Abstract:
A tube comprising a container having a closed bottom end, an open top end, and a part that is adapted for flexible cooperation with a compartment of a rack for accommodation of the tube in such a way that unintentional removal of the tube from the respective compartment is substantially prevented, a cap for sealing a tube, and a rack for accommodating a plurality of tubes. The tube, cap, and rack facilitate automatic handling of samples.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to tubes, tube caps, and tube racks or holders, in particular for use in automatic, e.g. robotic, test systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In automatic test systems, there is a need for automatic and safe handling of test samples. In recent years there has been an increasing activity within the biotech area and as a consequence thereof an increased need for safe and secure handling, storing and labeling of samples have arisen. The increasing activity has caused a large growth in the number of samples to be tested leading to a demand for tubes, caps and racks, that can be handled automatically during substantially the entire testing, storing, and handling process to provide the above-mentioned automatic and safe handling of test samples. 
     Furthermore the large number of test samples has created a need for a tube, rack, and cap that take up as little volume as possible either alone or in combination with one of the others. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,728 discloses a tube with an optically readable code. The tube has a supporting collar for supporting the tube in the rack. A locking slide is disclosed for fixing the tube in the rack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide improved tubes, caps, and racks facilitating automatic handling of samples. 
     According to the invention, a tube comprising a container having a closed bottom end, and an open top end fulfills the above-mentioned and other objects. Further, the tube has a part that is adapted for interaction, e.g. by flexible cooperation, with a rack having compartments with sidewalls for accommodation of the tube in such a way that unintentional removal of the tube from the respective compartment is substantially prevented. The tube and/or the rack may be flexible to provide the flexible cooperation between the two. 
     The tube may, in a first longitudinal position in one of the rack compartments, be substantially free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the tube in the compartment while unintentional removal of the tube from the compartment is substantially prevented. 
     The tube may have an outer circumference of a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube that is non-circular for definition of at least one angular position of the tube that allows movement of the tube into a second longitudinal position in the compartment in which second longitudinal position the tube cannot be rotated. 
     The part adapted for interaction with the rack may comprise one or more protrusions, e.g. for flexible cooperation with the rack. One or more pins may constitute the protrusions. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more protrusions of the part adapted for interaction with the rack comprise a bead or a ridge, e.g. an O-shaped bead, on the outer surface of the tube for flexible cooperation with the rack. The bead may cover the entire circumference of the tube, or the bead may cover substantially the circumference of the tube, or, it may be divided into sections. 
     Preferably, during insertion of the tube in a compartment of the rack, the one or more protrusions are forced inside the compartment, whereby the tube and the one or more protrusions are slightly deformed creating a slight resistance against the insertion. When the one or more protrusions reach the open bottom end of the compartment, i.e. has passed or partly passed the sidewalls, the tube is allowed to return to its original shape so that the width of the tube at the one or more protrusions becomes slightly larger than the corresponding width of the compartment so that removal of the tube cannot be performed without application of a force to deform the tube sufficiently to allow the one or more protrusions to re-enter the compartment. Also, the one or more protrusions prevent the tubes from falling out of the compartments if the rack is turned upside down. 
     Alternatively the compartment or a part thereof is slightly deformed during insertion of the tube in a compartment of the rack creating a slight resistance against the insertion. When the one or more protrusions of the tube reach the open bottom end of the compartment, i.e. has passed or partly passed the sidewalls, the compartment is allowed to return to its original shape so that the width of the tube at the one or more protrusions becomes slightly larger than the corresponding width of the compartment so that removal of the tube cannot be performed without application of a force to deform the compartment sufficiently to allow the one or more protrusions to re-enter the compartment. A combination of temporary deformations of the tube and compartment is also possible. 
     Advantageously the bead covers the entire circumference of the tube to provide for a more secure and rotationally independent fixing of the tube in the compartments of the rack. 
     It is an advantage of the invention that during handling of the tube, the tube does not have to be rotationally fitted in order to place the tube in a position in a compartment of the rack. In this position, unintentional removal of the tube from the rack may be prevented. Thus, it may be possible to insert the tube in a compartment of the rack whereby unintentional removal may be prevented, independent of the rotational position around its longitudinal axis. 
     The one or more protrusions, such as the bead, pin, etc., are preferably located on a part of the tube above the solid bottom of the tube, i.e. on a hollow part of the tube, for increased flexibility. 
     In an alternative embodiment, one or more protrusions may be provided internally in the compartments for cooperation with corresponding recesses in the one or more parts of the tubes adapted for interaction with the rack for substantially prevention of unintentional removal of the tube from the respective compartment. 
     Preferably, an outer circumference of a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube and just above the part adapted for interaction with the rack for preventing unintentional removal of the tube from the rack is substantially circular. Due to the substantially circular outer circumference, the tube may rotate substantially freely in one longitudinal position in a compartment. 
     The tube may be designed so that in at least one position in a compartment of the rack, rotation of the tube is prevented, for example by provision of one or more protrusions on the outer side of the tube, whereby an outer circumference of a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube becomes non-circular. Alternatively or in combination herewith a part of the outer side of the tube may have a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube that is substantially a polygon, e.g. with 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and preferably 4 sides, an ellipsoid or another noncircular geometrical shape that, in cooperation with a compartment of the rack, prevents rotation of the tube. This facilitates automatic, e.g. rotational, capping and de-capping of the tube. 
     The inside of the tube may be formed to enhance complete emptying of tube. Providing a tube with no inner sharp edges facilitates this. The bottom of the inside of the tube may be designed, e.g. rounded, to facilitate complete emptying of tube. 
     The inside surface of the tube may be coated with e.g. an anti-coagulating agent. 
     The tube is preferably made of a suitable polymer, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination thereof. Types of polypropylene or polyethylene suitable for tubes are generally known from the prior art. A part of the tube, preferably the bottom, may be colored, preferably in black, to render possible the application of an identification code. 
     At the closed bottom end of the tube an identification code may be applied to enable identification of the tube and its contents. The code may be written or burned into the tube with a laser, but other methods for labeling the tube, such as gluing an identification piece or foil on the tube, and/or RFID-labeling of the tubes may be employed. 
     The identification code is preferably a Data Matrix 2D-code with 12×12 or 14×14 dots. Other Data Matrix formats such as 16×16, 18×18, 20×20, or 22×22 or other suitable identification codes may be employed. 
     Further, a cap may be provided for attachment to the tube whereby the tube is sealed. 
     The tube may have a threading internally or externally at the open top end part of the tube for cooperation with a threaded cap for attachment, e.g. sealing attachment, of the cap to the tube. 
     Alternatively or in combination with the threading the tube may internally or externally on the open top end part of the tube comprise one or more protrusions or recesses to provide means for removably fixing a cap in the tube, e.g. in a bayonet clutch. 
     The cap may have a plug part and a head part, the head part having a part adapted for interaction with a tool for capping or de-capping the tube. The part adapted for interaction with a tool is preferably substantially polygonal but may have any form suitable for engagement with a tool. 
     In a preferred embodiment the part adapted for interaction with a tool may be a substantially polygonal depression for interaction with a tool for capping or de-capping the tube, whereby the tool functions as the male part and the head part functions as the female part. The depression is preferably substantially square and/or may be substantially polygonal with e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more edges, or another noncircular form suitable for interaction with a tool for rotational coupling of the cap and the tube. 
     When the cap interacts with the tool for capping and de-capping there is a need for the cap to be removably positioned on the tool. Thus the depression may have at least one recess in a side thereof. 
     In an embodiment the depression in the head part of the cap may have at least one hole in a side thereof to facilitate removable positioning of the cap on the tool. 
     In another embodiment the head part may function as male and have a substantially polygonal protrusion for interaction with a female tool for capping or de-capping the tube. 
     The force to be used for separating the cap and the tool for capping and de-capping the tube is smaller than the force to be used for removing the tube from the rack. Hereby is ensured that the tool for capping or de-capping can be removed from the cap when the tube with the cap is placed in the rack 
     When the tube with the cap is placed in the rack there is a need for removing the tube with the cap from the rack and placing it in e.g. a freezer for cold storage. For enabling a tool to grab and move the tube from the rack the head part may be provided with one or more recesses on the outside surface of the head part for engagement with a tool for positioning of the tube in a compartment of the rack. The at least one recess is preferably annular but may have any other suitable form to enable a tool to, while the tube with the cap is positioned in a compartment of the rack, grab the cap and remove the tube with the cap from the rack. 
     In another embodiment the tool for grabbing and moving the tube from the rack may engage with a depression in the head part of the cap. In this embodiment the depression for interacting with the tool for grabbing and moving the tube is preferably the same as a depression for interacting with the tool for capping and de-capping. 
     The cap may further comprise a gasket for completely sealing the tube when the cap is put on or positioned in the tube. In one embodiment the gasket is an O-ring or a flat gasket. In another embodiment the gasket is molded on the cap during manufacturing, whereby the gasket becomes an integrated part of the cap. The gasket is preferably made of silicone rubber, but other suitable materials such as a polypropylene or polyethylene based elastomer are also useful. 
     Further the cap may comprise a threading on the plug part for engagement with the tube to provide a secure attachment of the cap to the tube. 
     In another embodiment the plug may instead of or in combination with a threading comprise one or more protrusions or recesses to provide means for removably fixing the cap in the tube, e.g. in a bayonet clutch. 
     To facilitate easy engagement of the cap with the tube in the automatic test system the end of the plug part may be tapered/chamfered. 
     The head part of the cap may further comprise one or a plurality of longitudinal recesses on the outer surface of the head part to facilitate manual capping and de-capping. 
     The cap is preferably made of polypropylene, but other materials such as polyethylene, silicone rubber, polypropylene or polyethylene based elastomers, or a combination may be used. 
     A tool is provided for capping and de-capping the tube and a tool is provided for moving the tube with the cap from the rack. The tool for moving the tube with the cap from the rack may be integrated in the tool for capping and de-capping the tube. A tool for handling a plurality of tubes is conceived. 
     Further, in accordance with the invention a rack may be provided for holding a plurality of the tubes of the present invention. The rack comprises a frame with a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of tubes according to the present invention, the plurality of compartments adapted for interaction with the tube part adapted for interaction with the rack whereby unintentional removal of the tube from the respective compartment is substantially prevented. 
     The compartments have an open top end and an open bottom end. Therefore the bottom of the tubes when tubes are placed in the rack is visible from the underside of the rack. Thus, when tubes are placed in at least one of the compartments of the rack, possibly all, it is possible to optically scan the bottom of the tubes to e.g. read a code from the tubes to provide for identification of the tubes and their content. 
     Preferably, the rack comprises 96 compartments in an 8×12 matrix formation, but other formations, such as 384 compartments in a 16×24 matrix formation are also possible. 
     Preferably, the compartments are quadratic having four sidewalls, but may be of any non-circular shape. A compartment has a non-circular shape when a cross-section of the compartment at a certain depth is non-circular. The non-circular shape of the compartments assists in preventing a tube from rotating in at least one position of the tube in the compartment. The center-to-center distance between adjacent compartments is a standard distance between 8 and 10 mm, preferably 9 mm. To facilitate use of standard apparatus for automatic systems, e.g. conveyor belts, the rack may comply with some of the standard dimensions of the SBS (Society of Biomolecular Screening)-standard, e.g. the length and width of the footprint of the rack, placement of compartments in rack, and the center-to-center distance between wells/compartments. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the rack the sidewalls of the compartments are slightly oblique whereby the cross-section at the open top end of the compartment is larger than the cross-section at the open bottom end of the compartment. The oblique sidewalls facilitate the insertion of the tube in a compartment of the rack. 
     To provide flexibility of the compartment, a slot may be provided between the sidewalls of adjacent compartments. The open bottom end of the compartment may alternatively or in combination be provided with flexible lamellas to interact, e.g. in flexible cooperation, with a tube of the present invention. 
     The rack may further comprise a code for identification of the rack. The code is preferably an optically readable code, such as for example a bar code or a Data Matrix 2D-code. Alternatively or additionally, the rack may comprise an RFID-chip or tag. 
     Further the rack may comprise a lid. The lid may be adapted to interact with the rack, such that unintentional removal of the lid from the rack is substantially prevented. 
     The lid may be part of the packaging for the rack with tubes. The packaging may comprise a transparent foil covering the bottom of the rack, such that an ID code on tubes in the rack and/or on the rack itself may be read prior to unpacking the rack. 
     Preferably, the rack is made of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), but other suitable materials, such as polycarbonate, polyethylene or polypropylene are also usable. 
     Preferably, the lid is made of a transparent or translucent material, such that an ID code on the rack may be read prior to unpacking the rack. The lid may be made of a polymer, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or polypropylene, or other suitable materials. 
     The rack and lid are designed for provision of easy stacking of the rack, the lid or a combination of the rack and the lid. This facilitates automatic and manual handling and storing of a plurality of racks and lids. 
     In summary the tube, cap and rack of the present invention provide a safe handling of test samples of any kind. 
     It is an important advantage of the present invention that the rack may be turned upside down with tubes maintained in their respective compartments. 
     Another important advantage of the invention is that all handling of the present invention, e.g. placing tube in rack, capping and de-capping of tubes in rack, analyzing the content of tubes, moving a tube from rack, identifying tube and its contents, can be performed automatically by an automatic handling system. 
     Alternatively part or parts of the handling may be performed manually. 
     It is a further advantage of the present invention that the tube, the cap and the rack take up as little space as possible while providing the above-mentioned features. 
     The closed bottom end of the tube may bulge, but preferably, it is substantially flat so that the tube may be positioned on its bottom end in an upright position on a flat surface, such as a table. 
     Furthermore, a flat closed bottom end of the tube facilitates possible application of an optically readable identification code on the bottom end. A substantially flat surface ensures that the risk of errors during an automated optical reading of a coding is minimized by avoiding optical deformations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the tube, 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of the cap of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view from above of the cap of the present invention, 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of the tube with the cap, 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross section of an embodiment of the tube 
         FIG. 4  shows the tube and the cap in different positions, 
         FIG. 5  shows the tube in one position in a compartment of the rack, 
         FIG. 6  shows the tube in another position in a compartment of the rack, 
         FIG. 7A  shows the bottom of a rack with a tube accommodated in one position, 
         FIG. 7B  shows the bottom of a rack with tubes accommodated in another position. 
         FIG. 8  shows a section of an embodiment of a rack of the present invention, 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view of the lid and rack, 
         FIG. 9B  is an end view of the lid and rack, 
         FIGS. 10A-C  illustrate stacking of lids, racks and a combination of the two, 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the rack accommodating 9 tubes according to the present invention, 
         FIG. 12A  illustrates a part of a tool for grabbing and moving a tube according to the present invention, and 
         FIGS. 12B and 13C  schematically illustrate the principle of grabbing the tube with a tool while positioned in a rack. 
         FIGS. 13A-D  illustrate an embodiment of a tool for capping and de-capping a tube according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the tube of the present invention. The tube  1  has a closed bottom end  2  and an open top end  4 . The outer surface of the closed bottom end  2  is colored in black to provide for the application of an identification code. The coloring is incorporated in the tube during the manufacturing process. A bead  6  is provided on a flexible part of the tube, i.e. above the solid closed bottom end  2 . The bead cooperates with the sides of the rack compartments in a flexible manner to prevent the tubes from being unintentionally removed from the rack. An outer part  8  of the tube seen from a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube is in this embodiment substantially shaped as a square. The part  8  prevents in cooperation with the compartments of the rack in at least one position of the tube in a compartment of the rack the tube from rotating. An edge  9  prevents the tube from dropping further in the rack when the part  8  is fitted in the compartment. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a side view and a perspective view from above of an embodiment of the cap of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  shows the cap  10  with the head part  12  and the plug part  14 .  FIG. 2B  is a top view of the cap and shows the head part  12  having a substantially squared depression  16  for interaction with a tool for capping or de-capping the tube. The depression may further be used for interaction with a tool for grabbing and moving the tube with the cap. The depression  16  has four holes  18 , one in each side of the substantially square depression for removable interaction with a tool. The cap is provided with an annular recess  20  on the outer surface of the head part for engagement with a tool. Further, the cap  10  comprises a gasket  22  for sealing the tube. The embodiment of the cap shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  further comprises a threading  24  on the plug part  14  of the cap, the end of the plug part  26  being tapered for easy engagement of the cap with the tube. The head part of the cap further comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses  28  on the outer surface to facilitate manual capping and de-capping. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a side view of an embodiment of the tube with the cap. The tube according to the invention is especially intended for use in handling of samples with volume up to 1 ml, preferably 0.5 or 1 ml. During freezing, a test sample typically expands. To take into account this expansion and at the same time not take up more space than necessary the volume of the tube when the cap is put on is 5-20%, preferably 10% larger than the volume of the un-frozen sample. The preferred internal volume of the tube is thus 1.1 ml or 0.55 ml when the tube is capped. 
       FIG. 3B  schematically shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the tube and cap. A part  29  may be colored to provide for application of an identification code. The part  29  may have an identification code and may be countersunk to prevent it from being scratched. The part  29  may be molded on the tube and then provided with an identification code, or an identification code may be applied to the part  29  prior to attachment of the part to the tube. The part  29  may also be an integrated part of the tube. 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the tube and the cap in different positions. The tube  1  has at the open top end an internal threading  30  to facilitate rotational attachment of the cap to the tube. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show an embodiment of the rack according to the invention accommodating a tube in two different positions. The rack  50  comprises a frame  52  with a plurality of compartments  54  for holding a plurality of tubes according to the present invention in one position in a compartment of the rack cf.  FIG. 5  and in another position in a compartment of the rack cf.  FIG. 6 . In the position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the tube can rotate substantially freely. The tube may be rotated into at least one position wherein the part  8  fits in the compartment, and gravitation or another force may cause the tube to enter into the position shown in  FIG. 6 . In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , the non-circular part  8  of the tube prevents, in cooperation with the compartment, the tube from rotating. The edge  9  on the tube rests on the open top  56  end of the compartment thereby preventing the tube from further insertion in the rack. 
     The open top end  56  of a compartment is adapted to facilitate insertion and capture of the tube  1  in the compartment. No force has to be applied in the beginning of insertion. At some point during insertion of the tube  1  in a compartment of the rack, the bead  6  has to be forced inside the compartment, whereby the tube  1  and/or the compartment sidewalls are slightly deformed creating a slight resistance against the insertion. When the bead  6  reach the open bottom end ( 58  on  FIG. 7A ) of the compartment, the tube with the bead and/or the compartment are allowed to return to its original shape so that the width of the tube at the bead becomes slightly larger than the corresponding width of the compartment so that removal of the tube cannot be performed without application of a force to deform the tube with bead and/or the compartment sufficiently to allow the bead to re-enter the compartment. Also, the protrusions prevent the tubes from falling out of the compartments if the rack is turned upside down. In both positions shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the bead is positioned below the open bottom end of the compartment, which means that movement of the tube between the two positions shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is not influenced by the bead. 
       FIG. 7A  shows the rack of  FIG. 5  from another point of view. The rack has a plurality of compartments  54  having an open bottom end  58 , the rack accommodating a tube according to the invention in the same position as in  FIG. 5 . The bead  6  has passed the sidewalls of the compartment and thereby prevents the tube from being unintentionally removed from the rack, e.g. falling out of the rack when rack is turned upside down. 
     Just above the bead  6 , an outer circumference of a cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube is substantially circular. Because of the circular circumference the tube can be inserted in a compartment of the rack without being rotationally fitted. Further, the tube may rotate substantially freely. 
       FIG. 7B  shows a plurality of tubes accommodated in a rack seen from below. The position of each tube in the rack corresponds to the position of the tube in  FIG. 6 . When turning the rack upside down, gravity causes the tubes to move into the position which is shown for one tube in  FIG. 7A . The bead  6  will prevent the tubes from falling out of the rack. The tubes are provided with an ID-code  59  at the bottom. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates from below a section of an embodiment of a rack of the present invention. In this embodiment the sidewalls  60  are at the open bottom end of the compartment provided with flexible lamellas  62  to interact in flexible cooperation with the tube. Alternatively only some of the four sidewalls of a compartment may be provided with lamellas. The lamellas may be divided into two or more parts. 
       FIG. 9A  is a side view, and  FIG. 9B  is an end view of an embodiment of the lid and rack. The lid has a member  70  at each side to, in cooperation with a slot  72  at each side of the rack, prevent unintentional removal of the lid from the rack. 
       FIG. 10A  illustrates the stacking of lids,  FIG. 10B  the stacking of racks, and  FIG. 10C  shows the stacking of racks with lids according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the rack accommodating 9 tubes with caps  90  according to the present invention. The interspaces  92  between the tubes may be used for a tool for moving the tube from or placing the tube in a compartment of the rack. The tool for moving the tube may in another embodiment engage with the depression  16  in the cap. 
       FIG. 12A  illustrates a part  100  of an embodiment of a tool for grabbing and moving a tube according to the present invention. The tool comprises four arms  110 , each arm having a protrusion  112  for engagement with a recess  20  on the head part of a cap. The end  114  of an arm  110  is tapered to facilitate insertion of the tool in the interspaces between the tubes with caps as illustrated in  FIG. 13C . The length of the arm from the protrusion  112  to the end  114  of the arm is between 1-25 mm, preferably between 5-15 mm, to provide a firm grip on the tube. 
       FIGS. 12B and 12C  schematically illustrate the principle of operation of an embodiment of the tool for grabbing and inserting or removing the tube with the cap  120 . The Figs. illustrate nine tubes with interspaces  92  positioned in a rack as shown in  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 12C  the four arms  110  of the tool part  100  are positioned in the four interspaces  92  between the nine tubes, the protrusions  112  being on a level with the recess  20  on the head part of the cap. In  FIG. 12B  the tool has grabbed the tube with the cap by moving the arms  110  towards the center of the tube  120 , whereby the protrusions  112  engage with the recess  20  in the head part of the cap. The tube with cap can now be moved from the rack with the tool while the rack is kept in a fixed position. 
     An embodiment of a tool  130  for capping and de-capping the tube is schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-D . A longitudinal section is shown on  FIGS. 13A and 13C , and a cross section of an embodiment of the tool for capping and de-capping is shown in  FIGS. 13B and 13D . The tool employs a ball catch principle. The tool comprises a substantially squared male part  132  for insertion into the depression of the head part of the cap. Two small balls  134  are positioned in the male part separated by a flexible member  136 . In an alternative embodiment a rotatable cylinder  138  having a flexible part  140  and a solid part  142  may be provided as illustrated in  FIGS. 13B and 13D  for keeping the two balls in a flexible ( FIG. 12B ) and a fixed ( FIG. 13D ) state. In this way the tool for capping and de-capping the tube may also, in the locked state shown in  FIG. 13D , be used for grabbing and inserting or removing the tube with the cap.