Reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample treatment

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of reagent detection, and discloses a reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample treatment, which comprises a reagent tube body, a cover body is arranged at the upper end of the reagent tube body, and the reagent tube body comprises a tubular part and a hollow conical part integrally connected with the lower end of the tubular part; a plurality of lugs distributed in the circumferential direction are arranged on the outer side of the lower end of the conical part, the lower end faces of the lugs are coplanar to form a positioning plane, and the shaft end of the reagent tube body is perpendicular to the positioning plane; the upper side face of the cover body is configured to be a supporting plane, an annular boss is arranged at the center of the lower side face of the cover body, and a plurality of clamping grooves clamped with the protruding pieces in a one-to-one correspondence mode are formed in the annular boss. The utility model has the beneficial effects that the use is more convenient, and the sample treatment efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of reagent detection technology, and in particular to a reagent tube structure for processing prolactin detection samples. Background Technology

[0002] The clinical purposes of prolactin (PRL) testing involve multiple areas, such as: pituitary function assessment and pituitary disease diagnosis. Prolactin is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, and detecting its level can assess the pituitary's hormone secretion capacity. In non-lactating women who experience galactorrhea (especially bilateral milk secretion), PRL testing is necessary to rule out hyperprolactinemia or pituitary tumors.

[0003] However, direct detection of prolactin is often interfered with by macroprolactin (MPRL), leading to inaccurate results. Therefore, serum samples need to be processed before testing. Currently, the most common method is polyethylene glycol precipitation. Serum is mixed with an equal volume of 25% polyethylene glycol, centrifuged, and the PRL value of the supernatant is measured to calculate the recovery rate. This method is low-cost, simple to operate, and suitable for routine clinical screening.

[0004] However, there are currently no dedicated reagent tubes. Small-capacity test tubes are typically used to store polyethylene glycol (PEG) and serum. The process involves holding the test tube with the left hand and using a pipette in the right to add 400 μm of 25% PEG. Then, 400 μm of the serum sample to be tested is added using the pipette. After shaking and centrifugation, the supernatant is removed from the test tube using a pipette. Because the bottom of the test tube is round, it cannot be positioned independently and requires contact with a test tube rack. This necessitates frequent insertion and removal of the test tube from the rack. During addition and removal, the left hand must fully hold and position the test tube, and cannot release it. Even if temporarily released, the test tube must be placed back into the rack. Overall, this process is very inconvenient, time-consuming, and makes sample preparation difficult. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, this utility model provides a reagent tube structure for processing prolactin detection samples. When using this reagent tube to process samples, the reagent tube can be put down at any time, and the positioning of the reagent tube is more convenient, making it more convenient to use.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing includes a reagent tube body with a cap at the upper end. The reagent tube body includes a tubular portion and a hollow conical portion integrally connected to the lower end of the tubular portion. The lower outer side of the conical portion has several circumferentially distributed protrusions, the lower end faces of which are coplanar, forming a positioning plane. The axial end of the reagent tube body is perpendicular to the positioning plane. The upper side of the cap is configured as a support plane, and the center of the lower side of the cap has an annular boss with several locking grooves that correspond one-to-one with the protrusions. When the cap is removed and flipped so that the annular boss faces upward, the protrusions are engaged in the locking grooves, allowing the reagent tube body to stand upright on the plane.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution: after the cap is flipped over, it engages with the protrusion through the snap-fit ​​groove, so that the reagent tube body can stand stably upright. Even without a test tube rack, it can be positioned upright. Firstly, the user can stand the reagent tube upright on a flat surface at any time during use to free the left hand. Secondly, during use, there is no need to use the left hand to completely pick up and position the reagent tube body. The left hand can be used to support the reagent tube body after it is upright, which reduces the positioning accuracy requirement, reduces positioning fatigue, and improves the convenience of operation.

[0009] Preferably, the upper opening of the tubular portion is provided with a stopper, and the center of the stopper has a clearance hole to facilitate the passage of the pipette tip; a flow guiding micropore is provided on one side of the stopper located at the clearance hole; when the cap is placed on the open end of the reagent tube body, the annular protrusion is located within the clearance hole. The clearance hole facilitates the pipette tip to extend into the reagent tube body, and the flow guiding micropore ensures internal and external pressure balance, maintaining the stability of the pipette in adding and removing liquid.

[0010] Preferably, the lower side of the cover is provided with a connecting sleeve that snaps onto the outside of the tubular part. A supporting protrusion is provided on the lower outer side of the connecting sleeve, and the ratio of the outer diameter of the supporting protrusion to the outer diameter of the tubular part is configured to be 1.3-1.5. When the reagent tube body is placed in the test tube rack, the supporting protrusion rests on the upper edge of the test tube rack, causing the conical part to separate from the bottom of the test tube rack. In this type of reagent tube body, the diameter and length are relatively small, making it inconvenient to remove after being placed in the test tube rack. In this structure, when the test tube rack is inserted, the supporting protrusion rests on the upper edge of the test tube rack, thus adapting to test tube racks with a height and diameter greater than the reagent tube body, providing strong adaptability and reducing vibration interference. Because the supporting protrusion supports the upper end of the test tube rack, the portion of the top cover above the supporting protrusion extends beyond the upper surface of the test tube rack, making it easier to pick up the reagent tube with fingers.

[0011] Preferably, the inner diameter of the tubular portion is configured to be 7-10 mm, the total height of the reagent tube body is configured to be 35-42 mm, and the volume of the reagent tube body is configured to be 1.2-1.5 ml. By reasonably configuring the dimensions of the reagent tube body, the liquid level inside the reagent tube body meets certain requirements, making it easier for the pipette to pick up liquid (if the liquid level is too low, the pipette needs to be moved to the accurate position when picking up liquid, and the operation remains unchanged; if the liquid level is too high, the pipette needs to be inserted to a greater depth when picking up liquid, requiring a larger pipette tip size, and it is also incompatible with the equipment during subsequent centrifugation).

[0012] Preferably, the reagent tube body is provided with a limiting component for limiting the pipette tip at the junction of the tubular part and the conical part; the limiting component includes a retaining ring, a baffle, and a plurality of connecting arms for connecting the retaining ring and the baffle, the retaining ring is engaged with the inner wall of the lower end of the tubular part, and the baffle is distributed parallel to the upper side of the retaining ring and concentrically distributed with the retaining ring. In existing technologies, after centrifugation, the test tube is held in the left hand while the liquid is taken using a pipette in the right hand. Concentration and fine-tuning of the pipette tip are required during this process. If the pipette tip is inserted too deeply, macroprolactin precipitate at the bottom can be aspirated; if the tip is inserted too shallowly, a quantifiable amount of serum cannot be obtained, requiring a second extraction, leading to inconvenience and low efficiency. This new structure uses a limiting component to restrict the depth of pipette tip insertion. During extraction, the test tube stands upright on a flat surface with the cap, requiring only slight support from the left hand. The right hand operates the pipette, and liquid is extracted when the pipette tip is obstructed. Extraction is completed in one step, making it very convenient and accurate.

[0013] Preferably, the baffle is circular, and the ratio of the outer diameter of the baffle to the inner diameter of the tubular portion is configured to be 0.3-0.5. Three connecting arms are configured, evenly distributed and inclined circumferentially. The three inclined connecting arms support the baffle, and when the pipette tip contacts the baffle, the supporting arms undergo slight elastic deformation, thereby preventing damage to the pipette tip.

[0014] Preferably, the baffle is provided with several throttling micro-orifices with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pipette tip. When the pipette tip contacts the baffle, the throttling micro-orifices prevent the pipette tip from being blocked by the baffle; at the same time, the throttling micro-orifices utilize the throttling principle to reduce turbulence on the lower side of the baffle during pipetting, thereby preventing the aspiration of bottom sediment, ensuring the purity of the supernatant, and further improving the detection accuracy.

[0015] Preferably, the limiting component is made of polyethylene or polypropylene. Polyethylene and polypropylene are safe, non-toxic, stable, and low in cost, suitable for centrifugal shaking, and do not react with polyethylene glycol reagents. Using a limiting component made of polyethylene or polypropylene results in better elasticity of the connecting arm, providing better cushioning and protection for the pipette tip.

[0016] Preferably, the reagent tube body, cap, and stopper are all made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0017] Therefore, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) The cap is used to fix the reagent tube body in a vertical position and is supported by the left hand to achieve complete positioning, which reduces the fatigue intensity of the left hand holding the positioning and improves the convenience and stability of the pipette for adding and taking liquid; (2) A limiting component is set to limit the position of the pipette tip during the liquid taking process, which eliminates the need to repeatedly adjust the pipette tip and improves the convenience of liquid taking. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in Example 1.

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Axonometric drawing.

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Sectional view at point AA.

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Exploded view.

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Another perspective view.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the limit component.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the cover moving to the lower end of the conical section after it is opened.

[0025] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Diagram showing the engagement of the convex plate with the slot.

[0026] Figure 9 This diagram illustrates the liquid addition and dispensing processes of a pipette.

[0027] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 2.

[0028] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the test tubes placed in the test tube rack in Example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the technical problem to be solved, the technical solution, and the beneficial technical effects of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0030] It should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Features specified as "first" or "second" may expressly or implicitly indicate that at least one of those features is included.

[0031] Example 1: As Figures 1-9 The diagram illustrates a reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing, comprising a reagent tube body 1, with a cap 2 at its upper end. The reagent tube body 1 includes a tubular portion 10 and a hollow conical portion 11 integrally connected to the lower end of the tubular portion 10. The lower outer side of the conical portion 11 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially evenly distributed protrusions 12, the lower end faces of which coplanarly form a positioning plane 120. The axial end of the reagent tube body 1 is perpendicular to the positioning plane 120. The upper side of the cap 2 is configured as a support plane 200, and the center of the lower side of the cap 2 is provided with an annular boss 20. The annular boss 20 has a plurality of locking grooves 21 that correspond one-to-one with the protrusions 12. When the cap 2 is removed and flipped so that the annular boss 20 faces upward, the protrusions 12 are engaged into the locking grooves 21, allowing the reagent tube body 1 to stand upright on the plane. In some embodiments, the diameter of the support plane 200 is set to 1.5 times the outer diameter of the tubular portion, thereby improving support stability.

[0032] The upper opening of the tubular part 10 is provided with a plug 3, and the center of the plug 3 is provided with a clearance through hole 30 to facilitate the passage of the pipette tip; the plug 3 is provided with a flow guiding microhole 31 on one side of the clearance through hole; when the cap 2 is placed on the opening end of the reagent tube body 1, the annular boss 20 is located inside the clearance through hole 30.

[0033] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the tubular portion 10 is configured to be 7-10 mm, the total height of the reagent tube body 1 is configured to be 35-42 mm, and the volume of the reagent tube body 1 is configured to be 1.2-1.5 ml. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the tubular portion is configured to be 8 mm, the total height of the reagent tube body 1 is configured to be 40 mm, and the volume of the reagent tube body 1 is configured to be 1.5 ml.

[0034] like Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, a limiting component 6 for limiting the pipette tip is provided at the junction of the tubular portion 10 and the conical portion 11 inside the reagent tube body 1. The limiting component 6 includes a retaining ring 60, a baffle 61, and several connecting arms 62 for connecting the retaining ring 60 and the baffle 61. The retaining ring 60 is engaged with the lower inner wall of the tubular portion 10. The baffle 61 is distributed parallel to the upper side of the retaining ring 60 and concentrically with the retaining ring 60. The baffle 61 is circular, and the ratio of the outer diameter of the baffle 61 to the inner diameter of the tubular portion 10 is configured to be 0.3-0.5. Three connecting arms 62 are provided, and the three connecting arms 62 are evenly distributed circumferentially. The baffle 61 has several throttling microholes 610 with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pipette tip. Figure 7 As shown, after the pipette tip 7 is inserted into the reagent tube body, it is blocked by the baffle. At this time, liquid can be taken directly, eliminating the need for observation and fine adjustment of the pipette tip position.

[0035] The reagent tube body 1, cap 2, stopper 3, and limiting component 6 are all made of polyethylene material, or they are all made of polypropylene material. In some embodiments, to better shield the reagent from light, the reagent tube body 1, cap 2, stopper 3, and limiting component 6 are all made of opaque polypropylene material. Because the limiting component is provided, the position of the pipette tip does not need to be observed, so opaque polypropylene material can be used. In contrast, in the prior art, transparent or semi-transparent test tubes or containers must be used to facilitate accurate observation of the pipette tip position.

[0036] Example 2: Figure 10 and Figure 11 The lower side of the cover 2 shown is provided with a connecting sleeve 22 that snaps onto the outside of the tubular part 10. A supporting protrusion 23 is provided on the lower outer side of the connecting sleeve 22. The ratio of the outer diameter of the supporting protrusion 23 to the outer diameter of the tubular part 10 is configured to be 1.3-1.5. When the reagent tube is placed in the test tube rack, the supporting protrusion 23 rests on the upper edge of the test tube rack 8, causing the conical part 11 to separate from the bottom of the test tube rack. The remaining structure is the same as or equivalent to that of the embodiment.

[0037] In this embodiment, the reagent tubes have a wider selection range for the test tube rack. When the reagent tubes are placed into the test tube rack, they are supported by the support ring 23 at the upper edge of the test tube rack 8, thus accommodating test tube racks with a height and diameter greater than the reagent tube body, demonstrating strong adaptability. After each reagent tube is placed into the test tube rack, its axis remains vertical (in the prior art, after the test tubes are placed into the test tube rack, they need to lean against one side of the test tube rack, and their axes are inclined, and they will rotate and shake around the holes of the test tube rack during rotation), thus making the transfer process more stable and reducing vibration interference. Furthermore, since the support ring is supported at the upper end of the test tube rack, the upper cover is located above the support ring and extends beyond the upper surface of the test tube rack, making it easy to pick up the reagent tubes with fingers. The lower end of the reagent tube does not contact the bottom of the test tube rack, thus preventing residual liquid in the test tube rack from contaminating the bottom of the reagent tube.

[0038] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the principle of this utility model is as follows: Take a reagent tube, open the cap, and engage the protrusion in the locking groove on the cap (e.g., Figure 9 (As shown), at this point, the reagent tube can be placed freely on a flat surface and supported by the left hand. Using a pipette, add 400μm of 25% polyethylene glycol reagent and 400μm of the serum to be tested sequentially into the reagent tube. Remove the cap, replace the cap, and fill the tube with the solution. Figure 11 The test tubes are transferred to the shaker and centrifuge equipment for processing. After processing, the centrifuged reagent tubes are removed, and the caps are opened and inserted into the bottom of the conical part (as shown). Figure 9 As shown, the pipette tip 7 is inserted into the reagent tube until it contacts and is blocked by the baffle 61, at which point liquid can be aspirated to remove the supernatant after macroprolactin has been removed. The entire operation is more convenient and labor-saving, eliminating the need for the left hand to hold and position the tube, as well as the need to adjust the position of the pipette tip during liquid collection. Furthermore, the reagent tube is sealed by the cap throughout the transfer process, reducing the risk of contamination.

[0039] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by up, down, left, right, inner end, outer end, one end, and the other end are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the purpose of more clearly describing the technical solution of this utility model, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0040] Although specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail herein, they are given for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing, comprising a reagent tube body (1), characterized in that, The upper end of the reagent tube body (1) is provided with a cover (2), the reagent tube body (1) comprises a tubular part (10) and a hollow conical part (11) connected to the lower end of the tubular part (10) as a whole; The outer side of the lower end of the conical part (11) is provided with a plurality of flanges (12) distributed circumferentially, the lower end surface of the flange (12) is coplanar to form a positioning plane (120), and the axial end of the reagent tube body (1) is perpendicular to the positioning plane (120); The upper side of the cover (2) is configured as a support plane (200), the lower side of the cover (2) is provided with an annular boss (20) at the center, and the annular boss (20) is provided with a plurality of clamping grooves (21) corresponding to the flanges (12) one by one. When the cover (2) is removed and turned upside down with the annular boss (20) facing up, the flanges (12) are clamped into the clamping grooves (21), so that the reagent tube body (1) can stand upright on the plane.

2. The reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing according to claim 1, characterized by, The upper end opening of the tubular part (10) is provided with a plug (3), the center of the plug (3) is provided with an avoidance through hole (30) for the tip of the pipette to pass through, and the plug (3) is provided with a flow guiding micro hole (31) on one side of the avoidance through hole. When the cover (2) is covered on the opening end of the reagent tube body (1), the annular boss (20) is in the avoidance through hole (30).

3. The reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, The lower side of the cover (2) is provided with a connecting sleeve (22) clamped outside the tubular part (10), the outer side of the lower end of the connecting sleeve (22) is provided with a support convex ring (23), and the ratio of the outer diameter of the support convex ring (23) to the outer diameter of the tubular part (10) is configured to be 1.3-1.5; When the reagent tube body (1) is placed in the test tube rack, the support convex ring (23) is placed at the upper end edge of the test tube rack, so that the conical part (11) is separated from the bottom of the test tube rack.

4. The reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing according to claim 1, characterized by, The inner diameter of the tubular part (10) is configured to be 7-10mm, the total height of the reagent tube body (1) is configured to be 35-42mm, and the volume of the reagent tube body (1) is configured to be 1.2-1.5ml.

5. The prolactin detection sample processing reagent tube structure according to claim 1, characterized by, The reagent tube body (1) is provided with a limiting component (6) for limiting the tip of the pipette at the junction of the tubular part (10) and the conical part (11); The limiting component (6) comprises a clamping ring (60), a baffle (61) and a plurality of connecting arms (62) for connecting the clamping ring (60) and the baffle (61), the clamping ring (60) is clamped at the inner wall of the lower end of the tubular part (10), and the baffle (61) is parallelly distributed on the upper side of the clamping ring (60) and concentrically distributed with the clamping ring (60).

6. The prolactin detection sample processing reagent tube structure according to claim 5, characterized by, The baffle (61) is configured as a circle, the ratio of the outer diameter of the baffle (61) to the inner diameter of the tubular part (10) is configured to be 0.3-0.5, and the connecting arm (62) is configured as three, which are uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction.

7. The reagent tube structure for prolactin detection sample processing according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by The baffle (61) is provided with a plurality of throttling micro holes (610) with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the tip of the pipette.

8. The prolactin detection sample processing reagent tube structure according to claim 6, characterized by, The limiting component (6) is made of polyethylene or polypropylene material.

9. The prolactin detection sample processing reagent tube structure according to claim 2, characterized by, The reagent tube body (1), the cover body (2) and the plug body (3) are made of polyethylene or polypropylene material.

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