JPH0441921Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to the structure of a completely sterilized filter set used in pathological examinations or research using microorganisms.

[Prior Art] As shown in FIG. 5, conventional filters used for the above-mentioned purposes each have an upper liquid tank 5 made of a molded product of a rigid resin such as propylene.
0. It consists of a filtrate element 51 holding a filter and a lower liquid tank 52, which are tightly fitted together and completely sterilized in the assembled state as shown in the figure.The film pack is also sterilized. (not shown) and is supplied to the user. When using it, first tear the outer film pack and take out the inner assembly, then open the upper liquid tank 5.
0, wait for the liquid to drip into the lower liquid tank 52 through the filtrate element 51, separate the solids (microorganisms, etc.) remaining on the filter and the filtrate accumulated in the lower liquid tank 52, Used for inspection and other purposes.

At this time, if necessary, a vacuum is drawn from an opening provided in a part of the side wall of the lower liquid tank 52, and the lower liquid tank 52 is
It has also been done to increase the filtration efficiency by reducing the pressure inside the filter.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

As is clear from the figure, the filter set of this type has the disadvantage that it occupies a large volume relative to its weight and requires a large space for distribution and storage.

In addition, considering the purpose of use, considering that it is disposable after only one use without being used repeatedly,
They need to be manufactured as cheaply as possible, but there are limits to cost reduction with conventional products.

[Means for solving problems]

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional products mentioned above, and to provide a filter set that requires less space for distribution and storage and is inexpensive to manufacture.

The purpose of this is to move the resin filtrate element, which is configured to press and hold the filter placed on the support from above, into the inner space of the flexible, sealed tube-shaped film. A filter set in which the outer periphery of the filtrate element is fixed to the inside of the film over the entire surface, thereby dividing the internal space of the film into two independent upper and lower regions,
The support body is configured to have a predetermined height by an upper ring that fits into the presser ring and a lower ring that is integrally connected to the upper ring through a bridge portion, and This is achieved by a filter set characterized in that the outer periphery of the upper ring is provided with a vacuum opening communicating with the lower region.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a filter set 1 according to the present invention, in which a filtrate element 2 with a built-in filter is enclosed inside a flexible tube-shaped film 3, and its outer periphery is is housed in the inner circumference of the film 3 over its entire circumference in a fixed state with a heat seal H. Both upper and lower ends 3a and 3b of the tube-shaped film 3 are also sealed by heat sealing. In other words.
The internal space of the film 3 is divided into two regions 4 and 5 that are completely separated vertically by a heat seal H between the film 3 and the filtrate element 2.

The order of manufacturing such a filter set will now be described.

First, the filtrate element 2 is prepared. As shown in FIG. 2, this filtrate element 2 consists of three components: a presser ring 6 molded from a rigid resin such as polypropylene, a support 7, and a filter 8 having a predetermined mesh size sandwiched between them. It is configured. That is, the support body 7 has a liquid collection hole 9 at the center, and is formed into a funnel shape by a partition wall 11 that is partitioned by radial ribs 10 and slopes downward toward the center, and a side wall 12 that surrounds the partition wall 11. a lower ring 24 that is integrally supported by two pillar-shaped bridging portions 23 that extend downward by a certain length from opposite positions on the circumference of the side wall 12; It consists of. A part of the outer periphery of this upper ring 22 is bored with an opening 25 for vacuum suction, and if necessary, an adapter 26 (Figs. 3 and 4) is inserted during use to connect it to a vacuum source. is configured to be Note that the heat seal H is also applied to the outer periphery of the upper ring 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, a circular filter 8 is placed on the partition wall 11 of the upper ring 22 of the support 7 so as to cover it.

The holding ring 6 is attached to the side wall 1 of the upper ring 22.
2 is provided with a side wall 13 that is fitted from above, and is configured to press the periphery of the filter 8 onto the support 7 with an edge 14 projecting inwardly. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter 8, after being assembled, is fixed to the partition wall 11 of the upper ring 22 by means such as ultrasonic welding, together with beads 15 provided at equal intervals on the edge 14 of the retainer ring. .

With such a configuration of the filtrate element 2, as will be described later, the liquid to be filtered that is supplied from above drips onto the partition wall 11 through the fine holes of the filter 8, and flows through the slope into the central liquid collecting hole 9.
is collected and can flow further downward.

This filtrate element 2 is then inserted into a flexible tube-shaped film 3 made of resin such as polyethylene. This film 3 is
When expanded, it has an inner diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of each ring of the filtrate element 2, and the outer circumference of the upper ring 22 is entirely attached to the inner circumference of this film 3 by means such as heat sealing. It will be fixed.
Thereafter, the upper and lower ends 3a and 3b of the film 3 are similarly heat-sealed and sealed, resulting in a product with an appearance as shown in FIG. Incidentally, a hole 16 is provided at the upper edge of the film 3 to engage with a hook.

Of course, these operations are performed in an environment maintained under sterile conditions. Finally, they are grouped into a predetermined number, wrapped in film, sterilized, and shipped.

How to use this filter set will be explained based on FIG. 4.

The user tears the sterilized package, takes out the filtrate set 1, and cuts open the upper region 4 of the film 3 below the sealed end 3a with scissors or the like to make a cut 17 of a predetermined size. Next, the hole 16 of the film 3 is hooked onto a hook 20 provided at the tip of the arm 19 of a separately prepared stand 18, and the bottom of the filter set is supported by the base 21. If the liquid to be filtered is injected into the upper region 4 of the film 3 through the cut 17 in this state, the region 4 functions as the upper liquid tank in the conventional product shown in FIG. Retains filtered liquid.

On the other hand, the lower region 5 functions to store filtered liquid, similar to the lower liquid tank in conventional products.

If a vacuum is to be applied within the lower region 5 to increase filtration efficiency, an adapter 26 can be inserted into the opening 25 of the upper ring 22 and connected to a vacuum source (not shown), as shown in FIG. Just connect to. The distance between both rings 22 and 24 of the support body 7, that is, the length of the bridge portion 23, is such that even if the pressure in the second region 5 becomes lower than atmospheric pressure due to vacuuming and the film 3 attempts to shrink and deform. , and must be blocked by these members to maintain a sufficient space to store the filtrate.

[Effect of idea]

As detailed above, according to the present invention, the upper and lower liquid tanks of the filter set are constructed from flexible tube-shaped films, and the only shape-retentive member is the filtrate element. When not in use, the volume can be kept to a minimum by folding the film, making it possible to significantly save space during storage and distribution. Furthermore, since the upper and lower liquid tanks molded into a predetermined shape, which are assembled by fitting which requires considerable precision as in the past, are eliminated, manufacturing costs can also be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, since the filtrate element is constructed from a support of a special shape and provided with an opening for evacuation, it is possible to reduce the pressure in the lower region and improve filtration efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the filter set of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a filtrate element used in the filter set of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the filter set, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how the filter set of the present invention is used, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional filter set. be. 1...Filter set, 2...Filtrate element,
3...Tubular film, 4...Upper region, 5
... Lower region, 6 ... Holder ring, 7 ... Support body, 8 ... Filter, 22 ... Upper ring, 23
...Bridge portion, 24... Lower ring, 25... Vacuum opening, 26... Adapter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A resin filtrate element configured to press and hold a filter placed on a support from above with a presser ring is sealed in an internal space of a flexible sealed tube-shaped film,
A filter set in which the outer periphery of the filtrate element is fixed to the inner periphery of the film over the entire surface, thereby dividing the internal space of the film into two mutually independent upper and lower regions, wherein the support is , an upper ring that fits into the retainer ring;
A lower ring integrally connected to the lower ring via a bridge portion is configured to have a predetermined height, and an opening for vacuuming communicates with the lower region on the outer periphery of the upper ring. A filter set characterized by being provided with.