JP2001091420A - Sample container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sample container that accommodates a small amount of sample that is used once, can easily remove a small amount of sample, and prevents infection by the sample. It is in. A container of the present invention includes a storage portion made of a soft plastic for storing a sample such as a calibrator, control serum, and physiological saline, a nozzle portion communicating with the storage portion, and a hard plastic sheet. It is a collection of containers. The rigid plastic sheet of the aggregate has perforations or V-shaped cross-sections so that the containers can be easily separated individually. Also, the hard plastic sheet of each container has perforations or cuts in the direction crossing the nozzle, or cut grooves having a V-shaped cross section so that the nozzle portion can be cut out. Diameter 1.
The outer diameter of the nozzle is within 1.5 cm so that the sample can be easily transferred to a container with an opening of about 5 cm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for storing a calibrator, a control serum, or a physiological saline solution used in a clinical test.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following containers are mainly used for storing a calibrator, a control serum, or a physiological saline used for a clinical test.

(A) A container which contains a sample in a brown bottle or a transparent bottle and has a rubber inner lid and a plastic or aluminum outer lid. When taking out the stored sample, remove the outer lid and the inner lid, and pour out the sample with the bottle aside, or aspirate the sample with a pipettor or dropper.

(B) A container, such as an eye drop container, formed by a plastic sample container and a lid. Remove the lid and push the sample container to drop the sample.

(C) A container such as an ampule tube made of the same material made of glass or plastic. Cut off a part of the container and pour out the sample, or remove it with a pipettor or dropper.

In the case of A, after the lid is once opened and the sample is taken out, the lid is closed again and the remaining sample can be stored.
However, when the lid is opened, CO2 in the air enters the container, and a sample that becomes unstable due to a change in pH is affected. Also, if the remaining sample is not stored at the specified temperature, the date and time of opening the package is not known, and the period guaranteed by the manufacturer has passed without your knowledge,
Problems arise in management.

Therefore, considering the stability of the sample,
Containers such as A are not preferred. In addition, when taking out a small amount of stored sample, the loss of the sample increases when the bottle is poured out sideways, so that a pipettor or a dropper is required. Further, the cost is increased because the bottle is composed of three parts, ie, a bottle for storing the sample, the inner lid and the outer lid.

[0008] In the case of the ophthalmic solution container B, there is an advantage that the sample can be easily pushed out. The problem is that you cannot maintain

An ampule tube such as C cannot be closed once it is opened, so that the remaining sample cannot be stored.
Therefore, considering the stability of the sample, it is preferable as a container.

However, for example, in the case of a glass ampule tube, it is necessary to cut the glass to take out the sample, and there is a risk that the hand may be injured. In addition, since a glass ampule cannot extrude a sample, a pipettor or a dropper is required to remove a small amount of the sample.

[0011]

As described above, a container for enclosing a sample such as a calibrator for clinical examination, control serum, physiological saline, etc. according to the prior art allows a small amount of sample to be easily taken out. In many cases, the structure is such that the sample does not come in contact with the sample when opening or closing. In addition, even if it is a structure that can store the sample remaining in the container after opening, it is not stored at the specified temperature, or the date and time of opening is not known, and the manufacturer must After the guaranteed period, problems arise in managing the remaining sample.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enclose a small amount of a sample that can be used up at one time in a container in consideration of the stability of the sample and easily transfer the sample to a container having a relatively small opening. To provide a sample container that can reduce the risk of infection by the sample.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a calibrator, a control serum,
An aggregate of a bag-shaped storage portion made of soft plastic for storing a sample such as a physiological saline solution, a nozzle portion connected to the storage portion, and a container provided with a hard plastic sheet is configured. The rigid plastic sheet of the aggregate has perforations or V-shaped cross-sections so that the containers can be easily separated individually. Also, the hard plastic sheet of each container has perforations and cuts in the direction across the nozzle, or cut grooves with a V-shaped cross section,
The nozzle part can be cut off. Further, the outer diameter of the nozzle serving as the sample discharge port is within 1.5 cm.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The sample container of the present invention is for storing a sample such as a calibrator for clinical examination, a control serum, and a physiological saline. The sample container has a storage unit for storing a sample, a nozzle unit communicating with the storage unit,
It is formed of a sheet that covers the storage section and the cavity of the nozzle. The sample storage part and the nozzle part are formed of soft plastic, and the sheet is formed of hard plastic. The hard plastic sheet has a perforation or a V-shaped cross-section as a simple separating means, so that the containers can be easily separated individually. Further, in the direction traversing the nozzle, the hard plastic has a perforation or a V-shaped cross section so that the nozzle portion can be easily cut out, and the cut end becomes a discharge port of the sample.

One embodiment of the structure of the sample container of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an individually separated container of the present invention. Sample storage unit 1
The nozzle part 2 communicating therewith is made by vacuum molding or pressing molding of a soft plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The sample storage unit 1 is not limited to the square as shown in FIG. 1, but may be any shape such as a circle or a triangle depending on usability and cost. The sheet 3 is a hard plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonate. A soft plastic portion forming the sample storage unit 1 and the nozzle 2 and a hard plastic sheet 3 are thermocompression-bonded to seal the sample. The sample 4 stored in the sample storage unit 1 is a liquid such as a calibrator, a control serum, or a physiological saline solution used for a clinical test, and its filling amount is 500 to 1000 μl which is used up once.
It is only a small amount. The sheet 3 has a perforation 5 or a notch 6 or a notch 7 in a V-shaped cross section in a direction crossing the nozzle 2, and can be easily cut by hand from this portion. Discharge port 8. When measuring a sample with an automatic analyzer, the sample must be placed in a sample cup dedicated to the device and then set in the device. Sample cup opening diameter is 1.5c
m, it is desirable that the external gauge of the nozzle is within 1.5 cm so that the nozzle portion enters the sample cup.

As the soft plastic and the hard plastic forming the sample container of the present invention, depending on the properties of the sample to be contained, a transparent or light-shielding brown plastic is used. For example, a transparent plastic is used for a sample that is stable to light, such as physiological saline, and a brown plastic is used for a sample that contains a substance that is unstable to light such as an enzyme. .

The container of the present invention is in a state where several containers are connected as shown in FIG. On the large sheet 3,
There are perforations 9 or V-shaped cross-sections 10, from which the sample containers can be easily separated individually by hand.

The manufacture of the container, the filling and sealing of the sample are performed in the following steps. After preheating a soft plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polypropylene, or polystyrene, the sample is brought into close contact with a mold by vacuum or compressed air to form the sample storage unit 1 and the nozzle 2. In a sheet 3 of a hard plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polycarbonate, a perforation 5 or a notch 6 or a notch 7 in a V-shaped cross section as a simple cutting means is formed in place. A soft plastic provided with the sample storage unit 1 and the nozzle unit 2 is placed with the sample storage unit 1 side facing downward, and is transported to the sample supply device. Sample 4 is enclosed. Then, it is thermocompression-bonded to the sheet 3 so as to cover it.

The sample 4 in the container is placed in the sample cup 1 for the apparatus.
7, the sample outlet 8 is directed to the sample cup 11, the sample storage section 1 and the hard plastic sheet 2 are sandwiched between fingers 12, and the sample 4 is pushed out, as shown in FIG. At this time, a small amount of sample can be more easily taken out when the sample storage unit 1 side is squeezed with the finger 12. The container after taking out the sample 4 can be discarded as it is.

[0020]

According to the present invention, a small amount of a sample such as a calibrator for a clinical test, a control serum, or a physiological saline can be easily taken out. Since only a single-use amount is stored and there is no lid, it is possible to prevent the sample remaining in the container from being reused by mistake. Further, the container after removing the sample can be discarded as it is, and there is a low possibility of contact with the sample in the container, so that infection by the sample can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the container of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container of the present invention as viewed from a sample storage section side.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where the container of the present invention is cut out from a simple cut-out portion.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which individual containers of the present invention are connected.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when individual containers of the present invention are connected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a sample stored in the container of the present invention is being transferred to a sample cup.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample storage part, 2 ... Nozzle part, 3 ... Sheet, 4 ... Sample, 5.9 ... Perforation, 6/10 ... V-shaped kerf, 7 ...
Notch, 8 ... Sample outlet, 11 ... Sample cup, 1
2 ... finger.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G01N 33/96 G01N 33/96

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container in which a hard plastic sheet having an opening groove in a direction crossing a nozzle is adhered to a soft plastic having a bag portion for storing contents and an elongated nozzle portion communicating with the bag portion. A sample container, wherein a sample for a clinical test is enclosed as a content. 2. The sample container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sample container is an aggregate in which a plurality of the sample containers are connected, and a perforation for separating the containers is formed on the hard plastic sheet. 3. The sample container according to claim 1, wherein the clinical test sample enclosed in the container is a calibrator, a control serum, or a physiological saline.