JP4696772B2 - Stool collection container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention collects stool used as a sample for clinical examination, particularly a sample for detecting occult blood, enzyme, virus, etc., and puts the quantified amount in a stool dissolution buffer in a container to make a suspension. The present invention relates to a stool collection container that is convenient for transportation in a state.

  The fecal occult blood test is widely used for screening for colorectal cancer and rectal cancer. In general, based on stool collected at home, specimens are made and examined in hospitals. In qualitative analysis using latex, because the amount of stool is restricted when preparing a sample, the specified stool collection rod is used. However, an accurate amount of stool can be collected using the stool collection rod. In the past, after collecting stool, the stool collection rod was wiped with paper etc. to remove the extra stool.

  However, the stool is dirty and has a strong odor, and when wiping it with paper, the stool may accidentally adhere to the hand, etc. The problem was often caused by the bad smell. In addition, in the case of a conventional specimen container containing a stool lysis buffer, even in the case of some subjects such as the elderly, even if the lid was intended to be closed after stool collection, it could not be completely closed, and the Liquid leakage sometimes occurred.

  In order to solve the above problems, a stool collection container disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-140468 has been proposed. This stool collection container is obtained by sealing an elongate container body having a dropping portion at the tip with a lid with a stick. A rubber stopper having a stick insertion hole is fixed inside the container body, and the lid and the container body are fixed. The gap is sealed with an O-ring, and a malt and a filter are provided inside the dripping part. A stick is inserted into the insertion hole of the rubber plug to wipe off excess stool attached to the stick. It has become. However, this stool collection container is expensive as well, and the rubber plug must be fixed inside the container body, which increases the cost of the stool collection container and drops the stool suspension. Since it is necessary to punch the sealing part of the dripping part with a punching machine, it takes time and there is a risk of dirtying the hand, and it is necessary to clean the punching machine every time. ing.

  Therefore, as a means for improving the shortcomings of the stool collection container of the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-140468, a container body containing a liquid and a lid provided with a stool collection bar as disclosed in JP-A-6-186227. And a dripping portion, and a separation wall provided on the upper part of the container body can wipe off an excessive stool sample of the stool collection rod and perforate a thin end surface at the tip of the dripping portion. Thus, a stool sample dissolved in a liquid is filtered through a filter provided at the lower part of the container body, and a stool collection container which can be dripped quantitatively, or an intermediate part as disclosed in JP-A-8-292189 Comprises a container body containing a liquid closed with a thin film, a sample collecting means, and a cap member that closes the lower part of the container body, and when the thin film is pierced by the sample collecting part of the sample collecting means Stool test A stool collection container has been proposed in which the sample filtrate can be quantitatively dropped onto the determination chromatograph by removing the nozzle closure provided on the cap member. Yes. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-316222 proposes a stool collection container that has no risk of being infected by viruses and bacteria and that has good test accuracy and reproducibility.

However, although these stool collection containers are all suitable for collecting solid stool, they are not suitable for collecting liquid diarrhea stool, and are particularly infected with bacteria and causing diarrhea. There is a need for a stool collection container suitable for detecting patient bacteria.
In addition, these stool collection containers are in a state where the tip of the stool collection stick to which the stool is attached is exposed, so that the stool sample is collected by the operator's hand or surroundings before the stool sample is collected and suspended in the suspension. In addition, when inserting a stool collection rod with stool into a container containing a suspension, stool may be mistakenly attached to the outer wall of the container. Moreover, it was unclean and could be infected with viruses and bacteria.
JP-A-6-186227 JP-A-8-292189 JP-A-11-316222 KAIKAI 2-14468

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a stool collection container that is less expensive than the conventional one, has good test accuracy and reproducibility, and is particularly suitable for collecting liquid diarrhea stool. With the goal. Furthermore, it aims at providing the stool collection container which does not have a possibility of being infected with a virus or bacteria.

As a result of intensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have conceived that a conventional stool collection rod is provided with a liquid absorbing member, and completed the present invention.
That is, the present invention provides a tubular container main body having a dropping portion at the distal end with both ends open, a stool collection rod having a gripping portion at the proximal end and a stool collection portion at the distal end, and pierced by the stool collection rod at the distal end. And a tubular member having a proximal end that is open so that the collection rod can be moved forward and backward and detachable, and a stool dissolution buffer chamber is provided inside the container body. In the stool collection container, a rear end portion of the container main body is liquid-tightly connected by a distal end portion of the tubular member, and a dropping portion of the container main body is liquid-tightly closed by a closing means. Stool collection, characterized in that it comprises: a protrusion whose tip penetrates the closure membrane; and a substantially cylindrical tubular liquid-absorbing member that is pivotally attached to the proximal end side adjacent to the protrusion. It is a container.

  Here, the liquid absorbing member may be a flexible continuous foam molded body, a flexible sintered molded body, or a water absorbent fiber. A liquid absorbing member is rotatably attached to the stool collection part of the collection rod. Further, the distal end portion of the tubular member is closed with a closing membrane that can be pierced by a stool collection rod. Alternatively, the proximal end of the container body is closed with a closing membrane that can be pierced with a stool collection rod. In addition, a protrusion for piercing the closure membrane was provided at the tip of the collection rod. The closing means for the dropping part may be a thin film that can be easily broken, a closing body that can be easily twisted at the weak part, or a cap.

  According to said structure, since the stool collection container of this invention is employ | adopted, since it can collect | collect from hard stool to liquid diarrhea stool with one kind of stool collection container, it is convenient. In addition, diarrhea stool can be collected to detect bacteria even in patients who have diarrhea due to infection with bacteria that have been difficult to detect. Moreover, since the liquid absorptive member provided in the stool collection rod rotates, stool can be collected efficiently from the surface of hard stool. Furthermore, since the stool collection part can be exposed from the tubular member or accommodated in the tubular member by moving the stool collection rod forward or backward in the tubular member, the tube member is attached to the container body after stool collection. By accommodating the stool collection part in the tubular member, contamination with a stool sample can be avoided. Further, since the stool collection part of the stool collection rod is inserted into the container body through the closure membrane of the container body, excess stool collected while the stool collection part pierces the closure membrane. The sample is removed and a fixed amount of stool sample is collected in the container body.

  The stool collection container of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of a stool collection container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the stool collection rod shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion A in FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the state of the stool collection container shown in FIG. 1 pierced by the stool collection rod, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the stool collection container of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state of the stool collection rod and the tubular member shown in FIG. 5 during stool collection. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the stool collection rod is retracted in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the stool collection rod is inserted into the container body in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the dropping portion in the stool collection container of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the dropping section in the stool collection container of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the protrusion of the stool collection rod in the stool collection container of the present invention.

  The stool collection container of the present invention comprises a stool collection rod (1), a tubular member (2), and a container body (3), and the tubular member (2) can be inserted through the stool collection rod (1) so as to be able to advance and retract. Thus, the proximal end is open and the distal end is closed by a closing membrane (25) that can be pierced by a stool collection rod (1), and the container body (3) is a closing means (4) that can be easily opened at the distal end. And a dripping section (33) closed by The outer wall of the stool collection rod (1) and the inner wall of the tubular member (2), and the distal end of the tubular member (2) and the proximal end of the container body (3) are engaged with each other in a liquid-tight manner. .

  According to FIG. 1, the container body (3) is a tubular container containing a stool dissolution buffer (not shown) for dissolving the stool sample collected by the stool collection rod (1). As shown in FIG. 1, the base end and the tip are provided with a connecting portion and a dropping portion (33) for the tubular member (2), respectively. To partition the stool dissolution buffer chamber, a tubular member (2) and a cap for the dripping port (43) are attached in a liquid-tight manner to the proximal end and the distal end to check whether the collected stool is dissolved It can be done. As a stool dissolution buffer for dissolving and extracting collected stool, a solution containing a small amount of sodium azide or ammonium chloride as a preservative is usually employed. The sample liquid obtained by dissolving and extracting the stool sample is dripped through the dripping unit (33) by lightly squeezing the side of the container body (3). An engagement part (32) is provided at the base end part so as to be fluid-tightly connected to the distal end part of the cylindrical member (2), and an undercut or a rib for fitting the concave part or the convex part is provided. It is preferable. Moreover, this connection part may be screwed together.

The dripping part (33) may be closed by a closing means that can be easily opened, and the closing means may be any one that can be removed during use. As such a closing means, a rubber cap (43) as shown in FIG. 1, a closing body (42) that can be broken by a weak part (421) as shown in FIG. 9, a thin film as shown in FIG. 41) etc. are preferably used. For the cap (43), butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, or the like can be used in addition to flexible resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, polystyrene, and polyester.
The container body (3) is preferably provided with a filter (34) on the proximal end side adjacent to the dropping part (33) so as to filter the solid component in the collected stool sample. . As a material for such a member, a transparent flexible resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, polystyrene, or polyester is preferably used.

  The tubular member (2) is a tubular member having a proximal end opened and a distal end closed with a closing membrane (25), and is preferably formed so that the body diameter is substantially the same as that of the container body (3). An engagement portion (22) that engages with the engagement portion (32) of the container body (3) is provided at the distal end so as to be liquid-tightly connected to the base end portion of the container body (3), and the recess Or it is preferable that the undercut and rib for fitting a convex part are provided. Moreover, this connection part may be screwed together. The proximal end can be attached to the stool collection rod (1) so that it can move forward and backward, and the closure membrane (15) at the tip of the stool collection rod (1) after collecting the stool sample with the stool collection rod (1) It is preferable that the connection with the stool collection rod (1) has a screw structure so that the needle can be easily inserted. Specifically, according to FIG. 1, a female screw (21) that is screwed with a male screw (13) of the stool collection rod (1) is usually provided at the proximal end of the tubular member (2) so as to protrude from the inner wall. The male screw (13) and the female screw (21) are screwed together when collecting the stool and when storing the stool collection part (12) in the container body (3). As a material for such a member, usually, a transparent soft flexible resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, polyester, or the like is preferably used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, the stool collection rod (1) has a relatively large-diameter gripping part (11) that is a part gripped by hand when collecting stool at the proximal end, and a stool sample at the tip. It has a relatively small-diameter stool collection part (12) for collection by attachment. The portion between the gripping part (11) and the stool collection part (12) has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular member (2), and the outer wall is provided on the inner wall of the tubular member (2). A male screw (13) that is screwed with a female screw (21) described later is provided. The space between the outer wall of the stool collection rod (1) and the inner wall of the tubular member (2) is sealed in a fluid-tight manner by screwing the female screw (21) and the male screw (13).
The stool collection part (12) is only required to be moderately elastic and hard enough not to break or yield when the stool is scraped off, and to pierce the closure membrane (25).

The stool collection part (12) is composed of a protrusion (15) at the distal end and a substantially cylindrical tubular liquid absorbing member (121) that is rotatably attached to the proximal end side adjacent to the protrusion (15). The protrusion (15) preferably has a sharp tip for piercing the closure membrane (25). More specifically, the protrusion (15) is because an excessive stool sample collected while the stool collection unit pierces the closure membrane is removed (wiped off) and a fixed amount of stool sample is collected in the container body. In addition, the incision portion is pushed and expanded so as to pierce the closure membrane and insert the stool collection part of the stool collection rod into the container body. Such a structure is not limited to a simple cone, and as shown in FIG. 11, (a) the cross section is a cross, (b) a star, (c) a notch or a hole is suitable. Used for. An appropriate amount of hard stool can be collected by appropriately setting the notches and holes.
Usually, the gripping part (11) is axially spaced at regular intervals on the outer peripheral wall of the gripping part (11) so that it can be easily pinched in order to smoothly attach and detach it with the screw structure between the tubular member (2). Ribs are provided.

The liquid absorbent member (121) is preferably flexible, and in order to efficiently collect liquid stool such as watery stool and diarrheal stool, a water-absorbent fibrous body such as a continuous foam molded body, a sintered molded body, and paper Are preferably used. The shape of this is preferably cylindrical, but if it is difficult to assemble through the projection (15), there may be a notch. In addition, voids that are substantial water absorbing portions of the continuous foam or sintered molded body can be freely selected because stool differences due to race are expected. As the material for the stool collection rod (1), usually, a flexible resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, ABS or the like is preferably used. As the liquid absorbent member (121), fibers such as high molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and cellulose are preferably used.
Note that the stool collection rod (1) is used before the use so that the stool collection part is held at a position where the closure membrane (25) is not pierced, and the outer peripheral wall of the tubular member (2) and the stool collection rod ( It is preferably fixed by a seal or the like (not shown) that covers the outer peripheral wall of the grip portion (11) of 1).

Next, the use of the stool collection container of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
When preparing the suspension, first remove the seal (not shown) securing the stool collection rod (1) from the stool collection container and rotate the gripping part (11) of the stool collection rod (2). Then, remove the male screw (13) of the stool collection rod (1) from the female screw (21) of the tubular member (2). Next, the stool is collected so that the stool collection part (12) faces downward and faces the surface of the stool to be examined.
Next, with the base end opening of the tubular member (2) facing upward, carefully insert the stool collection portion (12) of the stool collection rod (1), and the male screw (14) of the stool collection rod (1) And the female screw (21) of the tubular member (2) are screwed together to advance the stool collection rod (1), and the closure membrane (25) of the tubular member (2) is pierced by the stool collection rod (1). Since the excess stool sample adhering to the stool collection part (12) is wiped off, a fixed amount of stool sample is collected in the container body (3).
If the male screw (13) of the stool collection rod (1) and the female screw (21) of the tubular member (2) are screwed together (see FIG. 4), the outer wall of the stool collection rod (1) and the tubular member (2) The inner wall of the stool is sealed in a liquid-tight manner, so that a stool sample (hereinafter referred to as a specimen) naturally dissolved and suspended in the stool lysis buffer is not leaked. If the cap (43) is removed from the dropping part (33), the specimen can be dropped from the dropping part (33) and used for the examination.

Another stool collection container of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 5, the stool collection container of the present invention comprises a stool collection rod (1), a tubular member (2), and a container body (3), and the tubular member (2) is a stool collection rod (1). The container body (3) is closed at the proximal end with a closing membrane (31) that can be pierced with a stool collection rod (1). A drip portion (33) closed by an openable closing means (4) is provided. The outer wall of the stool collection rod (1) and the inner wall of the tubular member (2), and the distal end of the tubular member (2) and the proximal end of the container body (3) are engaged with each other in a liquid-tight manner. .

In the stool collection container shown in FIG. 1, the closure membrane is provided not on the tubular member (2) but on the container body (3) so that the tubular member (2) is detachable integrally with the stool collection rod (1). Thus, it is different in that the stool collection unit (12) can be operated freely.
When preparing the suspension, the tubular member (2) is first removed from the container body (3). Next, a seal or the like (not shown) that fixes the stool collection rod (1) is removed from the stool collection container, and the stool collection unit (12) is rotated by rotating the grip (11) of the stool collection rod (2). Move forward to expose. Next, the stool is collected so that the stool collection part (12) faces downward and faces the surface of the stool to be examined. Subsequently, the male screw (13) of the stool collection rod (1) is removed from the female screw (21) of the tubular member (2), the stool collection rod (1) is retracted, and the male screw (14) and female screw (21 ), The feces collection part (12) is accommodated in the substantially tubular member (2) as shown in FIG. At this time, if the annular protrusion (23) is provided on the inner wall on the proximal side from the position where the stool collection part (12) of the tubular member (2) is retracted, the excess stool is formed on the proximal end of the tubular member (2). There is no risk of flowing to the side.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the engaging part (22) of the tubular member (2) is engaged with the engaging part (32) of the container body (3) (at this time, the outer wall of the tubular member (2) and the container The inner wall of the body (3) is liquid-tight), and then the male thread (14) of the stool collection rod (1) and the female thread (21) of the tubular member (2) are unscrewed to remove the stool collection rod ( If the stool collection rod (1) is pierced through the closure membrane (31) of the container body (3) with the stool collection rod (1), the excess stool sample attached to the stool collection part (12) will be wiped off. A fixed amount of stool sample is collected in the body (3). If the male screw (13) of the stool collection rod (1) and the female screw (21) of the tubular member (2) are screwed together (see FIG. 8), the outer wall of the stool collection rod (1) and the tubular member (2) Since the inner wall of the stool is liquid-tight, a stool sample (hereinafter referred to as a specimen) that is naturally dissolved and suspended in the stool dissolution buffer is not leaked. If the thin film 41 of the dropping part (33) is broken with a dedicated spike (not shown) or the like, the specimen can be dropped from the dropping part (33) and used for the inspection.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st Example in the stool collection container of this invention. It is a side view of the stool collection stick shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section of a portion A in FIG. 2. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state which pierced the closing membrane with the stool collection stick | rod of the stool collection container shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 2nd Example in the stool collection container of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state at the time of the stool collection of the stool collection rod and tubular member shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which retracted the stool collection stick | rod in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which inserted the stool collection stick in the container main body in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the other Example of the dripping part in the stool collection container of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other Example of the dripping part in the stool collection container of this invention. It is a side view which shows the protrusion of the stool collection stick | rod in the stool collection container of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stool collection stick 11 Grasping part 12 Stool collection part 121 Liquid absorption member 13, 14 Male screw 15 Protrusion 2 Tubular member 21 Female screw 22 Engaging part 23 Annular protrusion 24 Female screw 25 Closure membrane 3 Container body 31 Closure membrane 32 Engagement Part 33 dropping part 34 filter 41 thin film 42 closing body 421 fragile part 43 cap

Claims (10)

A stool collection rod having a gripping portion at the proximal end, a stool collection portion at the distal end, and being inserted through the tubular member, a tubular member having both ends opened to be freely inserted and retracted, and a distal end A container body having a dropping portion closed by a closing means that can be easily opened, and the outer wall of the stool collection rod and the inner wall of the tubular member are fluid-tightly engaged, and the distal end portion of the tubular member and the container A stool collection container in which a base end portion of a main body is liquid-tightly engaged, and a stool collection portion of the collection rod is provided with a substantially cylindrical tubular liquid absorption member, and the liquid absorption member is a stool collection portion of the collection rod A stool collection container, wherein the stool collection container is rotatably attached to the stool. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing member is a flexible continuous foamed molded article. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing member is a flexible sintered molded body. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing member is a water absorbent fiber. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the tubular member is closed with a closing membrane that can be pierced by the stool collection rod. 2. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein a proximal end portion of the container body is closed with a closing membrane that can be pierced by the stool collection rod. The stool collection container according to claim 1 , wherein a projection for piercing the closure membrane is provided at a tip of the collection rod. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein the dropping means is a thin film that can be easily broken. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein the closing means of the dropping part is a closing body that can be easily twisted off at the weak part. The stool collection container according to claim 1, wherein the closing means of the dropping part is a cap.

Images