JP3234371U - Saliva collection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily carry out self-collection of saliva by a subject with a simple configuration, prevent contamination of the surroundings by saliva and generation of infectious waste which may occur during and after collection, and leave the collection container as it is. Provide saliva collection equipment that enables the transportation, storage, and processing of specimens. SOLUTION: This is a combination of a saliva introduction device and a sample container for a subject to self-collect saliva for examination, and the subject holds the saliva in the mouth and introduces the saliva in the mouth into the sample container. A bendable straw 11 having a bellows structure that can be folded and stored in the sample container, and a distance with a screw lid 23 that can store, transport or store saliva and centrifuge saliva as it is. It depends on the combination of the sink tubes 22. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a saliva collecting device, a saliva collecting method, and saliva sample processing.

In the diagnosis of infectious diseases, the saliva of the subject may be collected as a sample. For example, a genetic test by the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method, which is performed as a test diagnosis of a new type coronavirus infection (COVID-19), can be mentioned.
As a method of collecting saliva from a subject, a method of spitting saliva directly into the container from the top of the collection container, a method of attaching a funnel-shaped attachment to the upper part of the container, and a method of removing the attachment after spitting saliva using it, It is common practice to use thick and short straws to introduce saliva into the container and then discard the straws. Due to the high viscosity of saliva in these collection methods, there is a risk that the outside of the container will be contaminated by spilled saliva or saliva that has become stringy when exhaling or removing the attachment or straw from the container. high. In addition, in the case of infectious disease diagnosis, saliva may contain pathogenic microorganisms, and attachments and straws after use become infectious waste, so appropriate waste measures are required at the sample collection site. It becomes.
The collected saliva sample is used for inspection, but when the lid is opened by a laboratory or the like, it is necessary to perform centrifugation in order to prevent contamination and leakage of the sample adhering to the vicinity of the lid. In addition, since the saliva sample contains impurities in the mouth, it is not suitable for being used as it is for gene extraction, antigen test, etc. Therefore, it is desirable to perform centrifugation and collect the supernatant.

るためには、かなりの指導や補助を必要とすると考えられる。また、被験者が咥えた唾液挿入口に付着した唾液による周囲への汚染防止機能が備えられておらず、さらに、唾液排出口に取り付けられた蓋が管内部から唾液に汚染された場合に、蓋を外す際の汚染防止機能も備えられていないという課題がある。In addition, as for the saliva collecting device, a saliva collecting device and a method have been devised, in which a flexible main body tube is provided with a branch tube as a saliva discharge port, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.
However, the saliva collecting device described in Patent Document 1 has a complicated shape provided with a branch tube.

In order to do so, it is thought that considerable guidance and assistance will be required. In addition, it does not have a function to prevent saliva adhering to the saliva insertion port held by the subject from contaminating the surrounding area, and further, when the lid attached to the saliva discharge port is contaminated with saliva from inside the tube, the lid is used. There is a problem that the pollution prevention function when removing the cover is not provided.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-167626

According to the present invention, the subject can easily self-collect a saliva sample that may contain pathogenic microorganisms, and the outside of the sample container and the surrounding environment are not contaminated by saliva during and after the sample collection, and the sample collection location. It is an object of the present invention to propose a saliva collection device, a saliva collection method, and a saliva sample processing method that do not generate infectious waste and can be transported, stored, and processed as a sample container.

In order to solve the above problem, a straw is used as a saliva introduction device into a sample container. After the subject collects the required amount of saliva in the mouth, he holds a straw and introduces the saliva directly into the sample container to prevent the saliva from escaping from the container. In addition, the straw uses a bendable straw with a bellows structure, and after saliva is introduced, the upper part of the straw is bent downward and the entire straw is stored in the sample container, which becomes infectious waste due to the adhesion of saliva. Potential post-use straws do not remain at the sample collection site. The lid of the sample container is a screw lid that does not loosen easily, an outer cap that does not leak internal contamination when the lid is opened is selected, and the main body is a centrifuge tube made of a material with strong impact resistance. Use what you can. In order to remove the saliva supernatant from the sample container with a dropper or the like after the centrifugation, use a straw having a diameter that does not interfere with the collection of the supernatant.

According to the present invention, a saliva collecting device can be safely and easily constructed by combining a bending straw and a centrifuge tube with a screw lid. In addition, since the used straws are stored in the centrifuge tube as they are, no straws that may become infectious waste are left at the sample collection site, so that measures against infectious waste at the collection site become unnecessary. .. Further, since the centrifuge tube is transported to an inspection institution or the like as it is and can be centrifuged by a centrifuge owned by each institution, the number of sample processing steps can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the saliva introduction device (the bending straw which has a bellows structure) and the sample container (the centrifuge tube with a screw lid) which constitute the saliva collection device of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the saliva collecting apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the state which saliva is introduced into the sample container of the saliva collecting apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the state which the upper part of a straw is bent downward after saliva introduction of the saliva collecting apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the saliva collecting apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention in the state which the straw was sealed in the sample container after saliva introduction.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

1 to 5 are perspective views of a saliva collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration of a saliva collecting device, FIG. 2 is before saliva collection, FIG. 3 is during saliva introduction, and FIG. 4 is after saliva introduction. The state in which the upper part of the straw is bent downward and stored in the sample container, and FIG. 5 shows the state after saliva collection.

The saliva collection device is a screw which is a sample container for transporting, storing, and centrifuging a straw 11 in which a subject holds a mouth and introduces saliva in the mouth into a sample container, and a straw 11 after using saliva and used. It is composed of a centrifuge tube 21 with a lid (FIG. 1).

After collecting saliva in the mouth, the subject held the centrifuge tube 22 opened in one hand and the vicinity of the bellows structure 14 of the straw 11 with the other hand, and the lower end 16 of the straw 11 inserted into the centrifuge tube was inside the centrifuge tube. After applying it to the side surface to stabilize it, hold the upper end 12 in the mouth and slowly introduce saliva into the centrifuge tube 22 (FIG. 3). When the lower end 16 of the straw is applied to the bottom 25 of the centrifuge tube, bubbles due to saliva are generated, and there is a risk of droplets being generated due to the bubbles popping. Therefore, the lower end must be applied to the side surface of the centrifuge tube. If the length of the lower part 15 of the straw is too short, the straw will not be stable during saliva introduction and there is a risk that the straw will deviate from the centrifuge tube. It is desirable that the length is as long as possible within the range that can be stored in the centrifuge tube 22 so that the introduction status can be easily observed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, after the introduction of saliva, the straw 11 is lifted while maintaining the lower end 16 of the straw 11 inside the centrifuge tube 22, and the upper end 12 of the straw to which saliva is attached is the edge 24 of the centrifuge tube or the centrifuge tube. Bend the upper part 13 of the straw downward, being careful not to touch the outside, and insert it into the centrifuge tube 22. The length of the upper 13 of the straw must be long enough for the subject to hold and hold the straw, but if the straw 11 is lifted too much when bending the straw, the lower end 16 of the straw will be raised. Since there is a risk of deviation to the outside of the centrifuge tube, it is desirable to make it less than half the length of the lower part 15 of the straw.

The inner diameter of the straw 11 must be such that the entire straw 11 can be stored in the centrifuge tube 21 even when bent, and does not hinder the collection of the centrifugal supernatant with a dropper or the like after the centrifugal treatment. A material of about 4 to 5 mm is suitable so that the subject can easily hold it and saliva with high viscosity can easily flow.

The material of the centrifuge tube 21 needs to have impact resistance in order to prevent damage during transportation and centrifugation. Polypropylene is preferable.

The capacity, inner diameter, outer diameter and length of the centrifuge tube 21 are not particularly limited, but they are easily available, robust, can be used in a centrifuge owned by an inspection agency, etc. It is preferable to use a commercially available polypropylene centrifuge tube with a 50 ml screw lid, which has an inner diameter that makes it easy to collect the supernatant with the mixture in it. Depending on the applicable size of the centrifuge owned by the inspection organization or the like, a 15 ml centrifuge tube or the like can be adopted.

Since it is not necessary to stand the centrifuge tube upright when collecting the sample, a self-supporting centrifuge tube having a self-supporting mechanism can be used as the sample container.

Hereinafter, an example of a method for collecting a saliva sample of a subject, which is performed using the saliva collecting device of the present invention, will be described.

A bending straw having a length of 16 cm and an inner diameter of 5 mm and a polypropylene 50 ml centrifuge tube with a screw lid were prepared, the lid of the centrifuge tube was removed, and the straw was inserted. After having the subject collect saliva in the mouth for 5 minutes, have the left hand hold the centrifuge tube and the right hand around the bellows structure of the straw, and hold the straw while touching the lower end of the straw to the side surface inside the centrifuge tube. I had them introduce saliva slowly so as not to foam. When the end of saliva crosses the bellows structure of the straw and crosses the middle of the lower part, the introduction is stopped, and after paying attention to the stringing, the mouth is separated from the straw, and then the part held by the centrifuge is placed in the centrifuge tube. Being careful not to hit the edges or the outside, I bent the upper part of the straw downward and had it inserted into the centrifuge tube. Finally, the lid was closed tightly to complete the collection of saliva samples.

11 Saliva collection device: Saliva introduction device (bending straw with bellows structure)
12 Top of bending straw 13 Top of bending straw 14 Bellows structure of bending straw 15 Bottom of bending straw 16 Bottom of bending straw 21 Saliva collection device: Specimen container (centrifuge tube with screw lid)
22 Main body of centrifuge tube with screw lid 23 Lid of centrifuge tube with screw lid 24 Edge of centrifuge tube with screw lid 25 Bottom of centrifuge tube with screw lid 31 Saliva for specimen

Claims (2)

It is a combination of a saliva introduction device and a sample container for the subject to self-collect saliva for examination. The subject holds the saliva in the mouth and introduces the saliva in the mouth into the sample container. A saliva sampling device that combines a bending straw with a bellows structure that can be stored in a container and a centrifuge tube with a screw lid that can store, transport or store saliva and centrifuge saliva as it is. .. The saliva collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the sample container has a self-sustaining mechanism.

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