GB2158093A - Device for sampling and transporting microorganisms - Google Patents

Abstract

The vessel has a tube (7) which is closed at both ends so as to be gas-tight by means of screwed-in closing pieces (1,10). The tube (7) contains a gas cartridge (6) and an insert tube (8) containing a preparation carrier (17). A pin (5) arranged on the screwed-in end of one closing piece (1) engages into the valve orifice of the gas cartridge (6). The dimensions of the tube (7) are such that, when the other closing piece (10) is screwed in, the gas cartridge (6) filled with a protective gas is pushed against the pin (5), as a result of which the valve is opened. The outflowing gas displaces the air which is located in the vessel and which passes into the ambient atmosphere through a non-return valve (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vessel for dispatching a preparation under anaerobic conditions The invention relates to a vessel for dispatching a preparation under anaerobic conditions.

Preparations containing anaerobic bacteria often have to be transported from the place of origin to a research laboratory, which may take a long time.

At the laboratory, the vessels are opened and the preparations are fed via chamber locks into an anaerobic incubator. So that the bacteria do not come into contact with oxygen during transport, the vessels are filled with a gel in which the preparations are immersed. It has been shown that, because of contact with the gel, the preparations transported in this way grow more slowly in the incubator under comparatively poorer conditions, or highly sensitive anaerobic bacteria do not grow any further at all, with the result that the investigations extend over a correspondingly long period of time.

The object on which the invention is based is to provide a vessel of the type mentioned in the introduction, which avoids this disadvantage. The vessel should be simple to handle and economical to produce.

The object is achieved by means of a vessel having the features of the characterising clause of the independent Patent Claim 1. Further advantageous designs emerge from the dependent claims.

The further advantage of the vessel according to the invention is that it can be made so small that it can be put into conventional letter-box for dispatch purposes. The vessel can be re-used to a substantially unlimited extent, only the gas cartridge having to be refilled.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the single drawing.

The vessel illustrated in longitudinal section has a tube 7 which is closed at both ends so as to be gas-tight by means of screwed-in closing pieces 1 and 10. The vessel 7 contains an insert tube 8 for a preparation carrier 17 and a gas cartridge 6 resting against the insert tube. A pin 5 engaging into the valve orifice of the gas cartridge 6 is located on the screwed-in end of one closing piece 1. The opposite closing piece 10 has a through-orifice 15 with a non-return valve 11. The closing piece 10 prefera bly contains a palladium catalyst 12 known per se, which removes residual oxygen.

The vessel is used in the following way: The closing piece 1 with the thread 3 and the sealing ring 2 is screwed into the empty tube 7.

The gas cartridge 6 is introduced into the tube 7 through the free tube orifice and is dropped in until it comes to rest on a spring 4 projecting beyond the pin 5. The insert tube 8 containing the preparation carrier 17 placed in it is subsequently introduced. The other closing piece 10 is now screwed into the thread 14. After a few turns, the sealing ring 13 rests against the tube 7 and seals the interior off from the outside. As a result of further rotation, the insert tube 8 and the gas cartridge 6 resting on it are pushed against the pin 5, so that the valve of the gas cartridge 6 is opened and the gas flows out under pressure. The outflowing gas displaces the air which is located in the tube interior and which passes into the ambient atmosphere through the orifice 15 with gas flowing after it.So that the interior of the insert tube 8 is also scavenged, transverse bores 9 are provided for the gas to flow through. If residual oxygen still remains in the tube 7, this is removed by means of the catalyst 12 located behind a screen 16. After the gas has escaped, the non-return valve 11 closes the orifice 15, so that no air can penetrate into the vessel from outside. Air is also prevented from penetrating because of the slight excess pressure in the vessel interior. The gas used can consist, for example, of a mixture of 80- nitrogen, 10- carbon dioxide and 10- hydrogen. The vessel can in the main be made of light metal.

1. Vessel for dispatching a preparation under anaerobic conditions, characterised in that a cartridge (6) containing a suitable gas and an insert tube (8) for a preparation carrier (17) are arranged in a tube (7) which can be closed so as to be gastight, and in that a closing piece (10) is screwed on which, when screwed in, opens the gas cartridge (6), the outflowing gas scavenging the inside of the tube (7).

2. Vessel according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cartridge (6) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and in that the closing piece (10), when screwed in, pushes the cartridge (6) against a body (5) which opens the valve.

3. Vessel according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the closing piece (10) has a throughorifice (15) with a non-return valve (11).

4. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a second closing piece (1) is screwed into the tube (7), and in that the body (5) is attached to the screwed-in end of this closing piece.

5. Vessel according to Claim 3, characterised in that the closing piece (10) has a sealing ring (13) which is arranged in such a way that the tube (7) is sealed of before the gas cartridge (6) is opened.

6. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a means (12) for removing oxygen residues is arranged in the closing piece (10).

7. Vessel according to Claim 6, characterised in that the means (12) is a palladium catalyst.

8. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the gas in the gas cartridge consists of approximately 80- nitrogen, 10- hydrogen and 10- carbon doixide.

9. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the insert tube (8) is arranged between the gas cartridge (6) and the closing piece (10).

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vessel for dispatching a preparation under anaerobic conditions The invention relates to a vessel for dispatching a preparation under anaerobic conditions. Preparations containing anaerobic bacteria often have to be transported from the place of origin to a research laboratory, which may take a long time. At the laboratory, the vessels are opened and the preparations are fed via chamber locks into an anaerobic incubator. So that the bacteria do not come into contact with oxygen during transport, the vessels are filled with a gel in which the preparations are immersed. It has been shown that, because of contact with the gel, the preparations transported in this way grow more slowly in the incubator under comparatively poorer conditions, or highly sensitive anaerobic bacteria do not grow any further at all, with the result that the investigations extend over a correspondingly long period of time. The object on which the invention is based is to provide a vessel of the type mentioned in the introduction, which avoids this disadvantage. The vessel should be simple to handle and economical to produce. The object is achieved by means of a vessel having the features of the characterising clause of the independent Patent Claim 1. Further advantageous designs emerge from the dependent claims. The further advantage of the vessel according to the invention is that it can be made so small that it can be put into conventional letter-box for dispatch purposes. The vessel can be re-used to a substantially unlimited extent, only the gas cartridge having to be refilled. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the single drawing. The vessel illustrated in longitudinal section has a tube 7 which is closed at both ends so as to be gas-tight by means of screwed-in closing pieces 1 and 10. The vessel 7 contains an insert tube 8 for a preparation carrier 17 and a gas cartridge 6 resting against the insert tube. A pin 5 engaging into the valve orifice of the gas cartridge 6 is located on the screwed-in end of one closing piece 1. The opposite closing piece 10 has a through-orifice 15 with a non-return valve 11. The closing piece 10 prefera bly contains a palladium catalyst 12 known per se, which removes residual oxygen. The vessel is used in the following way: The closing piece 1 with the thread 3 and the sealing ring 2 is screwed into the empty tube 7. The gas cartridge 6 is introduced into the tube 7 through the free tube orifice and is dropped in until it comes to rest on a spring 4 projecting beyond the pin 5. The insert tube 8 containing the preparation carrier 17 placed in it is subsequently introduced. The other closing piece 10 is now screwed into the thread 14. After a few turns, the sealing ring 13 rests against the tube 7 and seals the interior off from the outside. As a result of further rotation, the insert tube 8 and the gas cartridge 6 resting on it are pushed against the pin 5, so that the valve of the gas cartridge 6 is opened and the gas flows out under pressure. The outflowing gas displaces the air which is located in the tube interior and which passes into the ambient atmosphere through the orifice 15 with gas flowing after it.So that the interior of the insert tube 8 is also scavenged, transverse bores 9 are provided for the gas to flow through. If residual oxygen still remains in the tube 7, this is removed by means of the catalyst 12 located behind a screen 16. After the gas has escaped, the non-return valve 11 closes the orifice 15, so that no air can penetrate into the vessel from outside. Air is also prevented from penetrating because of the slight excess pressure in the vessel interior. The gas used can consist, for example, of a mixture of 80- nitrogen, 10- carbon dioxide and 10- hydrogen. The vessel can in the main be made of light metal. CLAIMS

1. Vessel for dispatching a preparation under anaerobic conditions, characterised in that a cartridge (6) containing a suitable gas and an insert tube (8) for a preparation carrier (17) are arranged in a tube (7) which can be closed so as to be gastight, and in that a closing piece (10) is screwed on which, when screwed in, opens the gas cartridge (6), the outflowing gas scavenging the inside of the tube (7).

2. Vessel according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cartridge (6) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and in that the closing piece (10), when screwed in, pushes the cartridge (6) against a body (5) which opens the valve.

3. Vessel according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the closing piece (10) has a throughorifice (15) with a non-return valve (11).

4. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a second closing piece (1) is screwed into the tube (7), and in that the body (5) is attached to the screwed-in end of this closing piece.

5. Vessel according to Claim 3, characterised in that the closing piece (10) has a sealing ring (13) which is arranged in such a way that the tube (7) is sealed of before the gas cartridge (6) is opened.

6. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a means (12) for removing oxygen residues is arranged in the closing piece (10).

7. Vessel according to Claim 6, characterised in that the means (12) is a palladium catalyst.

8. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the gas in the gas cartridge consists of approximately 80- nitrogen, 10- hydrogen and 10- carbon doixide.

9. Vessel according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the insert tube (8) is arranged between the gas cartridge (6) and the closing piece (10).