • a combination of grooves and projections is also possible. It is also possible to combine grooves and/or projections for example with shapes that at least partially prevent partial rotation on their own. This concerns, above all, the case when rotation is prevented by a recess in the shape of a cylinder cut off from one side.
  • the external diameter of the inner part of the insert is at least in the area of its neck smaller than the diameter of the opening in the lid, while the height of the inner part of the insert passing through the opening in the outer part of the insert is greater than the height of the opening in the outer part of the insert.
  • the tools have shapes compatible with the internal shape of the recess in the sample part of the holder.
  • the function of the tools in the device according to the present invention is as follows: Supports are used above all to collect filtered solvents and/or mixtures and to be put under special types of supports - carriers of samples, which bear the samples or are used to collect them. Supports most often have the shapes of basically plates of various heights (thicknesses) and various ground plan shapes. Supports may contain recesses of any shape. Generally, it is preferable to use supports of a ground plan shape that corresponds to the ground plan shape of the bottom of the recess in the sample part of the holder or the ground plan shape of the lower part of the insert.
  • the supports are made in the shape of low cylinders with a diameter that enables easy insertion into the cylindrically shaped sample part of the holder.
  • the recesses in the supports are made in the shape of basically cylinders or basically truncated cones or basically cones.
  • filters are used as supports; they can then fulfil two functions, the function of a support and the filtration function.
  • the supports are roughened or equipped with drainage channels on the lower side. These adjustments ensure the drainage of solvents and/or mixtures into vessels.
  • Filters are used above all for the filtration of mixtures; if they are used, they define places of the removal of solvents and/or mixtures that get into the sample part of the holder, subsequently heading to the draining opening(s). They can also be used as supports for the capture of particles from mixtures.
  • Filters in the form of plates may have various ground plan shapes and heights. Generally, it is preferable to use filters of ground plan shapes that correspond to the ground plan shape of the recess in the sample part or the part whereon the filters lie directly. Preferably, they are made in the ground plan shape of a circle or an annulus. Filters may be inseparable parts of the insert. At the same time, they can be combined into larger assemblies, including assemblies formed using interlaying the filters by separation parts. Such combinations can be connected non- detachably. In the case of such combinations, they can be equipped with a seal, detachably or non- detachably connected to one or to both sides of the assembly.
  • Separation parts are used to delimit the distance between the individual parts. For example, they define the distance between a support and a filter.
  • their ground plan shape corresponds to the ground plan shape of the recess in the sample part or the part whereon the separation parts lie directly. They always contain an opening or openings in the vertical direction that pass through the whole separation part.
  • they Preferably, they have the ground plan shape of an annulus.
  • the separation parts are preferably roughened on one or both contact surfaces.
  • the separation part can be a non-detachable part of a lid, where it serves to delimit the space between the lid and other parts. Then it is preferably situated around the opening(s) in the lid.
  • Seals are used to seal spaces between two parts of the device. This means above all the sealing of the space between the insert and the ceiling of the lid or between the outer part of the insert and the ceiling of the lid or between the support and the separation part or between the outer and the inner parts of the insert or between the support and the insert or between the supports and the inner part of the insert or between the sample carrier and the insert or between the sample carrier and the separation part or between the filter and the sample carrier.
  • its ground plan shape corresponds to the ground plan shape of the parts between which the seal is inserted.
  • the seal can be a non-detachable part of the insert or the lid. If it is a non-detachable part of the lid, then, preferably, the seal is situated around the opening(s) in the lid.
  • the device contains a holder that includes in its sample part a support with a recess for the sample carrier or a support without the recess; on the support, there is further placed a sample carrier, preferably a glass, with or without the sample, above which a filter is placed, pressed towards the holder by an insert situated above the filter and, optionally, by a seal situated above it, wherein the neck of the inner part of the insert is passed through the opening in the lid screwed together with the holder using the thread.
  • a sample carrier preferably a glass
  • this embodiment optionally contains a seal positioned between the sample carrier and the filter; eventually, the seal is inserted between the sample carrier and the filter, and a separation part is placed above it.
  • a seal is optionally inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert, if they are connected detachably.
  • the device according to the present invention is made of materials that are sufficiently resistant to the substances used (solvents and mixtures).
  • the lid, the holder, the inserts and some other tools, such as separation parts are made of thermoplastics or metal alloys.
  • thermoplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene. These materials can preferably be used also for other tools such as supports.
  • supports can be preferably made of glass or of metals and materials that are suitable also for the production of other tools such as filters or seals.
  • Sample carriers can be made of the same materials as the supports. Depending on the application, supports can be coated with thin layers of other substances that influence their ability to bind particles contained in a mixture.
  • the examples include poly-D-lysine, 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine or gelatine.
  • Filters are preferably made of cellulose, nitrocellulose, nylon, polyvinylidene difluoride, glass microfibres, polypropylene, polysulfone, cellulose acetate or polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • Seals are preferably made of rubbers, preferably silicon rubbers or of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, plasticised PVC (Novoplast) or paper.
  • the outer part of the insert can be, in some preferred embodiments, made of rubbers.
  • the inserts are preferably made of other materials such as metals and their alloys in some cases.
  • the subject of the present invention is also a set for the handling of solvents and mixtures and operations with samples on carriers containing the device for facilitating the handling of solvents and mixtures and operations with samples on carriers according to the present invention, and a vessel, preferably a vessel with a neck in the shape of a hollow cylinder, suitable for placing the device according to the present invention onto the vessel.
  • the lid is preferably shaped in such a way that the external diameter of the part containing a recess with thread is at least in its part facing the neck of the vessel smaller than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel (e.g. a 50 ml centrifugal test tube).
  • the shape and size of the lid above this part then prevents the lid from falling through into the vessel. It is ensured that at least one part of the lid is placed inside the vessel and, at the same time, the fixation of the lid on the vessel can be achieved even without the use of any other fixation element. It is also possible to use a lid, the ground plan dimensions of which are greater than the diameter of the vessel along the whole vertical axis.
  • a preferred shape of the upper part of the lid is basically a cylinder equipped with a circular opening in the centre, and the part containing the recess is basically a hollow cylinder whose external diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the vessel and its vertical axis is the continuation of the vertical axis of the upper part.
  • the lid is in the shape of basically two hollow cylinders of a similar heights, one inserted into the other, wherein both hollow cylinders share one common base.
  • the inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is at least in one of its parts equipped with thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part.
  • the base is a hollow cylinder or a set of mutually connected two or more hollow cylinders of various heights with a shared axis of symmetry and a shared centre of the base which is more distant from the part of the lid equipped with thread.
  • the internal diameter of the outer hollow cylinder under the base is always greater than the external diameter of the neck of the vessel including the prospective thread, and the external diameter of the inner hollow cylinder under the base is smaller than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel.
  • the ceiling of the space between these hollow cylinders formed by their shared base then, along with its walls, fixes the lid on the neck of the vessel.
  • the described embodiment is preferable for instance in the case of using commercial 50 ml test tubes, which predominantly have the shape of a hollow cylinder and differ by thread with a similar internal and external diameter depending on the manufacturer.
  • the space between the hollow cylinders under the base can be equipped with a seal in the area of the ceiling.
  • the presence of the seal is preferable in cases when evaporation needs to be minimised during centrifugation or washing using gravitational force, as well as in cases when the lid is used to connect a vacuum pump using other elements such as vessels with a neck in the shape of basically a hollow cylinder.
  • This construction of the lid enables the use of a single lid for test tubes of various manufacturers, ensures high protection against evaporation and, at the same time, enables fast removal of the device from the vessel.
  • the lid can be further equipped, on the inner shell of the outer hollow cylinder under the base, with a thread complementary to the thread with which the vessel / test tube is furnished. Such a solution is preferable in situations when it is absolutely necessary to prevent evaporation from the vessel.
  • the vessels with a neck in the shape of basically a hollow cylinder can be ordinary or centrifugal test tubes.
  • these vessels are made of materials resistant to the solvents and/or mixtures used and, at the same time, resistant to centrifugal forces, for instance from thermoplastics, preferably thermoplastic polyethylene and polypropylene, or from glass.
  • Simple thick-walled vessels with a neck in the form of basically a hollow cylinder equipped with a valve for the connection of a vacuum pump are suitable for the use of vacuum pumps. These vessels do not serve for the collection of the filtrate, which is sucked outside the vessels. Generally, however, the device does not require a connection to vacuum pumps only using the vessels. It can be connected to a vacuum pump also using other elements such as hoses or a thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread.
  • the set according to the present invention contains also a stand comprising a base and a pin that is adjusted for insertion into the opening in the lower part of the sample part of the holder, or possibly via the opening in the collection part of the holder.
  • the stand facilitates the handling of the device.
  • the height of the pin is chosen in such a way that upon insertion of the pin in the opening in the bottom of the holder, the parts inserted in the sample part of the holder would be at least partially lifted, which facilitates their removal by the user.
  • the subject of the present invention is also the use of the device and/or the set according to the present invention for filtration of solvents and/or mixtures, sedimentation of particles, washing of particles, washing of samples attached to supports and/or carriers, particularly using centrifugation and using a suction force provided by vacuum pumps.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel.
  • the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread.
  • a vacuum pump When filtration using a vacuum pump is used and the insert is made detachably, consisting of an inner and an outer part, it is preferable if the seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
  • a mixture is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The filtration takes place in the area of the filter between the support and the insert.
  • the rest of the mixture remains on the support. 2)
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a filter without an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel.
  • the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread.
  • the insert is made detachably, consisting of an inner and an outer part, preferably the seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
  • a mixture is applied into the device.
  • the mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump.
  • the filtration takes place in the area of the filter delimited by the opening in the inner part of the insert.
  • the rest of the mixture remains on the filter.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support, a seal with an opening, optionally a separation part, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel.
  • the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread.
  • the insert is made detachably, consisting of an inner and an outer part, preferably, the seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
  • a mixture containing particles is applied into the device.
  • the mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump.
  • the filtration takes place in the area of the filter between the seal or separation part and the insert. The rest of the mixture remains on the support and in the space delimited by the seal and the separation part.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support that may carry the sample carrier or be the carrier itself or serve as the capturing part, a seal, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of the vessel.
  • a mixture is applied into the device.
  • the mixture is subsequently centrifuged, preferably with the use of a centrifuge with a swinging rotor. The mixture remains in the device throughout the whole period of centrifugation.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support that may carry the sample carrier or be the carrier itself or serve as the capturing part, a seal, optionally a separation part, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of the vessel.
  • a mixture is applied into the device.
  • the mixture is subsequently centrifuged, preferably with the use of a centrifuge with a swinging rotor.
  • the mixture partially remains in the device.
  • the filtrate is collected in the vessel.
  • the described arrangement is preferable in order to prevent the drying out of the sediment, and it is not necessary to use supports equipped with a recess.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support that may carry the sample carrier or be the carrier itself or serve as the capturing part, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of the vessel.
  • a mixture is applied into the device.
  • the mixture is subsequently centrifuged, preferably with the use of a centrifuge with a swinging rotor.
  • the filtrate is collected in the vessel.
  • Usually only a small part of the mixture remains in the device in the form of sediment.
  • the amount of the mixture captured in the device depends on the embodiment of the support. If the support is equipped with a sufficiently large recess, this arrangement also prevents the drying out of the sediment. Repeated incubations and washing of samples attached to carriers or of particles in samples
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a carrier with the sample or first a support and then a carrier with the sample, a seal, optionally a separation part, a filter, an insert, optionally a seal, and a lid, and the device is placed into the neck of a vessel.
  • the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread.
  • a vacuum pump is used for washing and the insert is made detachably, consisting of inner and outer part, it is preferable, if a seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A solvent and/or a mixture is applied into the device.
  • the solvent and/or mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump.
  • the solvent and/or mixture partially remains in the device. This step may be repeated. If highly permeable filters are used or filters are left out or replaced e.g. by a roughening of the lower side of the insert, it is possible to work without the use of a centrifuge or vacuum pump, only with the use of the gravitational force alone.
  • the described arrangement is preferable in case of preventing the sample from drying out.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a carrier with the sample or first a support and then a carrier with the sample, a filter, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of a vessel.
  • the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread.
  • a vacuum pump is used for washing and the insert is made detachably, consisting of inner and outer part, it is preferable if a seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
  • a solvent and/or a mixture is applied into the device. The solvent and/or mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump.
  • the described arrangement enables highly efficient washing but does not prevent the sample from drying up.
  • the device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support with a recess, a filter, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel.
  • the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread.
  • a vacuum pump is used for washing and the insert is made detachably, consisting of inner and outer part, it is preferable if a seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
  • a solvent and/or a mixture is applied into the device. The solvent and/or mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The solvent and/or mixture partially remains in the device.
  • the described arrangement is suitable for washing of particles acquired directly from the sample in the form of their suspension in the recess of the support.
  • the device according to the present invention is a multifunctional device which inter alia fully replaces common cytocentrifugation approaches.
  • the device is adjusted to the use with the rotors of common centrifuges and therefore does not require any special cytocentrifuges; it enables a subsequent treatment of the specimens acquired in this manner, e.g. staining using histochemical agents, immunocytochemical detections of proteins or detection of replication activity and using "click chemistry", and it is suitable also for the processing of adherent cell lines.
  • the device Apart from the commonly used cytocentrifugal methods based on “semi-dry” cytocentrifugation, the device enables also the work using the completely “wet” way, which is preferable for example when it is needed to acquire formaldehyde-fixed specimens.
  • the device enables work with various sizes of sample carriers, e.g. coverslip, and thus also with various sizes of the area on which the treatment of the specimens takes place.
  • the device in the most preferable embodiment for the attachment of the cells to the carrier using a "semi-dry" method, includes a holder which contains the sample part where the support with recess is placed, in this recess the sample carrier is placed, preferably a coverslip, above which there is a filter, pressed to the support by the set of the inner and outer part of the insert, wherein the neck of the inner part of the insert is passed through the lid that is screwed together with the holder using a thread.
  • the device is intended for centrifugal test tubes with a neck of an internal diameter greater than 26 mm and of the external diameter of the prospective thread smaller than 33 mm, a condition that is fulfilled by the most of the 50 ml plastic centrifugal test tubes.
  • the inserts and the filters have internal diameters from 5 to 12 mm. In the case of an insert, this is the end diameter. The diameter of the filters and inserts defines the size of the treated area.
  • the device enables a subsequent treatment of the samples such as washing, incubation in various solvents and/or mixtures, etc., using not only centrifugation but also suction forces of vacuum pumps.
  • a seal with the required internal diameter that should correspond to the diameter of the filter and insert used is situated on the support where the capture or treatment of the specimens, such as cells, is to take place.
  • a separation part is placed on the seal, the separation part having its diameter equal to the diameter of the seal or to the diameter of the filter or to the diameter of the insert.
  • the described set is generally suitable for the preparation of formaldehyde-fixed cells.
  • all parts except the filter are made from white Teflon.
  • Teflon the device itself (without the filter) is resistant to most solvents, an acidic or alkaline environment, even at higher temperatures, and it shows temperature resistance from -250 to +250 °C.
  • the recommended use is at temperatures from -50 to 200 °C.
  • the device itself can be repeatedly autoclaved (121 °C, 15 PSI, 30 minutes).
  • Fig. 20 3D depiction of the collecting part from Example 20 including i the area of the bottom of the sample part that is equipped with an opening
  • FIG. 21 3D depiction of the collecting part S from Example 21 including the area of the bottom of the sample part Vz that is equipped with an opening
  • Fig. 22 3D depiction of the collecting part from Example 22 including the area of the bottom of the sample part that is equipped with an opening
  • Fig. 23 3D depiction of the holder from Example 23 consisting of the sample part Vz and the collecting part S.
  • the left-hand and right-hand parts contain two views of the same holder.
  • Fig. 34 A scheme of the arrangement of the device suitable for capturing particles on the carrier (No) from Example 35.
  • the set including a carrier (No) and a vessel (N) contains a lid (V), a seal (T) in the shape of a hollow cylinder, the outer part of an insert (VV), the inner part of an insert (V), a filter (F) in the shape of a hollow cylinder, a support (P) with a recess on the upper part for the carrier (No) and also a cross-shaped recess on the lower part ensuring the drainage of the substances, and a holder (D).
  • FIG. 1 An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the lid has the shape of a cylinder with a cylindrical recess in its lower part and a circular opening in the upper part of the cylinder (Fig. 1).
  • the diameter of the cylinder is larger than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel.
  • Thread is placed in the cylindrical recess that has a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the vessel.
  • the lid leans to the upper edge of the vessel and all of it is situated above the vessel. The fixation of the lid in terms of movement into the sides takes place only after the attachment of the holder, which protrudes into the vessel.
  • FIG. 2 An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the upper part of the lid has the form of a cylinder with a circular opening in its centre (Fig. 2).
  • the upper part has a diameter larger than the internal diameter of the vessel.
  • the lower part has the form of a hollow cylinder.
  • the hollow cylinder has an external diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper part, while, at the same time, this diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel.
  • the hollow cylinder protrudes into the vessel in this embodiment.
  • the lid leans to the upper edge of the neck of the vessel.
  • a part of or the whole inner shell of the hollow cylinder is equipped with thread.
  • FIG. 3 An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the lid contains, on top of the lid presented in Example 2, also a rim, which together with the hollow cylinder delimits the space for the neck of the vessel (Fig. 3).
  • the internal diameter of the rim is larger than the external diameter of the vessel. If the vessel is equipped with external thread, the rim is larger than the diameter including the thread.
  • the neck of the vessel fits into the space between the hollow cylinder and the rim, the lid leans to the upper edge of the neck of the vessel, and the recess protrudes into the vessel.
  • the lid from Figure 3 is also equipped with thread on the inner side of the rim that is complementary to the thread of the vessel.
  • the lid thus has the shape of basically two hollow cylinders of the same height or of different heights inserted one into the other, where both hollow cylinders share one base in the shape of basically a low cylinder containing an opening, preferably a circular opening, preferably situated in the centre of the shared base, where the inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is at least in one part equipped with thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder.
  • the lid contains a seal in the area between the inner and the outer hollow cylinder.
  • the base has the form of two low mutually connected hollow cylinders of various heights with a shared axis of symmetry and centre of the base that is more distant from the part of the lid equipped with thread.
  • the opening in the centre of the lid is edged by a hollow cylinder, which may be the outer part of an insert, a separation part and/or a seal.
  • FIG. 7 An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where the sample part has the shape of a cylinder with a recess of a cylindrical shape in the upper part (Fig. 7).
  • the bottom is equipped with an opening.
  • the outer surface of the cylinder is equipped with thread near the upper edge that may reach as far as the area of the bottom with the opening.
  • the outer shell of the sample part near the lower edge is equipped with grooves or roughened in another way.
  • the outer shell of the sample part is equipped with a ring that may be roughened on its surface for example in the form of vertical grooves. Roughing facilitates the handling of device.
  • the bottom of the sample part of the holder contained protrusions or drainage grooves connected with the drainage opening.
  • Example 9 Sample part An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 7, the upper part of the sample part contains a recess in the shape of a right six-sided prism (Fig. 8).
  • Example 10 Sample part
  • the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 7, contains a groove in the shape of basically a prism whose height is parallel to the axis of the thread.
  • the groove facilitates the handling of the tools that are inserted into the holder, and at the same time, it can also serve to prevent partial turning of these tools when tightening the lid (Fig. 13).
  • the sample part contains another groove, which however does not pass through the whole wall of the sample part of the holder and together with the first groove serves as a prevention against partial turning of the tools inserted in the holder when tightening the lid (Fig. 14).
  • the grooves stretch along the whole length of the recess of the sample part of the holder.
  • the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 13, contains a projection which together with the groove serves as a prevention against partial turning of the parts inserted in the holder when tightening the lid (Fig. 15).
  • sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 13, the sample part contains two projections that serve as a prevention against partial turning of the parts inserted in the holder when tightening the lid (Fig. 16).
  • sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 8, the sample part contains a groove that facilitates the handling of the parts that are inserted in the holder (Fig. 17).
  • sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 9, the sample part contains a groove that facilitates the handling of the parts that are inserted in the holder (Fig. 18).
  • the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 10, contains a groove that facilitates the handling of the parts that are inserted in the holder (Fig. 19).
  • FIG. 20 An example of the embodiment of the collecting part of the holder where the collecting part has the shape of a hollow cylinder whose external diameter is equal to or larger than the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom and its internal diameter is larger than or equal to the diameter of the area containing the openings for the drainage of the solution from the sample part of the holder.
  • Figure 20 depicts the case where the external diameter is the same as the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom.
  • FIG. 21 depicts the case where the internal diameter of the collecting part S equals the diameter of the draining opening in the bottom of the sample part Vz.
  • FIG. 22 depicts the case where the external diameter of the larger hollow cylinder equals the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom and the internal diameter of the smaller hollow cylinder equals the diameter of the draining opening in the bottom of the sample part of the holder.
  • the holder also contains a ring situated around the collecting part S, which is roughened for simpler handling.
  • the sample part Vz of the holder corresponds to the depiction in Fig. 14, containing two grooves, one throughout the wall of the sample part Vz and the other not passing through the whole wall of the sample part Vz. Both grooves serve as a prevention against partial turning of the tools inserted in the holder when tightening the lid.
  • the collecting part S has the shape of two hollow cylinders.
  • the outer hollow cylinder has the external diameter equal to the diameter of the sample part in the area of the bottom.
  • the inner hollow cylinder has the internal diameter equal to the diameter of the opening in the bottom of the sample part Vz.
  • an insert from a single piece of material where the insert is made in the shape of two narrowly adjoining cylinders through which an opening or openings pass.
  • An insert with a circular opening is depicted in Figure 24.
  • the smaller cylinder forms the neck.
  • the insert consists of a single cylinder with an opening or openings, or the lower cylinder is replaced by a plate with a ground plan in the form of a polygon, ellipse or circle that is restricted by a secant from at least one side.
  • the plate is equipped with an opening or openings that form a continuation of the opening in the neck.
  • the neck is not present in some embodiments, and the insert consists only of a plate with an opening or openings.
  • the plate is situated between the bases of the larger cylinder.
  • the insert from Figure 24 is equipped from the side of the base of the larger cylinder directly following the smaller cylinder with a glued seal in the shape of a hollow cylinder through which a neck passes, formed by a smaller cylinder.
  • the insert from Figure 24 is equipped from the side of the lower base of the larger cylinder with a glued filter in the shape of a hollow cylinder.
  • the insert from Figure 24 is equipped with both a glued seal and a glued filter.
  • the opening(s) in the insert were shaped as basically a cylinder with an elliptical base, a prism, a truncated cone, a truncated pyramid or a combination of the mentioned shapes variously repeated.
  • the opening(s) were shaped basically as adjacent prisms, truncated cones, truncated pyramids or cylinders of various diameters or as cylinders with elliptical bases of various diameters.
  • the openings consisted of networks of tubes connecting the bases of the inner part of the insert.
  • the described inserts were formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
  • the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
  • the insert contains two grooves (Fig. 27) in which the projections in the sample part of the holder from Fig. 16 fit.
  • the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
  • the insert contains a groove and a projection (Fig. 28) compatible with the sample part of the holder in Fig. 15.
  • the insert is equipped with various combinations of grooves and projections.
  • the grooves preferably lead along the whole length of the insert.
  • the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
  • FIG. 29 An example of the embodiment of the outer part of an insert that is made in the shape of a hollow cylinder with two projections (Fig. 29). Alternatively, it does not contain these projections or, instead of projections, it contains grooves or a combination of grooves and projections, or the outer part of the insert is made in the shape of a lower cylinder with its sides cut off from Figure 26 that is equipped with an opening for the inner part of the insert, or its ground plan outer shape is a polygon or an ellipse.
  • the outer part of the insert always contains an opening for the inner part of the insert. Alternatively, the outer part of the insert is a fixed part of the lid.
  • the insert is preferably made in the form of a hollow cylinder that lines the opening in the lid and heads in the vertical direction into the part of the lid equipped with thread.
  • the inner and outer part of the insert can be mutually connected non-detachably (e.g., made from a single piece of material) or detachably (modularly fitting into each other when putting the device together).
  • the opening in the outer part of the insert was basically a cylinder with an elliptical base, a prism, a truncated cone, a truncated pyramid or a combination of the mentioned shapes.
  • the opening in the outer part of the insert was shaped basically as adjacent prisms, truncated cones, truncated pyramids or cylinders of various diameters or as cylinders with elliptical bases of various diameters.
  • the outer part of the insert from Figure 29 contained on one or both bases a glued seal in the shape of hollow cylinders with the external and internal diameters equal to the diameters of the bases or of the openings in the bases, as the case may be.
  • FIG. 29 An example of the embodiment of the inner part of an insert that is made in the shape of two adjacent cylinders of different diameters.
  • the cylinder with the larger diameter serves as a pressure element on which pressure is exerted by the outer part of the insert from Figure 29.
  • An opening passes through both cylinders.
  • the opening may have different shapes.
  • Figure 30 depicts the example of an opening in the shape of a cylinder.
  • the opening(s) in the inner part of the insert were shaped as basically a cylinder with an elliptical base, a prism, a truncated cone, a truncated pyramid or a combination of the mentioned shapes variously repeated.
  • the opening(s) were shaped basically as adjacent prisms, truncated cones, truncated pyramids or cylinders of various diameters or as cylinders with elliptical bases of various diameters.
  • the openings consisted of networks of tubes connecting the bases of the inner part of the insert.
  • the lower cylinder is replaced by a plate with a ground plan in the form of a polygon, ellipse or circle that is restricted by a secant from at least one side.
  • the lower cylinder is equipped with grooves, projections or their combination.
  • the inner and outer part of the insert can be mutually connected non-detachably (e.g., made from a single piece of material) or detachably (modularly fitting into each other when putting the device together).
  • the outer shape of the inner part of the insert is a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid or their combination with prisms and cylinders or with cylinders with the base in the shape of an ellipse.
  • the outer shape is a combination of various prisms or cylinders with various diameters or a combination of cylinders and prisms or a combination of cylinders, truncated pyramids, truncated cones and prisms with shapes, which have the shape of a circular segment or an ellipse in the ground plan.
  • a seal in the shape of a circle with the diameter of the base was glued to this base; alternatively, the glued seal contained several openings.
  • the smaller cylinder from Figure 30 was equipped in its upper part with a recess in the shape of a narrow ring, or it was roughened, or it contained thread for the lid.
  • the inner part of the insert was equipped with a lid that was detachably pressed into the opening of the smaller cylinder from Figure 30.
  • An example of the embodiment of the inner part of an insert that compared to the inner part of the insert from Example 30 contains four openings.
  • a support where the support is made in the shape of a cylinder that contains in the upper part a recess for a sample carrier such as glass.
  • the recess for the sample carrier is preferably deeper than the thickness of the sample carrier, which prevents cracking of the carrier of samples when the device is screwed together due to the pressure of the insert and possibly of the tools exerted on the support with the sample carrier.
  • the recess is adjusted to the shape of the sample carrier; in this embodiment, it has the shape of a cylinder, because the sample carrier (the coverslip) is of a circular shape.
  • the recess for the sample carrier can be of any shape; preferable shapes include a cylinder or a prism.
  • Another recess is situated near the edge of the recess for the sample carrier; preferably, it is cylindrical with a smaller diameter than the recess for the sample carrier; it is deeper (reaching below the bottom) than the recess for the sample carrier. This smaller recess facilitates the removal of the sample carrier from the support.
  • the support is further equipped with a recess for the drainage of the solvents and/or mixtures, preferably in the shape of a cross, which ensures the drainage of the solvents and/or mixtures. This recess is situated on the surface opposite the surface containing the recess for the sample carrier.
  • the support does not contain a recess for the sample carrier.
  • the recess for the sample carrier has the shape of basically a cylinder or a truncated cone, and it may serve also for the collection of the samples.
  • the recess for the drainage of the solvents and/or mixtures is made as a roughening of the lower side (opposite the surface in which there is the recess for the sample carrier) of the support, or the support is equipped with ribs in the shape of a cross or a star.
  • the ground plan shape of the support is a polygon, an ellipse or a circle segment, which ensures the compatibility with the internal shape of the sample part of the holder.
  • the filters, seals and separation parts are made in the form of basically cylinders. In other embodiments, these tools have a ground plan shape in the form of a polygon, ellipse or circle that is restricted by a secant from at least one side. This ensures their compatibility with the internal shape of the sample part of the holder.
  • Filters and seals can be equipped with an opening or openings that connect their bases. Separation parts are always equipped with an opening or openings that connect their bases. In some embodiments, separation parts are roughened on one or both bases.
  • Example 35 Arrangement of the device for capturing particles on the carrier
  • FIG. 34 An example of the arrangement of the device for the capturing of particles on the carrier.
  • the whole set includes the holder D where the support P is situated on the bottom of the sample part.
  • the carrier No for the capturing of particles, on which lies the filter F with an opening with the diameter equal to the opening of the opening in the inner part of the insert VN on the side of the filter F.
  • the filter F is situated the inner part of the insert VN, on which the outer part of the insert VV is slid.
  • the seal T is optionally situated on the upper part of the outer part of the insert VV. All the tools are situated in the sample part of the holder D and enclosed with the lid V (Fig. 34).
  • Figure 34 depicts a scheme suitable for capturing particles to the carrier No, e.g.
  • the stand is made in the form of a base and a pin (Fig. 35) in the shape of basically a cylinder whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the sample part of the holder.
  • the sliding of the device according to the invention to the stand facilitates the removal of the insert and possible tools from the holder.
  • Example 40 Example of the embodiment of the device basically according to the arrangement in Figure 34 for vessels with the internal diameter of the neck between 22 mm and 44 mm
  • the lid was made in an arrangement that basically corresponded to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 6.
  • the lid was made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the overall height of the lid was alternatively 10, 20, 30, 40 or 60 mm.
  • the height of both hollow cylinders was alternatively 5, 15, 18, 35 or 55 mm.
  • the lid was made in an arrangement of hollow cylinders that basically corresponded to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 3.
  • the height of the inner hollow cylinder was alternatively 5, 15, 18, 35 or 55 mm
  • the height of the outer hollow cylinder was alternatively 5, 15, 35 or 55 mm.
  • the internal diameter of the inner hollow cylinder was alternatively 18, 21, 22, 24 or 32 mm.
  • the internal diameter of the outer hollow cylinder was alternatively 30, 32, 33, 34, 38 or 44 mm.
  • the external diameter of the inner hollow cylinder was alternatively 22, 26, 26.5, 29 or 37 mm, and the external diameter of the outer hollow cylinder was alternatively 33, 38, 47 or 57 mm.
  • the lid was made without the outer cylinder, basically according to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 2.
  • the part of the lid comprising the base of a hollow cylinder with a circular opening in the centre had the diameter of alternatively 33, 38, 47 or 57 mm.
  • the circular opening in the lid for all arrangements had the alternative diameters of 4.2, 7.4, 12.5, 12.7, 12.8, 14 or 23 mm.
  • the inner hollow cylinder or the hollow cylinder around the opening was equipped with thread.
  • the outer hollow cylinder was equipped with thread as well in some arrangements.
  • the thread depth was alternatively 0.2, 1, 2 or 3 mm.
  • the thread was present only in a part or on the whole inner shell of the hollow cylinders equipped with thread.
  • the holder basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 23 was made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the overall length of the holder was alternatively 11, 42, 53.5, 55 or 92 mm.
  • the depth of the recess of the sample part of the holder was alternatively 6, 12.5, 13, 14, 16, 36 or 82 mm.
  • the diameter of the recess of the sample part was alternatively 11 , 18 or 24 mm.
  • the width of the groove in the wall was alternatively 1, 2, 4, 6 or 10 mm.
  • the diameter of the opening in the bottom of the sample part of the holder was alternatively 2, 10, 15 or 22 mm.
  • the outer part of the insert was made basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 29 of polytetrafluoroethylene. If the outer part of the insert was equipped with projections, its external diameter was alternatively 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 mm smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical recess in the sample part of the holder.
  • the opening in the outer part of the insert had a diameter of alternatively 8, 12 or 20 mm.
  • the length of the outer part of the insert was alternatively 5.2, 8.5, 12.5, 15, 32.5 or 80 mm.
  • the projections in the form of basically prisms went along only a part of the shell or were not present at all.
  • the inner part of the insert basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 30 was made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the overall height of the inner part of the insert was alternatively 9, 16, 21, 39 or 90 mm.
  • the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter equal to the diameter of the outer part of the insert.
  • the height of the cylinder with the larger diameter was alternatively 0.5, 2, 4.2, 10 or 30 mm.
  • the diameter of the opening in the shape of a cylinder was alternatively 2, 7.5, 10, 15 or 17 mm.
  • the opening was made in the shape a part of which was formed by a cylinder and a part by a truncated cone.
  • the larger base of the cone fully overlapped with the base of the cylinder, which resulted in a smooth narrowing of the opening.
  • the truncated cone opened on the side of the inner part of the insert, which was made in the form of the cylinder with the larger diameter.
  • This opening had a diameter of alternatively 2, 4.2, 7.5, 9 or 14 mm.
  • the opening was made in such a way that on the side of the larger cylinder, it was prepared in the shape of a cylinder with a diameter of 7.5 mm, followed by a cylinder with the diameter of 0.05 or 0.1 mm and subsequently by a truncated cone whose smaller base had the diameter equal to that of the smaller cylinder and whose upper base had the diameter of 10 mm.
  • Inner parts of the insert containing several openings were made as well.
  • inner parts of the insert were made that were equipped with alternatively 1, 2, 3 or 4 projections on the shell of the cylinder with the larger diameter.
  • the support basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 33 was made of poly tetrafluoroe thy lene. Its diameter was equal to the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter of the inner part of the insert.
  • the depth of the larger recess was alternatively 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.9 or 5 mm.
  • the depth of the smaller recess was alternatively 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 mm greater than the depth of the larger recess.
  • the diameter of the larger recess was alternatively 5.5, 10.5, 12.5 or 14.5 mm.
  • the depth of the drainage channels was alternatively 0.1, 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mm.
  • the device contained a support in the form of a low cylinder made of a 0.3 mm thick paper with the diameter equal to the diameter of the support with the drainage channels.
  • the filter was made as an annulus of filter paper. Its external diameter was equal to the diameter of the support, and its internal diameter equalled the diameter of the outfall of the opening in the inner part of the insert in the cylinder with the larger diameter. A filter without an opening was also made.
  • a seal situated above the outer part of the insert surrounding the neck of the inner part of the insert was made of silicone rubber in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a maximum external diameter of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 or 3 mm smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical recess of the sample part of the holder and an internal diameter alternatively 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mm larger than the external diameter of the smaller of the cylinders of the inner part of the insert.
  • the height of the seal was alternatively 0.5, 3, 10 or 20 mm.
  • the device contained a separation part or several separation parts in the form of hollow cylinders made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • Their external diameter was equal to the diameter of the support.
  • the internal diameter was equal to the diameter of the opening of the opening in the cylinder of the inner part of the insert with the larger diameter.
  • Their height was alternatively 0.2, 0.5, 3, 5, 10 or 20 mm.
  • the device contained another seal, once again made of silicon rubber in the shape of a hollow cylinder. Its external diameter was equal to the diameter of the support. The internal diameter was equal to the diameter of the outfall of the opening in the inner part of the insert in the cylinder with the larger diameter. Its height was alternatively 0.2, 0.5, 3, 5, 10 or 20 mm.
  • This seal served either as a separation part with a sealing function, when it was inserted between the sample carrier and the filter, or it was used between the separation part and the sample carrier.
  • the device contained a support with a recess in the shape of a truncated cone.
  • the height and other characteristics were the same as for the support with a recess in the shape of two cylinders.
  • the lid was around the opening on the side directed towards the lid part with thread equipped with a hollow cylinder of dimensions equal to the dimensions of the cylindrical parts of the outer part of the insert or of the separation part.
  • the recess in the sample part of the holder had the shape of the cylinder with the larger diameter than the diameter of the hollow cylinder around the opening in the lid.
  • the produced devices were suitable for vessels with internal diameters of the neck larger than 22 mm and external diameters of the neck smaller than 44 mm.
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene was in some embodiments replaced by polyethylene, polyoxymethylene or metal alloys.
  • the filters were alternatively made of nitrocellulose, nylon, polyvinylidene difluoride, glass microfibres, polypropylene, polysulfone, cellulose acetate or polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the produced devices are suitable for sedimentations and filtrations as well as for the treatment of samples on carriers using centrifugal or suction forces.
  • the device enables a firm fastening in vessels with a neck in the shape of a hollow cylinder; in connection with tools, it enables various operations with solvents and mixtures and operations with samples on carriers mostly using a centrifugal force or gravitational force or using a sucking force of vacuum pumps.
  • the solvents and/or mixtures can be collected in vessels.
  • the examples of operations include the filtration of solvents and/or mixtures, the sedimentation of particles contained in solvents and/or mixtures, the filtration and sedimentation, washing of particles or samples attached to supports.

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Abstract

The present solution relates to a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, which contains a holder, a lid, an insert and at least one tool, wherein: - the holder contains a sample part in the shape of basically a cylinder equipped with a recess for placing of the insert, wherein the lower part of the recess is equipped with at least one opening, and wherein the outer shell of the sample part of the holder is in at least one of its parts equipped with thread, and wherein the outer shape of the holder in this threaded part is basically a cylinder; - the insert is comprised of an outer part and an inner part, wherein the outer part of the insert is equipped with an opening for the inner part of the insert, the opening is connecting the opposite bases of the outer part of the insert, the inner part of the insert is equipped with at least one opening connecting its opposite bases, and wherein the outer shape of the outer part of the insert is adjusted to the size and the shape of the recess of the sample part of the holder, and the outer shape of the inner part of the insert is in at least a part of the inner part of the insert adjusted to the opening in the outer part of the insert and, at the same time, it is in at least a part of the inner part of the insert larger than the narrowest site of the opening in the outer part of the insert; - the lid contains a recess of the shape of basically a cylinder, wherein the inner shell of the recess of the lid is at least in one part equipped with thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder, and wherein the part of the lid, which is opposite to the part of the lid containing the recess, is equipped with at least one opening, preferably circular; and wherein the part of the lid around the opening(s) in the lid in the area facing the recess of the lid, is in at least some of its parts larger than the ground plan of the outer part of the insert and/or of the tools placed in the device; - the tool is adjusted in shape and size for insertion into the sample part of the holder, and the tool is selected from the group comprising filters, supports, seals, separation parts, sample carriers or combination thereof. The present invention further relates to a set for handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, and to the use thereof.

Description

Device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, set for handling them, and use thereof
Field of Art
The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures containing liquid substances and operations with samples on carriers, as well as to a set for handling of solvents and mixtures containing liquid substances and operations with samples on carriers, and to the use thereof. It enables to work in principle in any containers/vessels with a neck in a shape of basically a hollow cylinder, and together with various tools, which can be placed in the device, it enables various operations with substances, such as filtration, sedimentation of particles, incubation of samples or washing thereof. Its primary use is aimed at the situations when centrifugal forces and forces generated by a vacuum pump are used for the treatment of samples. Background Art
There is a whole range of devices destined for work with solvents and mixtures. Most often the devices enable filtration, sedimentation or washing of samples. Examples of such devices include test tubes equipped with inside filters, enabling to obtain filtered mixtures, or relatively complex systems for cytocentrifugation. The latter serve to capture cells on supports, most often on glass slides. Other devices enable the incubation of samples, e.g. histological sections with solutions of dyes and also washing of the samples in individual baths. Generally, a whole range of various instrumental solutions have been developed, usually enabling only selected (limited) applications, e.g. only filtration or the attachment of particles, for instance cells, to a surface.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures containing liquid substances (hereinafter only mixtures) and operations with samples on carriers, which can be advantageously used together with vessels with a neck in a shape of basically a hollow cylinder. Tools can be placed in the device, which upon their placement in the device enable the various kinds of handling of solvents, mixtures and operations with samples on carriers. Examples of handling include, for instance, filtration, sedimentation or washing of samples of mixtures, and washing samples on carriers. Centrifugal or gravitational forces or vacuum-pumped suction forces are mainly used during these operations, although the device according to the present invention also allows for the use of other types of suction, for example by means of a pipette. Examples of the samples treated are e.g. cultivation media containing cells or solutions containing solid particles. The samples can also be particles or other materials captured on the surfaces of the carriers, which are placed in the device, and the device is subsequently used e.g. for their washing. One single device supplemented with tools, which may also be fixed (non-detachable) parts of the device, can therefore be used for various handling of solvents, mixtures and/or samples on carriers according to the appropriate tool used. The device according to the present invention enables to work in vessels with a neck in a shape of basically a hollow cylinder, preferably in centrifugal tubes, and also to capture solvents and mixtures processed by means of tools. The device comprises a lid, an insert, a holder and at least one tool. The lid and the holder are equipped with a thread and have an opening or openings in the vertical axis. The thread serves for connecting the two parts and to create a pressure on the insert, placed inside the holder, and on the at least one tool, also placed inside the holder. The insert and the tool(s) are therefore fixed in this manner. Certain tools, e.g. filters and seals, can be non-detachable components of the insert. Preferably, the tools are used separately. The tools together with the device enable individual operations with substances. The tools include, besides filters and seals, for instance, supports or separation parts or sample carriers. The device can be equipped with a stand for easier handling.
The subject of the present invention is a device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, which comprises a holder, an insert, a lid and at least one tool, wherein: - the holder contains the sample part in the shape of basically a cylinder containing a recess for insert placement, wherein the bottom part of the recess is furnished with at least one opening for the drainage of the solvents and mixtures from the sample part of the holder, wherein the outer shell of the sample part of the holder is at least in one of its parts equipped with a thread, and wherein in this threaded part, the outer shape of the holder is basically a cylinder;
- the insert is composed of an outer part and an inner part, the outer part of the insert is furnished with an opening for the inner part of the insert, connecting the opposite bases of the outer part of the insert. The inner part of the insert is furnished with at least one opening connecting its opposite bases, wherein the outer shape of the outer part of the insert is adjusted to the size and shape of the recess of the sample part of the holder, and the outer shape of the inner part of the insert is at least in part of the inner part of the insert adjusted to the opening in the outer part of the insert, and, at the same time, it is at least in part of the inner part of the insert larger than the narrowest part of the opening in the outer part of the insert. The insert serves primarily as a container for solvents and mixtures. The insert may further contain tools, such as a filter and/or a seal, which are non- detachably attached to the insert.
- the lid contains a recess of the shape of basically a cylinder, wherein the inner shell of the recess of the lid is at least in one part equipped with a thread, which is compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part, and wherein the part of the lid opposite to the part of the lid containing the recess, is equipped with at least one opening, preferably circular; and wherein the part of the lid around the opening(s) in the lid in the area facing the recess of the lid at least in some of its parts exceeds the ground plan of the outer part of the insert and/or tools placed in the device, and wherein at least one of the openings enables the filling of the sample part with solvents and/or mixtures;
- the shape and size of the tool is adjusted for insertion in the sample part of the holder, and it is selected from a group comprising filters, supports, seals, separation parts, sample carriers or combinations thereof.
The holder, or its sample part, provides the bottom for the insert and possibly other tools placed in the device, and, along with the lid, fixes them in the desired positions; the holder, after being screwed into the lid, always at least partially protrudes from the lid towards the vessel on which the device is placed, so that its screwing and unscrewing would be trouble-free.
The mixtures can include inter alia various solvents or solutions containing e.g. protein components, entire cells or remnants thereof, or nucleic acids, or particles, for example nanoparticles, or mixtures thereof. The supports also include the sample carriers. The sample carriers include for instance glass, metal, paper or plastic parts, most often in the form of variously thick plates, which carry on their surface the samples or are intended for capturing the samples. The samples attached to the carriers include for example cells, histological sections or various particles, such as nanoparticles.
The thread on the holder and the lid enable the connection of the lid with the holder.
One preferred embodiment of the holder has a drainage circular opening, which is situated in the centre of the bottom of the sample part of the holder. The drainage opening can serve for connecting to the vacuum pump using other elements, e.g. hose. The bottom can preferably be roughened or equipped with drainage canals to enable the rapid drainage of solvents and/or mixtures.
For easier handling and tightening, it is preferable for at least a part of the surface of the holder to be furnished with grooves or otherwise roughened. For the purpose of easier handling, it is preferable to use an enlargement in the shape of a ring, which can be situated anywhere under the termination of the thread of the holder part. The ring can be furnished with grooves or otherwise roughened. The insert serves as a container of solvents and/or mixtures that are used in the course of the treatment of the sample and at the same time, especially in the embodiment when it is equipped e.g. with a filter and/or a seal, enable certain operations with the processed solvents and/or mixtures. The insert is pressed onto the other inner parts of the device (tools) by the threaded connection between the lid and the holder. The outer shape of the insert depends on the shape of the recess in the sample part of the holder. The insert must fit into the recess in the sample part of the holder. To prevent the slippage of the insert when tightening the lid, it is preferable that the ground plan shape of at least some parts of the insert lean tightly to the wall of the recess of the sample part of the holder and prevent its rotation. From this perspective, a suitable ground plan of these parts corresponds to a polygon, a circle, or possibly an ellipse or a circular segment. If the insert is in all its parts basically a cylinder, it is preferable to equip the insert on its shell with grooves or protrusions, which prevent its slippage in the sample part of the holder and fit into the complementary elements in the sample part of the holder. It does not matter if these elements will be placed on the shell of the inner part of the insert, on the outer part of the insert, or on both parts. The shape of the opening(s) of the inner part of the insert connecting its bases is not determinant, nevertheless their ground plan and possible distribution in the base that is closer to the bottom of the sample part of the holder defines, depending on the application of the device, for instance the range and position where the particles will sediment on the carrier. The shape of the opening in the outer part of the insert can vary; preferable shapes include a cylinder, a cylinder with the base of an ellipse, a prism, a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid. The shape can also be a combination of the mentioned shapes. It is also possible to combine mutually various prisms, truncated cones or truncated pyramids or cylinders or cylinders with a base in the shape of an ellipse with various diameters.
The inner part of the insert is made in an outer shape that enables its at least partial insertion in the opening in the outer part of the insert and at the same time prevents it from going entirely through the opening in the outer part of the insert. Such a shape is basically a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid or their combination with prisms and cylinders or with cylinders with the base in the shape of an ellipse. A suitable shape is a combination of various prisms or cylinders with various diameters or a combination of cylinders and prisms or a combination of cylinders, truncated pyramids, truncated cones and prisms with shapes, which have the shape of a circular segment or an ellipse in the ground plan.
A particularly preferable example of the shape of the inner part of the insert is a system of two cylinders that adjoin with their bases and share a common axis of symmetry. In this case, either a cylinder or the set of two cylinders is the complementary shape of the opening in the outer part of the insert. In the case of an opening in the shape of a cylinder, the inner part of the insert is made so that the diameter of the cylinder with the smaller diameter is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the outer part of the insert, and the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter is larger than the diameter of the opening in the outer part of the insert. This assures that the inner part of the insert can be partially but not entirely inserted in the opening in the outer part of the insert (complete insertion is prevented by the cylinder of a larger diameter).
In the case of the opening in the form of two cylinders, the diameter of the cylinder with a smaller diameter of the inner part of the insert is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder with the smaller diameter forming the opening in the outer part of the insert, and the cylinder with a larger diameter of the inner part of the insert is preferably also smaller than the diameter of the cylinder with a larger diameter forming the opening in the outer part of the insert and at the same time is larger than the diameter of the cylinder with a smaller diameter forming the opening in the outer part of the insert. It is possible to use a seal to seal off the space between the inner and the outer part of the insert. The seal can be an inseparable component of the inner or outer parts of the insert or, preferably, it can be separated from these parts. The use of the seal is advantageous e.g. in the case of the usage of vacuum pumps during the work with solvents and mixtures.
Preferably, the section of the inner part of the insert, which is adjusted by its shape and size for the passage through the opening in the outer part of the insert, is longer than the height of the outer part of the insert, and, preferably, it has a smaller diameter than the opening in the lid. Preferably, this section of the insert then passes through the opening in the lid and forms the neck of the insert. The neck of the insert may be equipped with a thread for the lid, e.g. in order to prevent the evaporation of solvents. Preferably, the inner part of the insert is furnished with a recess or roughened on its edge closer to the lid opening; this facilitates the handling of the insert. In some cases, it is preferable to roughen the inner part of the insert on its base closer to the bottom of the sample part. This concerns above all the cases when the device is used to wash the samples. The use of other tools, particularly seals or separation parts inserted between the outer part of the insert and the lid, is also preferable. This method enables the use of a single insert for various tools or sets of tools. The seals or filters can be a fixed part of both the inner and the outer parts of the insert.
The lid is used to close the device; it enables the filling of the device with solvents and/or mixtures and eventually enables the removal of the solvents and/or mixtures; it also prevents the falling of the device into the vessel and, along with the holder and the insert, it is used to fix tools, such as seals and filters, in their desired positions. In preferable embodiments, the lid fixes the device on the neck of the vessel also against movements into the side towards the neck of the vessel and prevents the evaporation of the solvents and/or mixtures from the vessel. There can be thread on the lid either across the whole internal surface of the recess or only in some of its part. The opening in the part of the lid opposite the part of the lid containing the recess is used to apply or remove solvents and/or mixtures. The area around the opening(s) forms its ceiling, which serves for the fixation of the inner parts by creating pressure against the bottom of the holder part. Preferably, the opening has a shape of a cylinder with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical recess equipped with thread, and the centre of its base corresponds vertically with the centre of the base of the cylindrical recess with thread. Furthermore, the lid may have a non-detachable part in the form of a seal that is situated around the opening/openings in the ceiling of the lid, heading towards the recess, and/or a separation part positioned similarly as the seal. The outer part of the insert may also form a non-detachable part of the lid, which means that the outer part of the insert and the lid may be non-detachably connected or possibly made from a single piece of material. The lid can be used to connect a vacuum pump through other elements such as a vessel with a neck in the shape of basically a hollow cylinder or using a hose or by means of thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread.
In some embodiments, the insert is made from an outer and an inner part, assembled detachably; in other embodiments, it is assembled non-detachably, e.g. from a single piece of material. The term insert denotes both: a set consisting of detachable inner and outer parts, and an insert made from a single piece of material, or possibly produced by the gluing of the inner and the outer parts of the insert.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holder further contains a collecting part that has the shape of basically a hollow cylinder or two hollow cylinders one inserted inside the other, wherein the hollow cylinder or the inner of the two mutually inserted hollow cylinders has the same or larger internal diameter than the diameter of the opening in the base of the sample part of the holder; preferably, this diameter is equal to the diameter of the opening in the base of the sample part of the holder, wherein the collecting part of the holder is attached to the lower base of the sample part of the holder. The opening (the cavity of the inner hollow cylinder) is adjusted for the drainage of the solvent and/or mixture from the sample part of the holder, and it may serve for the connection to a vacuum pump.
The collecting part is particularly preferable in the case of a device with small dimensions, where it facilitates the handling of the device thanks to increasing its area. Increasing the overall area also improves the user comfort thanks to increased area that is well protected against contamination by the solvents and/or mixtures used. In embodiments, where the collecting part is comprised of two basically hollow cylinders, one of them preferably tightly lines the outlet of the bottom of the sample part of the holder, and the other one has an external diameter similar to the external diameter of the sample part in the area of its bottom. Preferably, the sample part and the collecting part of the holder are assembled in a non-detachable manner, and even more preferably they are made from a single piece of material. The thread with which the sample part is furnished may also continue on the collecting part of the holder. Preferably, a ring, which is in some embodiments a part of the sample part, is situated on the collecting part. The collecting part can be used to connect a vacuum pump through other elements, for example by a hose or by means of thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread. In some embodiments of the device according to the present invention, the inner and outer part of the insert are mutually connected in a non-detachable manner; for example, they are made from a single piece of material or glued together. Even in these embodiments, the insert may contain glued seals and/or filters. In some embodiments, the filter firmly attached to the insert contains opening/openings in its ground plan, in other embodiments it contains no opening/openings. Preferably, the opening(s) are situated in the areas where there is an opening(s) in the inner part of the insert. The seal, which is a fixed part of the insert in certain embodiments and which, after the device is set up, seals the part between the lid and the insert, contains an opening in its ground plan that enables the filling of the insert. In other embodiments, a single insert is made in the form of a cylinder with an opening or openings that connect its bases. Preferably, this embodiment is equipped with projections and/or grooves on the outer shell of the insert that are complementary to the projections and/or grooves in the sample part of the holder and prevent partial turning of the insert when tightening the lid.
In another embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the insert consists of an inner and an outer part of the insert that are assembled in a detachable manner, as two pieces modularly fitting one into the other.
Such an embodiment is for example the assembly wherein the inner part of the insert is basically in the shape of two cylinders adjacent by their bases that share an axis of symmetry and having a common opening along this axis. The outer part of the insert is basically in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The inner part of the insert is made of two coaxial cylinders in such a way that the outer diameter of the cylinder with the smaller diameter is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the outer part of the insert, and the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter is basically equal to the diameter of the outer part of the insert. Preferably, the cylinder with the smaller diameter of the inner part of the insert has a smaller diameter than the opening in the lid, and it forms a neck that passes through the opening in the lid. The outer part of the insert fixes the insert in the recess of the sample part of the holder. The neck of the insert may be equipped with thread for the lid, e.g. in order to prevent the evaporation of solvents and/or mixtures. Preferably, the inner part of the insert is furnished with a recess or roughened area near its upper edge; this facilitates the handling of the insert. In some embodiments, the inner part of the insert may be preferably equipped with projections on its basis facing the area of the bottom of the sample part, for instance in the form of a protruding hollow cylinder.
In a preferable embodiment, the device according to the present invention contains a lid basically in the shape of two hollow cylinders of the same height or of different heights, inserted one into the other, wherein both hollow cylinders are equipped with the same common base containing an opening, preferably a circular opening, preferably situated in the centre of the common base, and wherein the inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is at least in one its part equipped with a thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder. Preferably, the base is a hollow cylinder or a set of several hollow cylinders of various heights with a shared axis of symmetry and a shared centre of their base that is more distant from the part of the lid equipped with the thread.
In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the lid and/or the outer surface of the holder are roughened, for example by grooves or projections. This roughing facilitates the connection and disconnection of the thread between the holder and the lid.
In a preferred embodiment, the recess of the sample part of the holder has a shape selected from a group including a cylinder, a prism, preferably a right prism, an elliptic cylinder or a shape derived from a cylinder whose base is a circle segment. Typically, it is a recess in the shape of basically a right prism, particularly a cuboid, a cube or a hexagonal prism, or of a cylinder, or possibly its ground plan may have basically elliptic shape. Preferably, the recess has the ground plan shape of a part of a circle that is delimited by a secant on at least one side, i.e. of a circle segment.
In a preferred embodiment, the inner side of the sample part of the holder is at least in a part equipped with one groove and/or one projection with a ground plan shape of basically a polygon, a semi-circle or a polygon with rounded vertices with a height parallel to the axis of the thread.
In one preferred embodiment, at least one groove in the sample part passes through the whole wall of the sample part of the holder. This groove starts at the upper edge of the sample part and may continue to the border of its bottom; preferably it ends above the level of the bottom of the sample part of the holder. The groove facilitates the insertion and removal of samples and possibly tools into/from the holder. If there is a need to prevent partial rotation of the inner parts and the recess of the sample part of the holder is in the shape of a cylinder, this groove may also be used as a prevention against partial rotation of the sample and/or of the inner parts when tightening the lid, which might cause their damage. More preferably, a multiple-element system preventing partial rotation can be used, for example a combination of several grooves in which projections on the insert or eventually on other tools inserted into the device fit. The grooves may but not need to pass through the whole thickness of the wall. Generally, it is preferable to use shallow grooves in order not to considerably weaken the wall of the sample part of the holder. The use of two grooves on the opposite sides of the recess is sufficient to secure the insert and/or the inner parts (tools) against partial rotation. Alternatively, the recess in the sample part of the holder can be equipped with projections that fit into the groove(s) in the insert and/or some inner parts. A combination of grooves and projections is also possible. It is also possible to combine grooves and/or projections for example with shapes that at least partially prevent partial rotation on their own. This concerns, above all, the case when rotation is prevented by a recess in the shape of a cylinder cut off from one side.
In one preferred embodiment of the device, the external diameter of the inner part of the insert is at least in the area of its neck smaller than the diameter of the opening in the lid, while the height of the inner part of the insert passing through the opening in the outer part of the insert is greater than the height of the opening in the outer part of the insert.
The tools have shapes compatible with the internal shape of the recess in the sample part of the holder. The function of the tools in the device according to the present invention is as follows: Supports are used above all to collect filtered solvents and/or mixtures and to be put under special types of supports - carriers of samples, which bear the samples or are used to collect them. Supports most often have the shapes of basically plates of various heights (thicknesses) and various ground plan shapes. Supports may contain recesses of any shape. Generally, it is preferable to use supports of a ground plan shape that corresponds to the ground plan shape of the bottom of the recess in the sample part of the holder or the ground plan shape of the lower part of the insert. In a preferred embodiment, they are made in the shape of low cylinders with a diameter that enables easy insertion into the cylindrically shaped sample part of the holder. Preferably, the recesses in the supports are made in the shape of basically cylinders or basically truncated cones or basically cones. In some cases, filters are used as supports; they can then fulfil two functions, the function of a support and the filtration function. In some preferable embodiments, the supports are roughened or equipped with drainage channels on the lower side. These adjustments ensure the drainage of solvents and/or mixtures into vessels. Filters are used above all for the filtration of mixtures; if they are used, they define places of the removal of solvents and/or mixtures that get into the sample part of the holder, subsequently heading to the draining opening(s). They can also be used as supports for the capture of particles from mixtures. Filters in the form of plates may have various ground plan shapes and heights. Generally, it is preferable to use filters of ground plan shapes that correspond to the ground plan shape of the recess in the sample part or the part whereon the filters lie directly. Preferably, they are made in the ground plan shape of a circle or an annulus. Filters may be inseparable parts of the insert. At the same time, they can be combined into larger assemblies, including assemblies formed using interlaying the filters by separation parts. Such combinations can be connected non- detachably. In the case of such combinations, they can be equipped with a seal, detachably or non- detachably connected to one or to both sides of the assembly.
Separation parts are used to delimit the distance between the individual parts. For example, they define the distance between a support and a filter. Preferably, their ground plan shape corresponds to the ground plan shape of the recess in the sample part or the part whereon the separation parts lie directly. They always contain an opening or openings in the vertical direction that pass through the whole separation part. Preferably, they have the ground plan shape of an annulus. For some purposes, the separation parts are preferably roughened on one or both contact surfaces. The separation part can be a non-detachable part of a lid, where it serves to delimit the space between the lid and other parts. Then it is preferably situated around the opening(s) in the lid.
Seals are used to seal spaces between two parts of the device. This means above all the sealing of the space between the insert and the ceiling of the lid or between the outer part of the insert and the ceiling of the lid or between the support and the separation part or between the outer and the inner parts of the insert or between the support and the insert or between the supports and the inner part of the insert or between the sample carrier and the insert or between the sample carrier and the inner part of the insert or between the sample carrier and the separation part or between the filter and the sample carrier. Preferably, its ground plan shape corresponds to the ground plan shape of the parts between which the seal is inserted. The seal can be a non-detachable part of the insert or the lid. If it is a non-detachable part of the lid, then, preferably, the seal is situated around the opening(s) in the lid.
In the most preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention suitable for the capturing of particles on the surface of a carrier and/or the incubation of samples on carriers in various solvents and/or mixtures, the device contains a holder that includes in its sample part a support with a recess for the sample carrier or a support without the recess; on the support, there is further placed a sample carrier, preferably a glass, with or without the sample, above which a filter is placed, pressed towards the holder by an insert situated above the filter and, optionally, by a seal situated above it, wherein the neck of the inner part of the insert is passed through the opening in the lid screwed together with the holder using the thread. In order to prevent drying out of the samples on carriers, this embodiment optionally contains a seal positioned between the sample carrier and the filter; eventually, the seal is inserted between the sample carrier and the filter, and a separation part is placed above it. In order to improve the performance of the suction using a vacuum pump, a seal is optionally inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert, if they are connected detachably.
The device according to the present invention is made of materials that are sufficiently resistant to the substances used (solvents and mixtures). Preferably, the lid, the holder, the inserts and some other tools, such as separation parts, are made of thermoplastics or metal alloys. The examples of thermoplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene. These materials can preferably be used also for other tools such as supports. Apart from that, supports can be preferably made of glass or of metals and materials that are suitable also for the production of other tools such as filters or seals. Sample carriers can be made of the same materials as the supports. Depending on the application, supports can be coated with thin layers of other substances that influence their ability to bind particles contained in a mixture. The examples include poly-D-lysine, 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine or gelatine. Filters are preferably made of cellulose, nitrocellulose, nylon, polyvinylidene difluoride, glass microfibres, polypropylene, polysulfone, cellulose acetate or polytetrafluoroethylene. Seals are preferably made of rubbers, preferably silicon rubbers or of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, plasticised PVC (Novoplast) or paper. The outer part of the insert can be, in some preferred embodiments, made of rubbers. The inserts are preferably made of other materials such as metals and their alloys in some cases. The subject of the present invention is also a set for the handling of solvents and mixtures and operations with samples on carriers containing the device for facilitating the handling of solvents and mixtures and operations with samples on carriers according to the present invention, and a vessel, preferably a vessel with a neck in the shape of a hollow cylinder, suitable for placing the device according to the present invention onto the vessel.
The lid is preferably shaped in such a way that the external diameter of the part containing a recess with thread is at least in its part facing the neck of the vessel smaller than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel (e.g. a 50 ml centrifugal test tube). The shape and size of the lid above this part then prevents the lid from falling through into the vessel. It is ensured that at least one part of the lid is placed inside the vessel and, at the same time, the fixation of the lid on the vessel can be achieved even without the use of any other fixation element. It is also possible to use a lid, the ground plan dimensions of which are greater than the diameter of the vessel along the whole vertical axis. A preferred shape of the upper part of the lid is basically a cylinder equipped with a circular opening in the centre, and the part containing the recess is basically a hollow cylinder whose external diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the vessel and its vertical axis is the continuation of the vertical axis of the upper part.
In a preferable embodiment of the construction of the lid in cases when there is a need to reduce the height of the lid above the vessel, maximally fix the lid on the vessel and, at the same time, prevent the evaporation of the solvents and/or mixtures from the collection vessels, the lid is in the shape of basically two hollow cylinders of a similar heights, one inserted into the other, wherein both hollow cylinders share one common base. The inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is at least in one of its parts equipped with thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part. Preferably, the base is a hollow cylinder or a set of mutually connected two or more hollow cylinders of various heights with a shared axis of symmetry and a shared centre of the base which is more distant from the part of the lid equipped with thread.
In these cases, the internal diameter of the outer hollow cylinder under the base is always greater than the external diameter of the neck of the vessel including the prospective thread, and the external diameter of the inner hollow cylinder under the base is smaller than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel. The ceiling of the space between these hollow cylinders formed by their shared base then, along with its walls, fixes the lid on the neck of the vessel. The described embodiment is preferable for instance in the case of using commercial 50 ml test tubes, which predominantly have the shape of a hollow cylinder and differ by thread with a similar internal and external diameter depending on the manufacturer.
The space between the hollow cylinders under the base can be equipped with a seal in the area of the ceiling. The presence of the seal is preferable in cases when evaporation needs to be minimised during centrifugation or washing using gravitational force, as well as in cases when the lid is used to connect a vacuum pump using other elements such as vessels with a neck in the shape of basically a hollow cylinder. This construction of the lid enables the use of a single lid for test tubes of various manufacturers, ensures high protection against evaporation and, at the same time, enables fast removal of the device from the vessel. The lid can be further equipped, on the inner shell of the outer hollow cylinder under the base, with a thread complementary to the thread with which the vessel / test tube is furnished. Such a solution is preferable in situations when it is absolutely necessary to prevent evaporation from the vessel.
For simpler handling including tightening, it is preferable to equip the lid, at least in some areas of its outer surface, with grooves or a roughening of any kind. This concerns above all the cases when the ground plan of the outer shape of the lid is basically circular in all its parts. The vessels with a neck in the shape of basically a hollow cylinder can be ordinary or centrifugal test tubes. Preferably, these vessels are made of materials resistant to the solvents and/or mixtures used and, at the same time, resistant to centrifugal forces, for instance from thermoplastics, preferably thermoplastic polyethylene and polypropylene, or from glass. Simple thick-walled vessels with a neck in the form of basically a hollow cylinder equipped with a valve for the connection of a vacuum pump are suitable for the use of vacuum pumps. These vessels do not serve for the collection of the filtrate, which is sucked outside the vessels. Generally, however, the device does not require a connection to vacuum pumps only using the vessels. It can be connected to a vacuum pump also using other elements such as hoses or a thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread.
In one embodiment, the set according to the present invention contains also a stand comprising a base and a pin that is adjusted for insertion into the opening in the lower part of the sample part of the holder, or possibly via the opening in the collection part of the holder. The stand facilitates the handling of the device. The height of the pin is chosen in such a way that upon insertion of the pin in the opening in the bottom of the holder, the parts inserted in the sample part of the holder would be at least partially lifted, which facilitates their removal by the user.
The subject of the present invention is also the use of the device and/or the set according to the present invention for filtration of solvents and/or mixtures, sedimentation of particles, washing of particles, washing of samples attached to supports and/or carriers, particularly using centrifugation and using a suction force provided by vacuum pumps.
Filtration
Basic methods of filtration:
1) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel. Alternatively, the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread. When filtration using a vacuum pump is used and the insert is made detachably, consisting of an inner and an outer part, it is preferable if the seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A mixture is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The filtration takes place in the area of the filter between the support and the insert. The rest of the mixture remains on the support. 2) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a filter without an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel. Alternatively, the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread. When filtration using a vacuum pump is used and the insert is made detachably, consisting of an inner and an outer part, preferably the seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A mixture is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The filtration takes place in the area of the filter delimited by the opening in the inner part of the insert. The rest of the mixture remains on the filter.
3) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support, a seal with an opening, optionally a separation part, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel. Alternatively, the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with compatible thread. When filtration using a vacuum pump is used and the insert is made detachably, consisting of an inner and an outer part, preferably, the seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A mixture containing particles is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The filtration takes place in the area of the filter between the seal or separation part and the insert. The rest of the mixture remains on the support and in the space delimited by the seal and the separation part.
Sedimentation
Basic methods of sedimentation:
1) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support that may carry the sample carrier or be the carrier itself or serve as the capturing part, a seal, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of the vessel. A mixture is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged, preferably with the use of a centrifuge with a swinging rotor. The mixture remains in the device throughout the whole period of centrifugation.
2) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support that may carry the sample carrier or be the carrier itself or serve as the capturing part, a seal, optionally a separation part, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of the vessel. A mixture is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged, preferably with the use of a centrifuge with a swinging rotor. The mixture partially remains in the device. The filtrate is collected in the vessel. The described arrangement is preferable in order to prevent the drying out of the sediment, and it is not necessary to use supports equipped with a recess. 3) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support that may carry the sample carrier or be the carrier itself or serve as the capturing part, a filter with an opening, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of the vessel. A mixture is applied into the device. The mixture is subsequently centrifuged, preferably with the use of a centrifuge with a swinging rotor. The filtrate is collected in the vessel. Usually only a small part of the mixture remains in the device in the form of sediment. The amount of the mixture captured in the device depends on the embodiment of the support. If the support is equipped with a sufficiently large recess, this arrangement also prevents the drying out of the sediment. Repeated incubations and washing of samples attached to carriers or of particles in samples
Basic methods of repeated incubations and washing of samples attached to carriers or of particles in samples:
1) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a carrier with the sample or first a support and then a carrier with the sample, a seal, optionally a separation part, a filter, an insert, optionally a seal, and a lid, and the device is placed into the neck of a vessel. Alternatively, the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread. When a vacuum pump is used for washing and the insert is made detachably, consisting of inner and outer part, it is preferable, if a seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A solvent and/or a mixture is applied into the device. The solvent and/or mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The solvent and/or mixture partially remains in the device. This step may be repeated. If highly permeable filters are used or filters are left out or replaced e.g. by a roughening of the lower side of the insert, it is possible to work without the use of a centrifuge or vacuum pump, only with the use of the gravitational force alone. The described arrangement is preferable in case of preventing the sample from drying out.
2) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a carrier with the sample or first a support and then a carrier with the sample, a filter, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed into the neck of a vessel. Alternatively, the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread. When a vacuum pump is used for washing and the insert is made detachably, consisting of inner and outer part, it is preferable if a seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A solvent and/or a mixture is applied into the device. The solvent and/or mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The described arrangement enables highly efficient washing but does not prevent the sample from drying up.
3) The device is assembled consecutively, from the bottom up, of a holder, a support with a recess, a filter, an insert, optionally a seal and a lid, and placed in the neck of the vessel. Alternatively, the device is connected to a vacuum pump using other elements such as a hose or thread and an adaptor equipped with a compatible thread. When a vacuum pump is used for washing and the insert is made detachably, consisting of inner and outer part, it is preferable if a seal is inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. A solvent and/or a mixture is applied into the device. The solvent and/or mixture is subsequently centrifuged or sucked out using a vacuum pump. The solvent and/or mixture partially remains in the device. This step may be repeated. The described arrangement is suitable for washing of particles acquired directly from the sample in the form of their suspension in the recess of the support. The device according to the present invention is a multifunctional device which inter alia fully replaces common cytocentrifugation approaches. The device is adjusted to the use with the rotors of common centrifuges and therefore does not require any special cytocentrifuges; it enables a subsequent treatment of the specimens acquired in this manner, e.g. staining using histochemical agents, immunocytochemical detections of proteins or detection of replication activity and using "click chemistry", and it is suitable also for the processing of adherent cell lines. Apart from the commonly used cytocentrifugal methods based on "semi-dry" cytocentrifugation, the device enables also the work using the completely "wet" way, which is preferable for example when it is needed to acquire formaldehyde-fixed specimens. Depending on the shape and size of the recesses in the support, it enables work with various sizes of sample carriers, e.g. coverslip, and thus also with various sizes of the area on which the treatment of the specimens takes place. In the most preferable embodiment for the attachment of the cells to the carrier using a "semi-dry" method, the device includes a holder which contains the sample part where the support with recess is placed, in this recess the sample carrier is placed, preferably a coverslip, above which there is a filter, pressed to the support by the set of the inner and outer part of the insert, wherein the neck of the inner part of the insert is passed through the lid that is screwed together with the holder using a thread. Preferably, the device is intended for centrifugal test tubes with a neck of an internal diameter greater than 26 mm and of the external diameter of the prospective thread smaller than 33 mm, a condition that is fulfilled by the most of the 50 ml plastic centrifugal test tubes. The inserts and the filters have internal diameters from 5 to 12 mm. In the case of an insert, this is the end diameter. The diameter of the filters and inserts defines the size of the treated area.
The device enables a subsequent treatment of the samples such as washing, incubation in various solvents and/or mixtures, etc., using not only centrifugation but also suction forces of vacuum pumps.
If the device is used for a "wet" way of processing, a seal with the required internal diameter that should correspond to the diameter of the filter and insert used is situated on the support where the capture or treatment of the specimens, such as cells, is to take place. Preferably, a separation part is placed on the seal, the separation part having its diameter equal to the diameter of the seal or to the diameter of the filter or to the diameter of the insert. A filter follows. The next steps in the assembly are the same as in the case of the assembly of a device for the "semi-dry" way. A device assembled in this manner is suitable for the most subsequent applications, as it ensures the capture of the solvent and/or mixture above the specimen and prevents its drying out. The described set is generally suitable for the preparation of formaldehyde-fixed cells. In order to successfully capture the cells, it is preferable to work with glasses coated with substances increasing the adsorption of cells, such as poly-D-lysine. In this case, it is preferable to first remove proteins from the sample by repeated washing.
Preferably, all parts except the filter are made from white Teflon. When made of Teflon the device itself (without the filter) is resistant to most solvents, an acidic or alkaline environment, even at higher temperatures, and it shows temperature resistance from -250 to +250 °C. The recommended use is at temperatures from -50 to 200 °C. The device itself can be repeatedly autoclaved (121 °C, 15 PSI, 30 minutes).
Brief description of the figures
Fig. 1 3D depiction of the lid without a thread from Example 1
Fig. 2 3D depiction of the lid without a thread from Example 2
Fig. 3 3D depiction of the lid without a thread from Example 3
Fig. 4 3D depiction of the lid without a thread from Example 4
Fig. 5 3D depiction of the lid without a thread from Example 5
Fig. 6 3D depiction of the lid from Example 6
Fig. 7 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 7
Fig. 8 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 8
Fig. 9 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 9 Fig. 10 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 10
Fig. 11 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 11
Fig. 12 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 12
Fig. 13 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 13
Fig. 14 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 14
Fig. 15 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 15
Fig. 16 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 16
Fig. 17 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 17
Fig. 18 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 18
Fig. 19 3D depiction of the sample part without a thread from Example 19
Fig. 20 3D depiction of the collecting part from Example 20 including i the area of the bottom of the sample part that is equipped with an opening
Fig. 21 3D depiction of the collecting part S from Example 21 including the area of the bottom of the sample part Vz that is equipped with an opening
Fig. 22 3D depiction of the collecting part from Example 22 including the area of the bottom of the sample part that is equipped with an opening
Fig. 23 3D depiction of the holder from Example 23 consisting of the sample part Vz and the collecting part S. The left-hand and right-hand parts contain two views of the same holder.
Fig. 24 3D depiction of the insert from Example 24
Fig. 25 3D depiction of the insert from Example 25
Fig. 26 3D depiction of the insert from Example 26
Fig. 27 3D depiction of the insert from Example 27
Fig. 28 3D depiction of the insert from Example 28
Fig. 29 3D depiction of the outer part of the insert from Example 29
Fig. 30 3D depiction of the inner part of the insert from Example 30
Fig. 31 3D depiction of the inner part of the insert from Example 31
Fig. 32 3D depiction of the inner part of the insert from Example 32
Fig. 33 3D depiction of the support from Example 33
Fig. 34 A scheme of the arrangement of the device suitable for capturing particles on the carrier (No) from Example 35. The set including a carrier (No) and a vessel (N) contains a lid (V), a seal (T) in the shape of a hollow cylinder, the outer part of an insert (VV), the inner part of an insert (V), a filter (F) in the shape of a hollow cylinder, a support (P) with a recess on the upper part for the carrier (No) and also a cross-shaped recess on the lower part ensuring the drainage of the substances, and a holder (D).
Fig. 35 3D depiction of the holder from Example 39 Examples
Example 1 - Embodiment of the lid
An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the lid has the shape of a cylinder with a cylindrical recess in its lower part and a circular opening in the upper part of the cylinder (Fig. 1). The diameter of the cylinder is larger than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel. Thread is placed in the cylindrical recess that has a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the vessel. The lid leans to the upper edge of the vessel and all of it is situated above the vessel. The fixation of the lid in terms of movement into the sides takes place only after the attachment of the holder, which protrudes into the vessel.
Example 2 - Embodiment of the lid
An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the upper part of the lid has the form of a cylinder with a circular opening in its centre (Fig. 2). The upper part has a diameter larger than the internal diameter of the vessel. The lower part has the form of a hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder has an external diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper part, while, at the same time, this diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel. The hollow cylinder protrudes into the vessel in this embodiment. The lid leans to the upper edge of the neck of the vessel. A part of or the whole inner shell of the hollow cylinder is equipped with thread.
Example 3 - Embodiment of the lid
An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the lid contains, on top of the lid presented in Example 2, also a rim, which together with the hollow cylinder delimits the space for the neck of the vessel (Fig. 3). The internal diameter of the rim is larger than the external diameter of the vessel. If the vessel is equipped with external thread, the rim is larger than the diameter including the thread. The neck of the vessel fits into the space between the hollow cylinder and the rim, the lid leans to the upper edge of the neck of the vessel, and the recess protrudes into the vessel. In some embodiments, moreover, the lid from Figure 3 is also equipped with thread on the inner side of the rim that is complementary to the thread of the vessel.
Example 4 - Embodiment of the lid
An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where the lid, compared to the lid presented in Example 3, has a longer rim, which improves the fixation of the device on the neck of the vessel (Fig. 4). The lid thus has the shape of basically two hollow cylinders of the same height or of different heights inserted one into the other, where both hollow cylinders share one base in the shape of basically a low cylinder containing an opening, preferably a circular opening, preferably situated in the centre of the shared base, where the inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is at least in one part equipped with thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder. In another embodiment, the lid contains a seal in the area between the inner and the outer hollow cylinder. In another embodiment, the base has the form of two low mutually connected hollow cylinders of various heights with a shared axis of symmetry and centre of the base that is more distant from the part of the lid equipped with thread. In yet another embodiment, the opening in the centre of the lid is edged by a hollow cylinder, which may be the outer part of an insert, a separation part and/or a seal. Example 5 - Embodiment of the lid
An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where compared to the lid from Example 2, the upper part of the lid has the shape of a regular octagonal prism (Fig. 5). The diagonal of the octagon is larger than the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel. Example 6 - Embodiment of the lid
An example of the embodiment of the lid of the device where compared to the lid from Example 4, the outer surface of the lid is roughened in order to simplify the handling (Fig. 6).
Example 7 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where the sample part has the shape of a cylinder with a recess of a cylindrical shape in the upper part (Fig. 7). The bottom is equipped with an opening. The outer surface of the cylinder is equipped with thread near the upper edge that may reach as far as the area of the bottom with the opening. In some embodiments, the outer shell of the sample part near the lower edge is equipped with grooves or roughened in another way. In other embodiments, the outer shell of the sample part is equipped with a ring that may be roughened on its surface for example in the form of vertical grooves. Roughing facilitates the handling of device. In other embodiments, the bottom of the sample part of the holder contained protrusions or drainage grooves connected with the drainage opening. Example 8 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 7, the upper part of the sample part contains a recess in the shape of a right four- sided prism (Fig. 8). Example 9 - Sample part An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 7, the upper part of the sample part contains a recess in the shape of a right six-sided prism (Fig. 8). Example 10 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 7, the upper part of the sample part contains a recess in the shape of a cylinder with its sides cut off (Fig. 10). Example 11 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where the sample part contains more openings in its bottom compared to the sample part from Example 7 (Fig. 11).
Example 12 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where the sample part contains openings above the bottom compared to the sample part from Example 11 (Fig. 12).
Example 13 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 7, the sample part contains a groove in the shape of basically a prism whose height is parallel to the axis of the thread. The groove facilitates the handling of the tools that are inserted into the holder, and at the same time, it can also serve to prevent partial turning of these tools when tightening the lid (Fig. 13). Example 14 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 13, the sample part contains another groove, which however does not pass through the whole wall of the sample part of the holder and together with the first groove serves as a prevention against partial turning of the tools inserted in the holder when tightening the lid (Fig. 14). In some embodiments, the grooves stretch along the whole length of the recess of the sample part of the holder.
Example 15 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 13, the sample part contains a projection which together with the groove serves as a prevention against partial turning of the parts inserted in the holder when tightening the lid (Fig. 15).
Example 16 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 13, the sample part contains two projections that serve as a prevention against partial turning of the parts inserted in the holder when tightening the lid (Fig. 16).
Example 17 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 8, the sample part contains a groove that facilitates the handling of the parts that are inserted in the holder (Fig. 17).
Example 18 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 9, the sample part contains a groove that facilitates the handling of the parts that are inserted in the holder (Fig. 18).
Example 19 - Sample part
An example of the embodiment of the sample part of the holder where compared to the sample part from Example 10, the sample part contains a groove that facilitates the handling of the parts that are inserted in the holder (Fig. 19).
Example 20 - Collecting part
An example of the embodiment of the collecting part of the holder where the collecting part has the shape of a hollow cylinder whose external diameter is equal to or larger than the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom and its internal diameter is larger than or equal to the diameter of the area containing the openings for the drainage of the solution from the sample part of the holder. Figure 20 depicts the case where the external diameter is the same as the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom.
Example 21 - Collecting part
An example of the embodiment of the collecting part S of the holder where the collecting part S has the shape of a hollow cylinder whose internal diameter is larger than or equal to the diameter of the area that contains the draining openings in the bottom of the sample part Vz and its external diameter is smaller than the diameter of the sample part Vz in the area of the bottom. Figure 21 depicts the case where the internal diameter of the collecting part S equals the diameter of the draining opening in the bottom of the sample part Vz.
Example 22 - Collecting part
An example of the embodiment of the collecting part of the holder where the collecting part has the shape of two hollow cylinders. The larger cylinder has an external diameter similar to the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom. The smaller cylinder has an internal diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the area with the draining openings in the bottom of the sample part. Figure 22 depicts the case where the external diameter of the larger hollow cylinder equals the diameter of the sample part of the holder in the area of the bottom and the internal diameter of the smaller hollow cylinder equals the diameter of the draining opening in the bottom of the sample part of the holder.
Example 23 - Holder
An example of the embodiment of the holder where the holder is equipped with thread and contains both a sample part Vz and a collecting part S (Fig. 23). The holder also contains a ring situated around the collecting part S, which is roughened for simpler handling. The sample part Vz of the holder corresponds to the depiction in Fig. 14, containing two grooves, one throughout the wall of the sample part Vz and the other not passing through the whole wall of the sample part Vz. Both grooves serve as a prevention against partial turning of the tools inserted in the holder when tightening the lid. The collecting part S has the shape of two hollow cylinders. The outer hollow cylinder has the external diameter equal to the diameter of the sample part in the area of the bottom. The inner hollow cylinder has the internal diameter equal to the diameter of the opening in the bottom of the sample part Vz.
Example 24 - Insert
An example of the embodiment of an insert from a single piece of material where the insert is made in the shape of two narrowly adjoining cylinders through which an opening or openings pass. An insert with a circular opening is depicted in Figure 24. The smaller cylinder forms the neck. Alternatively, the insert consists of a single cylinder with an opening or openings, or the lower cylinder is replaced by a plate with a ground plan in the form of a polygon, ellipse or circle that is restricted by a secant from at least one side. The plate is equipped with an opening or openings that form a continuation of the opening in the neck. The neck is not present in some embodiments, and the insert consists only of a plate with an opening or openings. In other embodiments, the plate is situated between the bases of the larger cylinder. In an alternative embodiment, the insert from Figure 24 is equipped from the side of the base of the larger cylinder directly following the smaller cylinder with a glued seal in the shape of a hollow cylinder through which a neck passes, formed by a smaller cylinder. In yet another embodiment, the insert from Figure 24 is equipped from the side of the lower base of the larger cylinder with a glued filter in the shape of a hollow cylinder. In other embodiments, the insert from Figure 24 is equipped with both a glued seal and a glued filter. Alternatively, the opening(s) in the insert were shaped as basically a cylinder with an elliptical base, a prism, a truncated cone, a truncated pyramid or a combination of the mentioned shapes variously repeated. In other embodiments, the opening(s) were shaped basically as adjacent prisms, truncated cones, truncated pyramids or cylinders of various diameters or as cylinders with elliptical bases of various diameters. In some embodiments, the openings consisted of networks of tubes connecting the bases of the inner part of the insert. In another embodiment, the described inserts were formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
Example 25 - Insert
An example of the embodiment of an insert from a single piece of material where compared to the insert from Example 24, the insert contains two projections (Fig. 25) that fit into the groove in the sample part of the holder from Fig. 14. In another embodiment, the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
Example 26 - Insert
An example of the embodiment of an insert from a single piece of material where compared to the example from Figure 24, the insert contains a lower cylinder with its sides cut off (Fig. 26). In another embodiment, the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together. Example 27 - Insert
An example of the embodiment of an insert from a single piece of material where compared to the insert from Figure 24, the insert contains two grooves (Fig. 27) in which the projections in the sample part of the holder from Fig. 16 fit. In another embodiment, the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together.
Example 28 - Insert
An example of the embodiment of an insert where compared to the insert from Figure 24, the insert contains a groove and a projection (Fig. 28) compatible with the sample part of the holder in Fig. 15. Alternatively, the insert is equipped with various combinations of grooves and projections. The grooves preferably lead along the whole length of the insert. In another embodiment, the described insert was formed by gluing the inner and the outer parts of the insert together. Example 29 - Outer part of the insert
An example of the embodiment of the outer part of an insert that is made in the shape of a hollow cylinder with two projections (Fig. 29). Alternatively, it does not contain these projections or, instead of projections, it contains grooves or a combination of grooves and projections, or the outer part of the insert is made in the shape of a lower cylinder with its sides cut off from Figure 26 that is equipped with an opening for the inner part of the insert, or its ground plan outer shape is a polygon or an ellipse. The outer part of the insert always contains an opening for the inner part of the insert. Alternatively, the outer part of the insert is a fixed part of the lid. In this embodiment, it is preferably made in the form of a hollow cylinder that lines the opening in the lid and heads in the vertical direction into the part of the lid equipped with thread. The inner and outer part of the insert can be mutually connected non-detachably (e.g., made from a single piece of material) or detachably (modularly fitting into each other when putting the device together). Alternatively, the opening in the outer part of the insert was basically a cylinder with an elliptical base, a prism, a truncated cone, a truncated pyramid or a combination of the mentioned shapes. In other embodiments, the opening in the outer part of the insert was shaped basically as adjacent prisms, truncated cones, truncated pyramids or cylinders of various diameters or as cylinders with elliptical bases of various diameters. In other embodiments, the outer part of the insert from Figure 29 contained on one or both bases a glued seal in the shape of hollow cylinders with the external and internal diameters equal to the diameters of the bases or of the openings in the bases, as the case may be.
Example 30 - Inner part of the insert
An example of the embodiment of the inner part of an insert that is made in the shape of two adjacent cylinders of different diameters. The cylinder with the larger diameter serves as a pressure element on which pressure is exerted by the outer part of the insert from Figure 29. An opening passes through both cylinders. The opening may have different shapes. Figure 30 depicts the example of an opening in the shape of a cylinder. Alternatively, the opening(s) in the inner part of the insert were shaped as basically a cylinder with an elliptical base, a prism, a truncated cone, a truncated pyramid or a combination of the mentioned shapes variously repeated. In other embodiments, the opening(s) were shaped basically as adjacent prisms, truncated cones, truncated pyramids or cylinders of various diameters or as cylinders with elliptical bases of various diameters. In some embodiments, the openings consisted of networks of tubes connecting the bases of the inner part of the insert. Alternatively, the lower cylinder is replaced by a plate with a ground plan in the form of a polygon, ellipse or circle that is restricted by a secant from at least one side. In other embodiments, the lower cylinder is equipped with grooves, projections or their combination. The inner and outer part of the insert can be mutually connected non-detachably (e.g., made from a single piece of material) or detachably (modularly fitting into each other when putting the device together). In other embodiments, the outer shape of the inner part of the insert is a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid or their combination with prisms and cylinders or with cylinders with the base in the shape of an ellipse. Alternatively, the outer shape is a combination of various prisms or cylinders with various diameters or a combination of cylinders and prisms or a combination of cylinders, truncated pyramids, truncated cones and prisms with shapes, which have the shape of a circular segment or an ellipse in the ground plan. In some embodiments, a seal or filter in the shape of a hollow cylinder with the external and internal diameters equal to the diameter of the base or of the diameter of the opening in the base, as the case may be, was glued to the base of the inner part of the insert facing the bottom of the sample part of the holder. In another embodiment, a seal in the shape of a circle with the diameter of the base was glued to this base; alternatively, the glued seal contained several openings. In other embodiments, the smaller cylinder from Figure 30 was equipped in its upper part with a recess in the shape of a narrow ring, or it was roughened, or it contained thread for the lid. In another embodiment, the inner part of the insert was equipped with a lid that was detachably pressed into the opening of the smaller cylinder from Figure 30.
Example 31 - Inner part of the insert
An example of the embodiment of the inner part of an insert which is compared to the inner part of the insert from Example 30 roughened in the lower part (Fig. 31).
Example 32 - Inner part of the insert
An example of the embodiment of the inner part of an insert that compared to the inner part of the insert from Example 30 contains four openings.
Example 33 - Tools - Support
An example of the embodiment of a support where the support is made in the shape of a cylinder that contains in the upper part a recess for a sample carrier such as glass. The recess for the sample carrier is preferably deeper than the thickness of the sample carrier, which prevents cracking of the carrier of samples when the device is screwed together due to the pressure of the insert and possibly of the tools exerted on the support with the sample carrier. The recess is adjusted to the shape of the sample carrier; in this embodiment, it has the shape of a cylinder, because the sample carrier (the coverslip) is of a circular shape. The recess for the sample carrier can be of any shape; preferable shapes include a cylinder or a prism.
Another recess is situated near the edge of the recess for the sample carrier; preferably, it is cylindrical with a smaller diameter than the recess for the sample carrier; it is deeper (reaching below the bottom) than the recess for the sample carrier. This smaller recess facilitates the removal of the sample carrier from the support. The support is further equipped with a recess for the drainage of the solvents and/or mixtures, preferably in the shape of a cross, which ensures the drainage of the solvents and/or mixtures. This recess is situated on the surface opposite the surface containing the recess for the sample carrier.
In other embodiments, the support does not contain a recess for the sample carrier. In other embodiments, the recess for the sample carrier has the shape of basically a cylinder or a truncated cone, and it may serve also for the collection of the samples. In other embodiments, the recess for the drainage of the solvents and/or mixtures is made as a roughening of the lower side (opposite the surface in which there is the recess for the sample carrier) of the support, or the support is equipped with ribs in the shape of a cross or a star. In other embodiments, the ground plan shape of the support is a polygon, an ellipse or a circle segment, which ensures the compatibility with the internal shape of the sample part of the holder. Example 34 - Tools - separation parts, filters, seals
An example of the embodiment of separation parts, filters and seals. The filters, seals and separation parts are made in the form of basically cylinders. In other embodiments, these tools have a ground plan shape in the form of a polygon, ellipse or circle that is restricted by a secant from at least one side. This ensures their compatibility with the internal shape of the sample part of the holder. Filters and seals can be equipped with an opening or openings that connect their bases. Separation parts are always equipped with an opening or openings that connect their bases. In some embodiments, separation parts are roughened on one or both bases.
Example 35 - Arrangement of the device for capturing particles on the carrier
An example of the arrangement of the device for the capturing of particles on the carrier. The whole set includes the holder D where the support P is situated on the bottom of the sample part. On the support P there is the carrier No for the capturing of particles, on which lies the filter F with an opening with the diameter equal to the opening of the opening in the inner part of the insert VN on the side of the filter F. Upon the filter F is situated the inner part of the insert VN, on which the outer part of the insert VV is slid. The seal T is optionally situated on the upper part of the outer part of the insert VV. All the tools are situated in the sample part of the holder D and enclosed with the lid V (Fig. 34). Figure 34 depicts a scheme suitable for capturing particles to the carrier No, e.g. a round glass. The seal T is used instead of the filter F in some embodiments. If the filter F is replaced by the seal T, the solvents and/or mixtures do not drain into the vessel N during centrifugation. Other embodiments omit the support P and the carrier No and the filter F without an opening instead of the filter F with an opening is used. This filter F is then used to capture particles. Example 36 - Arrangement of the device for washing of samples captured on the carrier
An example of the arrangement of the device for the washing of samples captured on the carrier. It is possible to use the same scheme as depicted in Figure 34 or include a seal under the filter, or possibly, from the bottom up, a seal and a separation part with an opening. These arrangements ensure a protection against drying out. Another possibility is to use a separation part roughened on the upper side, which ensures faster drainage of solvents and/or mixtures. The filter can be completely removed in order to further speed up the washing. Example 37 - Arrangement of the device for filtration
An example of the arrangement of the device for filtration. Compared to the arrangement of the device in Figure 34, a filter without an opening is situated either directly to the bottom of the sample part of the holder or to a separation part; the inner part of the insert follows. Example 38 - Arrangement of the device for capture of suspended particles
An example of the arrangement of the device for the capture of suspended particles. Compared to the arrangement depicted in Figure 34, the support is equipped with a recess for the capture of particles, and a carrier of particles is not included in the set. Example 39 - Stand
An example of the embodiment of a stand. The stand is made in the form of a base and a pin (Fig. 35) in the shape of basically a cylinder whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the sample part of the holder. The sliding of the device according to the invention to the stand facilitates the removal of the insert and possible tools from the holder.
Example 40 - Example of the embodiment of the device basically according to the arrangement in Figure 34 for vessels with the internal diameter of the neck between 22 mm and 44 mm
An example of the embodiment of the device according to the present invention basically according to the arrangement depicted in Figure 34 and of its other variants.
The lid was made in an arrangement that basically corresponded to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 6. The lid was made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The overall height of the lid was alternatively 10, 20, 30, 40 or 60 mm. The height of both hollow cylinders was alternatively 5, 15, 18, 35 or 55 mm. Alternatively, the lid was made in an arrangement of hollow cylinders that basically corresponded to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 3. In this case, the height of the inner hollow cylinder was alternatively 5, 15, 18, 35 or 55 mm, and the height of the outer hollow cylinder was alternatively 5, 15, 35 or 55 mm. The internal diameter of the inner hollow cylinder was alternatively 18, 21, 22, 24 or 32 mm. The internal diameter of the outer hollow cylinder was alternatively 30, 32, 33, 34, 38 or 44 mm. The external diameter of the inner hollow cylinder was alternatively 22, 26, 26.5, 29 or 37 mm, and the external diameter of the outer hollow cylinder was alternatively 33, 38, 47 or 57 mm. Alternatively, the lid was made without the outer cylinder, basically according to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 2. In this case, the part of the lid comprising the base of a hollow cylinder with a circular opening in the centre had the diameter of alternatively 33, 38, 47 or 57 mm. The circular opening in the lid for all arrangements had the alternative diameters of 4.2, 7.4, 12.5, 12.7, 12.8, 14 or 23 mm. Depending on the arrangement, the inner hollow cylinder or the hollow cylinder around the opening was equipped with thread. The outer hollow cylinder was equipped with thread as well in some arrangements. The thread depth was alternatively 0.2, 1, 2 or 3 mm. The thread was present only in a part or on the whole inner shell of the hollow cylinders equipped with thread.
The holder basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 23 was made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The overall length of the holder was alternatively 11, 42, 53.5, 55 or 92 mm. The depth of the recess of the sample part of the holder was alternatively 6, 12.5, 13, 14, 16, 36 or 82 mm. The diameter of the recess of the sample part was alternatively 11 , 18 or 24 mm. The width of the groove in the wall was alternatively 1, 2, 4, 6 or 10 mm. The grooves reached as far as to the immediate vicinity of the bottom or were alternatively ended 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4 or 5 mm above the bottom. The diameter of the opening in the bottom of the sample part of the holder was alternatively 2, 10, 15 or 22 mm. Alternatively, 4, 8 or 12 openings were made in the bottom, with an alternative diameter of 1 or 2 mm. Holders were also made in which the openings were situated exclusively in the wall of the recess above the bottom, basically according to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 12. The height of the lower edge of the openings above the bottom of the sample part of the holder was alternatively 2, 10, 15 or 20 mm above the bottom. The diameter of the ring was alternatively 20.1, 25.5, 28.1 or 35 mm. Some holders contained no grooves or a single groove, others contained 3 or 4 grooves.
The outer part of the insert was made basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 29 of polytetrafluoroethylene. If the outer part of the insert was equipped with projections, its external diameter was alternatively 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 mm smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical recess in the sample part of the holder. The opening in the outer part of the insert had a diameter of alternatively 8, 12 or 20 mm. The length of the outer part of the insert was alternatively 5.2, 8.5, 12.5, 15, 32.5 or 80 mm. In some cases, the projections in the form of basically prisms went along only a part of the shell or were not present at all.
The inner part of the insert basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 30 was made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The overall height of the inner part of the insert was alternatively 9, 16, 21, 39 or 90 mm. The diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter equal to the diameter of the outer part of the insert. The height of the cylinder with the larger diameter was alternatively 0.5, 2, 4.2, 10 or 30 mm. The diameter of the opening in the shape of a cylinder was alternatively 2, 7.5, 10, 15 or 17 mm. Alternatively, the opening was made in the shape a part of which was formed by a cylinder and a part by a truncated cone. The larger base of the cone fully overlapped with the base of the cylinder, which resulted in a smooth narrowing of the opening. The truncated cone opened on the side of the inner part of the insert, which was made in the form of the cylinder with the larger diameter. This opening had a diameter of alternatively 2, 4.2, 7.5, 9 or 14 mm. In another embodiment, the opening was made in such a way that on the side of the larger cylinder, it was prepared in the shape of a cylinder with a diameter of 7.5 mm, followed by a cylinder with the diameter of 0.05 or 0.1 mm and subsequently by a truncated cone whose smaller base had the diameter equal to that of the smaller cylinder and whose upper base had the diameter of 10 mm. Inner parts of the insert containing several openings were made as well. Alternatively, inner parts of the insert were made that were equipped with alternatively 1, 2, 3 or 4 projections on the shell of the cylinder with the larger diameter.
The support basically in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 33 was made of poly tetrafluoroe thy lene. Its diameter was equal to the diameter of the cylinder with the larger diameter of the inner part of the insert. The depth of the larger recess was alternatively 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.9 or 5 mm. The depth of the smaller recess was alternatively 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 mm greater than the depth of the larger recess. The diameter of the larger recess was alternatively 5.5, 10.5, 12.5 or 14.5 mm. The depth of the drainage channels was alternatively 0.1, 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mm.
Alternatively, the device contained a support in the form of a low cylinder made of a 0.3 mm thick paper with the diameter equal to the diameter of the support with the drainage channels.
The filter was made as an annulus of filter paper. Its external diameter was equal to the diameter of the support, and its internal diameter equalled the diameter of the outfall of the opening in the inner part of the insert in the cylinder with the larger diameter. A filter without an opening was also made.
A seal situated above the outer part of the insert surrounding the neck of the inner part of the insert was made of silicone rubber in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a maximum external diameter of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 or 3 mm smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical recess of the sample part of the holder and an internal diameter alternatively 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mm larger than the external diameter of the smaller of the cylinders of the inner part of the insert. The height of the seal was alternatively 0.5, 3, 10 or 20 mm.
In some embodiments, the device contained a separation part or several separation parts in the form of hollow cylinders made of polytetrafluoroethylene. Their external diameter was equal to the diameter of the support. The internal diameter was equal to the diameter of the opening of the opening in the cylinder of the inner part of the insert with the larger diameter. Their height was alternatively 0.2, 0.5, 3, 5, 10 or 20 mm.
In some embodiments, the device contained another seal, once again made of silicon rubber in the shape of a hollow cylinder. Its external diameter was equal to the diameter of the support. The internal diameter was equal to the diameter of the outfall of the opening in the inner part of the insert in the cylinder with the larger diameter. Its height was alternatively 0.2, 0.5, 3, 5, 10 or 20 mm. This seal served either as a separation part with a sealing function, when it was inserted between the sample carrier and the filter, or it was used between the separation part and the sample carrier.
Another seal was made for the situation when the device was used for a treatment using vacuum pumps. This seal was inserted between the inner and the outer part of the insert. Its external diameter was the same or larger than the diameter of the outer part of the insert. Its internal diameter was alternatively 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mm larger than the external diameter of the smaller of the cylinders of the inner part of the insert.
In some embodiments, the device contained a support with a recess in the shape of a truncated cone. The height and other characteristics were the same as for the support with a recess in the shape of two cylinders.
In some embodiments, the lid was around the opening on the side directed towards the lid part with thread equipped with a hollow cylinder of dimensions equal to the dimensions of the cylindrical parts of the outer part of the insert or of the separation part. In these cases, the recess in the sample part of the holder had the shape of the cylinder with the larger diameter than the diameter of the hollow cylinder around the opening in the lid.
The produced devices were suitable for vessels with internal diameters of the neck larger than 22 mm and external diameters of the neck smaller than 44 mm. Polytetrafluoroethylene was in some embodiments replaced by polyethylene, polyoxymethylene or metal alloys. The filters were alternatively made of nitrocellulose, nylon, polyvinylidene difluoride, glass microfibres, polypropylene, polysulfone, cellulose acetate or polytetrafluoroethylene. Depending on their arrangement, the produced devices are suitable for sedimentations and filtrations as well as for the treatment of samples on carriers using centrifugal or suction forces.
Industrial applicability
The device enables a firm fastening in vessels with a neck in the shape of a hollow cylinder; in connection with tools, it enables various operations with solvents and mixtures and operations with samples on carriers mostly using a centrifugal force or gravitational force or using a sucking force of vacuum pumps. The solvents and/or mixtures can be collected in vessels. The examples of operations include the filtration of solvents and/or mixtures, the sedimentation of particles contained in solvents and/or mixtures, the filtration and sedimentation, washing of particles or samples attached to supports.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, characterised in that it contains a holder, an insert, a lid, and at least one tool, wherein:
- the holder contains a sample part in the shape of basically a cylinder equipped with a recess for placing of the insert, wherein the lower part of the recess is equipped with at least one opening, and wherein the outer shell of the sample part of the holder is in at least one of its parts equipped with a thread, and wherein the outer shape of the holder in this threaded part is basically a cylinder;
- the insert is comprised of an outer part and an inner part, wherein the outer part of the insert is equipped with an opening for the inner part of the insert, the opening is connecting the opposite bases of the outer part of the insert, the inner part of the insert is equipped with at least one opening connecting its opposite bases, and wherein the outer shape of the outer part of the insert is adjusted to the size and the shape of the recess of the sample part of the holder, and the outer shape of the inner part of the insert is in at least a part of the inner part of the insert adjusted to the opening in the outer part of the insert and, at the same time, it is in at least a part of the inner part of the insert larger than the narrowest site of the opening in the outer part of the insert;
- the lid contains a recess of the shape of basically a cylinder, wherein the inner shell of the recess of the lid is at least in one part equipped with a thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder, and wherein the part of the lid, which is opposite to the part of the lid containing the recess, is equipped with at least one opening, preferably circular; and wherein the part of the lid around the opening(s) in the lid in the area facing the recess of the lid, is in at least some of its parts larger than the ground plan of the outer part of the insert and/or of the tools placed in the device;
- the tool is adjusted in shape and size for insertion into the sample part of the holder, and the tool is selected from the group comprising filters, supports, seals, separation parts, sample carriers or combination thereof.
2. The device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the inner and the outer parts of the insert are assembled non-detachably or detachably.
3. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the holder further contains a collecting part, which has a shape of a hollow cylinder or of two hollow cylinders, one inserted in the other, wherein the hollow cylinder or the inner of the two mutually inserted hollow cylinders has its diameter equal or larger than the diameter of the opening in the base of the sample part of the holder; preferably, the said diameter is equal to the diameter of the opening in the base of the sample part of the holder, wherein the collecting part of the holder is attached to the lower base of the sample part of the holder.
4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the lid has a shape of basically two hollow cylinders of the same height or of different heights, which are inserted one into the other, wherein both hollow cylinders are equipped with one common base containing an opening, preferably a circular opening, preferably situated in the centre of the common base, and wherein the inner shell of the inner hollow cylinder is in at least one its part equipped with a thread compatible with the thread on the outer shell of the sample part of the holder.
5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the outer surface of the lid and/or the outer surface of the holder are roughened.
6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the recess of the sample part of the holder has a shape selected from a group comprising basically a cylinder, basically a prism, preferably a right prism, basically an elliptic cylinder or a shape derived from basically a cylinder with a base in a shape of a circle segment.
7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the inner wall of the sample part of the holder is equipped with at least one groove and/or projection, preferably in the shape of basically a prism or a prism with rounded edges, having its height parallel to the axis of the thread.
8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the groove passes through the entire wall of the sample part of the holder.
9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the external diameter of the inner part of the insert is smaller than the diameter of the opening in the lid, wherein the height of the inner part of the insert passing through the opening in the outer part of the insert is greater than the height of the opening in the outer part of the insert.
10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it contains a holder, where in its sample part, a support with a recess for a sample carrier or a support without any recess is placed, followed by a sample carrier, preferably a glass, above which a filter is placed, pressed towards the holder by the insert positioned above the filter and, eventually, by a seal positioned above it, wherein the neck of the inner part of the insert is passed through the opening in the lid, the lid being screwed together with the holder using the thread.
11. The device according to claim 10, characterised in that it further contains a seal placed between the sample carrier and the filter, or, eventually, the seal followed by a separation part is placed between the sample carrier and the filter, and at the same time, a seal is preferably placed also between the inner and the outer part of the insert.
12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one tool is non-detachably connected to the insert; preferably, the tool is a seal and/or a filter.
13. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one tool is non-detachably connected to the lid; preferably, the tool is a seal and/or a separation part.
14. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer part of the insert and the lid are connected non-detachably.
15. A set for the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, characterised in that it contains the device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers according to any one of the preceding claims, and a vessel, preferably the vessel having the neck in a shape of a hollow cylinder.
16. The set according to claim 15, characterised in that it further contains a stand comprising a base and a pin adjusted for the insertion into the opening in the lower part of the sample part of the holder, eventually through an opening in the collection part of the holder.
17. Use of the device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and/or of the set according to any one of the claims 15 or 16, for filtration of mixtures, sedimentation of particles, washing of particles and samples on carriers, particularly using centrifugal forces during centrifugation and/or suction forces of vacuum pumps.
EP17837846.9A 2016-12-22 2017-12-22 Device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, set for handling them, and the use thereof Active EP3558526B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CZ2016-820A CZ2016820A3 (en) 2016-12-22 2016-12-22 A device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, a kit for handling them, and the use of the device and/or the kit
PCT/CZ2017/050065 WO2018113804A1 (en) 2016-12-22 2017-12-22 Device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, set for handling them, and the use thereof

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3558526A1 true EP3558526A1 (en) 2019-10-30
EP3558526B1 EP3558526B1 (en) 2023-09-20

Family

ID=61131866

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17837846.9A Active EP3558526B1 (en) 2016-12-22 2017-12-22 Device for facilitating the handling of solvents, mixtures and samples on carriers, set for handling them, and the use thereof

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3558526B1 (en)
CZ (1) CZ2016820A3 (en)
WO (1) WO2018113804A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3788483A (en) * 1972-05-26 1974-01-29 W Conway Apparatus for filtration
US4080175A (en) * 1977-04-19 1978-03-21 Beckman Instruments, Inc. Internally activated sealing centrifuge test tube cap assembly
CN2176817Y (en) * 1993-03-14 1994-09-14 安金城 Centrifugal filter
US5833860A (en) * 1995-08-28 1998-11-10 Millipore Investment Holdings Limited Centrifugal adsorptive sample preparation device and method
US7176034B2 (en) * 2002-07-03 2007-02-13 St. Joseph's Healthcare Apparatus and method for filtering biological samples
US7790117B2 (en) * 2008-03-21 2010-09-07 Scientific Plastic Products, Inc. Filter vial
MY149078A (en) * 2009-12-07 2013-07-15 Ratnarajah A L Vemalarajah A specimen collecting and testing apparatus
US9149258B2 (en) * 2011-04-15 2015-10-06 John Wan Collection device with double outputs and method of using the same
US9304070B2 (en) * 2011-07-13 2016-04-05 Emd Millipore Corporation All-in-one sample preparation device and method
US20150076069A1 (en) * 2013-09-13 2015-03-19 Scientific Plastic Products, Inc. Filter vial with limited piston stroke
JP6695285B2 (en) * 2014-06-10 2020-05-20 ディクステリティー ダイアグノスティクス インコーポレイテッド Device and method for collecting and stabilizing biological samples

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3558526B1 (en) 2023-09-20
CZ307454B6 (en) 2018-09-05
WO2018113804A1 (en) 2018-06-28
CZ2016820A3 (en) 2018-09-05

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