CONTAINER FOR SMALL LIQUID VOLUMES

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (1) for small liquid volumes having at least one inlet chamber (2), at least one outlet chamber (3), an open top end (4) and a bottom end (5), wherein the bottom end (5) comprises at least one access region (7); wherein the at least one inlet chamber (2) is capable of accommodating a swab stik (16); wherein the at least one inlet chamber (2) has at least one open top end (11a) and is connectable to at least a first free end (8) of a flowpath (9) via the at least one access region (7); and wherein the at least one outlet chamber (3) has at least one open top end (11b) and is connectable to at least another free end (10) of the flowpath (9) via the at least one access region (7); a kit, an interface for fluid handling, and a method for analyzing a sample liquid (18).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. Container for small liquid volumes having at least one inlet chamber, at least one outlet chamber, an open top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end is optionally provided with a detachable lid element; wherein the bottom end comprises at least one access region; wherein the at least one inlet chamber is capable of accommodating a swab stick; wherein the at least one inlet chamber has at least one open top end and is connectable to at least a first free end of a flowpath via the at least one access region; and wherein the at least one outlet chamber has at least one open top end and is connectable to at least another free end of the flowpath via the at least one access region, wherein the flowpath connects the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber.

17. Container according to claim 16, whereby a second container is present that is part of flowpath.

18. Container according to claim 17, whereby the second container is one or several analysis units, serial and/or in parallel, along the flow path.

19. Container according to claim 18, whereby the one or several analysis units comprise a flow cell.

20. Container according to claim 16, wherein the volume of the at least one outlet chamber is smaller than the volume of the at least one inlet chamber.

21. Container according to claim 16, wherein the at least one outlet chamber is arranged in fluid connection with the at least one inlet chamber via the at least one open top end of the at least one outlet chamber.

22. Container according to any claim 16, wherein the at least one access region is at least one septum; wherein the at least one inlet chamber is accessible by an at least first free end of a flowpath through the at least one septum when the at least first free end of the flowpath is at least a first hollow needle; wherein the at least one outlet chamber is accessible by at least another free end of the flowpath through the at least one septum, when the at least other free end of the flowpath is at least another hollow needle.

23. Container according to claim 16, wherein the at least one outlet chamber comprises an outer wall of the outlet chamber, and an inner wall of the outlet chamber; wherein the at least one inlet chamber comprises an outer wall of the inlet chamber, and an inner wall of the inlet chamber; wherein the at least one inlet chamber is at least partly surrounded by the at least one outlet chamber; wherein the at least one inlet chamber is formed by the inner wall of the inlet chamber and at least a part of the bottom end; and wherein the at least one outlet chamber is formed by the inner wall of the outlet chamber, at least a part of the outer wall of the inlet chamber and at least a part of the bottom end.

24. Kit comprising a container according to claim 16, an analysis unit, and means for establishing a fluid connection from the at least one inlet chamber to the at least one outlet chamber via the analysis unit.

25. Kit according to claim 21, wherein the means for establishing a fluid connection from the at least one inlet chamber to the at least one outlet chamber via the analysis unit comprise the at least first hollow needle, the at least other hollow needle and the flowpath.

26. Kit according to claim 24, wherein the analysis unit comprises a flow cell.

27. Method for analyzing a sample liquid contained in a container for small liquid volumes in at least one analysis unit; wherein the container for small liquid volumes comprises at least one inlet chamber, at least one outlet chamber, a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end comprises at least one access region, wherein the at least one inlet chamber has at least one open top end and is connectable to at least a first free end of a flowpath via the at least one access region, and wherein the at least one outlet chamber has at least one open top end and is connectable to at least another free end of the flowpath via the at least one access region; comprising the steps of a) transporting the sample liquid from the at least one inlet chamber through the at least first free end of the flowpath along the flowpath to the at least one analysis unit; b) performing at least one analysis of the sample liquid in the at least one analysis unit; c) transporting the sample liquid from the at least one analysis unit further along the flowpath through the at least other free end of the flowpath to the at least one outlet chamber; d) optionally, recirculating the sample liquid from the at least one outlet chamber to the at least one inlet chamber and repeating the previous steps; g) returning at least one result from the analysis of the sample liquid.

28. Method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of e) transporting the sample liquid from the at least one outlet chamber through the at least other free end of the flowpath along the flowpath via the at least one analysis unit and further along the flowpath through the at least first free end of the flowpath to the at least one inlet chamber; f) transporting a gas from the at least one outlet chamber through the at least other free end of the flowpath along the flowpath via the at least one analysis unit and further along the flowpath through the at least first free end of the flowpath to the at least one inlet chamber, thereby displacing the sample liquid from the flowpath with the gas.

29. Method according to claim 27, wherein the volume of the at least one outlet chamber is smaller than the volume of the at least one inlet chamber; and wherein the at least one outlet chamber is arranged in fluid connection with the at least one inlet chamber via the at least one open top end of the at least one outlet chamber.

30. Method according to claim 27, wherein the at least first free end of the flowpath is at least a first hollow needle; wherein the at least other free end of the flowpath is at least another hollow needle; wherein the at least one access region is at least one septum, wherein the at least one inlet chamber is accessible by the at least first hollow needle through the at least one septum; wherein the at least one outlet chamber is accessible by the at least other hollow needle through the at least one septum; and wherein the at least first hollow needle is connectable with the at least another hollow needle to establish a fluid connection beween the at least first hollow needle and the at least other hollow needle via the flowpath.

Description

[0082] In the following, the solution of the present invention is further described by non-limiting figures and examples.

[0083] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a container according to the present invention comprising an interface according to the present invention.

[0084] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of a container according to the present invention comprising an interface according to the present invention.

[0085] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a container according to the present invention and a swab stick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] The containers or schemes thereof comprising an interface according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 and described below serve merely as illustrative examples and are not to be construed as limiting embodiments of the present invention. The reference signs are used consistently for the indicated features.

[0087] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a schematic container 1 according to the present invention, comprising an inlet chamber 2 with an open top end 11a, an outlet chamber 3 with an open top end 11b, an open top end 4 of the container 1, a bottom end 5, an access region 7, a guiding element 20, and a detachable lid element 6. Also shown are a first free end 8 of a flowpath 9, the flowpath 9 comprising a second container 17, and a second free end 10 of the flowpath 9. In the embodiment of the container according to the present invention exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 is in fluid connection with the inlet chamber 2, and the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9 is in fluid connection with the outlet chamber 3. The flowpath 9 provides a fluid connection of the inlet chamber 2 via the first free end 8 and the outlet chamber 3 via the second free end 10 with a second container 17, which second container 17 is part of the flowpath 9 and can be e.g. an analysis unit.

[0088] Such a container 1 containing a sample liquid 18 allows transport of the sample liquid 18 from the inlet chamber 2 via the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 along the flowpath 9 to a second container 17, which might be an analysis unit that allows performing of an analysis of the sample liquid 18, e.g. by transporting the sample liquid 18 through a flow cell comprised in said analysis unit. The sample liquid 18 can then be further transported along the flowpath 9 via the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9 into the outlet chamber 3. The flowpath leading through the second container 17, e.g. an analysis unit such as a flow cell, is considered a part of the flowpath 9.

[0089] By providing a container 1 comprising at least one access region 7 as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, a particularly easy connection to a flowpath 9 as described herein can be achieved. An interface as referred to herein between a container 1 and a flowpath 9 as disclosed herein, was found to allow fast connection e.g. of sample vessels or containers containing a sample liquid to be analyzed by an analysis unit. The free ends 8, 10 of the flowpath 9 can be hollow needles and the at least one access region 7 can be at least one septum. Preferably, the free ends 8, 10 of the flowpath 9 are inserted in or connected to the inlet chamber 2 and the outlet chamber 3 in a way, wherein the open ends are close to the bottom of the inlet chamber 2 and the outlet chamber 3. Hereby, most of the sample liquid 18 contained in any of the chambers can be removed from the chambers e.g. by applying pressure. In such an embodiment of the present invention, it becomes possible e.g. to connect a first sample liquid contained in a first container via a flowpath to an analysis unit for analysis of the first sample liquid. After emptying of the flowpath 9, a second sample liquid contained in a second container can be directly connected to an analysis unit via the flowpath without an intermediate cleaning step, thus saving process time, in particular when a large number of analyses has to be performed. Notwithstanding, also a container containing e.g. a separate cleaning solution can be connected to the flowpath 9 for more intense cleaning of the flowpath 9 and/or the at least second container 17 which is also part of the flowpath 9. Due to the specific architecture of a container according to the present invention, also removal of the cleaning solution from the flowpath can be easily achieved. Also, the architecture of such a container allows the use of short needles as free ends 8, 10 of the flowpath 9 as connecting means, which short needles are less prone to damage by bending and can be reused many times, as well as to leakage upon penetration of a septum.

[0090] In the container 1 schematically shown in FIG. 1, the volume of the outlet chamber 3 is smaller than the volume of the inlet chamber 1. By continuing the flow from the inlet chamber 2 via the flowpath 9 to the outlet chamber 3, sample liquid 18 exceeding the volume of the outlet chamber 3 can recirculate through the open top end 11b of the outlet chamber 3 directly back into the inlet chamber 2. From the inlet chamber 2, this recirculated sample liquid 18 can re-enter the flowpath 9 via the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 and may subsequently re-enter the second container 17 wherein the recirculated sample liquid 18 may be e.g. analyzed another time, thus increasing analysis accuracy.

[0091] To empty the flowpath 9 from the sample liquid 18, the flow direction can be reversed. Hereby, sample liquid 18 contained in the outlet chamber 3 can be transported via the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9 along the flowpath and ultimately via the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 back into the inlet chamber 2. Once the level of the sample liquid 18 in the outlet chamber 3 sinks below the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9, no more sample liquid 18 can be introduced via the second free end 10 into the flowpath 9. By nevertheless continuing the flow, gas can be introduced from the outlet chamber 3 via the second free end 10 into the flowpath 9 and transported along the flowpath 9 until the gas is transported into the inlet chamber 2. Hereby, the gas will have displaced essentially the entire sample liquid 18 that was previously contained inter alia in the flowpath 9. As a consequence, the flowpath 9 can be connected with e.g. another container containing another sample fluid that is intended to be transported to the second container 17, e.g. for analysis.

[0092] To avoide spillage of the sample liquid 18 contained in the container 1 or to allow safe storage of the sample liquid 18, a detachable lid element 6 is suggested to be provided. It is considered that the detachable lid element 6 may be used when the container 1 is connected to the flowpath 9 as well as when the container 1 is not connected to the flowpath 9.

[0093] The container 1 schematically shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a guiding element 20. It is considered that the flowpath 9 may be arranged inside the second container 17, wherein essentially only the at least first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 and the at least other free end 10 of the flowpath 9 are directly accessible or even visible without disassembling the second container 17. To establish a connection of the flowpath 9 with the inlet chamber 2 and the outlet chamber 3 of the container 1, the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 needs to be connected with the inlet chamber 2 and the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9 needs to be connected with the outlet chamber 3. To achieve these connections via the access region 7 of the container 1, it is desirable to guide the inlet chamber 2 to the first free end 8 and the outlet chamber 3 to the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9. A guiding element 20, which can be e.g. a nose structure or a recess or notch structure, that fits to a counterpart comprised by the second container 17 is considered to achieve this objective.

[0094] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of another embodiment of a container 1 of the present invention. In the embodiment of a container 1 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2, it is considered that the inlet chamber 2 is surrounded by the outlet chamber 3. In this embodiment, the inlet chamber 2 is formed by the inner wall of the inlet chamber 15 and part of the bottom end 5 of the container 1 comprising an access region 7. The outlet chamber 3 is formed by the inner wall of the outlet chamber 13, the outer wall of the outlet chamber 12 and part of the bottom 5 of the container 1 comprising an access region 7. In such an embodiment, the outer wall of the inlet chamber 14 may be the same wall as the inner wall of the oulet chamber 13, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 2.

[0095] The container 1 schematically shown in FIG. 2 further comprises a filter element 22, which filter element 22 separates the inlet chamber 2 into a first inlet sub-chamber 2a and a second inlet sub-chamber 2b. Hereby, particles that might be comprised in a sample fluid 18 can be caught by the filter element 22 and retained in the first inlet sub-chamber 2a, thus preventing eventual entry of such particles into the flowpath 9 or even clogging of the flowpath by such particles. The container 1 shown in FIG. 2. comprises two separate access regions 7, one access region 7 to be used for connecting the inlet chamber 2, in particular for connecting the second inlet sub-chamber 2b with the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9, and another access region 7 to be used for connecting the outlet chamber 3 with the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9.

[0096] For stabilization of the bottom end 5 of the container 1 comprising the at least one access reagion 7, the container 1 shown in FIG. 2 further comprises a bottom element 19, which bottom element comprises passage ways 23 that allow establishing connections between the first free end 8 with the inlet chamber 2 and between the second free end 10 with the outlet chamber 3.

[0097] Additionally, the schematic container 1 shown in FIG. 2 further comprises a covering element 21 to provide protection of the outlet chamber 3 against spillage while still retaining an open top end 11b of the outlet chamber 3 to allow a flow of sample liquid 18 from the outlet chamber 3 to the inlet chamber 2. It is considered that the covering element 21 might also be provided in a tilted orientation provided in a way to guide a sample liquid 18 being introduced into such a container 1 directly to the inlet chamber 2.

[0098] Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of yet another embodiment of a container 1 according to the present invention is shown. Therein, the access region 7 is a septum and the first free end 8 of the flowpath 9 and the other free end 10 of the flowpath 9 are hollow needles. In such an embodiment, the inlet chamber 2 and the outlet chamber 3 are created by combining three tube structures 24-26, wherein a first tube structure 24 comprises a filter element 22 and part of an access region 7 and wherein this first tube structure defines the second inlet sub-chamber 2b; wherein a second tube structure 25 surrounds the first tube structure 24 and wherein the second tube structure 25 comprises the first inlet sub-chamber 2a; and wherein a third tube structure 26 surrounds both the first tube structure 24 and the second tube structure 25, and wherein the third tube structure 26 comprises at least a part of the outlet chamber 3. It is considered, that the outlet chamber 3 may be provided as two outlet sub-chambers, wherein a first outlet sub-chamber is provided next to the second inlet sub-chamber 2b and surrounded by the second tube structure 25, and wherein a second outlet sub-chamber is provided e.g. by connection of the second tube structure 25 with the third tube structure 26, wherein the first outlet sub-chamber and the second outlet sub-chamber are in fluid connection with one another, and wherein the second outlet sub-chamber is in fluid connection with the inlet chamber 2 via the open top end (11b) of the second outlet sub-chamber. A sample liquid 18 transported via the second free end 10 of the flowpath 9 into the first outlet sub-chamber can by further transported into the second outlet-chamber and then recirculated into the inlet chamber 2 via the open top end (11b) of the second outlet sub-chamber.

[0099] Also shown in FIG. 3 is a swab stick 16 that may be accommodated in the inlet chamber 2, in particular in the first inlet sub-chamber 2a. The swab stick 16 can be fixated in a fixating structure 27 comprised by the detachable lid element 6. With such an embodiment of the present invention, the most important components for surface hygiene monitoring, a swab stick for taking a sample and a container for containing the sample until analysis, can be provided in a convenient and practical format.