Measuring and testing – Sampler – sample handling – etc. – Analyzer supplier
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-07-24
Raevis, Robert (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Sampler, sample handling, etc.
Analyzer supplier
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263743
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a device for transferring a liquid sample, drawn by suction, through a wall comprising an orifice which passes through the wall.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various devices which make it possible, in a first stage, to suck up a liquid sample and, in a second stage, to expel all or part of this sample are already known and generally comprise, principally, a conduit, a plunger sealingly sliding in said conduit and a rod controlling said plunger, particularly manually, or an equivalent means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject of the present invention is a transferring device which has the above-defined arrangement but which by itself makes it possible, after transfer, to seal or close off the orifice through which the liquid drawn by suction has subsequently been expelled.
Starting from a wall as defined above, i.e. comprising the calibrated orifice passing right through it, and through which the sample drawn is expelled, the device according to the invention comprises a joining piece extending the conduit, in the bore of which the plunger slides, with outer cross section adapted to fit in the orifice, for example sealing it, with the close working clearance required for inserting the joining piece in this orifice. This joining piece is arranged on the one hand to be separated from the conduit, by any appropriate means, for example mechanical and/or thermal, once it is engaged in the aforesaid orifice and, on the other hand, to seal the orifice when or once the joining piece engaged in the orifice is separated from the conduit.
Preferably, to seal the orifice, the relatively hard plunger is arranged to constrain or crush the relatively soft wall of the joining piece between itself and the relatively stiff wall of said orifice, whereby said joining piece forms a definitive annular seal, when or once said joining piece and with plunger engaged in said orifice are separated from said conduit and the control rod, respectively.
In a particularly advantageous manner, especially in the field of biology, the joining piece is produced from a material, for example a plastics material, capable of melting through the effect of heat. By virtue of this supplementary means, and when a thermal means is used to separate the conduit from the joining piece, and optionally the control rod of the plunger, not only does the melting of the joining piece contribute to or allow sealing of the orifice but, also, this same thermal means sterilizes or decontaminates the sealed orifice on the one hand and the rest of the transferring device on the other, i.e. its end remote from the joining piece and, possibly, the plunger, whereby this remainder or waste may be disposed of in sterile or decontaminated condition.
By virtue of the invention, the joining piece at least serves not only for expelling the liquid drawn by suction but also for sealing the orifice in the wall, for example definitively, and doing so in a leaktight manner.
Applied, for example, to a biological analysis card including a wall such as that defined above, separating a cavity for receiving the drawn liquid sample for analysis from the outside, the invention makes it possible, after insertion of the sample in the analysis card, definitively and completely to isolate the analysis card from the outside, thereby, in particular, preventing any subsequent contamination towards the inside of the analysis card or towards the outside of the latter. This isolation is obtained particularly simply, with no other means or tool, for example, solely with the device itself.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2955627 (1960-10-01), Gaskins
patent: 4585623 (1986-04-01), Chandler
patent: 5010928 (1991-04-01), Ballas
patent: 0 381 501 A2 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 0 701 865 A1 (1996-03-01), None
patent: A-7-80331 (1995-03-01), None
patent: WO 83/01912 (1983-06-01), None
patent: WO 93/02795 (1993-02-01), None
patent: WO 93/09431 (1993-05-01), None
Colin Bruno
Jaravel Cecile
Bio Merieux
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Raevis Robert
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