JPH0236618Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Field of industrial application" This invention relates to a sealed container for a centrifuge.

"Prior Art" In a centrifuge, a rotor is rotated at a high rotational speed by a motor, and a sample to be separated contained in the rotor is centrifuged. In this case, a sample tube containing a sample to be separated is housed in a sample tube holder mounted in the rotor, and centrifugation is performed on the sample to be separated in the sample tube.

Various types of samples are used for centrifugation, but for the purpose of conducting medical or pharmaceutical research and obtaining various basic data, highly infectious viruses and the like are separated. May be used as a sample. In this way, when using a sample that is medically or biologically harmful to the human body as a sample to be separated, the sample tube from which the sample was collected is housed in a sealed container, and this sealed container is used to hold the sample tube. It is attached to the body and subjected to centrifugal treatment. In order to prevent the sealed container from being damaged by the centrifugal force applied to the sealed container during the centrifugation process, the sealed container needs to have a strong structure that can withstand large centrifugal forces. By doing this, even if an accident occurs during the centrifugation process and the sample tube is damaged, it is possible to prevent the sample harmful to the human body from scattering outside from the sealed container.

This type of sealed container for a centrifuge is comprised of a container body into which a sample tube is inserted, and a lid that closes the opening of the container body and is hermetically fixed to the container body. Fixing means such as screwing are used to seal and fix the lid to the container body. For example, the lid is screwed into the opening of the container body that houses a sample tube containing a sample harmful to the human body. The sample tube is sealed and held within the container body.

However, in the conventionally used sealed containers, there was a difficulty in removing the sample tube from the sealed container after the centrifugation process. In this type of sealed container, the inner diameter of the container body is set to prevent the sample tube from shaking inside the sealed container and damage it while the centrifuge is operating, and to make effective use of the narrow inside of the rotor. The sealed container is formed to have a slightly larger outer diameter than the sample tube, and to minimize the gap between the lid and the end of the sample tube.

Therefore, when a sample tube containing a sample is housed in the container body of a sealed container and the lid is screwed into the container body, the volume of the narrow space between the sample tube and the sealed container is reduced by the volume of the lid. The amount decreases as the threading between the container body and the container body progresses. This volume reduction ratio is relatively large compared to the volume of the narrow space, so the pressure inside the sealed container increases, and when the container body and lid are completely screwed together, the outer circumferential surface of the sample tube and The pressure of the gas in the space between it and the inner peripheral surface of the sealed container is relatively high.

For this reason, for example, when the centrifugation process is completed and the lid is unscrewed from the container body in order to remove the sample tube from the sealed container, the gas that was present in the space between the sample tube and the sealed container is released. Due to the pressure difference between the inside of the sealed container and the outside of the sealed container, it is released from the inside of the sealed container to the outside at a considerable rate. For example, if an accident occurs during operation of a centrifuge and a sample tube is damaged, a sample that is harmful to the human body may exist in gaseous form in the space between the sample tube and the sealed container. . In such a case, when the lid is unscrewed from the container body after centrifugation, gas containing a sample harmful to the human body is released from inside the sealed container to the outside, and the gas containing the harmful sample may be released to the outside. There is a risk that the gas may adhere to fingers and the like, creating an extremely dangerous situation for the operator, or in some cases, hazardous samples may be scattered into the room.

``Problems to be solved by the invention'' This invention aims to prevent the occurrence of dangerous situations when taking out sample tubes from conventional sealed containers for this type of centrifuge. To provide a sealed container for a centrifuge in which gas containing a harmful sample is not released to the outside of the sealed container when a tube is taken out from the sealed container.

``Structure of the device'' In this device, a sealed container for a centrifuge in which a sample tube from which a sample to be separated is collected is hermetically held is composed of a container body and a lid that closes the opening of the container body. . A fixing means is provided between the container body and the lid for sealingly fixing them to each other.

Further, in the sealed container, a ventilation hole communicating from the inside of the sealed container to the outside is formed in the circumferential surface of the sealed container near the fixed attachment portion between the container body and the lid. This ventilation hole is configured so that when the container body and the lid are completely sealed and fixed to each other by the fixing means, ventilation from the inside to the outside is closed.

Therefore, according to this invention, the sample tube is housed in the sealed container so that the pressure in the space between the sample tube and the sealed container holding the sample tube is the same as the outside pressure, and centrifugation of the sample is performed in this state. be exposed. Therefore, even if the sample tube is damaged when the sample tube is taken out from the sealed container after the centrifugation process, the gas containing the harmful sample will not be released from the sealed container to the outside.

"Embodiment of the invention" FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the invention, in which a sample tube 14 is inserted and housed in a tubular container body 12 of a sealed container 11 for a centrifuge,
The opening of the container body 12 is closed with a lid 13, and the lid 13 is hermetically fixed to the container body 12.

That is, as shown in FIG.
is made of a high-density synthetic resin material such as Delrin, and the upper edge around the opening of the container body 12 is formed into a smooth surface, and an O-ring groove 15 is formed in the center of the upper edge around the entire circumference. formed over a period of time. A screw 16 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container body 12 near this upper edge.

A lid body 13 that is sealed and fixed to the container body 12
As shown in FIG. 2, it is made of a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate in a cap shape, and a fitting part 17 is formed on its plate surface to cover the end of the sample tube 14. At the periphery of this fitting part 17,
A smooth contact surface 18 is formed over the entire circumference.
This contact surface 18 is connected to the lid body 1 with respect to the container body 12.
3 is disposed in opposition to the smooth surface of the upper edge of the container body 12 when it is sealed and fixed.

A screw 19 is formed on the inner periphery of the edge of the lid 13 over the entire periphery. A vent hole 20 is formed between the end of the screw 19 and the contact surface 18, passing through the circumferential plate surface of the lid 13 in a radial direction. In the embodiment, two ventilation holes 20 are formed at positions facing each other with respect to the axis of the lid body 13.

Further, in the embodiment, the lid 13 is processed to be transparent so that the inside of the sealed container 11 can be observed through the lid 13.

A sample tube 14 containing a sample harmful to the human body, such as a highly infectious virus, is accommodated in the container body 12 . The outer diameter of the sample tube 14 is set to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the container body 12 so that the sample tube 14 is accommodated within the sealed container without shaking. In addition, a fitting portion 17 formed on the lid 13 is arranged so as to cover the opening of the container body 12 in which the sample tube 14 is housed.
is a cap 14-C that covers the opening of the sample tube 14.
A fitting portion 17 is formed so as to fit therein.

An O-ring 21 is disposed in the O-ring groove 15 of the container body 12. With the sample tube 14 inserted into the container body 12, the lid 13 is screwed onto the container body 12. Through this screwing operation, the screw 19 of the lid 13 progresses to be screwed into the screw 16 of the container body 12. The air existing in the narrow space between the outer peripheral surface of the sample tube 14 and the inner peripheral surface of the sealed container 11 tries to be compressed by screwing the lid 13 into the container body 12, but the screwing of the screws 16 and 19 is not possible. Until completely completed, the vent hole 20 communicates with the inside and outside of the sealed container 11. Therefore, excess air is discharged from the air hole 20 to the outside of the sealed container 11, and the air pressure in the space between the outer circumferential surface of the sample tube 14 and the inner circumferential surface of the sealed container 11 is maintained at the same level as the outside air pressure.

In this way, the lid 13 is attached to the container body 12.
The inside of the sealed container 11 is maintained at the same pressure as the outside air pressure until the screwing is completed. When the lid 13 has been screwed and fixed to the container body 12,
The vent hole 20 is closed by the end of the screw 16 of the container body 12 and the O-ring 21. Therefore, the sample tube 14
The sealed container 11 containing the sample tube 14 is sealed with the lid 13 against the container body 12 while maintaining the pressure in the narrow space between the outer peripheral surface of the sample tube 14 and the inner peripheral surface of the sealed container 11 equal to the outside pressure. Fixed.

The sealed container 11 containing the sample tube 14 in this state
is held in a container holder of a rotor of a centrifuge (not shown), and the rotor is rotationally driven to remove the sample tube 1.
Centrifugation is performed on the sample to be separated within 4.
During this centrifugation process, for example, there may be some parts of the sample tube where the strength is reduced, and the large centrifugal force applied to the sample tube due to the high speed rotation of the rotor reduces this strength of the sample tube. Assume that an accident occurs that damages a part of the vehicle.

In this case, a sample harmful to the human body may leak from the damaged part of the sample tube 14 and float in the space between the outer circumferential surface of the sample tube 14 and the inner circumferential surface of the sealed container 11. After completing the centrifugation process, when the lid 3 is unscrewed from the container body 12 and the sample tube 14 is taken out from the sealed container 11, if the space between the outer circumferential surface of the sample tube 14 and the inner circumferential surface of the sealed container 11 is Even if a hazardous sample is floating in the space, the pressure in this space is maintained at atmospheric pressure, so the gas containing the hazardous sample will not blow out and adhere to the operator's fingers.

In addition, in the embodiment, the lid 13 of the sealed container 11 is made of a transparent material so that the inside of the sealed container can be visually confirmed from the outside. You can visually check the inside. Therefore, if the sample tube 14 is seriously damaged, for example, after preparing the remote control arm for processing the hazardous sample, the hazardous sample washing device, etc. It is possible to take the best method that does not pose any danger to the operator, such as by releasing the alarm.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of another embodiment of this invention, in which a large-diameter sample tube 25 in the form of a wide-diameter bottle is housed in a sealed container. In this embodiment, a screw 16 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the opening of the container body 12, and a screw 19 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening of the lid body 13 is screwed into the screw 16 of the container body 12. The configuration is such that the

A thin portion is formed in the opening of the lid 13, and a screw 19 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of this thin portion. The interface between the thin part where the screw 19 of the lid body 13 is formed and the normal thick part is the contact surface 18, and the O-ring groove 15 is formed around the entire circumference of the contact surface 18. It is formed. An O-ring is disposed within this O-ring groove 15.

A ventilation hole 20 is formed in the lid body 13 by penetrating the plate surface from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the thin part between the end of the screw 19 and the contact surface 18 where the O-ring groove 15 is formed. Ru. In the embodiment, the lid body 1 is
Two ventilation holes 20 are formed at mutually opposing positions of 3.

Also in the sealed container of this embodiment, the container body 1
A wide diameter sample tube having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the container body 12 is inserted into the container body 12, and the lid body 13 is inserted into the container body 12.
is screwed into the container main body 12 to hermetically house the sample tube 25 in the sealed container. In this case as well, the sample tube 25 can be hermetically housed in the sealed container 11 while the pressure in the microspace between the sample tube 25 and the sealed container is maintained equal to the external pressure. Therefore, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. When handling after separation processing,
It will not be released from the sealed container 11 to the outside.

Also in this embodiment, by forming the lid body 13 with a transparent material, the state of the sample tube housed inside can be confirmed from the outside, and the operator can avoid danger when handling it after centrifugation. It is possible to adopt the best method.

In the embodiments, screwing means is employed as the fixing means, but the fixing means is not limited to screwing means, but may also be press-fitting means using a spring, for example.

``Effects of the invention'' As explained in detail above, according to this invention, the sample tube is hermetically housed in the sealed container while maintaining the atmospheric pressure in the microspace between the sealed container and the sample tube to be the same as the outside air pressure. It is possible to do so. Therefore, even if an accident occurs in which a sample tube containing a hazardous sample is damaged during centrifugation, the gas containing the hazardous sample will be removed from the sealed container when the sample tube is removed from the sealed container after centrifugation. There is no risk of blowing out from the container, and it is possible to completely perform centrifugation processing and post-processing handling of harmful samples.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which a sample tube is housed inside an embodiment of the sealed container of this invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the lid body in an embodiment of the sealed container of this invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the container body in an embodiment of the sealed container of this invention, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of another embodiment of the sealed container of this invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the lid body in another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the main part of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 11: Sealed container, 12: Container body, 13: Lid, 14: Sample tube, 15: O-ring groove, 16:
Screw, 18: opposing surface, 19: screw, 20: ventilation hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A sealed container for a centrifuge that seals and holds a sample tube from which a sample to be separated is collected, the sealed container comprising a container body in which the sample tube is housed, and an opening of the container body. and a lid that is attached to close the container, and a fixing means is provided between the container body and the lid to seal and fix them to each other, and the sealed container has a lid that seals the container body and the lid. A ventilation hole leading from the inside of the sealed container to the outside of the sealed container is formed near the fixing part, and the ventilation hole is configured to be closed when the container body and the lid are hermetically fixed. A sealed container for centrifuges featuring: