Multi-cavity preservation tube

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the field of preservation tubes, and particularly relates to a multi-cavity preservation tube which comprises a tube body and a tube cover, a detachable partition structure is arranged in the tube body, and the partition structure divides an inner cavity of the tube body into a polypeptide storage cavity and a drying agent cavity which are arranged up and down and are independent from each other; the separation structure comprises a supporting framework and a hydrophobic breathable film, and the hydrophobic breathable film allows water vapor molecules to diffuse between the polypeptide storage cavity and the drying agent cavity and prevents solid particles or liquid from passing through; a sample bearing inner container with an opening in the top is arranged in the polypeptide storage cavity, and a drying agent bearing piece is arranged in the drying agent cavity; according to the storage tube, the sample cavity and the drying agent cavity are completely and physically isolated through the separation structure with the hydrophobic breathable film, so that cross contamination is thoroughly avoided; meanwhile, an efficient moisture exchange channel is formed by the hydrophobic breathable film and an airflow gap surrounding the sample inner container, it is ensured that the drying agent can continuously and evenly dehumidify the sample cavity, and the sample is kept dry for a long time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of storage tube technology, specifically relating to a multi-chamber storage tube. Background Technology

[0002] Bioactive substances such as peptides, proteins, and enzymes are highly susceptible to moisture absorption, degradation, inactivation, or aggregation during storage. Conventional storage methods typically place the sample and desiccant (such as silica gel) together in a sealed container (such as centrifuge tubes or vials). However, this method has significant drawbacks: the desiccant is in direct or excessive proximity to the sample, and the resulting dust or particulate matter may contaminate the sample; simultaneously, the sample (especially powdered peptides) can easily scatter into the desiccant area during handling, causing sample loss and cross-contamination. Furthermore, when the desiccant and sample are in the same chamber, effective isolation is impossible; at the moment of opening the container for sampling, external humid air simultaneously comes into contact with both the desiccant and the sample, shortening the desiccant's shelf life and increasing the risk of sample moisture absorption.

[0003] In existing technologies, although some designs attempt to separate the storage chamber, they often use completely sealed partitions. While this provides physical isolation, it blocks the continuous dehumidification function of the desiccant into the sample chamber. Alternatively, simple porous partitions are used, which cannot effectively prevent desiccant dust or liquid sample leakage. Isolation and dehumidification effects cannot be achieved simultaneously. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a peptide storage device that can physically isolate the desiccant from the sample to prevent cross-contamination, ensure continuous and effective dehumidification of the sample chamber by the desiccant, and is structurally stable and easy to sample. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of the existing technology and to provide a multi-chamber storage tube with good isolation effect, high dehumidification efficiency, stable structure and easy operation.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: A multi-chamber storage tube includes a tube body and a tube cap that is sealed to the open end of the tube body. The tube body has a detachable partition structure inside, which divides the inner cavity of the tube body into an upper and lower, independent polypeptide storage cavity and a desiccant cavity. The partition structure includes a support frame and a hydrophobic and breathable membrane covering the opening in the middle of the support frame. The hydrophobic and breathable membrane allows water vapor molecules to diffuse between the polypeptide storage cavity and the desiccant cavity, while preventing solid particles or liquids from passing through. The polypeptide storage cavity is provided with a sample carrier liner with a top opening. The bottom of the sample carrier liner is suspended above the partition structure by a support structure to form a bottom airflow gap, and there is a sidewall airflow gap between the sidewall of the sample carrier liner and the inner wall of the tube. The bottom airflow gap and the sidewall airflow gap are connected to the hydrophobic and breathable membrane area of ​​the partition structure, which together form a non-sealed channel for moisture exchange between the inside of the sample carrier liner and the desiccant cavity. The desiccant cavity is provided with a desiccant carrier for containing the desiccant.

[0006] In some embodiments, the periphery of the support frame is provided with an annular sealing groove, and a sealing ring is provided in the sealing groove; the inner wall of the tube body is provided with an annular groove around the periphery, the sealing ring is partially embedded in the sealing groove, and its outer edge is engaged in the annular groove of the tube body, so as to achieve axial limiting and radial sealing between the separation structure and the tube body.

[0007] In some embodiments, the hydrophobic and breathable membrane is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane or a polyethylene breathable membrane, with an average pore size between 0.1 μm and 1.0 μm and a porosity greater than 70%.

[0008] In some embodiments, the support structure at the bottom of the sample carrier liner is a plurality of support feet extending downward from its bottom outer surface. The plurality of support feet abut against the upper end face of the support skeleton edge of the partition structure to achieve radial positioning of the sample carrier liner.

[0009] In some embodiments, an elastic sealing gasket is provided on the inner top surface of the tube cap, and the open end of the tube body is a flat or flanged structure. When the tube cap is tightened, the elastic sealing gasket is pressed and sealed against the open end of the tube body.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inner top surface of the tube cap is provided with an annular sealing groove, and the elastic sealing gasket is partially fitted into the sealing groove.

[0011] In some embodiments, the desiccant carrier is a cylindrical porous structure with an open top, and its sidewalls are covered with micropores. The diameter of the micropores is smaller than the minimum particle size of the desiccant particles contained therein. The bottom of the desiccant carrier is detachably fixed to the bottom of the desiccant chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments, the bottom of the desiccant carrier is provided with a plurality of snap-fit ​​posts, the desiccant carrier...

[0013] The bottom of the agent cavity is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​grooves that engage with the multiple snap-fit ​​posts.

[0014] In some embodiments, the tube is made of transparent polypropylene or polycarbonate, and the outer wall of the tube has an axially frosted surface to form a label area.

[0015] In some embodiments, the desiccant is color-changing silica gel.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The separation structure with a hydrophobic and breathable membrane completely physically isolates the sample chamber from the desiccant chamber, thoroughly avoiding cross-contamination. Simultaneously, the hydrophobic and breathable membrane and the airflow gaps surrounding the sample liner constitute a highly efficient moisture exchange channel, ensuring continuous and uniform dehumidification of the sample chamber by the desiccant, maintaining long-term sample dryness. The suspended design of the sample-bearing liner, positioned by support feet, ensures unobstructed airflow and stability of the liner. The separation structure, liner, and desiccant carrier are all detachable and modular, greatly facilitating sample handling, liner cleaning, and desiccant replacement. The separation structure achieves radial and axial sealing with the tube body through a sealing ring, and the tube cap achieves end-face sealing with the tube body through an elastic sealing gasket. This double-sealing design ensures a high degree of airtightness of the entire storage tube to the external environment, providing a long-term stable ultra-low humidity storage environment for the sample. The transparent tube, combined with color-changing silica gel desiccant, allows for direct monitoring of humidity. The frosted label area on the tube facilitates identification and management. The overall design is scientific and practical, making it ideal for the long-term preservation of high-value, humidity-sensitive peptides and other biological samples in the laboratory. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, obtaining other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort still falls within the scope of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of section A. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the technical problem to be solved, the technical solution, and the beneficial effects of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0022] The directional and positional terms used in this utility model, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, inside, outside, top, bottom, side, etc., are only for reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional and positional terms used are for the purpose of explaining and understanding this utility model, and not for limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0023] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0024] like Figure 1-2As shown, a multi-chamber storage tube includes a tube body 1 and a cap 2 sealed to the open end of the tube body 1. A removable partition structure 3 is provided inside the tube body 1, dividing the inner cavity of the tube body 1 into an upper and lower, independent peptide storage chamber 11 and a desiccant chamber 12. The partition structure 3 includes a support frame 31 and a hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32 covering the opening 310 in the middle of the support frame 31. The hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32 allows water vapor molecules to diffuse between the peptide storage chamber 11 and the desiccant chamber 12, while preventing solid particles or liquids from passing through. The peptide storage chamber 11 contains... A sample-carrying inner liner 4 with a top opening is provided. The bottom of the sample-carrying inner liner 4 is suspended above the partition structure 3 by a support structure 41 to form a bottom airflow gap 42, and there is a side wall airflow gap 43 between the side wall of the sample-carrying inner liner 4 and the inner wall of the tube body 1. The bottom airflow gap 42 and the side wall airflow gap 43 are connected to the hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32 area of ​​the partition structure 3, together forming a non-sealed channel for moisture exchange between the interior of the sample-carrying inner liner 4 and the desiccant chamber 12. A desiccant carrier 5 for accommodating desiccant 51 is provided in the desiccant chamber 12. By setting up a partition structure with a hydrophobic and breathable membrane, complete physical isolation between the desiccant chamber and the sample storage chamber is achieved, fundamentally eliminating the risk of cross-contamination of the sample by desiccant dust or sample powder falling into the desiccant area. At the same time, the bottom and side wall airflow gaps designed around the sample inner liner, together with the hydrophobic and breathable membrane, form a three-dimensional channel surrounding the sample that is "non-sealed but moisture-permeable". This allows the desiccant to continuously, uniformly, and efficiently dehumidify all spaces within the sample chamber (including the interior of the inner liner), overcoming the contradiction of traditional co-placement or simple isolation methods where "isolation means blocking dehumidification." This ensures sample purity while achieving optimal long-term moisture retention.

[0025] like Figure 2As shown, the supporting frame 31 has an annular sealing groove 311 around its periphery, and a sealing ring 312 is installed inside the sealing groove. The inner wall of the pipe body 1 has an annular groove 13 that surrounds the periphery. The sealing ring 312 is partially embedded in the sealing groove 311, and its outer edge is engaged in the annular groove 13 of the pipe body to achieve axial limiting and radial sealing between the partition structure 3 and the pipe body 1. Through the engaging design of the sealing ring and the annular groove inside the pipe body, both radial and axial limiting and sealing between the partition structure and the pipe body are achieved. This ensures the stability of the partition structure during transportation and use, preventing accidental displacement or detachment. Secondly, it eliminates the possibility of water vapor "short-circuiting" through the gaps at the edge of the partition structure, forcing all moisture exchange to occur through the central hydrophobic and breathable membrane, thus ensuring the uniqueness and efficiency of the dehumidification path and strengthening the independence of the two chambers. The hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32 is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane or a polyethylene breathable membrane, with an average pore size between 0.1 μm and 1.0 μm and a porosity greater than 70%. The selection of an ePTFE membrane or a polyethylene (PE) breathable membrane, and the limitation of its pore size (0.1-1.0 μm) and porosity (>70%), yields the beneficial effect of achieving an optimal balance between moisture permeability and barrier properties. This pore size range effectively blocks micron-sized desiccant dust and sample powder, while allowing water vapor molecules to pass through quickly and freely; the high porosity ensures extremely high moisture permeability, resulting in a faster dehumidification response. The support structure 41 at the bottom of the sample-bearing inner liner 4 consists of multiple support legs extending downwards from its bottom outer surface. These support legs abut against the upper end face of the support frame 31 of the partition structure 3, thereby achieving radial restraint of the sample-bearing inner liner 4. The design employing multiple downward-extending support feet that abut against the edge of the partition frame has the following advantages: First, it reliably suspends the inner liner with the simplest structure, ensuring uniform and unobstructed airflow gaps at the bottom and avoiding airflow obstruction due to excessive contact area; Second, the contact between the support feet and the edge of the frame provides good radial restraint, preventing the inner liner from swaying or tilting inside the tube, ensuring the overall stability of the structure and the ease of alignment during loading and unloading, while also keeping the airflow gaps on the side walls uniform.

[0026] like Figure 1As shown, an elastic sealing gasket 21 is provided on the inner top surface of the cap 2. The open end of the tube body 1 has a flat or flanged structure. When the cap 2 is tightened, the elastic sealing gasket 21 is pressed tightly against the open end of the tube body 1 to seal. By setting the elastic sealing gasket and pressing it tightly against the open end of the tube body, the first and most important sealing barrier is provided for the entire storage tube, preventing a large amount of external humid air from entering the tube. This ensures that the interior (including the desiccant chamber and the sample chamber) can maintain a stable microenvironment with ultra-low humidity for a long time, greatly extending the effective service life of the desiccant and the storage period of the sample, which is a prerequisite for the internal high-efficiency dehumidification function to function. An annular sealing groove 20 is provided on the inner top surface of the cap 2, and the elastic sealing gasket 21 is partially embedded in the sealing groove 20. The elastic sealing gasket is fixed by adding a sealing groove. Its beneficial effect is to prevent the elastic sealing gasket from shifting, deforming or falling off during repeated opening and closing of the cap or during transportation, ensuring the long-term consistency and reliability of the sealing interface. This interlocking design allows for more precise positioning and more uniform compression of the sealing gasket, thereby further improving the dynamic sealing performance (maintaining a seal even after multiple openings and closings) between the cap and the body. The desiccant carrier 5 is a cylindrical porous structure with an open top, its sidewalls covered with micropores 52. The diameter of the micropores 52 is smaller than the minimum particle size of the desiccant 51 particles it contains. The bottom of the desiccant carrier 5 is detachably fixed to the bottom of the desiccant chamber 12. Designing the desiccant carrier as a cylindrical structure with an open top and micropores on the sidewalls has the following advantages: it effectively confines the desiccant particles within a fixed container. The micropores on the sidewalls allow water vapor to pass through freely while preventing the desiccant particles from scattering directly or moving to other parts of the desiccant chamber, keeping the chamber clean. At the same time, the detachable fixing method at the bottom makes loading, replacing, or regenerating the desiccant extremely convenient, without disassembling the entire partition structure, improving ease of use and maintenance efficiency. The bottom of the desiccant carrier 5 is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​posts 53, and the bottom of the desiccant chamber 12 is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​grooves 121 that engage with the snap-fit ​​posts 53. The advantages of using snap-fit ​​posts and grooves are: it provides a tool-free, quick, and clearly defined connection method. Users can easily install or remove the desiccant carrier by simply pressing and rotating, making the operation intuitive and efficient. This snap-fit ​​structure is reliable and can withstand a certain amount of vibration and impact, avoiding problems such as the carrier tipping over or shifting due to simple placement. The tube body 1 is made of transparent polypropylene or polycarbonate, and the outer wall of the tube body 1 has an axial frosted surface to form the label area 14. The advantage of using transparent material for the tube body is: it allows users to directly observe the sample state (such as color and shape) and the color change of the desiccant (especially color-changing silica gel) in the internal sample carrier without opening the tube cap, thus intuitively judging the humidity inside the tube and the effectiveness of the desiccant, facilitating proactive management.The frosted label area provides an ideal surface for writing or pasting labels, solving the problems of labels easily falling off and being difficult to write on on smooth tube walls. This facilitates sample identification, tracking, and management, enhancing the product's practicality and user-friendliness. Desiccant 51 is color-changing silica gel. Using color-changing silica gel as a desiccant offers its most direct and prominent benefit: providing a visual humidity indicator. Users can easily monitor the humidity level inside the desiccant chamber and even the entire tube in real time by observing the color of the silica gel (e.g., changing from blue to pink), without the need for additional instruments. This provides users with an extremely intuitive and low-cost means to determine whether the desiccant needs to be replaced and to assess whether the sample storage environment remains safe, enhancing product safety and user control over the storage status.

[0027] Working principle:

[0028] In use, place the polypeptide sample 40 in the sample carrier liner 4, insert the desiccant carrier 5 containing color-changing silica gel into the bottom of the desiccant chamber 12, then insert the separator 3 into the tube body 1 and tighten it, and finally place the sample carrier liner 4 into the polypeptide storage chamber 11 and tighten the tube cap 2.

[0029] Inside the sealed storage tube, desiccant 51 continuously adsorbs moisture from the environment. Moisture that may be released from the sample or seeps in from the outside will pass through the opening in the sample-bearing inner liner 4, through its internal space, sidewall airflow gaps 43, and bottom airflow gaps 42, reaching the upper surface of the hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32. Driven by the concentration difference (humidity difference), water vapor molecules rapidly permeate through the hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32 into the desiccant chamber 12, and are ultimately captured by the desiccant 51. Conversely, when the environment is dry, this channel also allows the dry atmosphere of the desiccant chamber 12 to be fed back to the peptide storage chamber. The hydrophobic and breathable membrane 32 effectively blocks solid particles and liquids from the upper and lower chambers, while the airflow gap design surrounding the inner liner ensures a uniform, efficient, and thorough dehumidification / rehumidification process.

[0030] When the sample is taken out after opening the lid, only the peptide storage chamber 11 is exposed, while the desiccant chamber 12 is still sealed and protected by the partition structure 3, which greatly reduces the speed at which the desiccant absorbs moisture and fails, and also reduces the risk of the sample getting damp.

[0031] This invention utilizes a separator structure with a hydrophobic and breathable membrane to completely physically isolate the sample chamber from the desiccant chamber, thoroughly preventing cross-contamination. Simultaneously, the hydrophobic and breathable membrane and the airflow gaps surrounding the sample liner create a highly efficient moisture exchange channel, ensuring continuous and uniform dehumidification of the sample chamber by the desiccant, maintaining long-term sample dryness. The suspended design of the sample-bearing liner, positioned by support feet, ensures unobstructed airflow and liner stability. The separator structure, liner, and desiccant carrier are all detachable and modular, greatly facilitating sample handling, liner cleaning, and desiccant replacement. The separator structure achieves radial and axial sealing with the tube body via a sealing ring, while the tube cap achieves end-face sealing with an elastic sealing gasket. This double-sealing design ensures a high degree of airtightness of the entire preservation tube against the external environment, providing a long-term stable ultra-low humidity preservation environment for the samples. The transparent tube body, combined with color-changing silica gel desiccant, allows for direct monitoring of humidity; the frosted label area on the tube body facilitates identification and management. The overall design is scientific and practical, making it ideal for the long-term preservation of high-value, humidity-sensitive peptides and other biological samples in the laboratory.

[0032] The above description is only one embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present utility model; the scope of protection of the present utility model is defined by the claims in the claims, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the utility model are within the scope of protection of the present utility model patent.

Claims

1. A multi-chambered preservation tube comprising a tube body and a tube cap sealingly connected to an open end of the tube body, characterized in that: The tube body is internally provided with a detachable separation structure which separates the inner cavity of the tube body into polypeptide storage cavity and desiccant cavity arranged in upper and lower positions and independent of each other; the separation structure comprises a support framework and a hydrophobic and air-permeable membrane covering the opening in the middle part of the support framework, the hydrophobic and air-permeable membrane allows water vapor molecules to diffuse between the polypeptide storage cavity and the desiccant cavity and prevents solid particles or liquid from passing through; the polypeptide storage cavity is internally provided with a sample carrying inner container with an open top, the bottom of the sample carrying inner container is suspended above the separation structure by a support structure to form a bottom airflow gap, and the sidewall of the sample carrying inner container has a sidewall airflow gap with the inner wall of the tube body; the bottom airflow gap, the sidewall airflow gap and the hydrophobic and air-permeable membrane region of the separation structure are connected in communication to form a non-sealed channel for moisture exchange between the inside of the sample carrying inner container and the desiccant cavity; the desiccant cavity is internally provided with a desiccant carrying member for accommodating desiccant.

2. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1, wherein: The periphery of the support framework is provided with an annular sealing groove, and a sealing ring is arranged in the sealing groove; the inner wall of the tube body is provided with an annular groove surrounding a circle, and the sealing ring is partially embedded in the sealing groove and the outer edge portion of the sealing ring is clamped into the annular groove of the tube body to realize axial positioning and radial sealing between the separation structure and the tube body.

3. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1 or 2, wherein: The hydrophobic and air-permeable membrane is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane or a polyethylene air-permeable membrane, the average pore size of which is between 0.1 μm and 1.0 μm, and the porosity is greater than 70%.

4. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1, wherein: The support structure at the bottom of the sample carrying inner container is a plurality of support feet extending downward from the outer surface of the bottom, and the support feet abut the upper end surface of the edge of the support framework of the separation structure to realize radial positioning of the sample carrying inner container.

5. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1, wherein: The inner top surface of the tube cover is provided with an elastic sealing gasket, the open end of the tube body is flat or has a flange structure, and when the tube cover is screwed, the elastic sealing gasket is tightly sealed with the open end of the tube body. The inner top surface of the tube cover is provided with an annular sealing groove, and the elastic sealing gasket is partially embedded in the sealing groove.

6. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 5, wherein: The desiccant carrying member is a top-open cylindrical porous structure, the sidewall of which is covered with micropores, the pore size of the micropores is smaller than the minimum particle size of the accommodated desiccant particles, and the bottom of the desiccant carrying member is detachably fixed to the bottom of the desiccant cavity.

7. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1, wherein: The bottom of the desiccant carrying member is provided with a plurality of clamping columns, and the bottom of the desiccant cavity is internally provided with a plurality of clamping grooves matched with the clamping columns.

8. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 7, wherein: The tube body is made of transparent polypropylene or polycarbonate, and the outer wall of the tube body is provided with an axially ground surface to form a label area.

9. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1, wherein: The desiccant is color-changing silica gel.

10. The multi-cavity preservation tube of claim 1, wherein: ​

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