WO2014081283A1

WO2014081283A1 - Core for transporting a sample tube in a pneumatic tube capsule

Info

Publication number: WO2014081283A1
Application number: PCT/NL2012/050825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Den Besten
Original assignee: Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam
Priority date: 2012-11-20
Filing date: 2012-11-20
Publication date: 2014-05-30

Abstract

The invention relates to a core for transporting a sample tube in a pneumatic tube capsule, comprising at least one track for receiving at least one to be transported sample tube, which track comprises at least one retaining means that engages with the circumference of the sample tube, and wherein the track extends between for the sample tube accessible through openings, such that the sample tube can be brought axially through the core

Description

Title: Core for transporting a sample tube in a pneumatic tube capsule

The invention relates to a core for a pneumatic tube capsule, a pneumatic tube capsule, a processing device and a pneumatic tube system.

Pneumatic tube systems are generally known and are used to transport products by means of a pneumatic tube capsule between different locations, in particular between locations in large buildings or between locations in different buildings, where the sending location and the destination location of the products are often far apart. The use of a pneumatic tube system over large distances is advantageous, because products can be transported relatively fast and cheap. This is in particular important in case products are transported that have a short "use by" date or limited lifetime or products which have to be transported often in frequent time intervals, such as for example blood samples. The blood samples are taken from patients, where after the blood samples are placed into a sample tube that is send to a laboratory for blood tests by means of a pneumatic tube capsule. Usually the pneumatic tube system with a rotable lid, that can automatically be opened to gain access to a removable core holding the sample tubes. To take the sample tubes with the blood samples out of the pneumatic tube capsule, first said lid is automatically opened. Next, a machine takes the core holding the samples tubes with the blood samples out of the out of the pneumatic tube via de opening created by the opened lid for further tests.

Such a pneumatic tube capsule is described in AT 12017 Ul and is usually provided with a removable core. The core has two axially spaced apart parallel plates, wherein between a shaft is provided onto which a sample tube can be clicked by means of two in axial direction spaced apart U-shaped metal clamps. The plates not only make sure that the core is locked up in axial and radial direction in the pneumatic tube capsule, but also in particular that the test tubes are locked in axial direction during transportation. The mentioned core can be placed with or without a sample tube in or removed from the pneumatic tube capsule via a with a screw lid closable opening.

However, the use of such a pneumatic tube capsule with said core is cumbersome and requires the use of complicated and therefore expensive machinery. On top of that, the pneumatic tube capsule has to first be brought into the correct orientation before the core can be removed from the pneumatic tube capsule. Furthermore, the mechanically removal of the tubes from the U-shaped clamps of a from the pneumatic tube capsule removed core is difficult, because an accurate positioning of the machinery is essential. Often sample tubes break due to misalignment of the

machinery. This is not only tedious considering the fact that a patient has to be pricked again for a new blood sample, but can also be dangerous in case the blood has been contaminated with a transmittable disease.

The present invention aims to provide a core for a pneumatic tube capsule that, by keeping said advantages, mitigates said disadvantages. Thereto the invention provides a core for transporting a sample tube in a pneumatic tube capsule, comprising at least one track for receiving at least one to be transported sample tube, which track comprises at least one retaining means that engages with the circumference of the sample tube, and wherein the track extends between for the sample tube accessible openings, such that the sample tube can be brought axially through the core.

By providing the core with a track that extends between for the sample tube accessible openings, it can be attained that the to be

transported sample tubes can be inserted and removed from the track more easily. Moreover, because the track extends between the openings axially through the core, it can be provided that the sample tubes may be inserted in and/or removed from the track of the core without first removing the core from the pneumatic tube capsule in which the core has been placed. In this elegant manner a core can be provided that is simple and can be used more reliable.

The retaining means of the core may further substantially enclose the sample tube at least along a part of the at least one track. Herewith it can be prevented that the sample tubes are bounced back and forth in the track in radial and/or in axial direction.

The retaining means may be a clamping means, for example a bend, resilient plate or rod which is brought in a pre-tensioned state when inserting a to be transported sample tube into the track of the core.

The track may thereby be arranged as a straight track, wherein the centreline of the track is substantially straight. In this way a to be transported sample tube may be easily inserted into the track and also be easily removed again. In case the core is provided with multiple tracks, the tracks may be substantially parallel to each other.

The invention further provides in a pneumatic tube capsule, which is suitable for use with a core as described in the above.

Thereto the invention provides a pneumatic tube capsule, which is arranged such that during use at least one track is similarly directed as the centreline of the post tube capsule. In this way it may be elegantly provided that the at least one track of the core possibly containing a to be transported sample tube may be accessed from outside the pneumatic tube capsule through an opening of the pneumatic tube capsule without having to remove the core from the pneumatic tube capsule.

The pneumatic tube capsule may be arranged such that two opposing, in longitudinal direction spaced apart, closable openings are provided, wherein the at least one track is substantially accessible from outside the pneumatic tube capsule in a first open position of one of the closable openings and wherein access to the track from outside the pneumatic tube capsule is substantially blocked in a second closed position of said one closable opening. By providing the pneumatic tube capsule with two spaced apart closable openings it can be reached that a track of a core, which core resides in the pneumatic tube capsule, can be reached from outside the pneumatic tube capsule in case the closable opening is in a first open position. The closable opening may be e.g. a rotable lid. The lid may rotate around a rotation axis that is substantially similarly directed as and at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the pneumatic tube capsule. In this way the rotation axis substantially does not coincide with the longitudinal axis of the pneumatic tube capsule.

The invention further provides in a processing device for processing sample tubes which are supplied by or are inserted in or are removed from a pneumatic tube capsule according to the foregoing, which pneumatic tube capsule comprises a core according to the foregoing.

Thereto the invention provides a processing device, wherein the processing device is arranged to bring at least one of the closable openings of the pneumatic tube capsule between a first open and a second closed position. Hereby the processing device may rotate the rotable lids sideways away, such as to create access to the core with track residing in the pneumatic tube capsule.

The processing device may further comprise a displacement instrument, which is arranged to be brought through said track, thereby displacing a to be transported sample tube residing in the track. As both hds of the pneumatic tube capsule in a first open position give access to the track via both openings without removal of the core from the pneumatic tube capsule, the pneumatic tube capsule with core does not have to be oriented before removal or insertion of sample tubes. In this way it may be prevented that a sample tube is pushed and/or displaced out of the track in an upside down orientation. However, the sample tube may be given a correct orientation in a later processing step, such that no difficult orientating of the pneumatic tube capsule is needed. Therefore the machine for displacing sample tubes may be made simpler and cheaper.

The invention further provides a pneumatic tube transport system, comprising at least one tube for transporting at least one pneumatic tube capsule according to the above by means of overpressure and/or vacuum, wherein at least one pneumatic tube capsule comprises a core according to the foregoing for transporting sample tubes.

The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of non- limitative exemplary embodiments which are represented in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a core according to the invention for use in a pneumatic tube capsule.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross sectional view of the core according to Fig. 1 along the plane A-A.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a pneumatic tube capsule according to the invention for transporting a core according to Fig. l or Fig. 1.

It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments of the invention that are given by way of non -limited example. In the figures, the same or corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a core 1 for transporting a sample tube 2 in a pneumatic tube capsule 3, comprising at least one track 4 for receiving at least one to be transported sample tube 2. In this example the core 1 is shown with four tracks 4. The tracks 4 are preferably arranged parallel to each other, preferably parallel along the longitudinal axis of the core 1. The possible amount of tracks 4 will depend on the diameter of the tracks 4 with respect to the diameter of the core 1. A track 4 comprises at least one retaining means 5 which engages with at least half the circumference of the cross section of the to be transported sample tube 2, preferably at least three quarters of the circumference, in particular the full circumference. The track 4 can at least partly have a closed circumference or be a hollow tube or part of said hollow tube.

In longitudinal direction of the sample tube 5, the retaining means 5 can engage on at least one position along the circumference, preferably at least at two positions along the circumference, wherein the positions are spaced apart along the track 4. This ensures that the sample tube 2 can be effectively and vibration resistant accommodated in said tube 2, such that damage to and/or breaking of the sample tubes 2 can be prevented. In another not shown embodiment of the invention, the retaining means 5 can engage with a part of the length or the full length in axial direction of the track 4 to prevent the sample tube 2 from movement with respect to the core 1.

For example, the retaining means 5 can engage with the sample tube 2 along about 5 mm around the circumference and about 5 mm in longitudinal direction. Multiple of these engaging means 5 may be

distributed along the track 4 in circumferential direction and/or in

longitudinal direction for engaging with a to be transported sample tube 2. For example, the to be transported sample tube 2 may be clamped between one or more retaining means 5 and the track 4 or the sample tube 2 may be clamped in the track 4 by one retaining means 5 or between at least two retaining means 5.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross sectional view along the plane A- A of Fig. 1. Here it can be seen how the retaining means 5 presses a to be transported sample tube 2 with a clamping force F against the wall 6 of the track 4 and thereby at the same time at least partly engages with part of the circumference of a to be transported sample tube 2. As the wall 6 extends along a large part of the longitudinal direction of the sample tube 2, it can moreover be prevented that the sample tube 2 rotates with respect to the track 4. The clamping force F is great enough, such that the sample tube 4 can not move in the direction of movement b. In this way it can elegantly be prevented that the sample tubes 2 break or move with respect to the track 4 during use in a core 1 of a pneumatic tube capsule 3.

The retaining means 5 can for example be a clamping means, such as e.g. a U-shaped clamp.

The track 4 extends between for the sample tube 2 accessible openings 7. The diameter db of the openings 7 is substantially larger than the diameter d_m of a to be transported sample tube 2, such that the sample tube 2 can be brought axially through the core 1. Thereby the track 2 is preferably straight, or in other words, the centre line h of the track 4, is straight, but may also be shghtly bend. The sample tube 2 is then free to be inserted to the track from for example one of the two openings 7 and be removed via the other opening 7, or the sample tube 2 can be removed via the same opening 7 it was inserted through. In this way it can be provided that the orientation of the core 1 does not play a role.

Fig. 3 shows a pneumatic tube capsule 3 which is suited to receive and/or accommodate for a core 1 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, but which core 1 can also be used in other cores. The pneumatic tube capsule 3 is shown with a with dotted lines drawn core 1 received in said pneumatic tube capsule 3. The pneumatic tube capsule 3 is arranged such that during use, at least one track 4 of the core 1 is similarily directed as the

longitudinal axis c of the pneumatic tube capsule 3. The pneumatic tube capsule 3 is shown with two opposite, in longitudinal direction spaced apart, closable openings 8. The core 1 can be brought into the pneumatic tube capsule 3 via one of the closable openings 8, whereby the core 1 is then positioned between said two closable openings 8. The track 4 of the core 1 is thereby substantially accessible from outside the pneumatic tube capsule 3 in a first open position of the at least one of the closable openings 8 as is shown in Fig. 3. The access to the at least one track 4 from outside the pneumatic tube capsule 3 is substantially blocked in a second closed position of said at least one closable opening (not shown here).

The closable openings 8 are preferably around an axis rotable/turnable lids 9 and are rotable/turnable with respect to the pneumatic tube capsule 3. This type of closable opening 8, 9 has an advantage above for example a screw lid, as the rotable lid type can be easier opened in an automated opening process. The shown pneumatic tube capsule 3 can for example be guided in a closed position of the lids 8, 9 along a notch or guide strip of a processing device 10 at the level of the lids 8, 9, such that the lids 8, 9 are rotated with respect of the pneumatic tube capsule 3 around axis a from a second closed position to a first open position or vice versa (not shown here).

As the pneumatic tube capsule 3 has two closable openings 8, 9, which both provide access to at least one track 4, a correct orientation of the to be removed or to be inserted sample tube 2 into or out of the core 1 is therefore less important. In this way it is usually not needed to remove core 1 before the sample tubes 2 are inserted and/or remove from the track 4.

Fig. 2 shows how a to be transported sample tube 2 can be removed from the core 1 by means of a processing device 10. Hereto, the processing device 10 comprises a displacement element 11, which can be an insert rod. The displacement element is arranged to be brought through one of the openings 7 of said track 4. The diameter d_v of the displacement element 11 is preferably substantially smaller than the diameter db of the track 4, such that the displacement element 11 can be easily brought into and/or trough said track 4. The diameter d_v of the displacement element 11 can be larger or smaller than the diameter d_m of the to be displaced sample tube 2, but is preferably substantially of equal width, such that a

distributed engagement and removal of the sample tube 2 from the track 4 is possible. To displace a to be transported sample tube 2 from a track 4 of a core 1, which core 1 is or is not placed in a pneumatic tube capsule 3, the displacement element 11 is brought into the track via opening 7. Now the displacement element 11 is moved in the direction of movement d towards the opposite opening, thereby pushing an in the track 4 residing sample tube 2 in the same direction d out of the said track 4. In this way the sample tube 2 can be simply removed from the track 4.

The core 1 may also reside in the pneumatic tube capsule 3 during removal of a sample tube 2 as described above. However, in that case first both closable openings 8 have to be brought in an open position and can the processing device 10 enter into the track 4 of the core 1 with said

displacement element 11.

It is noted again that the orientation of the core 1, or pneumatic tube capsule 3 with core 1 is less relevant. Also in case the pneumatic tube capsule 3, respectively the core 1 would be positioned "up-side-down", a sample tube 2 can be removed in the same way as described above.

It should be clear to the skilled person that also more than one sample tube 2 in one single track 4 are possible, wherein both or more sample tubes 2 in one singe track 4 each engage either together to one or more retaining means 5 or each sample tube 2 engages to one or more individual retaining means 5.

In case desired, the core 1 may be removed from the pneumatic tube capsule 3 before removing and/or inserting to be transported sample tubes 2 from or respectively into the core 1. However, in a preferred embodiment not shown, the core 1 is fixed to the pneumatic tube capsule 3 by means of a releasable connection. For example a screw bolt connection, where e.g. the bolt is integrally formed with the pneumatic tube capsule 3, such that after inserting the core 1 into the pneumatic tube capsule 3 receives a screw fixing the core 1 to the pneumatic tube capsule 3. The core 1 may also be fixed in the pneumatic tube capsule 3 by means of clips, or latches for easy removal of the core 1 from the pneumatic tube capsule 3 in case desired, e.g. for cleaning.

Many other variants will be apparent to the skilled person and are understood to be comprised within the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. Core for transporting a sample tube in a pneumatic tube capsule, comprising at least one track for receiving at least one to be transported sample tube, which track comprises at least one retaining means that engages with the circumference of the sample tube, and wherein the track extends between for the sample tube accessible openings, such that the sample tube can be brought axially through the core.

2. Core according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means

substantially encloses the sample tube at least along a part of the at least one track.

3. Core according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprise at least one clamping means for clamping the at least one, via one of the through openings into the track insertable, to be transported sample tube.

4. Core according to claim 3, wherein the clamping means clamps at least one, via one of the openings into the track insertable, to be transported sample tube substantially in radial direction with respect to the centreline of the track.

5. Core according to claim 4, wherein the centreline is substantially straight.

6. Core according to claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein the clamping means substantially prevents axial displacement with respect to the track of a, via one of the openings in the in the track insertable, to be transported sample tube.

7. Core according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a to be transported sample tube is insertable via one of the openings into the at least one track and can leave the track via the same or the other opening.

8. Core according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tracks are substantially parallel to each other.

9. Pneumatic tube capsule for use with a core according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the post tube capsule is arranged such that during use at least one track is similarly directed as the centreline of the post tube capsule.

10. Pneumatic tube capsule according to claim 9, wherein two opposite, in longitudinal direction spaced apart, closable openings are provided, wherein the at least one track is substantially accessible from the outside the pneumatic tube capsule in a first open position of one of the closable openings and wherein access to the track from outside the pneumatic tube capsule is substantially blocked in a second closed position of said one closable opening.

11. Pneumatic tube capsule according to claim 10, wherein every of the closable openings is a rotable lid.

12. Pneumatic tube capsule according to claim 11, wherein the rotation axis of the rotable lid for adjusting between the first open en second closed position is substantially similarly directed as and at a distance of the longitudinal axis of the pneumatic tube capsule.

13. Pneumatic tube capsule according to one of the claims 9-12, wherein the pneumatic tube capsule is arranged to include a core according to one of the claims 1-8, wherein the core stays substantially in the pneumatic tube capsule during insertion an/or removal of a to be

transported sample tube.

14. Processing device for processing sample tubes, which have been supplied by or are inserted in or removed from a pneumatic tube capsule according to one of the claims 9-12, which pneumatic tube capsule comprises a core according to one of the claims 1-8, wherein the processing device is arranged to bring at least one of the closable through openings of the pneumatic tube capsule between a first open and a second closed position.

15. Processing device according to claim 14, wherein the processing device further comprises a displacement instrument, which is arranged to be brought through said track, thereby displacing a to be transported sample tube residing in the track.

16. Processing device according to claim 15, wherein the displacement instrument further comprises an insert rod, arranged to displace a to be transported sample tube via one of the openings out of the track.

17. Pneumatic tube transport system, comprising at least one tube for transporting at least one pneumatic tube capsule according to one of the claims 9-12 by means of overpressure and/or vacuum, wherein at least one pneumatic tube capsule comprises a core for transporting sample tubes according to one of the claims 1-8.