NL1043419B1

NL1043419B1 - Device for collecting a biospecimen

Info

Publication number: NL1043419B1
Application number: NL1043419A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Cornelis Hoogerheide Adriaan
Original assignee: A C Hoogerheide Holding B V
Priority date: 2019-10-14
Filing date: 2019-10-14
Publication date: 2021-06-17

Abstract

A device and supporting means for collecting a biospecimen when using an endoscope and a vacuum pump. The device comprises a holder and one or more insertable trays with wells. The device is configured to be handled, and the biospecimen can be inspected, in low ambient light conditions. The holder is transparent and has a socket for connecting a light fixture. The light fixture is removable, and manually or automatically switched on and off. The holder is designed such, that a tray can be inserted flawlessly by feeling. The tray is symmetric about the x-axis and/or the Y-axis. A sealing prevents air leakage and accidental dropping out of the tray. Handles are provided for secure and easy handling of the tray. The wells are preferably perforated and removable. 1043419

Description

DEVICE FOR COLLECTING A BIOSPECIMEN

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a device for collecting of a biospecimen. More particular the invention relates to a set of features facilitating handling of the device and inspecting of the biospecimen.

BACKGROUND Such a device is known in the technique. The device is used to collect or absorb a biospecimen such as a polyp and removed from the body of a patient via an endoscope. A pump provides the suction through the endoscope via an inlet tube to the device by and an outlet tube from the device to a pump.

One example of a patent application is NL2021759 by applicant, which is summarized as a device for collecting a specimen configured for inserting one biospecimen collection tray after another in a single holder in a sequence, whereby a new tray is inserted at one end of a tube-like holder and pushes a tray already inserted to a position in the direction of the other end of the holder. This way, trays may be entered in a continuous sequence and be also inspected at a position away from inlet and outlet tubes. A tray removed from one end of the holder may be re-entered at the other end of the holder after removing the biospecimen from a well in the tray.

In practice handling of such a device is rather difficult. On the one hand a user (often a specialist) needs to manipulate multiple instruments, and devices, and be alert for the arrival of a biospecimen in the device. On the other hand, the user needs to be able to inspect the biospecimen often immediately, in order to decide for further procedures.

An extra complication is caused by a lack of sufficient ambient light. The reason for this is that in the endoscopy room it is important that the overhead light is dimmed during the procedure to maximize viewing of images on the endoscopy screen.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for collecting a biospecimen which is configured for ease of handling, prevention of mistakes when handled, and which may also be flawlessly manipulated by feeling, or in low light conditions. The object is realized by the following clauses.

1. A device for collecting a biospecimen, the device comprising a holder and one or more trays arranged for being inserted in the holder, said one or more trays each comprising one or more wells arranged for receiving the biospecimen, characterized in that, the device is arranged for handling of the device and inspecting of the biospecimen in low ambient light conditions, whereby: - the holder is at least partly transparent; - the holder is provided with a socket which allows connecting of a light fixture comprising one or more light sources; - the socket is arranged for positioning the light fixture in such a manner that the one or more light sources illuminate the one or more wells through one or more transparent parts of the holder.

2. The device according to clause 1, characterized in that the holder comprises an inlet tube positioned away from the line of sight towards the one or more wells.

3. The device according to clause 1 or 2, characterized in that the holder comprises one or more magnifying glasses in the line of sight towards the one or more wells.

4. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the holder comprises a funnel shaped open end for receiving a tray of the one or more trays.

5. Alight fixture for use in the device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the light fixture comprises a connection means arranged for connecting the light source to the socket, and one or more light sources for illuminating the one or more wells.

6. A light fixture according to clause 5, characterized in that, when the light fixture is connected to the socket by the connection means, the light fixture is configured for directing the light of the one or more light sources though the one or more transparent parts of the holder on to the one or more wells.

7. The light fixture according to clause 5 or 6, characterized in that the light fixture comprises a switch for controlling the light source, said switch arranged for being operated automatically when the light fixture is connected to the socket.

8. The light fixture according to any one of the clauses 5-7, characterized in that the light fixture comprises a control unit, arranged for controlling the light source.

9. The light fixture according to clause 8, characterized in that the control unit comprises a light sensitive sensor, whereby the control unit is arranged for adjusting the brightness level automatically for low and high ambient light conditions as detected by the sensor.

10.The light fixture according to any one of the clauses 5-9, characterized in that the holder is arranged for holding multiple trays, and the light fixture is arranged for illuminating the one or more wells of the multiple trays.

11.A tray for use in the device in accordance with any one of the clauses 1-4, characterized in that the holder comprises a tube, and the tray is arranged for being inserted in longitudinal direction into the holder from an opening at a first end of the holder, whereby the tray comprises one or more wells.

12. The tray according to clause 11, characterized in that the tray is symmetric about the X-axis and/or about the Y-axis.

13. The tray according to clause 11 or 12, characterized in that the tray comprises a first well at an upper side of the tray, and a second well at the bottom side of the tray at a mirrored position.

14. The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-13, characterized in that the tray comprises a first handle at one longitudinal end of the tray and a second handle at the other longitudinal end of the tray at a mirrored position.

15.The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-14, characterized in that the well is removable.

16. The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-15, characterized in that the well is perforated.

17.The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-16, characterized in that the well comprises a through hole, allowing the biospecimen to pass through.

18. The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-17, characterized in that the tray comprises a resilient wall, said wall arranged for providing an air-tight enclosure of the one or more wells when inserted in the holder.

19. The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-18, characterized in that the tray comprises a lock arranged for securing the one or more wells into a fixed position, when the tray is inserted in the holder, and arranged for releasing the one or more wells when the tray is removed from the holder.

20.The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-19, characterized in that the well comprises an indicator, indicating the size of the biospecimen, said indicator indicating the size of the area which is not obscured by the biospecimen in the well.

21.The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-20, characterized in that the indicator comprises a luminescence substance.

22. The tray according to any one of the clauses 11-21, characterized in that the well comprises a top surface which is made of non-stick material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figure shows a view of embodiments in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 1 shows a device with a holder, multiple trays and a light fixture. FIGURE 2 Shows the device with a connected light fixture FIGURE 3 shows a connectable light fixture

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is now described by the following aspects and embodiments, with reference to the figures. FIGURE 1 shows a shows a device 100 with a holder 101, multiple trays 300a,b and a light fixture 200. The device 100 comprises a tube-like holder 101. One or more trays 300a,b may be inserted in holder 101. Holder 101 is preferably open at both ends, but preferably a tray 300a,b is inserted from e.g. the right open end in the figure and moved in the direction of arrow 501. This way, the tray may be placed between inlet tube 102 and outlet tube 103. In the example figure tray 300b is positioned between said tubes 102,103. Trays 300a,b are each provided with a well 301a and 301b respectively.

An endoscope may be used to remove a biospecimen such as a polyp. By using 5 a pump (not shown) and applying a suction force on outlet tube 103, the suction force is transferred to inlet tube 102. This causes the freshly cut biospecimen to be sucked towards well 301b as in the example. Wells 301a,b may be provided with a perforation which allows liquids and air to pass through when suction force is applied and catch the biospecimen by the perforation which acts as an air grate.

Holder 101 is at least partly made of transparent material, which allows a user to inspect the biospecimen when caught in a well 301a,b. To facilitate inspection magnifying glasses 104a,b may be provided in the line of sight, and preferably integrated in the transparent material of holder 101.

Considering that a user of the device operates under conditions which require full attention to the patient and at the same time needs to handle various devices used for the endoscopy, and considering that light conditions are often not optimal as described before, handling of the holder and trays is therefore often done by feeling rather than by eye-hand coordination. The invention therefore provides a fail-safe solution, by for example providing that the opening of the holder is shaped as a funnel, which facilitates insertion of a tray 300a,b. Other measures for the purpose of handling are proposed in the following.

Tray 300a,b may have a preferably symmetric design. The design may be symmetric about X-axis and/or Y-axis. This means that the tray has the same shape and functionality at the top side and on the bottom side. Tray 300a,b may therefore be inserted in holder 101 upside down as well, without losing functionality. Holder 101 and trays 300a,b, however, are preferably further designed such, that inserting tray 300a,b sideways is prevented, thus preventing that well 104a,b is not aligned correctly with tubes 102,103. Furthermore, the tray is preferably designed such, that it can be inserted with either end first without losing functionality. Due to the symmetrical shape, trays 300a,b have a shallow and easily accessible bottom to take the polyp with tweezers or fingers out of the tray. This also prevents hidden or unreachable corners and/or edges where the polyp is inaccessible.

Trays 300a,b are preferably provided with handles 302a,b and 312a,b respectively. This facilitates easy handling of trays 300a,b, without accidently touching the well, or the biospecimen. This also allows tray 300a,b to be easily pushed in and out of holder 101, despite of a moving biospecimen as a result of continuous suction.

Handles 302a,b and 312,312b have preferably a larger offset than holder 101 to provide even better sealing and to prevent dust or dirt from entering holder 101, trays 300a,b and/or wells 301a,b. Because of the continuous negative pressure, all the liquid is sucked continuously away and does not remain behind handles 302a,b and 312a,b.

The outline of the tray 300a,b without the handles, is an offset of the inner wall of holder 101, which provides a good sealing of trays 300a,b in holder 101.

In Figure 1, tray 300b is inserted, taking the place of tray 300a, which was placed at the position between tubes 102,103 before tray 300b was pushed in. Preferably tray 302a is repositioned to a position where handle 302a is accessible for the user. The user may in this position inspect a biospecimen which is caught in well 301a. For this purpose, holder 101 is preferably transparent in at least a part of the line of sight.

To further facilitate controlled handling, holder 101 and/or trays 300a,b may be made of flexible, resilient and/or non-slip material, or may be provided with ridges at the outside, which prevent slipping out of one's hand.

Wells 301a,b have a perforated surface which allows for liquids and air to pass, but catches a biospecimen larger than the holes of the perforation.

When a biospecimen is collected in a well 301a,b, it is usually desired to take a measurement of the size of the biospecimen. For this purpose, an indicator is provided in tray 300a,b and/or in well 301a,b. Considering the dim light conditions, the indicator may comprise a luminescence substance which lights up.

Sealing ridges separate handles 302a,b and 312a,b from the well. Such a sealing ridge pushes against the inside wall of holder 101 and seals the well from the outside, while maintaining a negative pressure inside the holder. In the example, sealing ridges of tray 300b secure the low pressure. When tray 300b is moved in direction 502, the negative pressure is maintained, thus not interrupting the inspection. This way, in situations with one or two trays 300a,b or when moving the trays, the negative pressure is maintained at all times, and the biospecimen will not come into contact with the outside air. The sealing ridge also prevents a tray 300a,b from falling out of holder 101. This is very important as holder 101 is manipulated very often.

In order to further facilitate inspection of the biospecimen, one or more magnifying glasses 104a,b are provided at positions above the wells 301a,b in the line of sight. Wells 301a,b can therefore be inspected in multiple positions within holder 101. Inlet tube 102 and outlet tube 103 are positioned away from the line of sight and away from magnifying glasses 104a,b, for providing a clear view on wells 301a,b and the biospecimens caught.

A longitudinal rib may be provided in the inner wall of holder 101, running between the outer sealing ridges of a tray 300a,b. When the sealing ridge of a tray 300a,b is interrupted by the longitudinal rib, the vacuum is temporarily interrupted, which allows easy removing of a tray 300a,b from holder 101. This rib also gives the user feedback on the correct position of the tray at position. In addition, the rib serves as a closure between the vertical wall of a tray 300a,b and holder 101, which prevents the biospecimen to be sucked over the sides.

To further facilitate inspection of the biospecimen, a socket 150 at the outside of holder 101 is provided to which a light fixture 200 can be connected. Light fixture 200 has one or more light sources 201a,b, such as LEDs which illuminate preferably all trays 300a,b and wells 301 in multiple positions. The lights sources 201a,b may be switched on/off manually by a switch 202, or may be switched on automatically when connected to holder 101, and switched off when removed from holder 101. This may be done by a button 202, which is pressed when light fixture 200 is connected and depressed when removed.

A control unit (not shown) may be incorporated in light fixture 200 which switches light sources on/or off automatically. For this purpose, a light sensitive sensor may be added to light fixture 200. The control unit may also adjust brightness of light sources 201a,b in dependence of the ambient light brightness. The control unit may also switch off the light sources after a certain time after no movement has been detected.

Further embodiments of the invention comprise that wells 301a,b may have a through hole which allows a biospecimen to pass through and be sucked right through outlet tube 103 and to an external container for example.

Trays 300a,b may be removable from holder 101 and immediately put in a container, whereby the sealing ridge of the tray serves as seal which seals off the tray in the container. The biospecimen is then kept in formaldehyde and sent to a lab.

Wells 301a,b may also be removable from a tray 300a,b, which makes it possible to remove a well with a caught biospecimen, and replace it by an empty well. This way, the biospecimen does not need to be handled, and cannot be damaged. A recess may be provided in inside of the wall of holder 101, at a position, where a ridge of a tray 300a,b uniquely fits, thereby indicating that the tray is placed at the right position. This provides a haptic feedback to the user, and enables the user to insert a tray 300a,b to an optimal position by feeling. Visual indicators for the right position of a tray 300a,b may also be provided for visual confirmation when in doubt. FIGURE 2 shows the invented device 100 with a connected light fixture 200 and switch 202.

FIGURE 3 shows a light fixture 200. Housing 210 comprises light sources 201a,b and a switch 202. A bracket is provided which clamps around a holder 101. Housing 210 is pivotable around hinges 203a,b. Using such a bracket or comparable, the light fixture may be connected to many kinds of holders and devices.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that a person skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "to comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The article "the" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

An apparatus for collecting a biospecim, wherein the apparatus and a container comprise one or more receptacles arranged to be placed in the container, said one or more receptacles each comprising one or more cavities arranged for receiving the biospecim, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to handle the apparatus and inspect the bin specimen in low ambient light conditions, wherein: the container is at least partially transparent; - your holder is provided with a fitting with which a light fitting can be connected to one or more light sources; - the fitting is arranged for positioning the light fitting such that the one or more light sources illuminate one or more cavities through one or more transparent parts of the holder.

The device of claim 1, characterized in that the container includes an inlet tube positioned out of the way of the line of sight towards the one or more cavities.

The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container comprises one or more magnifying glasses in the line of sight to the one or more cavities.

The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container comprises a funnel-shaped opening for receiving a receptacle of the one or more receptacles.

A light fixture for use in the appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light fixture comprises a connector adapted to connect the light source to the fitting, and one or more light sources for illuminating the one or more light sources. more holies.

The light fixture according to claim 5, characterized in that when the light fixture is connected to the filling by the connecting means, the light fixture is configured to direct the light from the one or more light sources through the one or more transparent portions of the light fixture. holder on one or more holies.

The light fitting according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the light fitting has a switch for controlling the light source, which switch is arranged to be operated automatically when the lamp is connected to the filling,

The light fixture according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the light fixture comprises a control unit aimed at controlling the light source.

The light fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that the control unit comprises a light-weight sensor, the control unit being adapted to automatically adjust the brightness level for low and high ambient light conditions as detected by the sensor,

The light fitting according to any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that the holder is adapted to hold a plurality of receptacles, and the lighting fitting is adapted to illuminate the one or more cavities of the plurality of receptacles.

A receptacle for use in the device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the receptacle comprises a tube, and the receptacle is adapted to be inserted into the receptacle in a very direction from an opening at the end of the said receptacle. container, wherein the receptacle comprises one or more cavities.

12.0th receptacle according to claim 11, characterized in that the receptacle is symmetrical about the X-axis and/or about the Y-axis.

The receptacle according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the receptacle comprises a first concave at the top of the receptacle and a second concave at the bottom of the receptacle in a mirrored position,

The receptacle according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the receptacle has a first handle at one longitudinal end of the dish and a second handle at the other end of the dish in a mirrored position.

15. A receptacle according to any one of claims 11-14, characterized in that the cavity is removable.

The receptacle according to any one of claims 11-15, characterized in that the cavity is perforated. 17 The receptacle according to any one of claims 11-15, characterized in that the cavity comprises a passage of bile through which the biospaecimen can pass.

18. The receptacle according to any one of claims 11-17, characterized in that the receptacle comprises a resilient wall, which wall is adapted to provide an airtight enclosure of the six or more cavities when inserted into the container.

The receptacle according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the receptacle falls over a lock adapted to secure the zen or more cavities in a fixed position when the receptacle is placed in the container, and adapted to to release the one or more cavities when the receptacle is removed from the container.

The receptacle according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the hole comprises an indicator indicating the size of the biospecimen, walks indicator indicating the size of the area not covered by the biospacimen in the halle.

21. The receptacle according to any one of claims 11-20, characterized in that the indicator comprises a luminescent material.

The receptacle according to any one of claims 11 to 21, characterized in that the cavity comprises an upper surface made of non-stick material.