JPH0228431Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a sampling tube for quantitatively collecting a small amount of a test specimen, reagent, etc., and subjecting it to various qualitative or quantitative measurement reactions.

Prior Art For example, in latex agglutination reaction, latex agglutination inhibition reaction, red blood cell agglutination reaction, gel precipitation reaction, etc. by antigen-antibody reaction, it is possible to collect a certain amount of serum, urine, or a diluted sample of these and add it to the reaction system. is necessary.

Conventionally, for collecting this sample, a diameter of the tip b of a tube a made of glass or synthetic resin is within a certain range as shown in Fig. 1, and a removable rubber cap c is attached to the other end of the tube a. A pipette is used to suck up the sample and drop it into the reaction system. This pipette takes advantage of the fact that the volume of one drop is approximately constant, converts the required amount of specimen into the number of drops, and dispenses the required number of drops, but depending on the method of dripping, the volume of one drop can vary considerably. It was difficult to accurately collect and add minute amounts. Therefore, there are limits to measurement accuracy, and only qualitative measurements can be made.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, there is a capillary d made of small diameter glass or synthetic resin with a scale e, and a removable rubber cap f to collect the sample by suction and add a fixed amount. There are drawbacks such as the capacity of the rubber cap f being too large compared to the capacity of the capillary d, and the rubber cap f being hard and difficult to operate, requiring skill to operate.

Purpose of the invention In view of the conventional situation, the present invention provides a sampling tube that can accurately and easily collect and add a small fixed amount of a specimen, reagent, etc., as well as stir and mix the specimen, reagent, etc. The purpose is to

Structure of the invention That is, the present invention has a heat-resistant thin tube with an inner diameter of about 1 mm Φ with both ends open at one end, which has a diameter slightly larger than the thin tube and has an internal capacity at least equal to the capacity for collecting and adding a sample, etc. A heat-shrinkable flexible tube that can be easily deformed by pressing force is inserted and fixed by heat shrinkage, and the other end of the flexible tube is sealed flat from both sides by heat-pressing, and By setting the length between the sealed end of the flexible tube and the heat-shrinkable fixing part to a length that does not allow the fingers to touch the sealed end when the flexible tube is held between the fingers, the flexible tube can be held between the fingers. Specimens, reagents, etc. can be inhaled and discharged into the thin tube, and a fixed amount of specimen, etc. can be accurately and easily collected and added, and the flat sealed end of the flexible tube can also be used as a stirring bar. It depends on the sampling tube that can be used.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which both ends of a thin tube 1 having a required length and a substantially uniform inner diameter are opened, and one opening 2 is formed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the thin tube 1. Cut it into a circular shape, provide scales 3 at required intervals on the opening 2 side of the thin tube 1, and fit a flexible tube 5 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the thin tube 1 on the other opening 4 side. The flexible tube 5 is fixed to the thin tube 1, and the other end of the flexible tube 5 is sealed flat.

Here, the length and inner diameter of the thin tube 1 can be determined as appropriate depending on the amount of sample to be collected and added.
It can be used if the length is 2 cm or more, but in consideration of operability and hygiene, it is preferably 5 to 10 cm, and the inner diameter may be around 1 mmφ. Further, glass or heat-resistant synthetic resin can be used as the material for the thin tube 1, but glass is preferable because it allows the specimen to be seen through and can withstand high temperatures.

Furthermore, although synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and vinyl can be used as the material for the flexible tube 5, it easily collapses when pinched with fingers, and returns to its original cylindrical shape when the pressing force is relaxed. It is acceptable as long as it can be restored. The length of the flexible tube 5 depends on the capacity of the thin tube 1, but at least the length of the flexible tube 5 is such that it can secure an internal volume that is at least more than the sample collection and addition capacity, and that the length of the flexible tube 5 is such that when the flexible tube 5 is held between fingers, The sealed end of the tube 5 should not touch your fingers.

As a means for fitting and fixing the flexible tube 5 to the thin tube 1, there is a method of fixing the flexible tube 5 using thermal contraction. When utilizing heat shrinkage of the flexible tube 5, it is preferable to heat the glass thin tube 1, insert it into the flexible tube 5 made of heat-shrinkable synthetic resin, for example, Sumitiub, and heat-shrink it. However, alternatively, after fitting the flexible tube 5 into the thin tube 1, the flexible tube 5 at the fitting portion may be partially heated and heat-shrinked to be fixed to the thin tube 1.

A method for sealing the ends of the flexible tube 5 is heat compression bonding, etc. If the shape of the sealed end is flattened by pressing from both sides of the flexible tube 5, stirring and mixing of the sample and reagent on the slide is possible. It is convenient because it can be done easily.

With the above configuration, after the air in the sampling tube 6 is exhausted by pinching the flexible tube 5 with your fingers, the opening 2 of the thin tube 1 is inserted into the sample, reagent, etc.
When the tube is submerged and the pressing force of the fingers is slowly relaxed, the specimen etc. are sucked into the thin tube 1 by the restoring force of the flexible tube 5. When the sample, etc. has been sucked up to a predetermined scale, the sampling tube 6 is pulled up, and the flexible tube 5 is pressed with the fingers to add the sample, etc. to the reaction system in its entirety or up to the predetermined scale.

When it is necessary to stir and mix the added specimen, reagent, etc. on the slide, the sealed end of the flexible tube 5 is used to spread the reagent, etc. on the slide.

Note that the sampling tube of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments; the opening of the thin tube is hard and difficult to deform, and the pressing force applied to sandwich the flexible tube is moderate, making it easy to drop samples, etc. If the amount of sample to be added is relatively large, it is possible to count the number of drops and add the sample, so it is possible to do so without departing from the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that various changes can be made.

Effects of the invention As described above, according to the sampling tube of the present invention, a flexible tube with one end sealed is fixed to a thin tube, so trace amounts (1 μm to 1 μm) of specimens, reagents, etc. can be collected.
It is possible to accurately and easily collect and add samples (several 10 microns), which improves operability and measurement accuracy.In addition, since it is relatively easy to manufacture, it can be mass-produced at low cost. It is very convenient because the sealed end can be used as a stirring rod, and since the flexible tube is pre-fixed, there is no need to attach a rubber cap each time it is used, making it quick and easy to use. Since the flexible tube has a slightly larger diameter than a thin tube, it does not take up much bulk when packaged, so it is suitable as an accessory for various measurement reagent kits.
Various excellent effects can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional sampling pipette, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional sampling tube, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a sampling tube of the present invention. 1 is a thin tube, 2 and 4 are openings, 3 is a scale, 5 is a flexible tube, and 6 is a sampling tube.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1. A heat-resistant thin tube with an inner diameter of approximately 1 mmΦ with both ends open at one end, a diameter slightly larger than the thin tube, and having an internal capacity at least equal to the capacity for collecting and adding a specimen, etc. A heat-shrinkable flexible tube that can be easily deformed by the pressing force of A sampling tube characterized in that the length between the sealed end of the flexible tube and the heat-shrinkable fixing part is set to such a length that the sealed end does not come into contact with the fingers when held between the fingers. 2. The sampling tube according to claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant thin tube with both ends open has a scale on the side opposite to the side to which the heat-shrinkable flexible tube is fixed.