Container for Sample Collection

Abstract

Disclosed is a container for collection of a biological sample, specifically semen, comprising a cup having an open top and an opposite, closed bottom, an accommodating space for receiving said sample and a depression defined by a side wall and a raised part of said bottom, a lid attachable to said top of said cup for closing in an assembled position of the container, wherein the lid comprises a pipetting element with a channel, so that when the lid and cup are attached in the assembled position of the container, the pipetting element extends into the depression of said cup, whereby said channel enables fluid communication between an outside environment of the container and said depression.

Claims

1. A container for collection of a biological sample, specifically semen, comprising: a cup having an open top and an opposite closed bottom, an accommodating space for receiving said sample and a depression defined by a side wall and a raised part of said bottom, and a lid 2 attachable to said top of said cup for closing in an assembled position of the container, wherein the lid comprises a pipetting element with a channel, so that when the lid and cup are attached in the assembled position of the container, the pipetting element extends into the depression of said cup, whereby said channel enables fluid communication between an outside environment of the container and said depression.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein a part of the pipetting element extends into said sample, when the container is in the assembled position, so that when a sample is present in the container an aliquot of said sample is collected in the channel of said pipetting element.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the depression is an annular depression, so that when the lid is rotated on the cup in the assembled position of the container, said part of the pipetting element that extends into said depression is moved around the raised part of the bottom in said annular depression so as to be able to stir the sample present in the depression.

4. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring scale or a measurement element, for measuring at least one of a pH value an enzyme, and a reagent.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pipetting element is at least one of tapered and conical.

6. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least two lids are nestable and at least two cups, are nestable.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the pipetting element and a bottom of the depression or a bottom of the cup is 0.1-20 mm when the container is in the assembled position.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein a part of the container comprises a conductive material so that when the cup is arranged on a capacitive surface said surface may be activated.

9. A method for collecting an aliquot using said container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method comprises the steps of; arranging said sample in said accommodating space of the cup, assembling said lid to said top part of said cup so as to form the assembled position of the container, wherein a part of the pipetting element extends into said sample so that the aliquot of said sample is collected in the channel of said pipetting element, and removing said lid from the cup, thereby enabling transportation of said aliquot to a desired destination.

10. A method for detecting a characteristic of a sample using said container 1 as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of arranging said sample in said accommodating space of the cup, assembling said lid to said top part of the cup so as to form the assembled position of the container, wherein a part of the pipetting element extends into said sample so that an aliquot of the sample may be collected by said pipetting element, and moving said lid after a predetermined period so as to determine said characteristics of said sample.

11. A method for stirring a sample using said container as claimed in claim 11, said method comprising the steps of: arranging said sample in the depression of the cup, and assembling the lid to the top part of said cup so as to form the assembled position of the container, wherein a part of the pipetting element extends into said sample present in the depression so that when the lid is rotated on the cup in the assembled position of the container, the part of the pipetting element that extends into said depression is moved around in said depression so as to be able to stir the sample present in the cup.

12. A method for determining the weight of a cup as mentioned in claim 8, specifically a cup comprising a biological sample, said method comprising the steps of: arranging said cup on a capacitive surface of an electronic device, and measuring the force that the cup exerts on said capacitive surface so as to be able to determine the weight of the cup.

13. A container according to claim 2, wherein said sample is collected in the channel of said pipetting element by capillary action.

14. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring scale or a measurement element for measuring a pH value, an enzyme, and a reagent.

15. A container according to claim 4, wherein the enzyme is a digestive enzyme.

16. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least two lids are nestable or at least two cups are nestable.

17. A container according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the pipetting element and a bottom of the depression or a bottom of the cup is 0.1-10 mm when the container is in the assembled position.

18. A container according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the pipetting element and a bottom of the depression or a bottom of the cup is 0.25-5 mm when the container is in the assembled position.

19. A container according to claim 8, wherein the bottom of the cup of the container comprises the conductive material, so that when the cup is arranged on said capacitive surface said surface may be activated.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said capacitive surface is a smartphone screen.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0141] The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0142] FIG. 1a shows a cross-sectional view of a lid of an embodiment of a container according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0143] FIG. 1b shows a cross-sectional view of a cup of an embodiment of a container according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0144] FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a container according to the invention in an assembled position.

[0145] FIGS. 3a-b shows different perspective views of a lid according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0146] FIG. 3c shows a perspective view of the cup according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0147] FIG. 4a-d shows different perspective view and cross-sectional views of a plurality stacked lids and cups according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0148] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail. Each specific variation of the features can be applied to other embodiments of the invention unless specifically stated otherwise. Note that for illustrative purposes the dimensions, especially thicknesses, of the different elements shown may be exaggerated.

[0149] Turning first to FIG. 1a which shows a lid 2 according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 1b which shows a cup 3 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0150] In an embodiment as shown on FIG. 2 a container 1 for collection of a biological sample, specifically semen, is shown. The container 1 comprises the lid 2 and the cup 3. The container 1 is shown in the assembled position.

[0151] The cup 3 has an open top 31 and an opposite, closed bottom 32, and a circumferential side wall 35 extending between the top 31 and the bottom 32.

[0152] When the container 1 is in the assembled position, the lid 2 is arranged on the top 31 of the cup 3. The lid 2 is thus attachable to said cup 3 for closing in the assembled position of the container 1.

[0153] The cup 3 further comprises an accommodating space 33 for receiving the sample (not shown).

[0154] The accommodating space 33 is to be understood as the free volume that the cup 3 may contain. The accommodating space may be closed off by the lid 2, when the container 1 is in the assembled position as shown on FIG. 2.

[0155] The cup 3 further comprises an annular depression 34 defined by the circumferential side wall 35 and a raised part 36 of said bottom 32.

[0156] The raised part 36 is centrally located, and extends from the bottom 32 towards the open top 31.

[0157] The raised part 31 has a semi-spherical surface towards the open top 31, so that when a sample is transferred into the cup, said sample will glide from the raised part 31 into said depression 34.

[0158] The depression 34 has a substantial conical shape to match the shape of a pipetting element 24 of the lid 2, as shown on FIG. 2.

[0159] The bottom of the depression 34a has a truncated cone shape, with a slanted end surface, so as to obtain a better distribution of small amounts of sample. This is advantageous e.g. during volume determination and/or collection of an aliquot.

[0160] The depression may have any shape that corresponds with the functionalities described in this specification.

[0161] The raised part 36 is hollow.

[0162] As seen on e.g. FIG. 1b, the circumferential side wall 37 functions both as a side wall of the raised part 36 and as a side wall of the depression 34.

[0163] The hollow raised part 36, the angle of the side wall 37 and the angle of the side wall 35 ensures that at least two cups are nestable.

[0164] As shown on FIGS. 4a-d a plurality of cups are stacked within and/or on each other, so as to provide optimized stacking/packing.

[0165] The cup 3 further comprises a circumferential flange 38, that extends on the outside OS of the cup 3 from the top side 31 towards the bottom 32. The flange 38 is circumferential and forms together with a part of the side wall 35 (present at the top 31 of the cup 3) a semi-spherical shape, so as to facilitate easy handling of the cup and stacking.

[0166] The flange 38 is shaped so as to mate with a lid-flange 28 (as seen on FIG. 1a), so that the lid 2 may be releasably attached to the cup 3 so as to form the assembled position of the container 1.

[0167] In embodiments the height H.sub.3 of the cup 3 is 45-55 mm, preferably 48-53 mm, more preferred approximately 51 mm.

[0168] In embodiments the widest/maximum width W.sub.3 of the cup 3 (measured at the top 31) is 65-95 mm, preferably 75-85 mm, more preferred approximately 77 mm.

[0169] In embodiments the height H.sub.36 of the hollow part of the raised part 36 (extending from the bottom 32 of the cup 3 and to an uppermost point towards the top 31 of the raised part 36) is 20-40 mm, preferably 25-35 mm, more preferred approximately 30 mm.

[0170] Turning to FIG. 1a where the lid 2 is shown.

[0171] The lid 2 is releasably attachable to the top 31 of said cup 3 for closing in an assembled position of the container 1 as shown on FIG. 2.

[0172] When the container 1 is in the assembled position, said body part 23 is arranged on the top of the cup 3.

[0173] The lid 2 comprises a body part 23 and a pipetting element 24. The pipetting element 24 extends out and away from the body part 23.

[0174] The pipetting element 24 comprises a channel 25, that extends through the entire length of the pipetting element 24.

[0175] The pipetting element 24 is shaped as a truncated cone, thus it has s cone shape lacking an apex and terminating in a plane end surface 24a.

[0176] The plane end surface 24a is approximately parallel with a plane of a surface that the cup may be arranged on.

[0177] When the container 1 is in the assembled position as shown on FIG. 2, the distance d between the pipetting element 24 and the bottom of the depression 34a is approximately 3 mm.

[0178] When the lid 2 and cup 3 are in the assembled position of the container 1, the pipetting element 24 extends into the depression 34 of said cup, whereby the channel 25 enables fluid communication between an outside environment OS of the container 1 and said depression 34.

[0179] Hereby it is possible to arrange a sample (not shown) in the accommodating space 33 of the cup 3, and thus in the depression 34, assemble the lid 2 to the top part 31 of the cup 3, so as to form the assembled position of the container 1, wherein a part of the pipetting element 24 will extend into the sample, so that an aliquot of the sample will be collected in the channel 25 of the pipetting element 24 by capillary action. When the lid 2 is subsequently removed from the cup 3, the aliquot is automatically transported in the channel 25 of the pipetting element 24. The aliquot may hereafter be transported to any desired destination, often a microscope slide. During transportation the small size of the opening 24b of the channel 25 and the appertaining surface tension ensures that the aliquot remains in the channel. When the pipetting element and aliquot comes into contact with another surface, such as the microscope slide, the surface tension is disrupted, and the aliquot will be transferred to said slide.

[0180] In one embodiment the diameter of the opening 24b of the channel 25 is 0.1-5 mm, preferably 0.-2.5 mm, more preferred approximately 1 mm.

[0181] The lid 2 may also be lifted from the cup 3 after a predetermined period of time so as to determine a characteristic of a sample present in the cup 3.

[0182] The pipetting element 24 extends substantially in the entire length, from the top 31 of the cup 3 towards the bottom 32 of the cup 3 in the assembled position of the container 1.

[0183] When in the assembled position the pipetting element 24 extends substantially in the entire length of the side wall 35, from the top of the cup towards the bottom of the cup.

[0184] The pipetting element 24 is positioned adjacent to the side wall 35 in the assembled position of the container 1.

[0185] Turning to FIGS. 3a and 3b, it is shown that the pipetting element 24 is arranged off center in relation to the body part 23.

[0186] Thus it is possible for the pipetting element 24 to, in the depression 34, move around and/or rotate around the raised part 36.

[0187] Hereby when the lid 2 is rotated e.g. by a user on the cup 3 in the assembled position of the container 1, the part of the pipetting element 24, that extends into said depression 34, and thus into the sample, is moved around in said annular depression, so the sample present in the accommodating space is stirred.

[0188] The maximum width W.sub.2 of the lid is 70-90 mm, preferably 75-85 mm, more preferred approximately 79 mm.

[0189] The maximum width W.sub.25 of the channel is 15-35 mm, preferably 20-30 mm, more preferred approximately 25 mm.

[0190] The channel 25 is widest at the opening in the body 23 of the lid.

[0191] The channel 25 has a cone shape and tapers towards the plane end surface 25a of the pipetting element 24.

[0192] The minimum width of the channel 24 is the opening 24b at the end of the pipetting element 24.

[0193] The lid-flange 28 is shaped so as to mate with the flange 38 (as seen on FIG. 1b), so that the lid 2 may be releasably attached to the cup 3 so as to form the assembled position of the container 1.

[0194] Turning to FIGS. 4a-d the shape of the lid 2 ensures that at least two of lids 2 are nestable as shown on the figures, where a plurality of lids are stacked.

[0195] Additionally, the inventive shape of the container 1 allows for both a plurality of lids 2 and a plurality of cups 3 to be stacked, whereby packing is optimized.

[0196] Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0197] In device claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0198] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.