Patent Publication Number: US-2021181088-A1

Title: Reaction vessel for testing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the technical field of analysis and testing, and more particularly to a reaction vessel for testing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As science and technology advance continuously, there are two main development trends for detection and analysis equipment. One of the trends is to develop “high-precision integrated devices” that rely on large fully automatic equipment and have the advantages of fast batch detection and accurate result and the disadvantages of high instrument cost, complex operation, and long single sample reporting time; and the other one of the trends is to develop “simple, fast, and convenient devices” with the features of miniaturized instruments, simple operation, and quick report. Although its batch processing capacity is not as good as the large-scale fully-automatic instruments, this trend has the advantages of low instrument cost, simple sample processing, and it is suitable for quick on-site testing. 
     In the fields of medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food and drug safety, it is very important to perform fast on-site quantitative tests and analyses on biomedical, immune and other detection indicators. In these fields, a traditional method uses spectrophotometer for the detection and has the disadvantages of cumbersome operation, low efficiency, poor repeatability, and few detection parameters, and thus fails to meet actual requirements. Later, a semi-automatic biochemical analyzer was developed based on the spectrophotometer, and this analyzer is automated to a certain degree to improve the efficiency, but still cannot meet the actual requirements for the increasing sample size. 
     At present, a fully automatic biochemical analyzer has been developed, and this analyzer uses a method to complete the procedures of adding samples, adding reagents, mixing, pre-warming, comparing colors (or turbidities), and calculating and reporting results in the immune-biochemical analysis fully or partially automatic instruments, so as to improve the work efficiency and the detection quality significantly. However, the existing automatic biochemical analyzers are bulky, expensive, and complicated to operate, and they also need to be equipped with professional devices for sample pre-treatment, so that they can only be used in central laboratories of large hospitals and operated by trained professionals. Obvious, the aforementioned method cannot meet the requirements for quick on-site testing. 
     In the field of quick on-site testing, a microfluidic technology has emerged, and this technology integrates the functions of sampling, adding reagents, mixing, preserving heat, and comparing colors required for the detection by the biochemical analyzer into a microchip, but this technology has the drawbacks that it can only detect several indicators at a time, but cannot detect each single indicator separately, and the accuracy of detection results of this technology is poor. 
     In other quick on-site testing equipment, the fully automatic biochemical analyzer is miniaturized, but the procedures including the automatic sampling, needle washing, mixing, cup washing, etc. are still required, so that such equipment is only suitable for small laboratories, but cannot meet the requirements for quick on-site diagnosis. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a reaction vessel for quick on-site testing with low cost, reliable result, simple operation, quick reporting, and miniaturized instrument suitable for bedside testing. 
     To achieve the aforementioned and other objectives, the present invention discloses a reaction vessel for testing, comprising: a reaction cup, a sample holder and a cover, characterized in that the sample holder is accommodated in the reaction cup and/or the cover; the reaction cup is made of a transparent material and has a first cavity for receiving an external first reagent; the sample holder has a collection portion for receiving an external test sample; the collection portion is disposed inside and exposed from the first cavity; the cover is provided for covering an opening of the first cavity; the first reagent contained in the first cavity is mixed with the test sample contained in the collection portion. 
     Preferably, the collection portion is disposed at a capillary pore of the sample holder, and the capillary pore is communicated with the first cavity and provided for receiving the external test sample. 
     Preferably, the collection portion is disposed at an accommodating blind slot of the sample holder, and the accommodating blind slot is disposed at a lower end of the sample holder, and the liquid passing hole is formed at an upper end of the sample holder and provided for communicating the accommodating blind slot and the first cavity. 
     Preferably, the reaction vessel for testing further comprises a piercing member and a packaging bag, piercing member, and the piercing member and the packaging bag are accommodated in the reaction cup and/or the cover, and the packaging bag has a second cavity for receiving an external second reagent and a diaphragm for covering an opening of the second cavity, and the piercing member is provided for piercing the diaphragm, so as to mix the second reagent with the first reagent and the test sample. 
     Preferably, the piercing member and the packaging bag are installed in the cover, and a gap is defined between the piercing member and the packaging bag, and the cover is made of a soft material. 
     Preferably, the piercing member is installed to the reaction cup, and the packaging bag is installed to the cover, and the cover is movably installed to reaction cup. 
     Preferably, the piercing member has a cover plate and a piercing portion formed and protruded from the cover plate, and the cover plate has a through hole penetrating through the cover plate, and the piercing portion is provided for piercing the diaphragm. 
     Preferably, the cover comprises an outer cap and an inner cap installed in the outer cap, and the outer cap is detachably coupled to the reaction cup, and the inner cap has a groove communicated to the first cavity, and the packaging bag is accommodated in the groove. 
     Preferably, the reaction vessel for testing further comprises a sealing ring, an outer cap sheathed on an outer side of the reaction cup, a circular blind slot concavely formed on an outer surface of the reaction cup, and a sealing ring accommodated in the circular blind slot and protruding out from the outer surface of the reaction cup for abutting against an inner sidewall of the outer cap. 
     Preferably, the reaction cup has a limiting portion protruding into the first cavity, and the sample holder has a supporting portion for pressing against the limiting portion, and the supporting portion is clamped between the limiting portion and the cover. 
     The present invention has the following advantageous effects: During the process of using the reaction vessel, when only one reagent is required for the testing, the prepared first reagent is put into the first cavity, and the prepared test sample is put in the collection portion, and then the sample holder is packaged into the reaction cup and/or the cover, and the cover is covered, and the first reagent contained in the first cavity and the test sample contained in the collection portion are mixed together. When two reagents is required for the testing, the prepared first reagent is put into the first cavity, and the prepared second reagent is put into the packaging bag, and the prepared test sample is contained in the collection portion, and then the sample holder is packaged into the reaction cup and/or the cover, and the cover is covered, and the first reagent contained in the first cavity and the test sample contained in the collection portion are mixed together, and then an external force is applied when needed to puncture the packaging bag by the piercing member, so that the second reagent contained in the packaging bag is mixed with the mixture of the first reagent and the test sample. The reaction vessel has the features of simple structure and convenient use, so that the reagent used for the testing can be prepared in advance and released according to the required time and sequence, and the procedures of adding the reagent, washing the needle, and washing the cup can be skipped, so that the instrument for operating the reaction vessel does not require the devices and procedure for adding the sample, needle, reagent, liquid path, and washing, etc., so as to simplify the structure of the instrument significantly, and miniaturize the instrument to lower achieve the effects of lowering the cost, improving the reliability, and simplifying the operation. The reaction vessel of the present invention is suitable for quick on-site testing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structural view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a reaction cup and a sealing ring of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a sample holder of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a packaging bag of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a piercing member of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cover of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       1 : Reaction cup;  2 : Sample holder;  3 : Cover;  4 : First cavity;  5 : Collection portion;  6 : Capillary pore;  7 : Piercing member;  8 : Packaging bag;  9 : Second cavity;  11 : Diaphragm;  12 : Supporting portion;  121 : Limiting portion;  3 : Tapered portion;  14 : Liquid passing hole;  15 : Cover plate;  16 : Piercing portion;  17 : Through hole;  18 : Outer cap;  19 : Inner cap;  21 : Groove;  22 : Engaging slot;  23 : Engaging block;  24 : Sealing ring; and  25 : Circular blind slot. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     To make it easier for our examiner and people having ordinary skill in the art to understand the objective of the invention, its structure, innovative features, and performance, we use preferred embodiments together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the invention. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3  for a reaction vessel for testing in accordance with the present invention, the reaction vessel comprises a reaction cup  1 , a sample holder  2  and a cover  3 , characterized in that the sample holder  2  is accommodated in the reaction cup  1  and and/or the cover  3 ; the reaction cup  1  is a substantially hollow structure having a first cavity  4  for receiving an external first reagent, and the first cavity  4  is concavely formed on an end surface of the reaction cup  1 ; the sample holder  2  has a collection portion  5  for receiving an external test sample, and the collection portion  5  is exposed from the first cavity  4 ; the cover  3  is for covering an opening of the first cavity  4 , and a first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  is mixed with a test sample contained in the collection portion  5 . 
     In the process of using the reaction vessel, when only one reagent is required for the testing, the prepared first reagent in a liquid state is put into the first cavity  4 , and then the reaction cup  1  and the cover  3  are assembled together and packaged independently, and the first reagent is sealed tightly in the first cavity  4 , and the sample holder  2  is packaged individually. When it is necessary to analyze and test the test sample, the reaction cup  1  and the cover  3  are opened, and a sample collection device for testing a sample is added into an empty blind slot of the sample holder  2  or a capillary pore  6  of the sample holder  2  is used to draw a fixed quantity of the test sample, and then the sample holder  2  is packaged into the reaction cup  1  and/or the cover  3 , and then the reaction cup  1  and the cover  3  are assembled tightly together, and finally the reaction vessel is turned upside down at a controlled time point to mix the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  with the test sample contained in the collection portion  5 . 
     When two reagents are required for the testing, the prepared first reagent in a liquid state is put into the first cavity  4 , and the required second reagent is prepared in advance and packaged into a packaging bag  8 , and the packaging bag  8  is contained in the reaction cup  1  and/or the cover  3 , and then the reaction cup  1  and the cover  3  are assembled together and packaged independently, and the first reagent is tightly packaged into the first cavity  4 , and the second reagent is tightly packaged into the packaging bag  8 . The sample holder  2  is packaged individually. When it is necessary to analyze and test the test sample, the reaction cup  1  and the cover  3  are opened, and then an sampling device for testing is added into an empty blind slot of the sample holder  2  or a test sample is sucked and obtained by the capillary pore  6  of the sample holder  2 , and then the sample holder  2  is packaged into the reaction cup  1  and/or the cover  3 , and then the reaction cup  1  and the cover  3  are assembled tightly together again. Therefore, the reaction vessel can be turned upside down at a controlled time point in order to mix the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  with the test sample contained in the collection portion  5 , and then the packaging bag  8  can be pressed at a controlled time point or the inner cap  19  can be displaced to drive the piercing member  16  to pierce the diaphragm  11  of the packaging bag  8 , and the reaction vessel can be turned upside down to mix the mixture of the first reagent and the test sample with the second reagent contained in the packaging bag  8 . 
     The reaction vessel has the features of simple structure and convenient use, and it is not just suitable for a single reagent testing only, but also suitable for a double reagent testing. More importantly, the reagent required for the testing can be prepared in advance and released according to the required time and sequence. In addition, the reaction vessel skips the procedure of adding the reagent, washing the needle, and washing the cup and omits the devices and procedures such as adding the sample needle, the reagent needle, the liquid path, and the washing step, so as to achieve the effects of simplifying the structure of the instrument significantly, miniaturizing the instrument, lowering the cost, improving the reliability, and simplifying the operating. This reaction vessel is suitable for quick on-site testing. 
     The reaction cup  1  has a limiting portion  121  extending into the first cavity  4 , and the sample holder  2  has a supporting portion  12  for abutting against the limiting portion  121 , and the supporting portion  12  is clamped between the limiting portion  121   a  and the cover  3 . During the process of installing the sample holder  2  into the reaction cup  1 , and after the sample holder  2  is installed at a predetermined position, the limiting portion  121  will block the supporting portion  12  of the sample holder  2  to prevent the sample holder  2  from being overfilled. Preferably, the limiting portion  121  is in a circular shape, so that the limiting portion  121  can block the sample holder  2  regardless of the angle for installing the sample holder  2  into the reaction cup  1 . 
     In this embodiment, the sample holder  2  further comprises a tapered portion  13  coupled to the supporting portion  12 , and the collection portion  5  is coupled to an end of the tapered portion  13  away from the supporting portion  12 , and the supporting portion  12 , the tapered portion  13  and the collection portion  5  are an integrally formed structure. 
     The collection portion  5  is disposed at the capillary pore  6  of the sample holder  2 , and the capillary pore  6  is communicated with the first cavity  4  and provided for receiving an external test sample, and a liquid passing hole  14  is formed at an upper end of the sample holder  2  and penetrated through a sidewall of the sample holder  2 . When use, the collection portion  5  is inserted into the external test sample, and the test sample will enter into the capillary pore  6  automatically under the effect of capillary phenomenon. When it is necessary to mix the first reagent with the test sample, the reaction vessel is turned upside down, so that the first reagent in contacted and mixed with the test sample. When the reaction vessel is upright, the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  is not in contact with the test sample contained in the collection portion  5  of the sample holder  2 . When the reaction vessel is turned upside down, the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  is contacted and mixed with the test sample contained in the collection portion  5  of the sample holder  2 . 
     The collection portion  5  is disposed in an accommodating blind slot (not shown in the figure) of the sample holder  2 , and the accommodating blind slot is formed at a lower end of the sample holder  2 , and the liquid passing hole  14  penetrates through a sidewall of the sample holder  2 , and the liquid passing hole  14  is communicated with the accommodating blind slot and the first cavity  4 , and the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  is situated below the liquid passing hole  14 . After the test sample is put into the accommodating blind slot of the sample holder  2  and if it is necessary to mix the first reagent and test sample, the reaction vessel is turned upside down, so that the collection portion  5  is submerged into the first reagent, and the first reagent and the test sample are mixed with each other through the liquid passing hole  14 . In other words, when the reaction vessel is upright, the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  is not in contact with the test sample contained in the collection portion  5  of the sample holder  2 ; when the reaction vessel is upside down, the first reagent contained in the first cavity  4  is contacted and mixed with the test sample contained in the collection portion  5  of the sample holder  2 . 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the reaction vessel for testing further comprises a piercing member  7  and a packaging bag  8 , and both of the piercing member  7  and the packaging bag  8  are accommodated in the reaction cup  1  and/or the cover  3 , and the packaging bag  8  has a second cavity  9  for receiving an external second reagent and a diaphragm  11  for sealing an opening of the second cavity  9  of the cover  3 , and the piercing member  7  is provided for piercing the diaphragm  11  in order to mix the mixture of the first reagent and the test sample with the second reagent, so that the test sample can be mixed with the two reagents sequentially for testing. According to actual requirements, the diaphragm  11  can be a plastic sheet or an aluminum foil sheet. 
     Both of the piercing member  7  and the packaging bag  8  are installed in the cover  3 , and a gap is formed between the piercing member  7  and the packaging bag  8 , and the cover  3  is made of a soft material such as silicone. When it is necessary to mix the second reagent with the mixture of the first reagent and the test sample, the cover  3  is squeezed and pressed to deform, and the deformed cover  3  together with the packaging bag  8  moves in a direction towards the piercing member  7 , until the piercing member  7  pierces the diaphragm  11 , and then the second reagent contained in the packaging bag  8  can be released and mixed with the first reagent and the test sample contained in the first cavity  4 . 
     The piercing member  7  is installed in the reaction cup  1 , and the packaging bag  8  is installed in the cover  3 , and the cover  3  is movably installed to the reaction cup  1 . For example, the cover  3  is screwed to the reaction cup  1 , and when it is necessary to mix the second reagent with the mixture of the first reagent and the test sample, the cover  2  is held and turned, so that the cover  3  is moved relative to the reaction cup  1 , and the moving reaction cup  1  drives the packaging bag  8  to move together, until the piercing member  7  pierces the diaphragm  11 , and then the second reagent contained in the packaging bag  8  can be released and mixed with the first reagent and the test sample contained in the first cavity  4 . According to actual requirements, the cover  3  can be slidably installed to the reaction cup  1 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the piercing member  7  has a cover plate  15  and a piercing portion  16  protruded from the cover plate  15 , and the cover plate  15  is a substantially flat sheet, and the piercing portion  16  is upwardly protruded from the cover plate  15 , and the cover plate  15  and the piercing portion  16  are an integrally formed structure, and the cover plate  15  has a through hole  17  penetrating through the cover plate  15 , and the cover plate  15  is disposed between the sample holder  2  and the packaging bag  8 , and the piercing portion  16  is provided for piercing the diaphragm  11 . Preferably, the piercing member  7  is in a conical shape. According to actual requirements, the piercing portion  16  can be in a pyramidal shape or a conical shape. An end of the piercing portion  16  away from the cover plate  15  has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of an end of the piercing portion  16  closed to the cover plate  15 , in order to make sure that the piercing portion  16  can conveniently pierce the diaphragm  11  of the packaging bag  8 . After the piercing portion  16  has pierced the diaphragm  11 , the second reagent contained in the packaging bag  8  can be released through the through hole  17  and combined with the first reagent and the test sample contained in the first cavity  4 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the cover  3  comprises an outer cap  18  and an inner cap  19  installed in the outer cap  18 , and the outer cap  18  is detachably coupled to the reaction cup  1 , and the inner cap  19  has a groove  21  formed thereon and communicated to the first cavity  4  and an engaging slot  22  communicated to the groove  21 , and the groove  21  is concavely formed on a lower surface of the inner cap  19 , and the groove  21  does not penetrate through the inner cap  19 , and the engaging slot  22  is concavely formed on a sidewall of the groove  21 , and the packaging bag  8  is accommodated in the groove  21 , and the packaging bag  8  has an engaging block  23  extending into the engaging slot  22 , and the engaging block  23  is convexly formed on an outer surface of the packaging bag  8 . 
     After the packaging bag  8  is installed into the inner cap  19 , the engaging block  23  is protruded into the engaging slot  22 , and a sidewall of the engaging slot  22  abuts against an outer surface of the engaging block  23  to prevent the packaging bag  8  from falling out from the inner cap  19 . In actual manufacturing, the engaging slot  22  may not be needed, but an interference fit is designed between the packaging bag  8  and the groove  21 , and the friction between the outer surface of the packaging bag  8  and the sidewall of the groove  21  can fix the packaging bag  8  in the inner cap  19 . Preferably, the inner cap  19  is made of an elastic material such as silicone, and after the packaging bag  8  is installed into the groove  21 , the inner cap  19  has an elastic deformation, and the elastic restoring force of the inner cap  19  is used to fix the packaging bag  8  tightly into the inner cap  19 . 
     The reaction vessel for testing further comprises a sealing ring  24 , an outer cap  18  sheathed on an outer side of the reaction cup  1 . For example, the outer cap  18  is screwed to the outer side of the reaction cup  1 , and the reaction cup  1  has a circular blind slot  25  concavely formed on an outer surface of the reaction cup  1 , and the sealing ring  24  is accommodated in the circular blind slot  25  and protruded out from an outer surface of the reaction cup  1  for abutting against an inner sidewall of the outer cap  18 , and the sealing ring  24  is for sealing a gap between the cover  3  and the reaction cup  1  to prevent the reagent or test sample contained in the first cavity  4  from leaking out from the gap between the cover  3  and the reaction cup  1 . In this embodiment, the sealing ring  24  is made of an elastic material such as silicone. 
     According to actual requirements, the reaction cup  1  is made of transparent plastic, transparent quartz and transparent glass, and an external detecting light s projected onto a solution contained in the first cavity  4  of the reaction cup  1  to test the solution contained in the first cavity  4  in response to the light absorbance value of the light with a specific wavelength, so as to achieve the testing of a specific object to be tested in the test sample. 
     In this embodiment, the volume of the first cavity  4  is 0.05-8 ml. 
     While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.