Device for the collection, pre-analytic treatment, transport and grinding of solid samples

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the collection, pre-analytic treatment, transport and grinding of solid samples, comprising a flask (1) having an opening (11) closed by a removable stopper (2), for receiving a solid sample. Said flask contains a pre-analytic medium (4), a plurality of balls (3) consisting of a solid material, and a means for holding the balls in place, that is designed to lose its effect when the flask is mechanically shaken or closed by the stopper, in such a way that, when the flask is mechanically shaken, the impact of the balls causes the grinding of the solid sample and the mixing thereof with the pre-analytic medium.

Claims

1. A device for the collection, pre-analytical treatment, transport and grinding of solid samples, comprising a flask (1) having an opening (11) closed by a removable stopper (2), for receiving a solid sample and in which are present a pre-analytical medium (4) and a plurality of balls (3) made of a solid material, wherein the pre-analytical medium (4) comprises at least a first compound in gel holding the balls in place and being designed so as to liquefy and release the balls when the gel is disrupted, such that, when the flask is mechanically agitated, the impact of the balls causes the grinding of the solid sample and the mixing thereof with the pre-analytical medium, and wherein the first compound in gel holding the balls in place is located at the bottom of the flask.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-analytical medium (4) comprises a second compound isolated from the rest of the flask by a means for holding in place designed so as to break and release the second compound when the flask is mechanically agitated or when the removable stopper is screwed or unscrewed.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for holding the second compound of the pre-analytical medium (4) is made of a tearable or breakable material.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for holding the second compound of the pre-analytical medium (4) comprises a seal closing the removable stopper (2) so as to provide a housing (24) for said second compound of the pre-analytical medium (4).

5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for holding the second compound of the pre-analytical medium (4) comprises a pouch (8) containing said second compound of the pre-analytical medium (4).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a breakable pouch containing the first compound of the pre-analytical medium (4).

Description

(1) The invention will be understood more clearly and other aims, characteristics and advantages thereof will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of implementation examples, which is given from the viewpoint of the appended drawings on which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an implementation variant of the device according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view representing another variant of the device according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view representing a variant of the device shown in FIG. 3, and

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional view representing a variant of the device shown in FIG. 4.

(7) The elements common to the various figures will be denoted by the same references.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a flask 1, the opening 11 of which is closed by a stopper 2.

(9) In the example shown in FIG. 1, the neck 10 of the flask comprises a thread 12 which engages with a thread 21 provided on the skirt 20 of the stopper.

(10) Balls 3 and also a pre-analytical medium 4, in this case in liquid form, are placed inside the flask 1. These balls can be made of glass or metal.

(11) The flask, like the balls and the transport medium, are sterile.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a magnet 5 which is in this case provided on the bottom of the flask. This magnet is not systematically provided. In the case where the balls 3 are made of a paramagnetic material, the magnet makes it possible to immobilize the balls against the wall of the flask, in the vicinity of the magnet. The balls can in particular be made of AISI 404 stainless steel.

(13) The device according to the invention is used in the following way, for example in an operating block.

(14) During an operation, a person opens the flask, deposits a solid specimen therein and then closes it again.

(15) The flask can then be agitated manually. It can also be placed in an appropriate machine.

(16) Mention may in particular be made of the machine sold under the name Mixer Mill MM by the company Retsch.

(17) Because of the presence of the balls made of solid material in the flask, the agitation caused by this machine makes it possible to obtain the suspension of an appropriate part of the sample by impact and friction.

(18) A sample of the suspension is then taken from the flask for the purpose of analyzing it in conventional machines for the analysis of liquid samples.

(19) When the magnet 5 is provided on the flask 1, it is removed therefrom before the flask is agitated so as to render the balls entirely effective.

(20) The pre-analytical medium could also be in the form of a gel, so as to retain the balls in the flask before it is agitated, the gel becoming liquid after agitation. For example, a gel of agarose at low concentration (0.3% for example) meets these requirements.

(21) In this case, the presence of a magnet is not required in order to retain the balls.

(22) FIG. 2 shows an implementation variant in which the balls 3 are placed in a housing 24 attached to the upper part 22 of the stopper 2.

(23) This housing is closed by a membrane 23 made of a tearable material, for example a thin film of polystyrene or of another appropriate polymer.

(24) Moreover, the flask 1 still comprises a pre-analytical medium 4.

(25) In this variant, the device is used as previously. When it is subjected to manual agitation or agitation caused by a machine, the membrane 23 breaks and the balls 3 can perform their grinding function.

(26) In one variant (not shown), the means for holding the balls in place may be a housing formed in the stopper which opens when it is screwed onto the neck 10 of the flask. For example, a seal may be torn by the screwing of the stopper, or a second stopper with an inverted thread may open the housing during the screwing of the stopper.

(27) FIG. 3 shows a variant of the device, in which the balls 3 are placed inside a pouch 6, itself made of a tearable material, for example a thin film of polystyrene or of another appropriate polymer.

(28) This pouch is in this case placed in the pre-analytical medium 4. It should therefore be made of a material impermeable to liquids. Other solutions could be envisioned, for example the attachment of the pouch 6 to the stopper 2.

(29) Here again the device is used as previously. When it is subjected to agitation, the pouch 6 breaks and the balls are mixed with the specimen and the pre-analytical medium 4. They can thus perform their grinding function.

(30) FIG. 4 shows another implementation variant in which both the pre-analytical medium 4 and the balls 3 are placed inside a pouch 7.

(31) The pouch 7 is made of a tearable material impermeable to liquids, for example a thin film of polystyrene or of another appropriate polymer.

(32) The device is used as previously. When it is subjected to agitation, the pouch 7 breaks so as to release both the pre-analytical medium 4 and the balls 3. The latter can thus perform their grinding function.

(33) In one implementation variant (not shown), the pre-analytical medium and the balls are placed in the bottom of the flask and they are separated from the rest of the flask by a paraffin seal or a seal made of a breakable polymer.

(34) This seal makes it possible to separate the pre-analytical medium and the balls from the specimen, until grinding.

(35) Moreover, in the implementation examples shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the pre-analytical medium 4 is directly poured into the flask.

(36) However, pre-analytical media activated by mixing several active components stored separately can be envisioned. This is in particular the case for components of which the long-term stability requires the separation of two or more liquid components, or the separation of one or more solid components and one or more liquid components. These components can, for example, be provided for in housings closed by seals which are tearable or breakable by the balls during agitation or by the screwing of the stopper after introduction of the specimen.

(37) One of the components may also be provided for in a housing in which it will be held until the opening of the flask and therefore once the grinding operation is finished.

(38) The means for holding the components of the pre-analytical medium in place can be combined with the other means for holding the balls in place. Thus, by way of example and without limiting the possible combinations, a gel or a magnet holding the balls in place can be combined with a tearable seal retaining a liquid and/or with one containing a powder.

(39) Thus, FIG. 5 shows a variant of the embodiment according to FIG. 4. In this variant, only one component 41 of the pre-analytical medium is provided for in the pouch 7, which also contains balls 3.

(40) Another pouch 8 contains two other components 42 and 43 of the pre-analytical medium.

(41) The component 42 is in liquid form and the pouch 8 is therefore leaktight. It can be made of a tearable polymer film. The latter can be designed so as to release a grinding additive.

(42) The component 43 is in solid form (powdered tablet, for example).

(43) Finally, a component 44 of the pre-analytical medium can be provided for in a housing 24 provided for in the stopper 2 which is closed by a tearable seal 25. The latter opens when the flask is agitated (see FIG. 2) or under the effect of the screwing of the stopper.

(44) Thus, in any event, the device according to the invention makes it possible to limit the human interventions between the taking of the solid sample and the subsequent analysis. It therefore makes it possible to increase the reliability of the analysis and the traceability of the analytical process.

(45) When it is used in the medical field, the device is preferably disposable.

(46) Moreover, when the device is intended for a microbiological diagnosis, all these components are sterile.

(47) The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics which appear in the claims have the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of the latter and could not limit the scope thereof.