JPH11105985A - Method and device for taking out biological liquid from thin-walled receptacle and handling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for taking out a biological liquid from a thin-walled receptacle and handling the same. SOLUTION: A device is provided with at least two sections to be engaged each other, and one section is movable to the other section, and a means for holding a thin-walled tubular receptacle 1 storing a biological liquid sample in the radius direction and also axial direction is provided, and also a means for securing the engagement of two sections 2 and 3 each other when the thin- walled receptacle is unsealed on a site on which the thin-walled receptacle is carried is provided. The sections 2 and 3 are provided with parts for drawing the receptacle after the thin-walled receptacle is unsealed. The section 2 is formed transparent so that an identification mark on the sample holding receptacle can be read from outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container having a thin wall, such as that obtained by sectioning a tubular element having a number of pockets for holding a sample to be analyzed. That is, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for handling and removing a biological sample held in a receptacle.

The present invention is novel over the prior art in that it allows biological fluids to be handled in a manner that offers outstanding safety against extraneous contamination and avoids sample leakage. It provides important features with gender and inventive step.

[0003] The present invention is particularly applicable to the processing of blood components such as whole blood, red blood cells, serum, etc., and facilitates the performance of their analysis.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, blood, red blood cells, serum, etc., from blood transfusion samples collected from blood donors, for example, are usually stored in a PVC pocket together with an anticoagulant and are appropriately labeled. The contents of the pockets are very often, at least for each patient receiving the transfusion,
Must be analyzed. And in these processes, it is very important to prevent accidental contamination (both external contamination by the contents of the pocket and contamination of the external contents) as well as to occur in the identification of the sample. It is also very important to prevent confusion.

[0005] Usually, each pocket is provided with a long tube of PVC, which is filled with liquid from the pocket after the extraction and is carried out by radio frequency (or other) methods.
By welding the wall of the tube at, an immediate seal is made at several points and at its ends. Thus, several segments containing liquid samples are formed, and these segments are stored without being cut or separated from the pocket. The tubes and pockets are marked a number of times (e.g., numbers or bar codes) such that each segment includes at least one identification mark. When high frequency welding is used, the electrodes
A notch can be left in the welded joint, whereby the segments are later separated from one another by pulling, leaving completely closed ends and preventing liquid leakage. obtain. This entire process is safe and free of contamination.

If the contents of the pocket must be tested, the last of the segments is separated,
A test is then performed on the liquid contained therein. For this purpose, the test tube is usually placed in a test tube stand, the segment is cut with scissors and its contents are transferred to the test tube, at which time the empty segment is discarded and the pocket is identified. The test is performed in the test tube, which has been previously marked with the same number as the one in question.

[0007]

In these situations, the sample, once separated from the segment, can no longer be identified by itself; when cutting the segment, the remnants or end pieces are cut off;
And it must be discarded;-the scissors must be soiled and washed for the next sample;-when pouring the liquid into the test tube, rebounds can occur; and-outside the sample. There is the risk of contamination from the environment, contamination by samples, and contamination between samples, as well as the risk of viral or bacterial contamination (by AIDS, hepatitis, etc.) to humans.

[0008] The same or similar problems have been found in other procedures for removing liquid from the interior of the segment.

Thus, while the generation of a large number of segmented portions from a donated sample by a segment is a clean and safe system, the subsequent use of said segment does not give a high level of hygiene. Very unsatisfactory due to the fact that it is potentially dangerous.

The present invention allows the analyst to perform the operation safely and under sterile conditions without actual contact, and that the sample is easily identified during the entire test cycle. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned problems by providing a method and an apparatus for removing and handling a blood sample held in a container element having a thin wall, which allows for the following.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising an intermediate container for receiving a tubular element for holding a sample of a biological fluid, said intermediate container comprising: , Configured in a manner substantially similar to a test tube, so that the sample can be handled in a manner similar to that using a test tube, and the intermediate container is a tubular receptacle having a thin wall. A buffering and centering means for receiving a sample holding a biological fluid and having a biological fluid within the tubular element holding it. A small container on the bottom for collecting what is released by various means. The size of the intermediate container must be such that, in relation to the tubular element containing the biological sample, pipetting can be carried out, possibly by means of an automatic device for said intermediate container.

The method for handling a biological fluid sample basically comprises the following successive steps.

A tubular container element containing a biological sample, preferably made of thin walls, is placed in an intermediate container and it is positioned and held centrally. Engaging with the means for performing.

The tubular element holding the biological sample, preferably close to its lower end,
At least one point is pierced and cut or broken in the side wall of the tubular element, and optionally one or two at the top of the tubular element to facilitate air inhalation. This is the step of drilling another hole.

Squeezing the tubular element holding said sample to drain the entire biological sample into the intermediate container, or, if an upper air inlet is provided, gravity Emptying stage.

Pipetting it to provide the sample for the required analysis.

[0017] Temporary storage of the device holding a tubular element provided with legible marks for identifying the sample.

The device for performing these procedures must suitably be made of a low-cost plastics material, with a centrally located tubular element holding the biological sample. Means for holding and holding, a small container for collecting the biological liquid after the tubular element has been broken and squeezed, and means for breaking the tubular element and squeezing its contents are provided. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the intermediate container is made of two parts or sections,
One of them is a centering and holding means for a tubular element for holding a biological sample or the like, and a projection for cutting the tubular element containing the biological sample. , Blades or other suitable components. In this embodiment,
One section is suitably connected to the other section by being integrally molded or assembled with an external hinge that can be located at the bottom of a cover that extends longitudinally or laterally. I have.

In all cases, it must be possible to carry out the method which is the subject of the present invention in an easy-to-use and rapid manner and in particular in a sterile manner.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a cut is made in one of the receptacles, designated by the reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1, to remove liquid from a container or receptacle having a thin wall and to handle the liquid. Is formed, which is a conventional tubular unit containing various and separate containers of the same sample. To perform various tests, the unit is placed centrally inside a special device, the device comprising a section 2 for holding a tubular element and a section 3 which can be connected to the section 2, comprising a receptacle 1 essentially designed to compress and break at its various locations, and section 4 with a small container disposed on its underside. The lower side is common to sections 2 and 3 and is suitably designed to capture a sample of the liquid to be analyzed. At least one of said sections or parts 2 and 3 is made of a transparent material, so that it is possible to read from outside the sample identification mark on the receptacle containing the sample. Become.

After a receptacle 1 with a thin wall, preferably made of a thin plastic material, is put in place and centered, the receptacle takes on various shapes. It is held in place by the pedestal 5 and under the action of the section 3 of the device, the action of which firstly results in the transverse compression of the receptacle 1 and the contact at several points Breaching the wall of the receptacle such that one location is suitably located near the lower end and the other location or other locations are located near the upper portion; It is possible that the inhalation of air allows the tube to be completely emptied. This has the effect of compressing section 3 over section 2,
This causes the tube to be squeezed and the contents of the tube to be carried in the form of a liquid mass 6 into the lower container or section 4,
The liquid mass is then capable of receiving reagents, and the small container can be partially removed if necessary and can undergo further handling, these operations being illustrated in FIG. This is done by a pipette system such as the pipette needle 7 described. Alternatively, a single lower hole made in a manner that prevents air inhalation,
It is also possible to empty the tube by squeezing the tube.

Preferably, sections 2 and 3 of the device are hinged to one another at lower section 4. However, a key feature of the device is that the two sections 2 and 3 can be moved relative to each other to clamp and compress the inner tubular receptacle or container 1 and thus both sections Can be changed. For example, they may be linearly movable, in the form of a container part and a lid part hinged laterally, or
May be arranged in other ways to achieve the required purpose,
Their purpose is to: That is, a receptacle with a thin wall that carries a sample for analysis is to be correctly centered, that the liquid contained in the tubular receptacle is collected, and That the various components of the device are configured to ensure that the receptacle is ruptured and squeezed, the unit configured in this manner is liquid tight and the test tube liquid tight As well as providing what allows the device to be used in later analysis stages.

In order to achieve the desired purpose, the device according to the invention comprises an inner passage 8 which is substantially concentric with the liquid mass 6 in the lower section or small container 4,
This makes it possible to insert the pipette needle 7.
Similarly, the device is provided with means for cutting the tubular element, said means being configured in the form of sharp or other types of projecting protrusions, knife parts, etc. In the drawings, reference numerals 9, 10 and 1
Indicated by 1. One of these parts cuts into the tubular part near the lower end to provide an outlet for the contents of the receptacle, while if other means are provided, they empty the receptacle. To assist in the process, the receptacle is located at a position corresponding to a higher portion of the receptacle to allow air to be drawn into the receptacle. In the case shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the part or section 2 is provided with projecting projections 9, 10 and 11, and the element or section 3 is provided with corresponding recesses 12, 13 and And has 14,
The part for cutting is partially inserted into the tubular part 1 for the purpose of breaking the wall of the tubular part 1,
Will be possible.

For the purpose of holding the two parts of the device, section 2 and section 3, when the tearing action and the squeezing action are performed, the side flaps 15 or other similar parts are removed from one of the sections. And the side flaps can be provided in FIG.
Are designed to be able to be inserted into the recesses indicated by, and the same effect is achieved by other fastening parts which ensure that the two parts are sufficiently secured to each other to each other. Obtained similarly.

The desired effect can be obtained by hingedly connecting the two sections 2 and 3 by means of a suitable axle pin 17 shown in FIGS.

[0026]

As mentioned above, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises a first step of centering and axially holding the tubular element inside the breaking and drawing device, and a lower end of the tubular element. And a final step of compressing the receptacle to squeeze liquid retained within the receptacle, the next step being transverse to breaking at a location proximate the part, the empty tubular receptacle comprising Staying inside, the device is suitably made of a transparent material so that the used receptacle can act as a holder for a mark identifying the sample, so that the sample is automatically It can be identified visually and automatically in the analyzer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device according to the invention, which makes it possible to recognize the internal visibility of the tubular element, because it is transparent.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, showing the components in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, showing the parts in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the device according to the present invention, showing the position of the pipette needle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 receptacle (container) 2 section 3 section 4 section 5 base 6 liquid mass 7 pipette needle 8 internal passage 9 protrusion 10 protrusion 11 protrusion 12 recess 13 recess 14 recess 15 side flap 16 recess 17 shaft pin

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method of removing and handling a biological fluid from a thin-walled tubular receptacle in which they are retained, wherein the thin-walled tubular element is used to hold a sample of the fluid. The tubular element can be provided with an identification mark on the outside and inserted inside a device having a transparent wall so that it can be centered in the lateral and axial directions, the device comprising a receptacle At a point close to the lower end of the receptacle to empty the container and, optionally, at a point close to the upper end of the receptacle to provide an air inlet; Compressing the tubular element transversely to squeeze it, the tubular element being said thin-walled receptacle As the identification data of the sample that is contained within can still read,
A method characterized in that it remains fixed in the tearing and squeezing device. 2. The method according to claim 1,
Apparatus for removing and handling biological fluids from a thin-walled tubular receptacle in which they are retained, wherein one section is movable relative to another section, coupled to each other. At least two sections obtained, comprising first means for radially and axially holding a thin-walled tubular receptacle containing a sample of liquid, provided with second means, the apparatus comprising: The two sections have a thin-walled receptacle,
By its second means, it ruptures at the desired location, said section being configured such that the thin-walled receptacle can be squeezed after it has been breached, and which directly receives the thin-walled receptacle. Is to facilitate reading from outside an identification mark identifying the receptacle holding the sample to be analyzed,
An apparatus having a transparent property. 3. Both sections of the device are fluid-tightly connected to the container section, so that the container section can receive the liquid to be analyzed, which is held in a thin-walled receptacle. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that: 4. The two connecting sections of the device and the container section for receiving the liquid to be analyzed constitute a unit made of plastic material, so that the two main sections of the device are Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that they are hinged to one another and to the container section. 5. The two sections are hinged to each other and one of them is
4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device is integral with a container section for receiving a liquid to be analyzed. 6. The device according to claim 2, wherein one of the two sections holds an axial tube allowing access of a pipette needle. . 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of said sections is provided with a cutting element which can break or pierce the receptacle holding the sample to be analyzed at the required location. Claim 2
Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 5. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein one section of the device is provided with a recess cooperating with a cutting element of another section. 9. A retaining means is provided between the two integral sections to enable them to be locked in place after engaging each other with each other. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the apparatus comprises: 10. The two integral sections and the container section may be engaged to form a unit,
Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the overall shape of the unit is similar to that of a test tube.