JPH0672837B2 - Inspection container for pasty sample material - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a test container for a pasty sample substance, especially a stool, comprising a tank lid and a sample storage tank.

Prior art: Test vessels of this kind with a sample storage tank are known [eg Saarstedt pamphlet 77/78, W. Saarstedt, Rommelsdorf, 5523 Nmbrecht]. The sample storage dish consists of a bucket attached to the tank lid. In the case of a test container of this kind having a sample-holding tank, if it is desired to obtain a fine distribution of the pasty sample substance in the suspension, stirring of the bucket in the tank interior space is provided. However, in many cases, it can never be achieved that the sample substance is distributed in the liquid in a sufficiently fine manner. Furthermore, agitation additionally means a troublesome work process in the case of stool samples.

The problem to be solved by the invention: The object of the invention is to provide a test container with a sample reservoir which ensures a very good distribution of the sample substance in the liquid for the simplest handling.

Means for Solving the Problem: This task is for the dish walls 42; 170, 172 to be at least partially sieve meshed.
44; 144, the bottom 22 of the tank and the ridges 28; 128 are constructed, and the upper surface 34 of the ridge facing the tank interior space 26; 126 is formed essentially complementary to the inner surface 32 of the dish. , In the case of a sample storage vessel 10 with the dish inner surface 32 closed, by essentially contacting the entire upper surface 34 of the ridges 28; 128. Therefore, when the vessel lid is placed on the sample storage vessel, the sample substance present in the sample storage dish is forced into the suspension through the sieve mesh; depending on the number and size of the sieve meshes. It is possible to obtain a fine distribution of the sample substance in the suspension. This sample material is brought into suspension without significant loss. This is because the ridges completely occupy the dish, depending on the type of rod. Therefore, since the sample storage dish is suitable for storing a predetermined sample volume, it becomes possible to perform a quantitative evaluation.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the edges of the sieve mesh on the raised side of the dish wall have sharp corners. Thus
The sieving effect of the sieve mesh is enhanced when the sample material is pressed through the sieve mesh. Sample particles that were too large for the next measurement were thus reliably ground, which was often not achieved with the previous stirring.

For stool samples, the sieve mesh preferably has an inner diameter of about 0.5-2 mm, especially about 1 mm.

In order to be able to nevertheless seal the sample-holding tank in the case of relatively large but non-millable particles, the sample-holding pan should be flexible towards the lid of the tank. It is suggested to keep. Alternatively or additionally, the dish wall and / or the ridge can be configured to be flexible. This part can be made plastic or elastic and flexible, in which case elastic flexibility is preferred, at least when the bath is used several times. The sample storage tank is generally used as a one-way member because the sample storage tank can be inexpensively manufactured together with the tank lid due to its simple shape.

The desired elastic flexibility at low manufacturing costs is advantageously achieved by forming the holder and / or the dish wall and / or the ridge for the sample receiving dish against the vessel lid out of polyethylene. It In this case, the holder is preferably rod-shaped.

In the first, particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the dish wall is essentially spherically curved.

In an alternative embodiment, on the other hand, the dish wall is formed by a dish bottom surface having sieve meshes and an essentially hollow cylindrical dish side wall starting from the dish bottom surface. This same embodiment of the piston-cylinder arrangement ensures that, even with a relatively large sample volume, it actually pushes the entire sample volume from the pan into the suspension.

In order to prevent the sample substance from escaping laterally between the bottom of the tank and the circumferential edge of the dish wall without simultaneously grinding or finely distributing the sample substance in suspension. , If the ridge penetrates into the sample-holding dish when the tub lid is placed on the sample-holding jar at the latest, the peripheral edge of the dish wall should be in contact with the ridge and / or the tub-side wall so as to essentially seal. Is proposed. Furthermore, all sample material is pressed exclusively through the sieve mesh. However, essentially not exceeding the inner diameter of the sieve mesh,
It is also possible to provide a distance between the circumferential edge of the dish wall and the ridge or tank side wall.

For many test methods, it is necessary to filter the suspension. This has heretofore been carried out by pouring the suspension from the sample reservoir into a filtration funnel mounted on the filtrate container. This method is uncomfortable for the parties in the case of stool samples and in some cases completely dangerous in the case of infectious substances.

The present invention also generally includes a stirrer insert for mixing liquids or liquids and solids with the sample reservoir.
In order to ensure strong mixing with little structural cost and simplest handling and without risk of splashing etc.
It has been proposed to have an essentially plate-like vortex member that is movable up and down in a sample storage tank and that essentially occupies the tank cross section (perpendicular to the direction of motion) and that has a passage opening. It has been found that in the case of this type of mixing, the liquid surface gradually remains quiet, thus eliminating the splash. The vortex produces the desired strong mixing quickly and reliably. In the case of the sample storage tank described above, the vortex member is formed by a sample pan having sieve meshes.

From international patent application (PCT-A-WO 83/01194), the vessel lid is fitted with a sieve essentially occupying the vessel cross section as well as a sample storage dish having an opening in the dish wall which is open towards the vessel bottom Is known. The sample storage dish is attached to the sieve by a holder.

The object of the present invention, on the other hand, is to provide a test container of this kind with a sample container which guarantees a very good distribution of the sample substance in the liquid with the simplest handling. The sample container formed according to claim 11 has a function of collecting the sample and a function of completely and completely distributing the sample substance in the liquid. This means that first, when the sample storage tank is screwed, the paste-like sample substance is actually completely extruded from the sample storage dish, and a fine jet flow (jet flow) which actually corresponds to the opening of the sieve in cross section. By extruding, in which case, depending on the type of pasty sample substance, also grinding of large substance particles with a sieve is carried out. The thread of the sample material stream on the sieve, which has a correspondingly large area of importance for mixing, already forms a relatively fine distribution of the sample material in the liquid. Furthermore, in order to improve the distribution, the sieve formed from the second dish wall can be moved up and down in the liquid by moving the bath lid up and down in the application, in which case again the individual The mixture from the sample substance and the suspension through the sieve mesh and the annular gap moves in the form of fine-flowing threads, thus strongly and evenly mixing the sample substance and the suspension finely. Happens. Due to the incompressibility of the liquid and the fineness and vortex of the thread of flow of the sample material, the liquid level actually remains completely stationary when the lid is raised and lowered. The risk of environmental pollution due to splashes can be neglected.

U.S. Pat. No. 4032437 shows a sample receiving tank with a tank bottom having a sample tray open towards the tank lid, with the tank lid. In contrast to the sample storage tanks of the type mentioned above, which have a sample storage tray held on the tank lid and accordingly a simple sample reception without auxiliary means, in the case of the sample storage tank according to said U.S. Pat. The pasty sample material has to be dispensed into the sample pan with a simple spatula, which makes handling difficult and in the case of stool material the discomfort of sample acceptance by the patient is significantly increased. . A sieve-held flask, held on a rod, can be introduced into the bath independently of the lid, but only to the upper edge of the sample pan. Therefore, the pasty sample material in the sample pan cannot be obtained at all by the flask, and thus, unlike the present invention, the pasty sample material is obtained by pressing down the sieve flask. Since the suspension is mixed, it cannot be extruded from the sample storage dish into the inner space of the tank above the sieve flask. The flask according to said U.S. patent is fitted in the vessel with a sliding fit, whereas in the case of the present invention the annular gap between the circumferential edge of the dish wall and the vessel side wall is at least It is provided within the range of the ridge,
This ridge additionally serves for strong mixing. Finally,
According to the present invention, by holding the plate wall on the lid, the first
A reduction in the number of components required for the second is obtained and, secondly, an increased certainty in handling. This is because, when the lid is closed and the lid is subsequently opened again, ejection of the pasty sample substance from the pan and mixing with the suspension take place automatically.

From the description of West German Patent Publication No. 3218079, rotation in a dish in which cell stacks are destroyed by corresponding shear forces in the range between the rotor and the dish by spinning at a sufficiently high speed The child is known. The span between the rotor and the dish
It is 4 mm. In contrast to this, in the case of the present invention, mixing by axial movement of the sample pan with sieve mesh is achieved in the vessel.

Embodiments The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings of the preferred embodiments.

The sample storage tank 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a sample storage tray.
It can be used with a tank lid 14 having 12. The sample storage tank 10 has a hollow cylindrical tank side wall 20 and a tank bottom surface 22. The tank bottom surface 22 is formed so as to have an essentially spherical crown-shaped ridge 28 that is arranged concentrically with the tank axis 24 and is convex when viewed from the tank interior space 26. The sample pan 12 joined to the bath lid 14 by a rod 30 is additionally curved with respect to the ridge 28. Furthermore, the length of the rod 30 is determined according to FIG. 2 such that the inner side 32 of the dish is in full contact with the upper side 34 of the ridge 28 when the tank lid 14 is completely screwed. Tank lid 14 resembling a hat
Has an internal thread 36, which is an external thread of the tank side wall 20.
It can be screwed to 38 within the bath opening 40.

The dish wall 42 of the sample storage dish 12 has a distribution of 0.5
There are sieve openings 44 with an inner diameter a of ~ 2 mm, at most about 1 mm.

To take the sample, use a spatula to hold the sample in the sample pan 12
Smear inside or store the sample directly in the sample pan. Quantitative measurements can also be performed for a given sample pan volume. In the sample storage tank 10, the first liquid 46 used as a fixing medium and / or a carrying medium is provided.
Is pre-filled. If the MIFC-technology is used, the first liquid consists of formalin-water-glycerin spiked with merthiolate (thimerosal).

The tank lid 14 is first placed on the sample storage tank 10 together with the sample storage tray 12, and is screwed to the storage tank. During this screwing process, the dish wall 42 gradually approaches the ridge 28. Tank wall 20
And a circular peripheral portion 50 of the dish wall 42, a narrow annular gap 52 is formed with a gap width not exceeding the value a. Due to this annular gap, the first liquid 46 can immediately escape upward through the side of the circumferential edge portion 50 when the sample storage tray 12 moves downward in the sample storage tank 10. However, as soon as the sample material 32 reaches the bottom 22 of the tank and the sample pan 12 is moved further downwards (due to the screwing movement of the tank lid 14), this sample material is compressed, squeezing the mesh 44 and the first mesh. It is squeezed from the annular gap 52 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a small arrow indicating the corresponding flow is indicated by A. A number of fine sample material streams (jets) are obtained in the first liquid 46, corresponding to the openings a of the sieve and the number of sieve openings.

As a result, a fine distribution of the sample substance occurs in the first liquid 46. Particles of sample material that are larger than the sieve opening a are crushed between both the ridge 28 and the pan wall 42, such as a member where the ram is pressed to overlap if desired,
Therefore, the particles can finally escape via the sieve mesh 44. Particles that cannot be crushed due to their hardness remain between the dish wall 42 and the ridge 28. Nevertheless, the dish wall 42 and the rod 30 are both elastic and flexible so that the vessel lid 14 can be completely screwed in and thus the sample vessel can be sealed. ing. This is achieved by completing this part from polyethylene. Alternatively or additionally, the ridge 28 may be elastic and flexible.

Finely distributing the sample substance in the first liquid 46 is achieved by simply screwing the lid 14 on, ie automatically. Suspending the sample material in the first liquid 46 can still be enhanced by subsequent slight shaking. If necessary, the degree of suspension in the laboratory upon or after receipt of the sample can be determined in a simple manner, still by
By raising and lowering 14 the sample pan 12
Can be increased by vertically moving in the sample storage tank. Strong mixing is obtained by the formation of vortices within the sieve mesh 44 and within the annular gap 52. In addition, no agitating device, if necessary to be sterilized in particular, is necessary at all. The risk of pollution of the environment by splashes or solvent vapors is significantly reduced.

The sample storage tank 10 can be directly used as a transport container between the sampling site and the laboratory. First liquid 46
Inhibits the fermentation of the sample material and thus does not cause an explosion of the sample holding tank. Furthermore, the first liquid 46 also prevents the generation of odors in the case of corresponding sample substances. Finally, the first liquid can also help in the sterilization and fixation of the sample material.

The tank lid 14 is removed in the laboratory and, in some cases, the second
Liquid, in particular an organic solvent (ether or ethyl acetate) or a colorant (for example, Lugol's liquid) is added, and the mixture is vigorously mixed again by moving the sample storage tank up and down.

In the case of the second embodiment of the sample storage tank shown in FIG. 3, the number of constituent members whose functions correspond to those of the embodiments according to FIGS. , With the same reference numbers. Therefore, the sample reservoir represented by 110 differs from the first embodiment in that it has an internal thread 138 into which a vessel lid 114 with a corresponding thread 136 is screwed. be able to. But,
The main difference from the first embodiment lies in the different shape of the sample pan 112 and accordingly the ridge 128. This sample storage dish has a circular dish bottom 170 in the radial direction with respect to the axis 124 of the tank, and a node 144 is formed on the dish bottom. The hollow cylindrical dish side wall 172 starts from the circumferential edge of the dish bottom 170. Accordingly, the ridge additionally formed for this
128 has a raised bottom surface 174 and a hollow cylindrical raised sidewall 176, the outer diameter b of which is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the dish sidewall 172. Between the outer periphery of the dish side wall 172 and the inner surface of the tank side wall 120,
Since the liquid 146 is swirled when the sample storage dish 112 is moved downward, there is a large gap of about 1.5 mm, for example. Therefore, the sample storage space 178 surrounded by the dish bottom surface 170 and the dish side wall 172 has a cylindrical shape. Finally, when the sample storage dish 112 is moved into the sample storage tank 110, the dish side wall 172 makes contact with the raised side wall 176. Ridge 128
Continue to enter the sample storage dish 112 according to the type of dish,
Exclude the sample material in the sample space 178. This sample material is jetted out through the sieve mesh 144 into the first liquid 146. When the lid 114 is fully screwed, the dish bottom 170 is the raised floor 1 unless particles, such as pebbles, hold the dish bottom with a corresponding spacing from the raised floor.
Touch the entire surface of 74. Nevertheless, because the rod 130 is elastic and flexible, the vat lid 114 can be completely sealed and screwed.

In order to improve the distribution of the sample substance in the respective liquids in the sample storage tank 110, the sample storage tray 112 is placed in the tank internal space 126 as already described with reference to FIGS.
It can be moved up and down several times within.

In a non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, the stem supporting the sample pan is removably associated with the vat lid, so that the vat lid is correspondingly inserted inside thereof. It can have a bottomed hole.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention of a test container including a sample storage tank and a tank lid before the tank lid is mounted, and FIG. 2 has a mounted tank lid. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the inspection container according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the inspection container including a tank lid and a sample storage tank that are partially screwed. 10,110 …… Sample storage tank, 12,112 …… Sample storage tray, 14,114
…… Vessel lid, 20 …… Vessel side wall, 22 …… Vessel bottom surface, 26,126 …… Vessel internal space, 28,128 …… Rise, 30,130 …… Bar holder,
32: inner surface of plate, 34: upper surface of ridge, 42,170,172 ... plate wall, 44,144 ... sieve mesh, 50 ...

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An inspection container for a pasty sample substance comprising a tank lid and a sample storage tank, wherein a plate wall (42; 170, 172) has at least a part of sieve openings (44; 144), and a tank bottom surface. (2
2) and a ridge (28; 128) are formed, and the upper surface (34) of the ridge facing the tank interior space (26; 126) is formed essentially complementary to the inner surface (32) of the dish. , Inner Plate (32)
Raised (28; 128) in case of closed sample storage tank (10)
An inspection container for pasty sample substances, characterized in that it essentially contacts the upper surface (34) of the entire surface. 2. The inspection container according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the sieve mesh on the raised side of the dish wall (42) is sharply pointed. 3. The stool sample has a sieve mesh of about 0.5 to 2 mm, especially
The inspection container according to claim 1 or 2, which has an inner diameter (a) of 1 mm. 4. The sample container (12; 112) according to claim 1, wherein the sample container (12; 112) is flexibly held by the tank cover (14; 114) toward the cover. The inspection container according to any one of items. 5. The inspection container according to claim 1, wherein the dish wall (42) and / or the ridge (28) is configured to be flexible. 6. Tank lid (14; 114) for a sample storage dish (12)
6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the preferably rod-shaped holder (30; 130) and / or the dish wall (42) and / or the ridge (28) attached to it are made of polyethylene. Inspection container. 7. A wall according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dish wall (42) is essentially spherically curved.
Inspection container according to the item. 8. A dish bottom surface (170) having a sieve wall (144) in the dish wall.
7. An essentially hollow cylindrical dish side wall (172) starting from the dish bottom (170), as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6. Inspection container. 9. When the tank lid (14; 114) is placed on the sample storage tank (10; 110), the ridge (28; 128) penetrates into the sample storage tray (12; 112) at the latest. At this time, the circular peripheral edge portion (50) of the dish wall (42) is in contact with the tank side wall (20) so that it is essentially sealed, or the inner diameter (a) of the sieve mesh is attached to the tank side wall (20). Maintaining a distance that is essentially not exceeded, or abutting or against the ridge (128) such that the circumferential edge (50) of the dish wall (42) is essentially sealed. The inspection container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which maintains a distance that does not substantially exceed the inner diameter (a) of the sieve mesh. 10. When a stirring insertion member for mixing a liquid or a liquid and a solid is provided, the stirring insertion member is vertically movable in a sample storage tank (10; 110) and has a tank cross section. 10. An essentially plate-shaped vortex member (12; 112) with a passage opening essentially occupying
The inspection container according to any one of items 1 to 7. 11. At least a circular peripheral portion of a plate wall and a tank side wall (2
0; 120), an annular gap having a gap width not exceeding the inner diameter (a) of the sieve mesh is formed within the range of the ridge (28; 128). The inspection container according to any one of items 1 to 7.