JP2004245667A - Stool sampling tube - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently enlarge an opening area of a stool sampling tube, smoothly and sanitarily conduct work while a stool is sampled and examined and prevent the excess stool from attaching to a stool sampling element when the stool sampling element is pulled out so as to be especially inspected in an inspection organization. <P>SOLUTION: In the stool sampling tube comprising a cylindrical container 10 opening at one end, closing at the other end and accommodating a culture media, a cap 20 detachably mounted to the container opening end 12 and the stool sampling element 30 integrally fixed to the cap, the container opening end is cut off so as to have an arc shape in a side view, and an extending groove 15e is formed, continues to a top of the container opening end and extends to the container closing end 11. An opening width of the extending groove is the same as the maximum diameter of the stool sampling element. It is preferable that a two-dimensional bar code for identifying a specimen accommodated in the stool sampling tube is provided on an outer side face at the top of the cap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stool collection tube used for collecting stool as a specimen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a substantially cylindrical container capable of accommodating a culture medium, a cap removably attached to the open end of the container, a spoon shape integrally fixed to the cap via a rod, etc. Sampling tubes having a stool, dropper type, stick type, etc. are widely marketed and used. Before use, remove the cap with the stool from the container, insert and remove the stool several times into the stool, collect the specimen, and then carry the Blair medium in the container (to grow or kill microorganisms in the stool). (Medium that retains the condition at the time of stool collection) and is shielded from the air, and the container is sealed by closing the cap. The sample housed in the container in this manner is transported to a predetermined inspection organization. The laboratory removes the cap from the container and uses a stool to apply the liquid to the culture medium for the test. Automatic sprayers may be used.
[0003]
According to the structure of the feces collection tube described in Patent Document 1 below, the tip of the container is cut obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that the opening area of the tip of the container increases, and the feces collection body to which the sample is attached. When trying to insert the sample into the container, it is less likely that the sample will accidentally adhere to the opening edge of the container tip or the outer peripheral surface around it, and therefore it is considered to contribute to the miniaturization of the feces collection tube. I have. Also, at the time of inspection at an inspection organization, the cap of this stool collection tube was removed, the stool was held down, and the cap was held in a substantially upright state, and was attached around the rod and inside the cap. The specimen can be easily collected in the container opening having an increased opening area due to the inclined cut.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-48413 discloses a stool container in which a container opening is cut into a substantially semicircular shape to form a half-split shape.
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent No. 3336302 [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
However, in the conventional technique according to Patent Document 1, the front end of the container is cut obliquely over the entire circumference, and thus there is a problem that the effect of enlarging the opening area cannot be so large. If the inclination angle is increased, the opening area increases, but if the inclination angle is increased too much, the tip of the container after cutting becomes thin and sharp, so that sufficient strength cannot be secured, so that it is easy to break when sealing with a cap . For this reason, actually, the inclination angle is limited to about 40 to 45 degrees at most, and the opening area cannot be made sufficiently large.
[0006]
Further, according to the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, the opening area of the container tip is increased, and the non-excised portion left in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape at the half-shaped tip is inserted or pulled out of the stool. It can function as a guide at the time, and has the effect of making it difficult for the sample to adhere to the opening during these operations. At the time of withdrawal, an excessive amount of the sample remains attached to the stool, and after the sample is completely withdrawn from the container, an excess amount of the sample falls from the stool and contaminates the surroundings or lowers the working environment. And other problems.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and makes the opening area of the stool collection tube sufficiently large so that the work at the time of stool collection and inspection can be performed smoothly and hygienically. An object of the present invention is to provide a new structure of a stool collection tube provided with means for preventing an excessive amount of a sample from adhering to a stool at the time of withdrawal for examination.
[0008]
In order to achieve this object, the present invention according to claim 1 has a substantially cylindrical container that is open at one end and closed at the other end and can accommodate a culture medium, and is detachably attached to an opening end of the container. Container having a cap and a toilet body integrally fixed to the cap, the opening end of the container is cut out in a substantially circular arc shape in a side view, and the circular arc shape in a side view. An extended groove portion extending continuously toward the container closed end is formed at the top of the cut open end of the container, and the opening width of the extended groove at the top of the open end of the container is substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the toilet body. A stool tube characterized by having dimensions.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the stool tube of the first aspect, the extension groove portion has a substantially U-shaped or substantially V-shaped.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the stool tube of the first or second aspect, a two-dimensional barcode displaying readable data for identifying a sample contained in the stool tube is provided on the outer surface of the top of the cap. It is characterized by having.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A feces collection tube according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The feces collection tube is detachably attached to a substantially cylindrical container 10 capable of containing a culture medium and an open end of the container 10. And a toilet body 30 integrally fixed to the cap 20.
[0012]
The container 10 is integrally molded from a plastic material such as polypropylene, and has one end 11 closed in a hemispherical shape and the other end 12 opened. The container 10 is composed of three parts in the longitudinal axis direction, with a flange 14 having an outer periphery formed in a substantially hexagonal shape at substantially the center in the longitudinal axis direction, a portion 14 on the closed end 11 side, and an opening. And a portion 15 on the end 12 side.
[0013]
The portion 14 on the closed end 11 side further includes a smooth portion 14a formed so as to present a smooth surface including the closed end 11, and a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of the hexagonal flange portion 13. And a non-slip processed portion 14b formed in an uneven shape over the entire surface.
[0014]
The portion 15 on the side of the opening end 12 is provided with two ridge rings 15a, 15a arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal axis direction, and is larger than the other portions 15b, 15c, 15d. Although it has an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the ridges 15a, 15a is also formed slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the smooth portion 14a.
[0015]
The open end of the container 10 is cut in a substantially arc shape in a side view, and the remaining cylindrical portion forms a portion 15d. Further, an extension groove portion 15e extending over a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction toward the container closing end 11 is formed continuously to the root side (container closing end 11 side) of the non-excised cylindrical portion 15d. The opening width (W) of the extension groove at the top of the container opening end is substantially the same as the maximum diameter (D) of the toilet body 30.
[0016]
The cap 20 is integrally formed from a plastic material such as polypropylene, and has a non-slip processed portion 21 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof in an uneven shape. The cap 20 is generally cylindrical, one end of which is closed by a flat top surface 22 and the other end 23 is open. The inner diameter of the cap open end 23 is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the convex rings 15a, 15a in the portion 15 of the container 10.
[0017]
An elongated rod 24 is coaxially provided on the cap 20. A toilet body 30 is integrally formed at the distal end of the rod body 24, and a fitting structure for the cap is integrally formed at the base end thereof. Since the fitting structure is not directly related to the means of the present invention, details thereof are omitted, but, for example, a rod having a predetermined outer diameter is provided on the distal side of the base end, and is adjacent to the rod. Is formed as having a large-diameter stopper portion, and the rod-shaped portion is inserted and fitted into a cylindrical fitting portion formed inside the crown surface 22 of the cap 20 until the stopper portion abuts. The cap 20 and the rod 24 can be integrated. This method is an example, and the cap 20 and the rod 24 can be integrated by using any method such as bonding, joining, welding, and integral molding.
[0018]
In this embodiment, the stool 30 formed integrally with the tip of the rod body 24 is formed into an arrowhead shape with a rounded tip. However, other types such as a spoon type, a cotton type, a dropper type, and a stick type may be used. Any shape can be employed. In order to be effective in capturing a specimen, the surface of the toilet body 30 may be formed in a rough surface or an uneven shape.
[0019]
The stool collection tube is provided in a state where a predetermined carry-blare medium is contained in the container 10 after being subjected to sterilization treatment by gamma ray irradiation or the like. In use, the rod 20 and the cap 20 integrated with the stool 30 are removed from the container 10, the stool 30 is withdrawn and inserted several times into the stool, and the sample is attached to the stool 30. The container 30 and the rod 24 to which the is attached are accommodated in the container 10, and the container opening end 12 is sealed with the cap 20. As a result, the specimen attached to the stool 30 is buried in the Carrier-Blair medium contained in the container 10 and cut off from the air, so that the microorganisms in the specimen are not proliferated or killed at the time of stool collection. Held in state.
[0020]
As described above, since the container opening end 12 is cut out in a substantially arc shape in a side view and the opening area is greatly increased, the operation of storing the stool 30 to which the sample is attached in the container 10 is performed. It can be done smoothly. That is, the container 10 is held with the opening formed by the substantially arc-shaped resection at the container opening end 12 facing upward in a side view, and the stool 30 with the specimen attached is approached obliquely from above toward the opening, Since the inner surface of the shaped portion 15d can be gradually accommodated in the container by using the inner surface as a guide surface by contacting the inner surface of the shaped portion 15d, an unsanitary situation in which the sample hits the edge of the container opening end 12 and adheres to the container can be caused. Absent. Further, since the container opening end 12 has a gentle edge shape cut into a substantially cylindrical shape in a side view, the toilet body 30 can easily enter the container 10 smoothly, and the mounting operation is extremely easy.
[0021]
Further, when a predetermined testing organization tests the specimen stored in the container 10 and stored in the Carry-Blair medium in this manner, when the cap 20 is pulled out from the container opening end 12, the container opening By treating the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 15 as a receiving tray with the opening of the end 12 formed by the substantially arc-shaped resection in a side view facing upward, the specimen attached to the toilet body 30 is removed from the container. Dropping can be prevented.
[0022]
Further, an extension groove 15 e is formed continuously with the opening cut in a substantially arc shape at the container opening end 12, and the opening width (W) is set to be substantially the same as the maximum diameter (D) of the toilet body 30. Therefore, when the cap 20 is pulled out from the container opening end 12, the excess amount of the sample attached to the toilet body 30 is squeezed out by passing the toilet body 30 through the extension groove 15e, and the appropriate amount of the sample is always attached. As a state, the toilet body 30 can be subjected to inspection.
[0023]
In the illustrated embodiment, the extension groove portion 15e is formed in a substantially U-shape. However, the extension groove portion 15e may be formed in a substantially V-shape. In this case, the operation and effect are substantially similar to those described above. When the extension groove portion 15e is substantially V-shaped, the maximum opening dimension (the opening dimension facing the opening cut in a substantially arc shape) is substantially the same as the maximum diameter (D) of the toilet body 30.
[0024]
Alternatively, the opening size of the extension groove portion 15e may be gradually or intermittently reduced toward the container closing end 11 by setting the opening size (Wmax) facing the opening cut into a substantially arc shape to be maximum (substantially V-shaped). May be included). In this case, a portion having an opening width that is substantially the same as the maximum diameter (D) of the toilet body 30 is provided in the middle of the extension direction (longitudinal axis direction) of the extension groove portion 15e. At the time of pulling out from the container opening end 12, one end is stopped at a portion of the extension groove portion 15 e having an opening width larger than the maximum diameter of the toilet body 30, and then the toilet body 30 is moved toward the container closing end 11. By applying the sample to the portion corresponding to the maximum diameter and pulling it out from the extension groove portion 15e at this position, the toilet body 30 can be subjected to the test in a state in which an appropriate amount of the sample is always attached, as described above.
[0025]
Although not shown, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a two-dimensional barcode displaying readable data for identifying a sample contained in the stool tube is provided on the outer surface of the crown 22 of the cap 20. Provided. By storing information in the horizontal and vertical directions, two-dimensional barcodes can store tens to hundreds of times the amount of information used in conventional one-dimensional barcodes. It can be installed in any direction, can be read from any direction of 360 degrees, and has a small erroneous reading rate due to dirt or loss.
[0026]
When a barcode is attached to the stool collection tube, it can be read by a laboratory, and the same barcode can be attached to a petri dish to prevent misidentification between the sample and the patient. Can only be wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the stool, and it cannot be read accurately even if it is wrapped and pasted on a container of a feces collection tube with an outer diameter of about 10 mm, and erroneous reading due to dirt and defects frequently occurs, if it is practical Did not.
[0027]
However, by using a two-dimensional bar code, it is possible to attach the small fecal collection tube to the outer surface of the cap top portion 22. Can be restored and identified. By attaching a two-dimensional barcode printed with readable data identifying the sample contained in the stool collection tube to the outer surface of the cap crown 22, the sample This can prevent misidentification of the patient.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the open end of the container is cut off in a substantially arcuate shape in side view, the opening area of the container is greatly increased, and when it is desired to store the stool to which the specimen is attached in the container, The container is held with the opening formed by the substantially circular excision in a side view facing upward, and the stool to which the specimen is attached is approached obliquely from above toward this opening, and the cylindrical portion left at the opening end of the container Since the inner surface can be gradually accommodated in the container by using the inner surface as a guide surface, an unsanitary situation in which the sample hits and adheres to the edge of the opening end of the container does not occur.
[0029]
Further, since the open end of the container has a gentle edge shape cut into a substantially cylindrical shape in a side view, the toilet body can easily enter the container smoothly, and the mounting operation is extremely easy.
[0030]
Further, when a predetermined laboratory tests a specimen stored in the container in this manner and stored in the Carrier-Blair medium in the container, when the cap is pulled out from the container open end, the side surface at the container open end is also examined. Prevents the sample adhering to the stool from dropping out of the container by handling the inner surface of the cylindrical part like a receiving tray with the opening by the substantially circular arc resection facing upwards can do.
[0031]
Further, an extension groove portion is formed continuously to the opening cut in a substantially arc shape at the container opening end, and the opening width thereof is substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the feces body, so that the cap is moved from the container opening end. By passing the stool to the extension groove when the stool is pulled out, an excess amount of the sample attached to the stool can be squeezed out, and the stool can be subjected to an inspection in a state where an appropriate amount of the sample is always attached.
[0032]
Further, a two-dimensional barcode displaying readable data for specifying the sample contained in the feces collection tube can be provided on the outer surface of the top of the cap, which is useful for preventing misidentification between the sample and the patient.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a feces collection tube according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a tip end of a cap in the stool collection tube.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a container opening end of the stool collection tube.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container 12 Open end 15d Non-removed cylindrical part 15e Extension groove part 20 Cap 24 Rod body 30 Feces body

Claims (3)

A substantially cylindrical container that is open at one end and closed at the other end and can accommodate a culture medium, a cap that is detachably attached to the container open end, and a stool that is integrally fixed to the cap The container opening end is cut in a substantially arc shape in a side view, and the container closing end is continuous with the top of the container opening end cut in a substantially arc shape in a side view. And an opening width at the top of the container opening end of the extension groove is substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the toilet body. 2. The feces collection tube according to claim 1, wherein the extension groove has a substantially U shape or a substantially V shape. The two-dimensional barcode displaying readable data for specifying a sample contained in the stool collection tube is provided on the outer surface of the top of the head of the cap, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Stool collection tube.

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