Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7767466?dq=3798359
Timestamp: 2015-03-30 20:31:56
Document Index: 721879176

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 53', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 63', 'art 83', 'art 82', 'art 82', 'art 82']

Patent US7767466 - Sample filtering method using sample collecting container, jig and sample ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA method for filtrating liquid sample such as blood or the like with a filter member utilizing inner vacuum, the same enabling completion of filtration without removing a stopper, and superior in safety and being free from contamination. In collecting and filtrating the liquid sample using a sample collection...http://www.google.com/patents/US7767466?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7767466 - Sample filtering method using sample collecting container, jig and sample collecting containerAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7767466 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/551,437Publication dateAug 3, 2010Filing dateApr 22, 2004Priority dateApr 25, 2003Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2517795A1, CN1780583A, CN100431492C, EP1618845A1, EP1618845A4, US20060199275, WO2004096046A1Publication number10551437, 551437, US 7767466 B2, US 7767466B2, US-B2-7767466, US7767466 B2, US7767466B2InventorsKatsuya Togawa, Hironobu IsogawaOriginal AssigneeSekisui Medical Co., Ltd., I-Design Co., Ltd., Nittobo Medical Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (17), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (1), Classifications (16), Legal Events (7) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSample filtering method using sample collecting container, jig and sample collecting container
US 7767466 B2Abstract
1. A method for filtering a sample using a sample collecting container that includes:
a sample collection part storing a collected liquid sample and having an opening;
a plug member provided so as to hermetically seal the opening;
a filter member provided in the sample collection part, for filtering the sample collected in the sample collection part; and
a sample storage part for storing a sample filtered by the filter member, the internal pressure thereof being reduced in advance,
wherein after collecting a sample in the sample collection part using a vacuum blood collection needle, the sample is filtered by a pressure difference between the sample collection part and the sample storage part, while the plug member is pierced by a communication needle having a communication flow channel to establish communication between the sample collection part and the exterior, thereby elevating the internal pressure of the sample collection part,
wherein a communication between an internal space of the sample collection part and atmosphere occurs (1) after collecting the sample in the sample collection part and (2) due to the piercing of the plug member by the communication needle having the communication flow channel.
4. A sample collecting container that enables filtration of a liquid sample, comprising:
a sample collection part having an opening and storing a collected liquid sample;
a plug member pressed into the opening so as to hermetically seal the opening;
a sample storage part for storing the sample filtered by the filter member,
the sample collection part, the filter member and the sample storage part being hermetically connected with each other and the internal pressure of sample storage part being reduced in advance,
wherein an open through hole is formed in a part of inner surface of the sample collection part that is in contact with the plug member, and a flow channel is formed in a part of outer surface of the plug member contacting the inner surface of the sample collection part, the flow channel establishing communication between the through hole and the interior of the sample collection part when its circumferential position is brought into coincidence with the through hole. Description
The above plug member may be pressed into the aforementioned opening, and in such a case, the plug member can be realized by a common plug formed of rubber, elastomer or the like. It is to be noted, however, �plug member� used in the first to the third aspects of the invention is not limited to that having a form to be pressed into an opening insofar as it can hermetically seal the opening. For example, the plug member may be formed into a closing member from a sheet or a molded material made of a flexible material. Also in the case of a plug member formed from a sheet or the like member, the plug member can be formed with a through hole for allowing communication between the sample collection part and the exterior and the through hole can be hermetically sealed with a removable sealing member on the outer surface of the plug member.
A sample collecting container 1 has a sample storage part 2 formed of a cylindrical outer ring having a bottom. At an upper end of the sample storage part 2 is formed an opening 2 a. In the present embodiment, the sample storage part 2 represents a part that stores a filtered sample. The sample storage part 2 accommodates a sample collection part 3. The sample collection part 3 used herein refers to the part where a sample before filtration is collected.
In the present embodiment, the sample collection part 3 is formed of a generally cylindrical inner tube. The sample collection part 3 is formed with an opening 3 a at its upper end and has an inner surface (3I) and outer surface (3O). The sample collection part 3 is also formed with a sample dropping part 3 b for filtering the filtered sample at its lower end. The sample dropping part 3 b is formed integrally with the sample collection part 3 so that it projects downward from the bottom surface of the sample collection part 3.
The sample dropping part 3 b has a hollow channel through which the filtered sample drops.
The openings 2 a and 3 a of the sample storage part 2 and the sample collection part 3 are hermetically sealed with a plug member 5. Specifically, the plug member 5 has a gripping portion 5 a, a larger-diameter portion 5 b projecting downward from the bottom surface of the gripping portion 5 a, and a smaller-diameter portion 5 c having a relatively small diameter and projecting downward from the bottom surface of the larger-diameter portion 5 b. The smaller-diameter portion 5 c is pressed into the opening 3 a of the sample collection part 3, whereby the opening 3 a of the sample collection part 3 is hermetically sealed and the sample collection part 3 is fixed to the plug member 5. The larger-diameter portion 5 b is pressed into the opening 2 a of the sample storage part 2, whereby the opening 2 a of the sample storage part 2 is hermetically sealed and the sample storage part 2 is fixed to the plug member 5.
In the vicinity of the tip end of the hollow needle 12, a plurality of vanes 12 a, and 12 b are provided. The vanes 12 a and 12 b are designed to have a shape that approaches the hollow needle 12 as they extend to their tip ends, and have latch faces 12 a 1 and 12 b 1 at their upper ends, respectively. Owing to the above shape, the piercing resistance at the time of piercing the plug member 5 with the hollow needle 12 is not so large, and a large through hole is formed in the plug member 5 by the above vanes 12 a and 12 b. Furthermore, since the latch faces 12 a 1 and 12 b 1 are provided, it is possible to easily remove the plug member 5 and the sample collection part 3 together with the jig 11 from the sample storage part 2 after completion of filtration. More specifically, when the latch faces 12 a 1 and 12 b 1 are brought into abutment on the lower surface of the plug member 5, it is possible to securely drawn out the plug member 5 and the sample collection part 3 together with the jig 11 only by drawing out the jig 11 upward.
In the sample collecting container according to the present embodiment, a plug member 55 has a gripping portion 55 a and a press-in portion 55 b. The press-in portion 55 b is designed to hermetically seal an opening 52 a of the tube 52.
The plug member 55 is formed with a through hole 55 e extending from a top surface 55 c to a bottom surface 55 d. On the top surface 55 c of the plug member 55, a sheet 56 serving as a sealing member is stuck. The sheet 56 is adhered or welded onto the top surface 55 c of the plug member 55 so as to hermetically seal the through hole 55 e. The sheet 56 can be formed of any appropriate material such as a laminate of aluminum foil and synthetic resin insofar as hermetical sealing is ensured.
At one end of the sheet 56 is formed a notch 56 a. The notch 56 a projects outward than the top surface 55 c of the plug member 55. By gripping the notch 56 a with a hand, it is possible to easily peel the sheet 56 from the plug member 55.
The plug member 55 is usually pressed into an opening at the upper end of the tube 52, however, in the plug member according to the present invention, the plug member is not necessary pressed in insofar as it can close the opening. For example, the plug member 55 may be formed from a flexible sheet that is attached so as to seal the opening 52 a of the tube 52. In this case, a through hole for establishing communication between inside and outside is formed in a part of the sheet-like plug member as described above and the through hole can be sealed with a sealing member attached to the outer surface of the plug member.
After collection of the sample, the vacuum blood collection needle is removed. Then the sample is filtered by a pressure difference between the sample collection part 53 and the space under the filter member disposed below which is not shown in the drawing. Also in the present embodiment, there is a fear that filtration stops during the process when the internal pressure of the tube 52 reaches equilibrium. In the present embodiment, when such a situation occurs, the through hole 55 e is allowed to communicate with the atmosphere by picking the notch 56 a with fingers and peeling off the sheet 56 from the plug member 55. As a result of this, the space over the filter member is allowed to communicate with the atmosphere, so that filtration resumes by the pressure difference between the downside space and the upside space of the filter member.
FIG. 8 is a schematic front section view showing a modified example of the sample collecting container 51. In the sample collecting container 51, the sheet 56 is used as a sealing member for resuming filtration, however, a plug 59 that closes the through hole 55 e may also be used. The plug 59 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and initially pressed into the through hole 55 e to hermetically seal the upper end of the through hole 55 e. In collecting a sample with a vacuum blood collection needle, the center of the plug 59 may be pierced, or the plug member 55 may be pierced with a vacuum blood collection needle in some part other than the part where the plug 59 is provided.
FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway schematic front section view for explaining a sample collecting container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In a sample collecting container 61, a tube 62 having a bottom and an opening 62 a at its upper end is used. In the tube 62, a filter member (not illustrated) is located at a middle height position, and the space over the filter member constitutes a sample collection part 63 and the space under the filter member constitutes a sample storage part.
A plug member 64 is pressed into the tube so as to hermetically seal the opening 62 a at the upper end of the tube 62. The plug member 64 includes a gripping portion 64 a and a press-in portion 64 b which is smaller in diameter than the gripping portion 64 a. The press-in portion 64 b is a portion to be pressed into the tube 62.
The press-in portion 64 b is formed with a recess 64 c in a part of the outer periphery. In the tube wall of the tube 62 is formed a through hole 62 b that penetrates through the tube wall from inside to outside. The through hole 62 b is formed in such a manner that a flow channel that establishes communication between the sample collection part 63 and the atmosphere is formed by the recess 64 c when the circumferential position of the recess 64 c coincides with that of the through hole 62 b. More specifically, in the condition illustrated in FIG. 9, the recess 64 c and the through hole 62 b are aligned in the circumferential direction to form the flow charnel, however there are initially in different positions. That is, initially the recess 64 c is at a position not aligning with the through hole 62 b so as to keep the depressurized condition in the tube 62. Therefore, as is the cases of the first and the second embodiments using the sample collecting containers 1 and 11, it is possible to collect a liquid sample such as blood into the sample collection part 63 with a vacuum blood collection needle by utilizing the reduced pressure in the through hole 62 b. Then a sample such as blood is filtered by using a filter member in the similar manner as the first and the second embodiments. In this case filtration stops during the process when the pressures of the upside space and the downside space of the filter member reach equilibrium. When such a situation occurs, the plug member 64 is rotated so that the through hole 62 b is opposite to the recess 64 c as shown in FIG. 9 by shifting the plug member 64 circumferentially. Only with this operation, the flow channel is formed and communication between the sample collection part 63 and the atmosphere is established, so that pressure difference generates between the sample collection part 63 and the sample storage portion under the filter member again to allow progression of filtration. And in the same manner as the case of the first and the second embodiments, filtration of sample is securely completed.
In the sample collecting container 71, the through hole 62 b is provided in the tube 62. On the other hand, a recess 64 d is formed in the press-in portion 64 b of the plug member 64. The recess 64 d is provided at a position lower than the through hole 62 b as shown in FIG. 10. Initially, the sample collection part 63 is cut off from the atmosphere because the recess 64 d and the through hole 62 b are misaligned in the longitudinal direction of the tube 62 as shown in FIG. 10.
When the filtration stops during the process because of the operation as described above, the plug member 64 in the state shown in FIG. 10 is slightly drawn out upward. As a result of this, the through hole 62 b comes into opposite to the recess 64 d, so that the sample collection part 63 is allowed to communicate with the atmosphere. In brief, in the sample collecting container 71, filtration can be resumed by slightly drawing out the plug member 64 upward.
The plug member 84 includes a gripping portion 84 a, a larger-diameter portion 84 b and a smaller-diameter portion 84 c. The sample storage portion 82 is hermetically sealed by the larger-diameter portion 84 b, and an opening at the upper end of the sample collection part 83 is hermetically sealed by the smaller-diameter portion 84 c. In the present embodiment, an arrangement that resumes filtration when filtration stops during the process in the sample collecting container 81 is provided in the plug member 84 and the sample storage part 82. Concretely, a through hole 82 b is formed at a position slightly lower than an opening 82 a at the upper end of the sample storage part 82. The through hole 82 b is formed in a part of inner surface that contacts the larger-diameter portion 84 b. On the other hand, the plug member 84 is formed with a flow channel 84 e which is open to the outer peripheral surface of the larger-diameter portion 84 b at its one end and open to a bottom surface 84 d of the plug member 84 at its other end. The vertical position of the opening which is open to the larger-diameter portion 84 b in the flow channel 84 e generally coincides with that of the through hole 82 b of the sample storage part 82.
Therefore, when the filtration stops during the process, the sample collection part can be allowed to communicate with the atmosphere by establishing communication between the flow channel 84 e and the through hole 82 b as shown in the drawing by rotation of the plug member 84. Therefore, filtration can be resumed and filtration of a sample such as blood can be securely completed as is the same with the first to the fourth embodiments.
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