KR101265066B1 - Medium vessel for specimen transport and microorganism culturing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A culture media container for specimen transportation and microorganism culturing is provided to minimize contamination when the culture media is collected for clinical and nonclinical tests and subculturing by using cultured microorganisms. CONSTITUTION: A culture medium container for specimen transportation and microorganism culturing comprises a culture media drawing tube(10), a lid(40), an upper main body(20), a culture media collecting tube(30), and a lower main body(60). The culture media collecting tube is combined in the lower part of the upper main body, has an open top, and is made of a transparent material. The lower main body has an open top and bottom parts and provides a microorganism collecting space inside by having a hollow part which connects the top and bottom parts. In a cutting protrusion, a fixing groove is formed at the lower part in order for a microorganism collecting tool to be inserted and fixed. Screw threads or thread grooves are formed at connecting parts of the upper main body, the collecting tube, and the lower main body in order for the lower main body to be attached and detached from the upper main body and culture media collecting tube.

Description

Medium container for transporting specimens and cultivating microorganisms {MEDIUM VESSEL FOR SPECIMEN TRANSPORT AND MICROORGANISM CULTURING}

The present invention relates to a medium container for transporting specimens and microorganisms, and more particularly, to transport and preserve microorganisms, and to provide a culture medium for bacteria by culturing in a transport medium. It relates to a culture medium container.

All samples for microbiological testing and disease testing should be sent to a laboratory immediately after collection to obtain the most accurate results. However, when samples cannot be immediately tested, they should be preserved in a suitable environment or transported to a suitable place.

Methods used for transporting specimens include syringes, sterile plastic containers, and plastic tubes, depending on the type of specimen (Blood, Pus, Urine, Stool, etc) and the culture environment of the bacteria being transported (aerobic, anaerobic, virus, chlamydia, etc.). And a lot of commercialized transport medium containers consisting of sterilized disposable brush or cotton swab and the like.

The conventional transport medium container is a product designed only for transporting microbial specimens. In the preparation for collecting the microbial sample, a sealed tube containing one transport medium in one packing unit and a brush or swab for sampling are separately separated. Is supplied. In other words, the tube (reagent) and the like stored in the sample and the brush or cotton swab that is submerged in the medium after the sample must be separately packaged separately, because the individual packaging is necessary to prevent pre-contamination by other bacteria.

If the package is left unpacked for a long time, the brush or cotton swab or medium may be contaminated with other bacteria, and thus, the container container left for a long time should be discarded, which causes waste of resources.

In addition, when the sample is collected, the hygiene gloves are opened and the package is collected. When the number of specimens is collected, it is very cumbersome for the inspector to open the sealed bags one by one.

In addition, the conventional transport medium container is a product for the purpose of collecting and transporting only microbial specimens, it is true that there is a limit to the culture of bacteria in the transport medium container itself.

For this purpose, a sample transport container combining a tube containing a sample medium (reagent) and a container containing a brush or a cotton swab has been proposed. However, such a structure has a structure in which the medium (reagent) is brushed due to external factors such as vibration or impact during distribution. Care must be taken as there is a risk of leakage into or out of the container with the swab.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1090140 (2011.12.06 announcement) Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-0987952 (2010.10.18 announcement)

Therefore, an object of the present invention can be cultured with the collection of specimens, it is possible to visually check the presence or absence of the culture, and to obtain contamination when obtaining a culture medium for serial examination, clinical and non-clinical examination using cultured microorganisms It is to provide a medium container for sample transport and microbial culture that can be minimized.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, in one embodiment of the present invention in the medium container containing a microorganism collecting means for storing the collected microorganisms, the microorganism culture solution storage space is formed therein, closed at the bottom A culture medium introduction tube in which a thin film is formed, and a cavity coupled to a lower part of the culture medium introduction tube, open at the top and the bottom thereof, and connecting the upper part and the lower part, are formed in accordance with a slide movement by an external force. Provided is a medium container for sample transport and microbial culture, including a top body having a cutting protrusion inserted into the inside, and a lower portion of the top body, a culture acquisition tube formed of an open and transparent material.

According to the present invention, it is possible to preserve and transport the collected specimens, and to incubate the microorganisms directly in the culture medium and to easily collect them.

In addition, the present invention prevents the culture solution from flowing out through the introduction of the optimized projections. This has the effect of solving the problem that the conventional specimen transport container is torn off the reagent container through the cutter to provide the reagent down to the outside of the culture solution due to the instability of the torn portion.

In addition, the present invention, by introducing a microbial culture medium acquisition tube, it is possible to prevent contamination from the harvesting tools, such as when collecting the culture medium, it is possible to easily obtain the culture medium in an optimized environment.

In addition, the present invention is to fasten the microorganism collecting means after the microorganism collecting means to collect the microorganism collecting means into the medium container, and then simply press the culture introduction tube to cut the thin film is submerged in the culture medium so that the culture of the microorganism can be easily carried out.

In addition, the present invention is a space for culturing the microorganism is made of a transparent material, it is possible to directly check the presence or absence of a specific microbial species according to the type of culture medium without removing the microorganism collecting means to the outside of the medium container.

Furthermore, the present invention does not need to separately inoculate the collected samples or inoculate the purchased medium because the microorganisms are directly cultured in a transport medium, thus saving resources, thereby increasing economical benefits.

In addition, the present invention can provide a stable performance by removing the possibility of mixing in the distribution process by packaging the culture medium and the microorganism collecting means in a physically completely isolated state.

1 is a perspective view showing a discharge container according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a medium container according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the use state of the discharge container according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a medium container for transporting specimens and culture of microorganisms (hereinafter, abbreviated as "medium container") according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view showing a medium container according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the medium container according to the present invention.

1 and 2, the culture medium container according to the present invention is a culture medium introduction tube 10 and a closed thin film formed at the bottom of the microbial culture solution storage space therein, and the lower portion of the culture medium introduction tube (10) It is coupled to the upper body 20 is provided with a cutting projection 22 for cutting the closed thin film therein, and the culture medium acquisition tube 30 is coupled to the lower portion of the upper body 20 and made of a transparent material, , Optionally, the lid 40 provided on the culture medium introduction tube 10, the connection tube 50 provided between the culture solution introduction tube 10 and the upper body 20, and the upper body 20 and The lower body 60 is provided between the culture medium acquisition tube 30 may be further included.

Each component of the present invention (culture medium introduction tube, upper body, culture medium acquisition tube, lid, connecting tube, lower body) may be configured in a removable form by the user, the structure is not limited.

Specifically, each of the components may be formed with a screw thread or a screw groove in the parts in contact with each other to reinforce the bonding force of the parts in contact with each other, it may be fastened to each other through rotation in the contacted state.

For example, when the lower portion of the culture medium introduction tube 10 and the upper portion of the upper body 20 are combined, the culture medium introduction tube 10 is formed with a screw thread on the inner circumferential surface or the outer circumferential surface of the lower portion in contact with the upper body 20. The upper body 20 may be provided with a screw groove on the inner circumferential surface or the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion in contact with the culture solution introduction tube 10.

Hereinafter, each component will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a culture solution introduction tube (10).

The culture solution introduction tube (10) is to provide the culture medium 14 in accordance with the user's operation and built the microbial culture medium 14, for this purpose is formed inside the microbial culture solution storage space, the closed thin film at the bottom Is formed.

In addition, the closed thin film is formed integrally with the culture solution introduction tube 10 in the form of a thin film made of synthetic resin, for example, polypropylene (PP). The closed thin film is not particularly limited in thickness because the size of the external force required for cutting may vary depending on the material, but may be formed to have a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.7 mm for general use.

In addition, the culture medium storage space is preferably formed to a size such that the microbial culture medium 14 can store about 1.2ml, but is not limited thereto.

As a specific embodiment, the culture solution introduction tube 10 according to the present invention may be formed to be provided with a locking projection 12 along the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion. The locking protrusion 12 is a structure for preventing the separation from the connection tube 50, it is preferably formed to have a constant thickness for stable coupling with the connection tube (50).

In addition, the culture solution introduction tube 10 may be configured to have an open top structure so as to smoothly change the culture solution 14 stored in the culture solution storage space according to the intended use.

If necessary, the culture solution 14 may include a sterilized sample transport preservative. More specifically, the culture solution 14 is not limited in its kind including a conventionally known composition such as strain culture, medium for preservation, and the like, and the following kinds of compositions may be used.

1) Carry & Blair Type Transport Medium

2) Amies Transport Medium

3) Amies Transport Medium

4) Stuart's Transport Medium

5) Virus Transport Medium

6) Potassium Phosphate Buffer Solution (pH7.0)

7) Medium using Chromophors and Fluorophors substrate

8) Chlamidia Transport Medium

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a lid 40.

The lid 40 is coupled to the top of the culture solution introduction tube 10 to seal the culture solution 14 introduced into the culture solution introduction tube 10 from the outside, if any purpose can be achieved if any lid You may use it.

For example, the lid 40 has an insertion groove having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the culture introduction tube 10 at the bottom thereof, thereby inserting the upper portion of the culture introduction tube 10 downward to allow the culture introduction tube 10 to be inserted therein. It can be combined to surround the top of the).

In addition, the lid 40 may be made of a material such as soft polyethylene (PE).

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper body 20.

The upper body 20 is provided to move the culture solution 14 of the culture solution introduction tube 10 in which the culture solution 14 is built into the culture solution acquisition tube 30 according to the user's selection.

More specifically, it is coupled to the lower portion of the culture introduction tube 10, the top and bottom is configured to have an open structure, the hollow connecting the top and the bottom is formed. The upper body 20 is formed to have an inner diameter equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the culture solution introduction tube 10 so that the culture solution introduction tube 10 moving by external force can perform a slide movement. The upper body 20 may be made of a material such as PP.

As an embodiment, the medium container according to the present invention, if the inner diameter of the upper body 20 is formed to be the same as the outer diameter of the culture medium introduction tube 10, a portion of the culture medium introduction tube 10 is in contact with the upper body 20 A mounting structure (not shown) is provided on the upper body 20 and the culture medium introduction tube 10 so as to maintain a stable state before use of the medium container.

More specifically, the mounting structure may be composed of a plurality of projections and the projection insertion groove into which the projection is inserted, the projection and the projection insertion groove may be provided in the upper body 20 and the culture solution introduction tube 10, respectively. In other words, when the protrusion insertion groove is provided on the inner surface of the upper body 20, the protrusion is provided on the outer surface of the culture solution introduction tube 10, and when the protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the upper body 20, Protrusion insertion groove may be provided on the inner surface.

As another embodiment, the medium container according to the present invention, when the inner diameter of the upper body 20 is formed in a size smaller than the outer diameter of the culture medium introduction tube 10, the friction force between the culture medium introduction tube 10 and the upper body 20 This action makes it possible to stably maintain the state before use of the medium container. Since the frictional force is formed to a level that can be overcome by the pressure applied by the adult, when the user presses the culture introduction tube 10, the lower portion of the culture introduction tube 10 may be moved into the upper body 20. have.

In addition, the upper body 20 is provided with a cutting protrusion 22 inserted into the lower portion of the culture medium introduction tube 10 in accordance with the slide movement by the external force. The cutting protrusion 22 is for moving the culture solution embedded in the culture solution introduction tube 10 downward through a closed thin film formed at the lower end of the culture solution introduction tube 10, and if any position can be achieved, It may be arranged in.

However, the cutting protrusion 22 is preferably mounted on the inner center of the upper body 20 for smooth cutting of the closed thin film. At this time, in order to mount the cutting protrusion 22 in the center of the upper body 20 may be provided with a cradle for connecting the inside of the upper body 20 and the cutting protrusion 22. If the holder is an annular holder for sealing the inside of the cutting protrusion 22 and the upper body 20, the interior of the holder so as not to interfere with the movement of the culture solution 14 moving downward from the culture introduction tube 10. It is preferable that a plurality of through-holes are formed therein.

The cutting protrusion 22 and the cradle are preferably formed integrally with the upper body 20.

In addition, the culture solution stored in the culture solution introduction tube 10 flows downward along the cutting protrusion 22 and then flows down the microorganism collecting means 24 to reach the lower portion of the culture solution acquisition tube 30. As such, the cutting protrusion 22 serves to provide a movement path of the culture solution 14 so that the culture solution 14 does not leak out of the medium container.

In addition, the cutting protrusion 22 may be configured to sharply the end portion for the cutting of the closed thin film, it is possible to change the design in any form to easily cut the closed thin film.

In a particular aspect, the cutting protrusion 22 according to the present invention may be configured in a cylindrical shape having a conical structure at the top for cutting a stable closed thin film. This conical structure increases the area in contact with the closed thin film even though the pressing force acting on the culture introduction tube 10 is large, while concentrating the pressure on the closed thin film at one point so that the cutting of the closed thin film can be generated in a stable size. Works. In addition, the cylindrical is to pierce the culture medium introduction tube 10, the culture medium introduction tube 10 while maintaining a stable for blocking the leakage of the culture solution in advance.

If necessary, a fixing bar (not shown) for fixing one end of the microorganism collecting means 24 may be provided inside the upper body 20.

More specifically, the fixing bar is provided with a fixing hole penetrated in the vertical direction, the fixing hole is formed by at least one support rib formed in various forms such as radial or cross. That is, a space is naturally formed between the plurality of support ribs having a radial shape from the center of the fixing bar.

On the other hand, the upper body 20 may be a fixing groove formed in the lower portion of the cutting projection 22 instead of the fixing bar. This fixing groove serves to insert and fix one end of the microorganism collecting means 24.

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a connection tube (50).

The connection tube 50 is provided between the culture medium introduction tube 10 and the upper body 20, the structure is provided to prevent the culture medium introduction tube 10 is separated from the upper body 20. The connecting tube 50 may be made of a material such as PP.

More specifically, the connection tube 50 has a top and bottom open and a hollow connecting the top and the bottom is formed, the lower portion so that the engaging projection 12 of the culture medium introduction tube 10 is seated therein. Steps are formed in the.

An opening formed in the lower portion of the connection tube 50 is inserted into the upper portion of the culture solution introduction tube 10, and the lower portion of the culture solution introduction tube 10 is seated inside the connection tube 50 by a step. Thereafter, the upper portion of the upper body 20 is inserted into and coupled to the opening formed in the lower portion of the connecting tube 50.

As shown in Figure 3, the discharge container in the initial state because the outer diameter of the locking protrusion 12 is larger than the inner diameter of the upper body 20, the lower portion of the locking protrusion 12 is not inserted into the upper body 20. It is kept seated on the connecting tube (50). However, when a pressing force is applied from the outside, the lower portion of the culture medium introduction tube 10 is inserted into the upper body 20, and the lower portion of the culture solution introduction tube 10 passes through the cutting protrusion 22 through a slide movement. The thin film is cut. As such, when the closed thin film is cut, the culture solution 14 embedded in the culture solution introduction tube 10 flows to support the microorganism collecting means 24 to culture the microorganisms collected by the microorganism collecting means 24.

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a culture medium acquisition tube (30).

The culture medium acquisition tube 30 is coupled to the lower portion of the upper body 20, the microorganisms collected through the microorganism collecting means 24 is located, the upper portion is opened to move downward from the culture medium introduction tube (10) The culture medium 14 provides a space for culturing the microorganisms.

In addition, the culture medium acquisition tube 30 is made of a transparent material so as to check the state of the cultured bacteria through the culture medium 14, to separate the microorganism collecting means 24 carrying the cultured bacteria to the outside of the medium container. The upper body 20 is configured to be removable so that the structure. In this case, a transparent plastic material such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), or general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) may be used as the transparent material.

In this way, applying a colorless transparent tube to the culture medium acquisition tube 30 can not only confirm the presence or absence of culture of the bacteria, but also directly determine the presence or absence of a specific microbial species depending on the type of culture medium 14 to be introduced. Provide effect.

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a lower body (60).

The lower main body 60 is provided between the upper main body 20 and the culture medium acquisition tube 30, and is configured to be detachable from the upper main body 20 and the culture medium acquisition tube 30 according to a user's operation. At this time, the lower body 60 may be formed in a tubular shape.

If necessary, the lower body 60 may be formed integrally with the culture medium acquisition tube (30).

The lower body 60 serves to secure a seating space of the microorganism collecting means 24. In other words, when the microorganism collecting means 24 having a relatively short length is used, the lower body 60 may be unnecessary, but the microorganism collecting means 24 having a longer length than the culture medium acquisition tube 30 is used. In this case, it is necessary.

If necessary, a fixing bar (not shown) for fixing one end of the microorganism collecting means 24 inside the lower body 60 may be provided. This fixing bar is configured to have the same structure as the fixing bar described with the upper body.

1 and 2, the culture vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a microorganism collecting means 24.

The microorganism collecting means 24 is that one end is coupled to the upper body 20 or the lower body 60 and the other end corresponding to the one end is located in the culture medium acquisition tube 30, and serves to collect and store microorganisms. To perform.

In addition, the microorganism collecting means 24 stores the collected microorganisms at the other end located in the culture medium acquisition tube 30, and freely falls from the culture medium introduction tube 10 to the culture medium 14 filling the culture medium acquisition tube 30. The other end is supported.

The microorganism collecting means 24 may be used, but not limited to a cotton swab, a brush, and the like. In the drawings of the present invention, only the form of a cotton swab as the microorganism collecting means 24, but in order to collect the intravaginal fluid or cells of the uterine tissue, a brush may be used instead of the cotton swab.

As one embodiment, the microorganism collecting means 24 according to the present invention, when a fixing groove is formed in the lower portion of the cutting protrusion 22, one end is inserted into the fixing groove is fixed, the other end corresponding to the one end culture medium It is located in the acquisition tube (30).

As another embodiment, the microorganism collecting means 24 according to the present invention, when the fixing bar is formed inside the lower body 60 instead of the fixing groove of the lower cutting projection 22, one end is inserted into the fixing hole of the fixing bar It is fixed and the other end corresponding to the one end is located in the culture medium acquisition tube (30).

While the conventional sample transport container is configured to cut the thin film of the reagent container by moving the pressure cover with a cutter in a fixed state of the reagent container in which the reagent is stored, the culture container according to the present invention is a culture medium introduction tube in which the culture medium is stored. There is a difference that the closed thin film is cut by the cutting protrusion having a fixed position after it is moved to the inside of the upper body.

In other words, the conventional sample transport container has a gap formed between the reagent container and the fixed bar provided at the lower portion of the reagent container, so that a problem in which a reagent freely falling downward flows out through the gap is caused. In the present invention, the culture solution introduction tube itself is moved to the inside of the upper body, and then the culture solution is moved downward, so that the culture solution does not flow out because there is no separate gap in the upper body.

Furthermore, the present invention is configured so that the culture medium acquisition tube providing a culture space of the microorganism has a transparent color, unlike the prior art, it is possible to visually observe the culture state of the specimen without separating the microorganism collecting means to the outside.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It can be understood that it is possible.

10: culture medium introduction tube 12: jamming protrusion
14: culture medium 20: the upper body
22: cutting protrusion 24: microorganism collecting means
30: culture medium acquisition tube 40: lid
50: connecting tube 60: lower body

Claims (6)

In the medium container containing a microorganism collecting means for storing the collected microorganisms,
A culture medium introduction tube having a microbial culture solution storage space formed therein, a closed thin film formed at a lower end thereof, and an upper portion of the culture solution introduction tube configured to smoothly change the culture solution stored in the culture solution storage space according to the use purpose;
A lid coupled to an upper end of the culture solution introduction tube to seal the culture solution introduced into the culture solution introduction tube from the outside;
It is coupled to the lower portion of the culture medium introduction tube, the top and bottom is open and the hollow is formed to connect the upper and lower, therein is provided with a cutting projection inserted into the culture medium introduction tube according to the slide movement by the external force therein Upper body;
A culture medium acquisition tube coupled to a lower portion of the upper body, the upper portion of which is open and made of a transparent material; And
It is provided between the upper body and the culture broth acquisition tube, the upper and lower openings are formed to form a hollow connecting the upper and lower comprises a lower main body providing a built-in space of the microorganism collecting means,
The cutting protrusion is formed with a fixing groove in the lower portion so that the microorganism collecting means can be fitted, the upper body and the acquisition tube and the lower body is in contact with each other so that the lower body is detachable to the upper body and the culture medium acquisition tube. A medium container for transporting specimens and culturing microorganisms, characterized in that threads or screw grooves are formed in the chamber. The method of claim 1,
The culture solution introduction tube is provided with a locking projection along the outer peripheral surface of the lower,
Sample medium and microbial culture medium container provided between the culture medium introduction tube and the upper body, further comprising a connection tube in which the step is formed to seat the engaging projection therein. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting projection
Specimens transport and microorganism culture medium container is mounted on the inner center of the upper body, the upper portion is formed in a cylindrical shape having a conical structure. The method of claim 1,
The microorganism collecting means is a sample container for transporting and microbial culture, characterized in that the brush or swab. According to claim 1, wherein the culture medium acquisition tube
PS, PP, PC, GPPS for transporting specimens and microbial culture, characterized in that consisting of any one material selected from the group consisting of.

Images