FR2643984A3 - SAMPLE WC FOR LABORATORY ANALYSIS - Google Patents

Abstract

This container of the bowl type comprises a body 12 delimiting a chamber, on the opening of the upper part of which is applied a closure made of a relatively elastic material having a central opening which can be traversed by an extraction tube. The closure is formed by a membrane 14 clamped on its periphery by compression against the edge of the body by an annular ring 16 mounted axially over the body to bring into contact with each other in abutment a surface and a thin projection 17 deformable by fusion. A second stop is provided to limit the axial displacement which the ring 16 undergoes when the projection deforms under the thrust of an ultrasonic welding electrode placed on the ring.

Description

The present invention relates to a bowl

  with sample for laboratory analysis.

  In laboratory analysis (especially of biological samples) and in particular in automated analyzes, a lot of content is used.

  nors called "bowls" which consist of a formed part

  mant the container proper with the opening of its upper part closed by a plug of elastic material, having a central series of radial slots

  to allow the introduction into the bowl of a sound-

  sample extraction, while limiting the pos-

  content evaporation or contamination.

  This type of container poses a problem which is to ensure appropriate contact between the container and the stopper because it is very difficult to form suitable surfaces for example for cooperation of the undercut type due to the small size of the containers. parts. A system consisting of gluing the parts together is also not possible since the container is usually made of polystyrene while the lid is made of a material having a relatively high elasticity (such as polyethylene) which makes gluing extremely difficult. . In addition, the presence of glue would most likely contaminate

the sample.

  However, it is desirable that the container and the lid cannot be separated accidentally, as this could cause the contents of the cuvette to flow or, if separation occurred during the withdrawal of the extraction probe by an automatic analysis device , this could cause a stop

of this device.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by producing a bowl

  having a plug inseparable from it.

  This goal is achieved by a container of the cu- type.

  vette, in particular for biological samples, comprising a body delimiting a chamber and having at its

  upper part an opening to which is applied

  that a closure made of a relatively elastic material having a central opening which can be traversed by an extraction tube, characterized in that the closure is formed by a membrane tightened on its periphery by

  compression against the edge of the body by an annular ring

  laire axially mounted over the body to bring in mutual contact, in abutment, a surface and a thin projection deformable by fusion, a second stop being provided to limit the axial displacement which the ring undergoes when the projection deforms, under the thrust an ultrasonic welding electrode disposed on the ring.

  Other features and advantages of the

  vention will appear during the description that goes

  follow, made with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of examples and in which: FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bowl with

  its cover formed according to the principles of the invention

  tion; Fig.2 is a side elevational view in section along the line II-II of Fig.1; Fig.3 shows a detail of Fig.2 after a welding process; Fig.4 shows a detail of a second mode of

  realization presenting the characteristics of the invention

  tion; Fig. 5 is a view of a detail of a third

embodiment.

  Referring to the drawings, we see in Fig. 2

  a bowl 10 having the characteristics of the invention

  vention, which comprises a support part 12 having a circumferential projection 13 (forming a support for the

  bowl when housed in appropriate racks

  required according to known technique) and comprising a

  part 11 forming the container for the samples.

  On the opening of the container 10 is placed a membrane 14 made of an elastic material, having cross-shaped slots 15 (as shown in FIG. 1) and

  held in place by an annular ring 16.

  The ring 16 has an edge having an angle ai-

  gu, or lip 17 which, when mounted on the con-

  content, rests on the upper surface of the projection 13. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in this position in

  contact, there is an interval s between the upper part

  of the bowl and the bottom of the ring 16. The link

  stable sound between the ring, the container and the membrane

  is ensured by ultrasonic welding performed in low

  sant rest on the upper part of the ring the

  known suitable device (and therefore not shown

  felt in the drawing) to transmit ultrasound to the

  gue (sonotrode), in order to cause (in an obvious way for technicians) a fusion of the lip 17 With an acute edge on the projection 13. During this fusion process,

  the interval s decreases under the vertical thrust of the device

  positive ultrasonic welding, with consecutive compression of the periphery of the membrane 14 Up to

  that the upper part of the bowl and the underside

  ring come into contact as shown

  tee in Fig. 3. When the acute edge of the lip 17 initially comes into contact with the projection 13, the interval s must be such that it ensures that, after being absorbed during welding, the compression of the membrane is sufficient to prevent it from escape from his seat

  under the mechanical stresses to which it is subject

  put during the introduction and extraction of the injection and sample extraction probes through

  the slots 15 according to the known technique.

  There is shown in Fig.4 a bowl with its elements ill, 112 and 113 which are almost identical to the corresponding elements 11, 12 and 13 of Fig.2, and which comprises a membrane 114 similar to the membrane 14

  and a ring 116. A stop gap s provides the

  space required for movement to compress the membrane

  ne 14, as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2, during the ultrasonic welding of the ring and the container which results from the fusion of the angle 19 of the mouth of the bowl in contact with a surface internal 20 of the ring which forms approximately an angle

  right with the bisector of said angle 19.

  There is shown in Fig.5 a bowl with its

  elements 211, 212 and 213 roughly identical to the elements

  corresponding elements 11, 12 and 13 of FIG. 2, and which comprises a membrane 214 similar to the membrane 14, and

a ring 216.

  In this embodiment, the welding of the

  ring on the container is still done by ultra-

  sounds, by melting an angle 21 of the ring on a surface

  22 provided on the outer wall of the bowl at the shoulder-

  ment 213 and approximately at right angles to the

bisector of said angle 21.

  An interval s is provided to allow a

  placement required to compress the 214 membrane

during welding.

  In the last two embodiments,

  above, as in the case of the first embodiment, during the welding operation, the pressure of the ultrasonic welding device being supported on

  the ring 116 or 216 causes absorption of the inter-

  valle s during the fusion of the angle 19 or 21 with a predetermined consecutive compression of the periphery of the membrane 114, 214, thus preventing its accidental escape. In all embodiments the presence

  of a stop acting after a race s makes the compression

  diaphragm sion independent of the thrust of the dispo-

  welding sitive and the extent of the fusion, ensuring

  thus in all cases a correct tightening of the membrane

  born. The embodiments described so far

  are given only as examples of the characteristics

  claims of the invention and should therefore not be considered as limiting its scope. For example, the bowl may have a shape

  as well as the ring and the diaphragm, depending on

  tion of the dimensions necessary for their use

  in particular applications and for their suitability

  to be used in particular machines

automatic analyzes.

  In addition, to increase the tightening of the ring

  and the container on the membrane, irregularities such as

  teeth can be provided on the respective contact surfaces in order to increase friction

  mutual, as shown schematically at 23 in Fig. 5.

  Finally, note that the parts in contact

  interested in the merger can be disconti-

  bare in order to produce spot welds which can

  can be done very quickly with low

  ultrasonic energy. The materials constituting the

  described parts may be different. For example, the ring and the container can be made of the same rigid plastic material, such as polystyrene, while the membrane can be made of an elastomer such as a

silicone rubber.

  The use of the elastic material membrane

  that such that a silicone material makes it possible to produce the slots 15 as simple cuts without removal or permanent deformation of the material. Thus, in practice, the bowl becomes practically hermetic by

  adhesion between the lips of the slits.

Claims (8)

  1- Container of the bowl type in particular for   biologic samples, including a delimited body   both a bedroom with an opening at the top   ture on which a closure is applied in one   relatively elastic face having a central opening   the can be crossed by an extraction tube,   characterized in that the closure is formed of a mem-   brane (14,114,214) tightened on its periphery, by com-   pressure against the edge of the body by an annular ring (16, 116,216) mounted axially over the body to bring in contact with the abutment a surface and a thin projection, (17, 19,21) deformable by fusion, a second abutment being provided to limit the axial displacement that   undergoes the ring when the lip is deformed under the push   of an ultrasonic welding electrode arranged on the ring.   2- Container according to claim 1, charac-   terized in that said ring (16,116,216) has a part   annular king and a cylindrical wall, the latter   being intended to be mounted over the side wall the container.   3- Container according to claim 2, charac-   terized in that the second stop is determined by the free end edge of the cylindrical wall of the ring (16, 116, 216) which cooperates with a radial projection   (13, 113, 213) of the side wall of the container.   4- Container according to claim 2, charac-   characterized in that the internal face of the annular wall includes a seat which receives the peripheral edge of the membrane (14,114,214).   - Container according to claim 4, characterized in that said seat receives the membrane (14,114,214) over a height which is less than its thickness when it is in the uncompressed state, the internal face of the annular wall comprising a region which forms the other stop on the upper edge of the container so that the membrane is compressed in the height of the seat.   6- Container according to claim 1, charac-   terized in that said projection is delimited by the an-   pin (19) of the upper edge of the mouth of the container, which cooperates with a bevel (20) provided at the junction of the   annular and lateral walls of the ring (116).   7- container according to claim 1, charac-   terized in that the ring (216) rests on the membrane (214) by a surface having roughness (23) to grab the membrane.   8- Container according to claim 1, charac-   terized in that the ring and the body of the container (12,112,212) are made of the same plastic rigid such as polystyrene.   9- Container according to claim 1, charac-   terized in that said membrane (16,116,216) is made   seated in an elastomer such as silicone rubber.