Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
  • B65D23/08—Coverings or external coatings
  • B65D23/0885—Rigid shells for receiving the bottle or part of it
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
  • B65D55/024—Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
  • B65D2401/10—Tearable part of the container
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S215/00—Bottles and jars
  • Y10S215/901—Tamper-resistant structure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of collecting and preserving biological samples.
• the present invention relates more particularly to a sleeve device for securing cryotubes which may contain for example blood or tissue samples.
• a cryotube is a cylindrical plastic container conventionally composed of two basic parts: the tube and the plug. The tightness of assembly of these two parts (generally by screwing) allows, inside the cryotube, the conservation of samples with variable temperatures which can go down according to the models up to -196 ° C (liquid nitrogen), hence the term "cryo" tube.
• the present invention adds a third piece to the tube-plug couple: a security sleeve.
• this piece will be called “sleeve”.
• cryotubes corresponding to the prior art do not respond or very incompletely or partially to all of these safety requirements. Securing cryotubes is becoming increasingly important given the increasing central role played by analyzes in the forensic field, for example. DNA analysis, for example, takes the place of evidence in more and more cases. The use of secure containers (sampling, traceability and preservation) is henceforth required if the user (justice in this case) wishes to have physically and legally reliable samples.
• the object of the invention is therefore to provide the maximum degree of security corresponding to the guaranteed levels described above.
• the present invention is of the type described above and is remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that it concerns a device for securing a container for collecting and storing biological samples comprising a plug, characterized in that it comprises at least one means such that, after engagement of said device, access to the contents of said device necessarily entails an irreversible physical transformation and can be observed with the naked eye of said container (and not the stopper), said physical transformation consisting of example but not necessarily breaking or tearing said means.
• said security device can be engaged at any time, at the user's choice.
• said means is integral with said device.
• said means is a breakable tab.
• said device is inseparable from the container.
• the engagement of said device is by irreversible depression of the container in said device.
• said device and said container are of different material.
• said device is composed of a material allowing the etching of indelible and unit identification.
• said device is composed of a material allowing the reading of high contrast etching.
• the means is a definitively fixed and non-replaceable tab of the device and the plug.
• said joining of the tongue is done by tamper-proof adhesive tape.
• said fastening of the tongue is done through a weld.
• said device further comprises a housing for inserting a physical element containing at least one information associated with the content.
• said insertion is done without masking said identification etching and irreversibly
• FIG. 1 is a representation of the tube; brought to contain the samples; - Figures 2 and 3 show the security sleeve with or without the cap according to the invention; FIG.
• FIG. 4 represents the plug associated with the securing sleeve provided with the securing tab according to the invention
• - Figure 5 shows the plug associated with the security sleeve provided with the securing tongue according to the invention in the closed position
• - Figure 6 shows the engagement of the tube in the sleeve according to a first notch
• - Figure 7 shows the engagement of the tube in the sleeve according to a second notch
• - Figure 8 shows the sleeve after breaking of the breakable safety tab
• - Figure 9 shows the sleeve after placement of the safety tab.
• the tube 1 to receive the sample is a container PolyPropylene (PP) can withstand cold. It is provided with an external screw thread 2 and a definitive engagement system with two levels of the sleeve (one-way assembly).
• PP PolyPropylene
• the first notch 3 is a mounting notch for securing the sleeve to the tube permanently (one way).
• the second notch 4 is a detent of the device inviolabilisation by securing tabs through the sleeve. This first level of security will be called
• the sleeve 7 is made of any rigid material, for example polyamide
• the sleeve has for example labeling areas, or laser marking.
• the bottom of the sleeve is flat and smooth to be etched on the bottom of the sleeve.
• the sleeve is further provided with a hooking system 9 for automatic screwing.
• It also has a side drawer for collecting a physical element carrying information relating to the sample, for example a radio frequency chip (RFID). It is lateral so as not to hide the marking areas under the sleeve.
• RFID radio frequency chip
• this element is a breakable lug 11 integral with the sleeve.
• the characteristics of the tab are such that it breaks when the cap is opened, if the security system is engaged, as shown in FIG.
• the sleeve also contains a zone 12 capable of receiving and holding in a vertical position without any allowance an optional tongue secured together with the sleeve and the plug.
• This tongue may be secured to the sleeve by various means, such as for example by welding, or with an inviolable adhesive tape of known type.
• the cap is a styling screw cap provided with a flexible seal to ensure sealing in liquid nitrogen, or in nitrogen vapor.
• an automatic screwing device with higher notching and with a device allowing, for example, the clipping of a color code in the form of a circular disc.
• the device can receive by clipping a tab support 13 representing the security level of the second degree.
• the stopper also has a passage groove 14 intended to allow the passage without over-thickness of the tongue in the closed position as in FIG.
• the cap also has inside an internal clipping member adapted to receive sample handling accessories directly inside the tube for example to facilitate the extraction of samples and their use.
• the "tube-sleeve-plug" assembly is used for the purpose of securing the manipulation of the samples. The modes of use may then depend on the level of security required.
• a first mode of use in the case of a standard laboratory, the cap is screwed onto a tube and the sleeve is engaged on the first catch 3 as in FIG. 6. The user can then unscrew the stopper, put the sample inside the tube, screw the cap and engage itself the first degree of inviolability by engaging the second notch 4 as in Figure 7. It can be noted that in this mode of use, the level of sterility of the tube is guaranteed by the tube supplier. On the other hand, after engagement with the second detent, any opening of the tube will cause breakage of the breakable tab 11 and may be identified as in FIG. 8.
• the user receives the cap device closed with the second notch 4 engaged as in Figure 7, which guarantees emptiness and sterility level before use, in the case where the breakable tab 11 is intact.
• the inviolabilisation is ensured by the second-level safety device by means of the tongue 13 secured together with the sleeve and the plug as in the figure.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34707872

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2004
  • 2004-01-15 FR FR0400358A patent/FR2865190B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2005
  • 2005-01-14 CA CA002553319A patent/CA2553319A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-01-14 WO PCT/FR2005/000090 patent/WO2005073102A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2005-01-14 US US10/585,913 patent/US7950540B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-01-14 JP JP2006548354A patent/JP4699387B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-01-14 EP EP05717423A patent/EP1704095A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events