JP2006317264A - Specimen collection liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen collection liquid container capable of removing defects such as contamination or an infection risk by virus to an inspector or complicated workability. <P>SOLUTION: This specimen collection liquid container comprises a cylindrical container whose upper end and lower end are opened, a stopper inserted slidably into the cylindrical container, a cap mounted detachably on the upper end of the cylindrical container, and an adapter provided on the lower end of the cylindrical container. The specimen collection liquid container has characteristics wherein a fluid-tight dissolved-liquid chamber is formed in the cylindrical container by the stopper and the cap, and a cylindrical part b of the cylindrical container forming the dissolved-liquid chamber has a little larger sectional area than a cylindrical part c of the cylindrical container with which the outer periphery of the stopper is brought into contact fluid-tightly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a specimen collection liquid container for testing bacteria such as viruses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a specimen collection liquid container having a structure that allows an examiner to prevent the risk of contamination and infection by a virus when preparing a specimen collection liquid to be dropped into a reaction reagent container for detecting viruses such as influenza. .

In recent years, influenza antigen test kits that can be tested at the bedside have been used as one of the tests for virus antigens such as influenza. Furthermore, it has become possible to quickly detect influenza type A and type B using the test kit. Such a test kit generally uses an immunochromatography method, a flow-through method, an EIA method, or the like. In either method, the sample collection liquid prepared from the sample collected from the patient in advance is dropped into a reaction reagent container, for example, a reaction reagent cassette. Specifically, mucus is aspirated from a patient's nasal cavity or pharynx by a suction device or wiped off with a cotton swab, and then dissolved in a dissolution solution to prepare a sample collection solution, which is dropped into a reaction reagent container.
An example of a container for preparing such a sample collection liquid is one in which the cap of a container with a cap previously filled with a solution is replaced with a dropping port cap and dropped (Patent Document 1). For example, a sample processing liquid is first prepared in a squeeze tube, and then a sample is processed by immersing a cotton swab from which the sample has been collected in the sample processing liquid to prepare a sample collecting liquid. Further, the dropping tip (droplet cap) is fitted into the squeeze tube, the squeeze tube is inverted, and the sample is dropped from the dropping tip (droplet cap) to the specimen dropping portion of the reaction reagent container.
JP 2004-109015 A

In the above type of container, the specimen collection liquid container can be used as a dropping container as it is, and a liquid extracted uniformly from the first drop with little variation for each specimen can be dropped onto the reaction reagent. Moreover, if a filter is attached to the dropping tip (droplet cap), clogging will not occur even if highly viscous pus or solids are contained. However, in this case, if the sample collection liquid adheres to the periphery when the drip tip (drip port cap) is attached, or if the drip tip (drip port cap) is small, the inspector will be exposed to the virus. The risk of infection is significantly increased.
In addition, when there is no dedicated cap attached to the dropping port, the sample collection liquid spreads in the disposal container when the container after dropping is discarded, and the risk of infection also increases during the disposal of the waste. Furthermore, a complicated operation is involved, for example, the dropping tips (droplet caps) must be separately prepared in advance for the number of specimens. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sample collection liquid container that eliminates the drawbacks of contamination, risk of infection by an examiner, and complicated workability.

  As a result of various intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors of the present invention have configured a dripping port integrally on the side opposite to the opening into which a collection rod such as a cotton swab is inserted in a cylindrical container, After preparing the above, the inventors have found a specimen collection liquid container that can immediately drop the specimen collection liquid without inverting the cylindrical container, and have reached the present invention.

  That is, the present invention relates to a cylindrical container having an open upper end and a lower end, a stopper that is slidably inserted into the cylindrical container, a cap that is detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container, and the cylinder A sample collection liquid container comprising an adapter provided at the lower end of the cylindrical container, wherein the cylindrical container is liquid-tight by the cylindrical portion a in which the cap can be in close contact with the upper end, and the stopper and the cap. A cylindrical portion b that forms a dissolved liquid chamber, a cylindrical portion c that the outer periphery of the stopper is in close contact with the lower end, and a cylindrical portion d that is in close contact with the adapter, and that forms a dissolved liquid chamber b has a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the cylindrical portion c in which the outer periphery of the stopper is in liquid-tight contact, and the adapter includes a cylindrical portion A having a dripping port at the lower end, and the cylindrical container at the upper end of the cylindrical portion A. On the inner periphery of the lower end of A specimen collection fluid container and having an outer cylindrical portion C in contact with the cylindrical portion B and the lower end outer peripheral inner to.

  The specimen collection liquid container of the present invention is provided in the cylindrical container with an opening for inserting a collection stick such as a cotton swab, and a dripping port is integrally formed on the opposite side to prepare the specimen collection liquid. The sample collection liquid can be dripped immediately without reversing, and when preparing the drop liquid from the sample collection liquid to the reaction reagent container, it is possible for the examiner to prevent the risk of contamination and infection by viruses. is there. Further, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the operation.

  The sample collection liquid container according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sample collection liquid container of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a drawing of a sample from an opening in the sample collection liquid container of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which inserted the cotton swab. 4 moves the cylindrical container of the specimen collection liquid container of FIG. 1 toward the lower end with respect to the adapter, the stopper is pushed up, and the specimen collection liquid passes through the gap between the inner periphery of the cylindrical container and the outer periphery of the stopper. It is the schematic which shows the state dripped from a dripping port through the inner cylinder part of an adapter. FIGS. 5-8 is a figure which shows the other sample collection liquid container of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample collection liquid container 1 of the present invention has a cylindrical shape in order to provide a cylindrical container 2 whose upper and lower ends are open and a liquid-tight solution chamber 7 in the cylindrical container 2. It has a stopper 3 slidably inserted into the container 2 and a cap 4 that is detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container 2 and slides in a liquid-tight manner on the lower end of the cylindrical container 2. It has the adapter 5 attached freely.

The cylindrical container 2 has a cylindrical portion a that allows the cap 4 to come into close contact with the upper end, a cylindrical portion b that forms a liquid-tight solution chamber 7 with the stopper 3 and the cap 4, and the lower end with the cylindrical portion b. The stopper 3 includes a cylindrical portion c in which the outer periphery is in close contact, and a cylindrical portion d in which the adapter 5 is in close contact. The cylindrical portion b forming the dissolution chamber 7 has a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the cylindrical portion c where the outer periphery of the stopper 3 is in liquid-tight contact.
The cylindrical portion a of the cylindrical container 2 preferably has an opening to which the cap 4 can be screwed at the upper end, and the dissolved liquid chamber 7 in which the dissolved liquid exists is preferably a cylindrical portion b forming the same. Is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper 3. The inner wall of the cylindrical portion b of the cylindrical container 2 that forms the dissolution chamber 7 may have a groove portion in the longitudinal direction.

The cylindrical container 2 has a slidable stopper 3 inserted near its lower end, and a cap 4 is detachably attached to the upper end. By attaching the stopper 3 and the cap 4, a solution chamber 7 is formed in the cylindrical container 2. The lysing solution chamber 7 is filled with a solution that dissolves a sample (nasal swab, nasal suction, throat swab, etc.). Usually, the solution is water, and a surfactant is added to enhance the reactivity with the specimen when dropped into the reaction reagent. Further, sodium azide or the like is added as a preservative.
Also, a rib for rubbing the sample collection solution adhering to the cotton swab so as to be easily extracted in the solution so as not to prevent the movement of the stopper 3 on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion b forming the solution chamber 7. 11 is preferably provided.

  In order to discharge the sample collection liquid prepared in the dissolution chamber 7 in the cylindrical container 2, an operation of moving the stopper 3 to the dissolution solution chamber 7 by receiving a force from below is performed. Therefore, the cylindrical container 2 has transparency and flexibility so that the state in the container 2 can be confirmed, and initial discharge does not occur abruptly due to the pressure increase in the solution chamber 7 due to the movement of the stopper 3. As such a material, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin and the like are suitably used.

Since the stopper 3 and the cap 4 are assembled while maintaining the liquid tightness of the solution chamber 7 of the cylindrical container 2, there is no risk of the solution leaking out from the cylindrical container 2. The stopper 3 generally has a shape that does not impair liquid-tightness during manufacturing or long-term storage, and preferably has a cylindrical shape with a small length (dimension). Before the sample is added, the cylindrical container 2 is used. Close to the inner circumference. However, when the stopper 3 slides and moves into the solution chamber 7, a gap is formed between the stopper 3 and the inner wall. This gap may be one or more groove portions arranged in the longitudinal direction (FIGS. 5 to 8) or a spiral groove portion, and may have an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper 3. It may be present (FIGS. 1 to 4).
Examples of the material of the stopper 3 include elastic materials such as n-butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, isobutylene rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomer is usually used.
Further, for the purpose of smooth sliding, the stopper 3 may be provided with an annular rib. Furthermore, a small amount of a lubricant such as silicone oil may be applied or impregnated so that the resistance to sliding does not vary.

  The cap 4 is detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container 2 and is usually screwed together. In order to maintain liquid-tightness, a sleeve that is joined to the inner wall of the open end of the cylindrical container 2 is usually provided.

  In the sample collection liquid container 1, the adapter 5 has a cylindrical part A having a dripping port 8 at the lower end, an inner cylindrical part B in contact with the inner periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical container 2 at the upper end of the cylindrical part A, and the outer periphery of the lower end part. The outer cylinder part C which touches. The inner cylinder B extending upward adjacent to the dripping port 8 has an inner diameter slightly smaller than the inner wall of the cylindrical container 2, and a protrusion 10 may be provided on the outer periphery. The inner diameter of the outer cylinder portion C is larger than the outer wall of the cylindrical container 2 and is in contact with the outer periphery of the cylindrical container 2.

The adapter 5 is a substantially cylindrical member that is liquid-tightly slidably connected to the lower end of the cylindrical container 2 as described above, and the inner cylindrical portion B of the adapter 5 when the cylindrical container 2 is advanced. To push up stopper 3. Further, a dripping port 8 is opened in the cylindrical portion A so as to communicate with the lower end from the inside of the inner cylindrical portion B on a substantially axis. Further, in order to move the cylindrical container 2 in the lower end direction with respect to the adapter 5, the finger hook portion 12 extends in the horizontal direction at the upper end of the outer cylinder portion C. Before preparing the sample collection solution, usually only air is present in the adapter 5.
The adapter 5 may be slidably attached to the cylindrical container 2 while maintaining liquid tightness. Moreover, when attaching the cap 4, the cylindrical container 2 should just follow and rotate, and there should just be resistance which does not disturb operation. As such a material, polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS resin, polystyrene, BS resin, polycarbonate resin or the like is used.

  In the inner cylinder portion B of the adapter 5, a filter 6 is provided above and adjacent to the dripping port 8. The filter 6 has such a diameter that the dripping port 8 is trapped so as not to be clogged when a sample collected from a patient is highly viscous or contains a solid matter. The effective filtration area and the coarseness of the eyes can be freely selected. As such a material, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon resin and the like, as well as inorganic materials and the like are used. Usually, a polyethylene sintered body is used.

  The dripping port 8 is provided with a drip port cap 9 that is detachably attached. The dripping port cap 9 may be detachably attached to the dripping port 8, and polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin or the like is used as a material. Further, it may be formed integrally with the adapter 5. Furthermore, the diameter of the dedicated container stand may be substantially the same as the trunk diameter of the cylindrical container 2 so that a plurality of sample collection liquid containers 1 can be set up on the dedicated container stand.

  When preparing the sample collection liquid, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the cap 4 attached to the cylindrical container 2 is removed to open the upper end opening, and a collection rod such as a cotton swab to which the sample collected from the patient is attached. The specimen is dissolved in the lysate by inserting into the lysing solution chamber 7 of the cylindrical container 2 from the upper end opening and rubbing against the ribs 11 provided inside the cylindrical container 2. Prepare.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap 4 is attached to the upper end opening of the cylindrical container 2 again, the dropping port cap 9 is removed, and the dropping port 8 located on the opposite side of the cylindrical container 2 is set to the reaction reagent container. When the finger is placed on the finger hook 12 of the adapter 5 and the top surface of the cap 4 is pushed, the stopper 3 moves in the upper end direction due to the movement in the lower end direction of the cylindrical container 2. And stored in the solution chamber 7. Between the outer periphery of the stopper 3 accommodated and the inner wall of the lysis solution chamber 7, a gap is provided through which the sample collection solution in the lysis solution chamber 7 can be dropped. Therefore, the sample collection liquid passes through this gap, passes through the inner cylindrical portion B and the cylindrical portion A of the adapter 5, is guided to the outside from the dropping port 8, and can be dropped into the reaction reagent container.

  The sample collection liquid container of the present invention is not limited to virus tests such as influenza virus, but can be used for general biological tests including other pathogens.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state before use of the sample collection liquid container of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow XX in FIG. 1 of the sample collection liquid container of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state at the time of dissolution preparation of the sample collection liquid container of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state at the time of dripping of the sample collection liquid container of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state before use of the other sample collection liquid container of this invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state at the time of dissolution preparation of the other sample collection liquid container of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state at the time of dripping of the other sample collection liquid container of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Specimen collection liquid container 2 Cylindrical container 3 Stopper 4 Cap 5 Adapter 6 Filter 7 Dissolution liquid chamber 8 Drip port 9 Drip port cap 10 Protrusion 11 Rib 12 Finger hook part 13 Groove A Adapter cylindrical part B Adapter inner cylinder part C Outside adapter Cylindrical part a Cylindrical container cylindrical part b Cylindrical container cylindrical part c Cylindrical container cylindrical part d Cylindrical container cylindrical part

Claims (7)

A cylindrical container having an open upper end and a lower end, a stopper slidably inserted into the cylindrical container, a cap detachably attached to the upper end of the cylindrical container, and a lower end of the cylindrical container A specimen collection liquid container comprising
The cylindrical container has a cylindrical portion a in which the cap can be in close contact with an upper end, a cylindrical portion b that forms a liquid-tight solution chamber by the stopper and the cap, and an outer periphery of the stopper at the lower end. A cylindrical portion c that is in close contact with the adapter and a cylindrical portion d that is in close contact with the adapter, and the cylindrical portion b that forms the solution chamber has a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the cylindrical portion c in which the outer periphery of the stopper is in liquid-tight contact Have
The adapter has a cylindrical portion A having a dripping port at the lower end, an inner cylindrical portion B in contact with the inner periphery of the lower end portion of the cylindrical container, and an outer cylindrical portion C in contact with the outer periphery of the lower end portion at the upper end of the cylindrical portion A. A specimen collection liquid container characterized by.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of a cylindrical part b of the cylindrical container forming the dissolution liquid chamber has a groove part in a longitudinal direction.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a finger-hanging portion extends in a horizontal direction at an upper end of the outer cylinder portion C.   The sample collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a filter is provided in the inner cylindrical portion A of the adapter adjacent to the dropping port.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a drip port cap that is detachably attached to the dripping port is provided.   The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a rib is provided on an inner periphery of the cylindrical container.   When the cylindrical container is moved in the lower end direction with respect to the adapter, the cylindrical container accommodates a stopper pushed up by the inner cylindrical portion B provided in the adapter, and forms a solution chamber of the cylindrical container b. A gap is formed between the inner periphery of the stopper and the outer periphery of the stopper, and the solution contained in the solution chamber passes through the gap, passes through the inner cylindrical portion B of the adapter, and is discharged from the dropping port. The specimen collection liquid container according to claim 1.

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