JP2007043916A - Tool and method for collecting microorganism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for collecting microorganisms, by which procedures from secure collection of microorganisms living on the surface of a collection part without damage of a collection part especially even on a dried surface to feed of microorganisms in a suspension state to an inspection device are safely and easily carried out by a single tool. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for collecting microorganisms is equipped with a head part 2 furnished with a microorganism collection part 5, a liquid retention part 8 furnished with compression parts 9 and 10 and an arm part 3 for connecting the head part 2 to the liquid retention part 8. The microorganism collection part 5 is connected to the liquid retention part 8 by a collection part connection route 12 formed in the inside of the arm part. The microorganism collection part 5 is equipped with a microorganism collection face 6 to be pressed against the surface of a microorganism collection object. A liquid in the liquid retention part 8 is moved from the collection part connection route 12 through an opening part 14 arranged on the microorganism collection part 5 to the microorganism collecting face 6 by pressure application to the compression parts 9 and 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microorganism collection tool and a microorganism collection method, and more particularly to a microorganism collection tool and a microorganism collection method for collecting microorganisms attached to various surfaces and preparing a microorganism suspension.

  Conventionally, the surface of living tissues such as skins, teeth, mucous membranes, kitchens, baths, floors, walls, or surfaces of living things such as dentures, diapers, clothes, water pipes, toilets and toilet seats. As a technique for collecting microorganisms that inhabit hard surfaces in the living environment such as surfaces such as surfaces, filter surfaces, washing machines, refrigerators, and other electrical equipment, a quantitative movement occurs on the surface where microorganisms are collected. A microorganism collection apparatus that collects the microorganisms has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

Further, when the collected microorganisms are inspected using a device such as a turbidimetric method or flow cytometry, it is necessary to prepare a sample solution in which the microorganisms are suspended in some liquid. Conventionally, in order to prepare a sample solution, an environmental microorganism inspection wiper composed of a microorganism wiper and a main body container holding a diluting liquid is used. A technique has been proposed in which, after a suspension is created, the created suspension is taken out as a test sample from a main body container (Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-334059 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-229871

  However, the conditions of various surfaces on which microorganisms are to be collected vary, and in particular when collecting microorganisms from a dry surface (surface to be collected), the recovery rate of microorganisms is low if the surface from which microorganisms are collected is also dry. As a result, the accuracy of microbiological tests performed after collection is reduced. Furthermore, in the microorganism collection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the collected surface may be damaged if the dried collection surface is moved or rubbed many times.

  Moreover, in the wiping device for testing environmental microorganisms disclosed in Patent Document 2, the procedure for temporarily returning the wiping device to the main body container is complicated, and there is a problem that the tester may touch the part where the microorganisms are collected. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems.In particular, the microorganisms that live on the surface of the collection site can be reliably collected without damaging the collection site even on a dry surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microorganism collection tool and a method for collecting microorganisms that can be safely and easily carried out with a single tool until the procedure until the microorganism suspension is introduced into the inspection apparatus.

  A microorganism collecting tool according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a microorganism collecting tool for collecting microorganisms, comprising: a head portion having a microorganism collecting portion; a liquid holding portion having a compression portion; It consists of an arm part that joins the head part and the liquid holding part, and the microorganism collecting part and the liquid holding part are communicated by a collecting part communication path formed inside the arm part. A microorganism collection surface that is pressed against the surface of the object is provided, and the liquid in the liquid holding unit is applied to the microorganism collection surface through an opening provided in the microorganism collection unit from the collection unit communication path by pressurization to the compression unit. It is possible to move.

  In this microorganism collection tool, when the first compression section is pressurized, the liquid in the liquid holding section is collected from the collection section communication path through the opening provided in the microorganism collection section by pressurization to the compression section. Move to the surface and wet the microorganism collection surface. As a result, microorganisms that inhabit the dry surface are lifted, and it is possible to collect the microorganisms reliably and safely without damaging the collection site.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the compression unit includes a first compression unit and a second compression unit which are connected to each other.

  In this microorganism collection tool, since the microorganisms retained on the microorganism collection surface can be peeled off at the same time by pressurizing the second compression part after collecting the microorganisms, a microorganism suspension can be created. A microorganism suspension can be created without touching the collected surface of the collected microorganism with an easy operation.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the liquid holding part is provided with a liquid injection hole for injecting a liquid.

  In this microorganism collection tool, since any liquid suitable for collection can be injected immediately before collecting the microorganism, the liquid is not spoiled during the storage period of the tool, and the microorganism can be collected hygienically.

  The present invention is characterized in that the liquid holding portion further includes a liquid discharge hole for discharging the liquid.

  In this microorganism collection tool, the liquid remaining in the liquid holding part after the end of use can be discarded from the liquid discharge hole, and the tool can always be stored in a sanitary state.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the microorganism collecting surface is made of a filter material having a pore diameter of 0.05 to 1 μm.

  In this microorganism collection tool, microorganisms larger than the effective diameter of the filter can be reliably held on the microorganism collection surface when collecting microorganisms.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a method for collecting microorganisms using a microorganism collection tool, wherein the microorganism collection surface is wetted by pressurizing the compression section, and then the microorganism collection surface is applied to the surface of a microorganism inspection target. It is characterized in that the microorganism is adhered to the microorganism collecting surface by contact.

  In this method of collecting microorganisms, microorganisms that adhere firmly to the surface of the microorganism to be examined are lifted from the surface by the liquid contained in the microorganism collection surface, and microorganisms that inhabit the dry surface can be collected reliably, and the surface of the collection site can be collected. Microorganisms can be collected safely without damaging them.

  The present invention is also a method for collecting microorganisms using the microorganism collecting tool according to claim 2, wherein the microorganism collecting surface is wetted by pressurizing the first compression section, and then the microorganisms are collected. The surface to be collected is brought into contact with the surface of the microorganism to be inspected to attach microorganisms to the surface of the microorganism to be collected, and the second compression part is pressurized to release the microorganisms adhering to the surface of the microorganism to be removed, and at the same time the microorganism suspension is removed. It is characterized by discharging.

  In this method of collecting microorganisms, microorganisms that adhere firmly to the surface of the microorganism to be examined are lifted from the surface by the liquid contained in the microorganism collection surface, and microorganisms that inhabit the dry surface can be collected reliably, and the surface of the collection site can be collected. Microorganisms can be collected safely without damaging them. In addition to this, by pressurizing the second compression part, the liquid in the liquid holding part is released from the microorganism collecting surface, and the microorganisms held on the microorganism collecting surface are released together with the liquid. A microbial suspension can be prepared.

  According to the microorganism collection tool according to the present invention, the head includes a head including a microorganism collection unit, a liquid holding unit including a compression unit, and an arm unit that joins the head unit and the liquid holding unit. The microorganism collection section and the liquid holding section are connected by the formed collection section communication path, and the microorganism collection section is provided with a microorganism collection surface that presses against the surface of the microorganism collection target, and the liquid in the liquid holding section is added to the compression section. The pressure can be moved from the collecting part communication path to the microorganism collecting surface through the opening provided in the microorganism collecting part by pressure, so that the liquid in the liquid holding part is moved by pressurizing the first compressing part. Wet the sampling surface, and even if it is a dry surface, the microorganisms that live on the surface of the sampling site can be reliably sampled without damaging the sampling site. single Ingredients safe, and can be easily performed.

  According to the microorganism collection method according to the present invention, by pressurizing the compression unit, the liquid in the liquid holding unit is moved to wet the microorganism collection surface, the microorganism collection surface is wetted, and then the microorganism collection surface is inspected for microorganisms. Since the microorganisms adhere to the surface of the microorganism collection by contacting with the surface of the target, the microorganisms firmly attached to the surface of the microorganism inspection surface can be lifted from the surface by the liquid contained in the microorganism collection surface, especially dry Even if it is on the surface, the microorganisms that live on the surface of the collection site can be reliably collected without damaging the collection site, and the procedure until it is introduced into the inspection device in the form of a microorganism suspension is safe and easy with a single tool. Can be done.

Preferred embodiments of a microorganism collection tool and a microorganism collection method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a microorganism collection tool viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the microorganism collection tool viewed from the side.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a microorganism collection tool of the present invention, 2 denotes a head part for holding a microorganism collection part 5 for collecting microorganisms by pressing against the surface of the collection object, and 3 denotes a head part 2 and a collection tool. An arm portion for connecting a handle portion 4 held by hand when using a microbe, 6 is a microbe collection surface that holds microorganisms in direct contact with the surface to be collected when the microbe collection portion 5 is pressed against the surface to be collected , 7 is a collecting surface holding unit for holding the microorganism collecting surface 6 on the head unit 2, and 8 is a liquid collecting device for moistening the microorganism collecting unit 5 and separating and suspending the microorganisms collected in the microorganism collecting unit 5. The liquid holding part 9 is configured inside the handle part 4, 9 is a first compressing part that holds a volume of liquid required to make the microorganism collecting surface 6 wet, and 10 is a part after collecting microorganisms from the surface to be collected. Removes microorganisms from the microorganism collection surface 6 And a second compression unit 11 that holds the volume of liquid required for suspension, 11 is a liquid holding unit communication path that connects the first compression unit 9 and the second compression unit 10 constituting the liquid holding unit 8, Reference numeral 12 denotes a collecting part communication path for transporting the liquid held in the liquid holding part 8 to the microorganism collecting part 5, reference numeral 14 denotes a plurality of openings provided in the collecting surface holding part 7, and reference numeral 15 denotes a part of the liquid holding part 8. Reference numeral 16 denotes a liquid injection hole provided in the liquid holding portion 8.

  The microorganism collection tool 1 according to the present embodiment has a so-called toothbrush-like form, and the head portion 2, the arm portion 3, and the handle portion 4 are integrally formed by bonding together a soft plastic material formed by a vacuum method or the like. .

The interiors of the head part 2, the arm part 3 and the handle part 4 each form a space having a shape that characterizes the present invention. Inside the handle part 4, the first compression part 9 and the second compression part 10 are formed. The liquid holding part 8 is formed by being connected via the liquid holding part communication path 11.
In the present embodiment, the first compression section 9 and the second compression section 10 have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, but are not limited to this shape. Further, since the first compression portion 9 and the second compression portion 10 need to be formed of a material and a thickness that can be easily crushed by a finger, the head portion 2, the arm portion 3, and the handle portion 4 are formed. In this embodiment, a soft polyvinyl chloride resin having a thickness of 0.5 mm is used as a material for the integral member.

Further, the liquid holding portion 8 is provided with a liquid injection hole 15 and a liquid discharge hole 16 that open to the wall surface, and each is sealed with a detachable stopper.
In the present embodiment, the liquid discharge hole 16 is arranged in the first compression section 9 and the liquid injection hole 15 is arranged in the second compression section 10, but the present invention is not limited to this position. For the hole diameter and the like, a position and size suitable for liquid injection and discharge are selected.

The inside of the 1st compression part 9 is formed so that it may become a volume sufficient to fill the collection part communication path 12 and the opening part 14, and to wet the microorganisms collection surface 6, and the inside of the 2nd compression part 10 is microorganisms. It is formed so as to ensure the volume of suspension necessary for inspection.
In this embodiment, the volume of the first compression section 9 is 1 ml, and the volume of the second compression section 10 is 5 ml. Since these volumes are determined by the shape of the arm part 3 and the microorganism collecting part 7, the material of the microorganism collecting surface 6, the volume of the suspension necessary for the microorganism inspection, etc., the volume is adjusted to an appropriate size according to each condition. It is desirable.

A sampling portion communication path 12 is formed in the inside of the arm portion 3 in a thin tubular shape. The head portion 2 is positioned in a cylindrical shape at the tip portion of the arm portion 3, and a microorganism collection surface 6 is attached to the surface of the collection surface holding portion 7.
Since the collection surface holding unit 7 is provided with a plurality of openings 14 for sending liquid from the collection unit communication path 12 toward the microorganism collection surface 6, the microorganism collection surface 6 is attached to the collection surface holding unit 7. The attachment is performed, for example, by applying an adhesive on the circumference of the microorganism collection surface 6 so as to avoid the opening 14. The sampling part communication path 12 immediately below the sampling surface holding part 7 has a cylindrical shape in accordance with the shape of the sampling surface holding part 7.

  The liquid injected into the liquid holding unit 7 can wet the microorganism collecting unit 6, is not toxic to the living body, and can be a suspending solvent suitable for microbial testing, such as purified water, phosphate buffer solution, etc. Anything is applicable, but in this embodiment, sterilized physiological saline is used.

In the present embodiment, the microorganism collection surface 6 uses a membrane filter having a diameter of 15 mm and a pore diameter of 0.05 to 1 μm. The shape and size of the filter are not limited and may be changed depending on the size of the surface to be collected. However, since the pore diameter of the filter needs to be smaller than the microorganism to be collected, it is set to 1 μm or less.
The lower limit of the pore diameter of the filter is set to 0.05 μm. If the filter diameter is further reduced, the cost becomes high, and the first required for discharging the liquid to the outside of the microorganism collecting tool 1 through the opening 14 is provided. This is to prevent the pressure applied to the compression unit 9 and the second compression unit 10 from becoming too large.

  Hereinafter, a series of flow from collection of microorganisms to preparation of suspension for microorganism inspection when the surface to be collected is the mucous membrane in the oral cavity will be described.

  First, the examiner injects physiological saline from the liquid injection hole 15 in an amount necessary for collecting and suspending microorganisms. Here, 1 ml for wetting the microorganism collection surface 6 and 6 ml of physiological saline combined with 5 ml necessary for preparing the microorganism suspension are injected, and the liquid injection hole 15 is sealed with a stopper. The liquid discharge hole 16 is sealed with a stopper in advance.

  Next, the tester holds the handle portion 4 of the microorganism collection tool 1 in his hand and pressurizes the first compression portion 9 with his / her finger. Since the liquid holding unit 8 is filled with physiological saline, the internal pressure in the liquid holding unit 8 rises, and the physiological saline held in the liquid holding unit 8, that is, the first compression unit 9. A volume (1 ml) of physiological saline corresponding to the volume reaches the opening 14 and further to the microorganism collection surface 6 through the collection unit communication path 12 to make the microorganism collection surface 6 wet.

  Next, the tester inserts the head unit 2 into the oral cavity of the test subject while holding the handle unit 4 to an arbitrary position, and presses the microorganism collection surface 6 against the surface to be collected. The arbitrary position varies depending on the purpose of microbiological examination, but it is the tongue surface, buccal mucosa, pharynx, and the like. At this time, the microorganism collection surface 6 may be left on the mucous membrane for a certain period of time or may be subjected to a certain movement. In any case, the surface to be collected is partitioned by the region of the microorganism collecting surface 6 and is normalized by a predetermined area. This is important for the quantification of microbial tests.

  Since the microorganism collection surface 6 pressed against the surface to be collected is in a wet state, even if the mucous membrane on the surface to be collected is dry, the microorganisms firmly attached to the mucosa side are not damaged. It can be lifted from the mucous membrane by the contained moisture, and can be reliably collected on the surface of the microorganism collection surface 6.

When the collection of the microorganisms from the surface to be collected is completed, the inspecting person takes out the head part 2 from the oral cavity of the person to be inspected, and moves to preparation of a suspension for inspecting the microorganisms. The examiner presses the second compression unit 10 with a finger with the head unit 2 facing down.
As the pressure is increased, the physiological saline in the liquid holding unit 8 is discharged from the microorganism collection surface 6 toward the outside of the microorganism collection tool 1 through the collection unit communication path 12 and the opening 14. At this time, the microorganisms held on the microorganism collecting surface 6 are mixed with the physiological saline while being released to the outside of the microorganism collecting tool 1 together with the physiological saline to form a microorganism suspension.
Of course, it is possible to pour the released suspension into a general test tube or the like for primary storage, but it is desirable to directly put it into a measurement cell of a microbiological testing device. By doing so, the inspection operator can reduce the possibility of contamination in the microorganism inspection without touching the microorganism collection surface 6 and can immediately start the microorganism inspection.

If the physiological saline remains in the liquid holding part 8 after the preparation of the microorganism suspension is completed, all the physiological saline remaining from the liquid discharge hole 16 is discharged.
By doing so, the preparation for the next collection of microorganisms is completed.

In the above, a series of operations from the collection of microorganisms to suspension when the surface to be collected is the oral mucosa was explained, but the surface to be collected is not limited to the oral mucosa, and microorganisms are collected and inspected. All necessary surfaces, that is, biological tissue surfaces such as skin, teeth, mucous membranes other than the oral cavity, surfaces of living things such as kitchens, baths, floors, walls, or dentures, diapers, clothing, and water pipes Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to hard surfaces in the living environment such as surfaces of water facilities such as toilets and toilet seats, surfaces such as filter surfaces, and surfaces of electric appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators.
In addition, the present invention can be applied even when the surface to be collected is wet, but the effect of the present invention appears remarkably when the surface to be collected is in a dry state.

  As described above, according to the microorganism collection tool 1 and the microorganism collection method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first compressing unit 9 is pressurized to move the physiological saline in the liquid holding unit 8 to collect the microorganism. The surface 6 is moistened, and the microorganisms that live on the surface of the collection site can be reliably collected without damaging the collection site even on a dry surface. It can be done safely and easily with a single tool.

  As described above, according to the microorganism collection tool and the microorganism collection method of the present invention, the microorganisms that inhabit the collection site surface can be reliably collected without damaging the collection site even on a dry surface, and the inspection apparatus Microorganism collection tools and microorganism collection for all microbiological testing equipment that require suspension, with the effect that the procedure up to the introduction of the microorganism suspension into the state can be safely and easily performed with a single tool. It can be used as a method.

It is the schematic which looked at the microorganisms collection tool from the front. It is sectional drawing which looked at the microorganisms collection tool from the side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microorganism collection tool 2 Head part 3 Arm part 4 Handle part 5 Microorganism collection part 6 Microorganism collection surface 7 Collection surface holding part 8 Liquid holding part 9 First compression part 10 Second compression part 11 Liquid holding part communication path 12 Collection Part communication path 14 opening 15 liquid injection hole 16 liquid discharge hole

Claims (7)

A microorganism collection tool for collecting microorganisms, comprising a head portion provided with a microorganism collection portion, a liquid holding portion provided with a compression portion, and an arm portion that joins the head portion and the liquid holding portion,
The microorganism collection unit and the liquid holding unit are communicated by the collection unit communication path formed inside the arm unit,
The microorganism collection unit includes a microorganism collection surface that is pressed against the surface of a microorganism collection object,
The microorganism collection tool, wherein the liquid in the liquid holding unit can be moved from the collection unit communication path to the microorganism collection surface through an opening provided in the microorganism collection unit by pressurizing the compression unit.   The microorganism collecting tool according to claim 1, wherein the compression unit includes a first compression unit and a second compression unit that are connected to each other.   The microorganism collecting tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid holding part is provided with a liquid injection hole for injecting a liquid.   The microorganism collection tool according to claim 3, wherein the liquid holding part further includes a liquid discharge hole for discharging the liquid.   The microorganism collection tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the microorganism collection surface is made of a filter material having a pore diameter of 0.05 to 1 µm. A method for collecting microorganisms using the microorganism collection tool according to claim 1,
After wetting the microorganism collection surface by pressurizing the compression unit,
A method for collecting microorganisms, wherein the microorganism collection surface is brought into contact with a surface of a microorganism inspection target to attach microorganisms to the microorganism collection surface. A method for collecting microorganisms using the microorganism collection tool according to claim 2,
After wetting the microorganism collection surface by pressurizing the first compression part,
Bringing the microorganism collection surface into contact with the surface of a microorganism test target to attach microorganisms to the microorganism collection surface;
A method for collecting microorganisms, wherein the microorganisms adhering to the microorganism collection surface are peeled off by pressurizing the second compression part and simultaneously the microorganism suspension is discharged.

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