WO1996015653A2 - Dispositif de retenue de fioles - Google Patents

Dispositif de retenue de fioles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996015653A2
WO1996015653A2 PCT/US1995/013960 US9513960W WO9615653A2 WO 1996015653 A2 WO1996015653 A2 WO 1996015653A2 US 9513960 W US9513960 W US 9513960W WO 9615653 A2 WO9615653 A2 WO 9615653A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vials
retainer
planar surface
contents
block
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/013960
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1996015653A3 (fr
WO1996015653A9 (fr
Inventor
Gary Filimon
Patrick Pezzoli
Original Assignee
The Immune Response Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The Immune Response Corporation filed Critical The Immune Response Corporation
Publication of WO1996015653A2 publication Critical patent/WO1996015653A2/fr
Publication of WO1996015653A3 publication Critical patent/WO1996015653A3/fr
Publication of WO1996015653A9 publication Critical patent/WO1996015653A9/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
    • B01L9/06—Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus intended for laboratory use.
  • Scintillation counters are routinely used for guantitating low-level radiation such as 3 H, 14 C, 35 S, and 32 P-containing compounds to determine the results of these experiments or medical testing.
  • Radioactive samples from biological experiments are first collected on small filters, which are placed in scintillation vials for counting.
  • Commercially available scintillation vials are glass or plastic vials of various sizes, which are available with or without screw-on caps.
  • scintillation vials containing radioactive filters are placed in racks which are inserted in the scintillation counters.
  • the vials containing the radioactive filters After counting, the vials containing the radioactive filters must be discarded as radioactive waste. In a large laboratory, hundreds or even thousands of vials can be used daily for counting radioactive samples. The consequence is the generation of a large amount of marginally contaminated solid waste which must be treated as radioactive waste.
  • Radioactive waste of this type must be disposed of at specially designated sites in each state.
  • the present invention provides a vial retainer which engages the top portion of one or more vials.
  • the vial retainer is used to engage a rack of scintillation vials in a scintillation counter, allowing for the simultaneous removal of a group of vials, and facilitating the removal of the vials' contents without necessitating the disposal of the vials themselves.
  • the retainer is a flat solid block of material having a series of evenly spaced widening apertures extending through the block between a top planar surface and a bottom planar surface.
  • Figure 1A shows a top planar view of one preferred embodiment of a vial retainer
  • Figure IB shows the corresponding side view of the same embodiment.
  • Figure 2 shows a side view of a preferred retainer mounted onto a series of scintillation vials set in a vial rack.
  • the present invention provides a vial retainer for engaging the top portion of one or more vials in order to easily move a group of vials and facilitate the removal of the contents of the vials while minimizing contact with the vials or their contents.
  • the retainer of the present invention is particularly useful for engaging a plurality of vials containing radioactive samples which are positioned in a scintillation counter rack after being analyzed, facilitating the removal of the engaged vials from the machine and the disposal of the radioactive wastes from the engaged vials without the necessity of individually handling each vial or its contents.
  • the vial retainer is a flat block of material having a series of evenly spaced circular apertures through the block for engaging the top portion of one or more vials.
  • the block has a top planar surface and a base planar surface, a pair of oppositely positioned side walls and a pair of oppositely positioned end walls.
  • the block contains a series of circular apertures extending through the block at a widening angle from the top surface to the base planar surface.
  • the apertures are tapered from bottom to top such that the diameter of each aperture at the base surface is larger than its diameter at the top surface.
  • the diameters of the apertures at the base surface are preferably about 8 to 12 percent larger, more preferably about 10 percent larger, than the diameters at the top surface of the retainer.
  • the angle of the internal walls of each aperture between the top and bottom surfaces of the block are between 65 and 75 degrees, preferably about 70 degrees.
  • the increasing width of the apertures from the top surface to the bottom surface allows the engaged vials to be held flush with the top surface of the vial retainer, as shown in Figure 2.
  • This design is advantageous for a number of reasons.
  • the retainer can be mounted onto the vials by manipulating the retainer near the endwalls, and eliminating the need for individual handling of the vials.
  • This design also allows the vials to be safely moved around as a group without disengaging. When the retainer and the engaged vials are inverted to dispose of the contents of the vials, the flush position of the vials minimizes any contact of the retainer with the wastes being disposed of.
  • the vial retainer can be designed so that the tops of the vials can protrude slightly above the top surface of the vial retainer. This provides additional insurance that the retainer does not become contaminated when the vials are emptied.
  • the vial retainer of the present invention is particularly useful for handling scintillation vials containing radioactive waste.
  • the retainer is typically mounted onto a series of vials loaded in a scintillation counter after the samples held in the vials are counted. The vials are then removed from the counter, and the radioactive contents disposed of while the vials are still engaged by the retainer. The vials can then be decontaminated by means known to those of skill in the art.
  • the vials can be decontaminated by soaking for 24 hours in any detergent.
  • the insertion of the vials into the apertures until they are flush with, or slightly above, the top surface of the block of the retainer ensures that the retainer itself will have minimum contact with the radioactive contents of the vials as the waste is being disposed of.
  • the apertures can be designed to accommodate any sized vials.
  • Scintillation vials for example, are commercially available and come in a variety of sizes and materials. Scintillation vials are typically threaded for screw-topped caps, and may be used with or without caps. These vial can contain liquid or solid samples, or a combination of both.
  • the present invention anticipates that the caps of the vials, if they are on, should be removed prior to mounting the retainer. Dry radioactive samples such as filters typically does not require any liquid material for counting, and therefore no caps are used on the vials for counting.
  • the retainers of the present invention may be made from any sturdy materials.
  • the block of material may be made from laminated wood, plexiglass, or glass, for example.
  • a preferred material is plexiglass, which is sturdy, virtually unbreakable, and easily cleaned.
  • the retainers are made using standard techniques known to those of skill in the art.
  • the block is first cut from the desired material, and the tapered apertures drilled at regular intervals within the block. Tapered apertures can be drilled using standard techniques, for example, using a UNIBITTM (Unibit Corp., Iowa) step drill bit on a drill press which allows for the drilling of nine different hole sizes at one time. This provides the widening aperatures of the retainer.
  • UNIBITTM Unibit Corp., Iowa
  • Figure 1A shows a top planar view of this embodiment.
  • This embodiment is a long rectangular block 1 having a top surface 10 and a bottom surface 15, with endwalls 20, rounded corners 21, 22, 23 and 24, and sidewalls 30.
  • FIG. 10 is designated by the numeral 40 and opening of the aperture 35 at the bottom surface 15 is designated by the numeral 50.
  • the endwalls 20 are set several inches from the closest apertures 35 on each side to allow for easy handling of the retainer as a whole.
  • Figure 1A shows the apertures 35 spaced evenly in a single row along the block
  • the dimensions of the retainer of the present invention would depend upon the size and shape of the vials it is designed to hold.
  • the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 can be designed to hold scintillation vials which are 2 1/8 inches tall by 5/8 inches wide.
  • Such vials are commercially available from VWR Scientific, for example, and are typically used to hold 3/8 inch filters.
  • An exemplary retainer designed to hold vials of this size might have apertures varying from about 5/8 inches in diameter at the top surface to about 11/16 inches in diameter at the bottom surface. This would securely engage the scintillation vials and allow for their removal from a scintillation counter as a group, and the disposal of their contents without individual handling.
  • the apertures if placed 7/8 inch apart measuring from the center of each top opening 40 to the next opening 40 could easily be mounted on a set of vials set in a scintillation rack as shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure IB shows the corresponding side view of the retainer of Figure 1A.
  • the top planar surface 10 and base planar surface 15 are shown from the side, along with the top opening 40 and bottom opening 50 of the apertures 35.
  • Figure IB shows the aperture wall 45 which is sloping from the top surface 10 of the block 1 outward to the bottom surface 15 of the block 1 at an angle of approximately 70 degrees.
  • this block preferably would be about 1/4 inch thick, and about 16 inches long, although these dimensions can be varied without the loss of the function of the retainer.
  • the width of the block should allow the vials to be inserted fully into the apertures, so that the top of the vial is flush with or slightly above the top surface of the retainer. Generally, a width of no more than one quarter inch is preferred, so that the tops of the vials will protrude slightly above the top planar surface 10, reducing the chance of contamination of the vial retainer when the vials are emptied.
  • FIG. 2 shows an exemplary use of the retainer of the present invention.
  • Retainer block 1 is mounted on vials 60 which are resting in a typical scintillation vial rack 70 which holds 18 vials.
  • the retainer of the present invention can be adapted to have sufficient apertures to accommodate the number of vials held by any sized rack, as well as any sized vial.
  • the engaged vials can then be removed, and the wastes contained within them removed by inverting the vials as a group.
  • the amount of waste produced is reduced to the contents of the vials alone. This is particularly significant if the contents are radioactive. This is because the vials can then be easily be decontaminated, for example, by soaking for 24 hours in detergent, if the vials previously held dried radioactive filters. After decontamination and drying, the vials can then be recycled or disposed of as non-radioactive material. An adequate survey of the vials post- decontamination should be conducted to be certain that no radioactivity remains. The result is that the amount of radioactive waste which must be disposed of is reduced from that of the vials plus contents to the contents alone.
  • a method of disposing of the contents of scintillation vials without requiring their individual handling is disclosed.
  • This method is the use of the retainer of the present invention to engage a set of scintillation vials, remove them to any area designated for waste disposal, and inverting the vials to remove the waste without handling either the vials individually, or their contents.
  • This is advantageous if the waste is hazardous such as radioactive waste, because it reduces the exposure of the handler to radioactive or otherwise hazardous wastes.
  • present invention also discloses a method of reducing the volume of radioactive waste which must be disposed of at a research or medical facility.
  • This method is the disposal of radioactive wastes by engaging the vials, moving them as a group to the area of waste disposal, inverting them to dispose of the waste, and then decontaminating the vials.
  • the waste volume is reduced from the vials plus their contents to the contents alone. For example, if the vials hold filters containing radioactive samples, then only the filters must disposed of as radioactive waste, while the vials themselves can be decontaminated and recycled. This represents a large reduction in the amount of solid radioactive waste generated when counting radioactive samples using a scintillation counter.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de retenue de fioles qui entre en contact avec la portion supérieure (10) d'une ou de plusieurs fioles. Ce dispositif est constitué d'un seul bloc de matériau qui possède une surface inférieure plane (15) ainsi qu'une surface supérieure plane (10), et est pourvu d'une série d'ouvertures qui vont en s'élargissant à travers le bloc et sont espacées de manière régulière, de façon que le diamètre de l'ouverture au niveau de la surface inférieure (50) soit plus grand que celui de l'ouverture au niveau de la surface supérieure (40).
PCT/US1995/013960 1994-11-04 1995-10-31 Dispositif de retenue de fioles WO1996015653A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33440694A 1994-11-04 1994-11-04
US08/334,406 1994-11-04

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996015653A2 true WO1996015653A2 (fr) 1996-05-30
WO1996015653A3 WO1996015653A3 (fr) 1996-07-25
WO1996015653A9 WO1996015653A9 (fr) 1996-10-03

Family

ID=23307049

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/013960 WO1996015653A2 (fr) 1994-11-04 1995-10-31 Dispositif de retenue de fioles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1996015653A2 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2561339A (en) * 1944-01-10 1951-07-24 Chediak Alejandro Apparatus for laboratory investigations
US4304865A (en) * 1978-08-31 1981-12-08 National Research Development Corporation Harvesting material from micro-culture plates
US4562158A (en) * 1981-07-27 1985-12-31 Eastern Virginia Medical Authority Solid phase scintillation counting method
US4767609A (en) * 1984-01-30 1988-08-30 Enzo Biochem, Inc. Therapeutic and diagnostic processes using isotope transfer to chelator-target recognition molecule conjugate
US5048957A (en) * 1989-07-11 1991-09-17 Fritz Berthold Speciman rack with insertable cuvettes

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2561339A (en) * 1944-01-10 1951-07-24 Chediak Alejandro Apparatus for laboratory investigations
US4304865A (en) * 1978-08-31 1981-12-08 National Research Development Corporation Harvesting material from micro-culture plates
US4562158A (en) * 1981-07-27 1985-12-31 Eastern Virginia Medical Authority Solid phase scintillation counting method
US4767609A (en) * 1984-01-30 1988-08-30 Enzo Biochem, Inc. Therapeutic and diagnostic processes using isotope transfer to chelator-target recognition molecule conjugate
US5048957A (en) * 1989-07-11 1991-09-17 Fritz Berthold Speciman rack with insertable cuvettes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1996015653A3 (fr) 1996-07-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10531821B2 (en) Method and apparatus for acquiring blood for testing
US4919894A (en) Multiple sample holder indexing means and method of using same
JP3191150B2 (ja) 採血管ラック
NO162637C (no) Innretning og fremgangsmaate for haandtering av vaeskeproever.
CA2461045A1 (fr) Systeme de stockage et de recuperation automatique
DK1030736T3 (da) Arbejdsstation til assays
FI844014L (fi) Tvaovaegssystem foer hantering av vaetskeprover.
CN105849488B (zh) 实验室耗材干燥装置
RU2041847C1 (ru) Устройство для перекачки раствора из одного герметизированного контейнера в другой
DE60030426D1 (de) Vorrichtung ZUM TRANSFERIEREN VON PARTIKELN IN BEHÄLTERN
CN113939372A (zh) 用于处理敏感产品的系统、特别是包装系统
US4851702A (en) Radiation shield
WO1996015653A2 (fr) Dispositif de retenue de fioles
WO1996015653A9 (fr) Dispositif de retenue de fioles
WO2020016645A2 (fr) Dispositif pour l'infiltration sans contamination d'un objet stérile d'un contenant dans un confinement et procédé correspondant
CN212074803U (zh) 一种采血卡干燥收纳装置
DE602004008884T2 (de) Vorrichtung für die speicherung und den transport von forensischem und/oder biologischem material
EP3621740A1 (fr) Support de récipient et ratelier de récipients
US4095697A (en) Stand for holding pipette cans
WO1991009676A1 (fr) Systeme de plan de travail de laboratoire
CN217997137U (zh) 一种核酸检测样品摆放装置
CN209921901U (zh) 一种悬空式棉签保存盒
US6474923B1 (en) Sample push-out fixture
EP0213690A2 (fr) Teneur de fioles pour la réduction de l'électricité statique
DE102022129528A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur vakuumfreien Entnahme eines Nests aus einem Tub, ein System und eine Sterilkammer umfassend eine derartige Vorrichtung und ein Verfahren zur vakuumfreien Entnahme eines Nests aus einem Tub

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): CA JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

COP Corrected version of pamphlet

Free format text: PAGES 1/2-2/2,DRAWINGS,REPLACED BY NEW PAGES BEARING THE SAME NUMBER

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase in:

Ref country code: CA