Sample vessel

Abstract

A sample vessel (1, 11) for transferring and analyzing a sample with analyzer instrument, which sample vessel comprises an elongated vessel body (2, 12) for containing the sample and a hinged cap (3, 13) connected in top end area of the vessel body, and the cross-section of the vessel body (2, 12) on a transversal plane in relation to the lengthwise center axis of the vessel body the inner surface of the vessel body is rotationally asymmetrical in relation to the lengthwise center axis, wherein the sample vessel (1, 11) comprises a surface (5, 15) extending upwards from the vessel body, which surface partially surrounds the edge of the cap (3, 13), when the cap is in closed position.

Claims

1. A sample vessel comprising: a vessel body; a cap; a tab; and a splash guard; the vessel body having a compartment that extends between a first end and an opposing second end, the compartment being configured to hold a liquid sample, the vessel body comprising a sidewall encircling the compartment and having an interior surface extending between the first end and the opposing second end of the vessel body; a floor connected to the sidewall at the second end of the vessel body and having an interior surface, the compartment having a central longitudinal axis passing through the compartment between the first end and the second end of the vessel body having a transverse cross-section that is rotationally asymmetrical in relation to the central longitudinal axis; the cap having a width, a length, a bottom surface, a top surface, an edge and a circular raised rim extending from the bottom surface, the circular raised rim having an internal surface and an external surface, the external surface of the raised rim having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the interior surface of the first end of the vessel body, the cap being attached to the vessel body by a hinge at the edge of the length of the cap; the tab extending from the top surface of the cap, the tab being of square or rectangular shape; and the splash guard being attached to first end of the vessel body and extending away from the opposing second end of the vessel, the splash guard forming a raised semi-circle, the semi-circle being uninterrupted opposite of the hinge, with the splash guard having an external and an internal face, the diameter of the internal face of the splash guard being greater than the width of the cap.

2. The sample vessel according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the inner surface of the vessel body is substantially oval shaped.

3. The sample vessel according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the vessel body is tapered.

4. The sample vessel according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the vessel body is equipped with a protrusion for guiding the sample vessel in correct position when placed in a sample vessel rack and/or securing the sample vessel at its place in a sample vessel rack.

5. The sample vessel according to claim 3, wherein the second end of the vessel body is a substantially level surface.

6. The sample vessel according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the sample vessel comprises at least one protrusion for forming a narrow slot inside the sample vessel.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplifying embodiment and its advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of an example and with reference to the accompanying figures, where

(2) FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of a sample vessel of the invention as a perspective view,

(3) FIG. 1B shows the embodiment of FIG. 1A as a back view,

(4) FIG. 1C shows the embodiment of FIG. 1A as a side view,

(5) FIG. 1D shows the embodiment of FIG. 1A as a top view,

(6) FIG. 1E shows the embodiment of FIG. 1A as a bottom view, and

(7) FIGS. 2A-2D shows an alternative embodiment of a sample vessel of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

(8) In the figures is shown a sample vessel 1, which comprises an elongated vessel body 2 and a cap 3 attached to the upper end of the vessel body with integral hinges. From top surface of the cap 3 extends a tab 4. The outer edge of the cap 3 is partially surrounded with a splash guard 5 connected to the upper end of the vessel body 2.

(9) The elongated vessel body 2 has in this embodiment, as can be best seen from FIG. 1E, an oval cross-section, both for the outer and inner surface of the vessel body. The oval cross-section of the inner surface of the vessel body 2 allows the end of a suitable sample collecting tool to be wedged between inner surfaces of the vessel body 2, so that the end of the sample collecting tool can be broken off by twisting or turning the sample collecting tool, and the end of the sample collecting tool is left together with the sample inside the vessel body. This guarantees the proper sample transfer to the sample vessel 1 for further analysis. The oval cross-section of the outer surface of the vessel body 2 also enhances the usability of the sample vessel 1 in automated and robotic handling of the sample vessel.

(10) The elongated vessel body 2 is in this embodiment also formed to have tapered shaped, as can be best seen from FIGS. 1B and 1C. This tapered shape helps the setting of the sample vessel 1 in a sample vessel rack, for example.

(11) In the outer surface of the vessel body 2 is formed a protrusion 6, which operates as a guiding and locking tab when the sample vessel 1 is inserted in a correspondingly formed slot of a sample vessel rack. During insertion of the sample vessel 1 to the sample vessel rack, the protrusion 6 requires that the sample vessel is in proper orientation in relation to the sample vessel rack, otherwise the sample vessel may not be inserted properly in the rack. In obtaining the proper orientation for sample vessel 1 when the sample vessel is inserted in a sample vessel rack, the oval cross-section of the outer surface of the vessel body 2 advantageously works together with the protrusion 6 and helps to guide the sample vessel into correct orientation. The upper edge of the protrusion 6 also allows a suitable locking means, which locking means are preferably part of the sample vessel rack, to be set on top of the protrusion. This prevents the removal and changing of place of the sample vessel 1 once it is placed on the sample vessel rack and locked there.

(12) On the outer surface of the vessel body 2 is formed a substantially level area 7. This level area 7 allows suitable identification means, such as bar codes or color codes to be printed or otherwise easily added to the sample vessel 1. The level area 7 also identifies the area from where the suitable identification information can be found on the sample vessel 1.

(13) The bottom surface 8 of the vessel body 2 is formed substantially level in horizontal direction. This flat bottom surface 8 allows for better contact with a flat tipped ultrasonic mixing probe, and thus enhances the ultrasonic mixing effect.

(14) The top part of the sample vessel 1 comprises the splash guard 5, which extends upwards from the top end of the vessel body 2, and partially around the side surface of the cap 3. The splash guard 5 defines surface that prevents possible sample droplets in the interior of the cap 3 or on the inner surface of the opening of the vessel body 2 to get airborne and contaminating the surroundings when the cap is opened.

(15) From the upper or outer surface of the cap 3 extends upwards the tab 4, which enables both the manual and automatic opening and closing of the cap. The tab 4 is formed to cover, or more precisely encircle in this embodiment, a significant area, over half as can be best seen from FIG. 1D, of the upper surface of the cap in order to provide suitably large contact area also for a controlled manual opening and closing of the cap.

(16) FIGS. 2A-2D shows an alternative embodiment of a sample vessel of the invention, where FIG. 2A is a back view of the sample vessel, FIG. 2B is a side view of the sample vessel, FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the sample vessel, and FIG. 3D is a top view of the sample vessel. In the figures the sample vessel 11 is shown the cap 13 in open position.

(17) In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2D, the vessel body 12, the tab 14, the splash guard 15, the substantially level area 17, and the flat bottom surface 18 are the same than in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1E.

(18) In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2D, the protrusion 16 has been made a little smaller, and formed substantially V-shaped. This shape of the protrusion 16 allows for better and more robust guidance for the sample vessel 11 to a proper orientation when the sample vessel is inserted in an opening with a slot for the protrusion.

(19) The cap 13 comprises a bracket 19, which extends downwards from the lower surface of the, when the cap is in closed position. At the lower edge area of the bracket 19, at the side surface of the bracket, there is formed a sealing protrusion 20. The sealing protrusion 20 enhances the sealing effect of the side surface of the bracket 19, which side surface sets itself against the inner surface of the body 12 of the sample vessel 11. As can be best seen from FIG. 2D, the shape of the bracket 19 is substantially oval-shaped to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the body 12 of the sample vessel 11, and the sealing protrusion 20 extends around the outer surface of the bracket 19 to form a sealing ring.

(20) At the bottom portion of the inside of the body 12 of the sample vessel 11 there are formed a plurality of protrusions 21 extending from the inner bottom and side surfaces of the vessel body, which protrusions form a slot at the bottom of the sample vessel. This slot is suitable for receiving a detachable portion of a suitable sample transfer tool, and provides support for detaching the detachable portion of the tool together with the sample inside the sample vessel.

(21) In the present invention the tab 6 and 16 of the above discussed embodiments may be also be implemented with different shapes, sizes and locations, depending on the requirements for different implementations, for example. The key function of the tab, however, remains the same, i.e. guiding the sample vessel in a proper orientation in a sample vessel rack, and/or preventing inserting of the sample vessel in a sample vessel rack in an improper orientation, and/or utilizing locking of the sample vessel in a sample vessel rack.

(22) The specific exemplifying embodiments of the invention shown in figures and discussed above should not be construed as limiting. A person skilled in the art can amend and modify the embodiments in many evident ways within the scope of the attached claims. Thus the invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above.