DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING AND HANDLING A LIQUID SAMPLE AND A SUBSTANCE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for receiving and handling a liquid sample and a substance. The device is particularly suitable for sample analysis in the medical, pharmaceutical, or biological fields.

[0002] Analyzing liquid samples often requires subjecting a specific quantity of the sample to various analytical steps. Typically, liquid samples are drawn up using a pipette or other suction device that creates a vacuum and transferred to a container where the analytical steps are performed. The samples can then be mixed with other substances, for example.

[0003] In many cases, suitable equipment and aids for preparing samples or substances, such as pipettes, pipetting aids, tubing, pumps, weighing boats, or scales, are not available at the site of use or analysis, or their use is often incorrect, making sample and substance handling inconsistent. Furthermore, the equipment and aids used for sample and substance preparation must be disposed of or extensively cleaned after sample and substance preparation to prevent contamination. A particular challenge lies in the reproducible sample and handling of samples with volumes in the microliter range, as even slight variations in sample volume or small amounts of impurities can lead to significant errors in the analysis results. A receiving device for biopsy samples is known from publication WO 2016 / 079611 A1.Document US 2018 / 0272330 A1 also discloses a sample receiving device for the safe storage of a sample. US 2018 / 0193830 A1 discloses another sample receiving container for biological samples. US 2013 / 0092690 A1 discloses a sealing cap arrangement for use with a container for biological samples. All of these documents, as well as document US 2012 / 0325721 A1, have in common that devices are shown in which a sample in a container is brought into contact with a substance by piercing a sealing membrane that seals or separates the sample from the substance with a punch or piercing mandrel.

[0004] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a cost-effective and easy-to-use device and method for receiving and handling a liquid sample and a substance. In particular, a device is to be provided as a mass-produced or disposable item with which a liquid sample in the microliter range can be reproducibly received and made accessible for a variety of different analytical steps, including mixing with a substance.

[0005] The problem is solved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] A device for receiving and handling a liquid sample and a substance comprises a sample unit with an opener and a sample holder configured to receive and retain a liquid sample. The device also includes a substance container with a reservoir configured to store a substance. The reservoir has an opening sealed by a sealing film or plate, thus sealing the substance stored in the reservoir from the environment. The opener of the sample unit is configured to be at least partially inserted into this opening of the reservoir and to lift the sealing film or plate from the opening.In this arrangement, a surface of the opener, arranged in the direction of the sealing film or sealing plate, which is inserted into the opening and lifts the sealing film or sealing plate from the opening, is designed such that the surface is aligned at an oblique angle to the surface of the sealing film or sealing plate when in contact with the sealing film or sealing plate and the sealing film or sealing plate is successively lifted from the opening when inserted into the opening, so that an outlet is formed in the sealing film or sealing plate through which the substance escapes from the reservoir and is miscible with the sample of the sampler.

[0007] Due to the integrated sampler, no separate equipment or tools are required for collecting the liquid sample. This has the advantage that the device can be used independently for sampling at the point of use. Furthermore, contamination of the sample by separate equipment or tools is eliminated, and the cleaning of such equipment or tools is no longer necessary.

[0008] By storing the substance in a sealed reservoir, contamination of both the substance itself and the surrounding environment can be avoided. Particularly hazardous substances, such as biohazardous or carcinogenic substances, can be transported and handled safely with this device, without uncontrolled contact with the environment. The reservoir can also be filled and emptied at different locations. For example, it can be filled and sealed in a sterile environment using high-precision equipment and then used in the device at another location. This reduces measurement errors when filling the substance container and allows the device to be used independently of any equipment or tools for filling at the point of use.

[0009] The reservoir can be filled with a solid, liquid, and / or gaseous substance, in particular a fluid or several fluids, such as a free-flowing liquid, a free-flowing or free-form solid, such as a powder, granules, or agglomerate, or mixtures thereof. It can also contain a viscous substance, such as a gel or paste, or a solid that can be flushed out of the reservoir by means of the sample or another liquid.

[0010] The oblique angle between the sealing film or plate and the surface on the opener, which is inserted into the reservoir opening and lifts the sealing film or plate away from the opening, prevents uncontrolled tearing of the sealing film or plate. Instead of tearing uncontrollably and being forced aside section by section, the sealing film or plate is lifted away from the opening as a continuous surface, so that the resulting outlet can be fully utilized for releasing the substance from the reservoir. Typically, a single linear movement of the opener is sufficient for this; this movement can be made in the normal direction to the opening surface, which is usually guided parallel to the normal direction of an end face of the sampler.Preferably, the surface of the opener, which is inserted into the opening of the reservoir and lifts the sealing film or sealing plate from the opening, forms an angle between 5° and 45°, preferably 5° and 30°, particularly preferably 5° and 20° to the surface of the sealing film or sealing plate when in contact with the sealing film or sealing plate.

[0011] It can be designed so that the surface of the opener, which is inserted into the reservoir opening and lifts the sealing film or plate from the opening, is shaped to lift the sealing film or plate successively, starting from the edge of the opening. This has the advantage that, when the opener is inserted, the sealing film or plate lifted by the opener is moved to the side wall of the opening or the inner wall of the reservoir, thus presenting only negligible flow resistance when the substance is released from the reservoir. The reservoir can therefore be emptied quickly and completely. It is particularly advantageous if, when the opener is inserted, the sealing film or plate is successively lifted from the entire opening as a continuous surface and moved or folded over to the side wall or inner wall of the reservoir, where it can be fixed in place by the opener.This reduces the flow resistance of the sealing film or sealing plate when the substance is released from the reservoir.

[0012] It is advantageous if the opener has a point, auger, punch, or cutting edge, which severs the sealing film or plate upon contact. The point, auger, punch, or cutting edge reduces the pressure required to sever the sealing film or plate for removal, thus facilitating the release of the substance. Furthermore, it prevents uncontrolled tearing as well as unwanted warping and curling of the sealing film or plate.

[0013] Preferably, at least one point, auger, or punch is arranged at the point on the opener that first contacts the sealing film or sealing plate when the opener is inserted into the opening. The cutting edge is preferably formed at the edge of the surface of the opener that is inserted into the opening and lifts the sealing film or sealing plate away from the opening. The cutting edge can, in particular, have a one-sided or two-sided, flat, convex, hollow, or concave cutting geometry. Furthermore, the cutting edge can be provided with cutting teeth or a micro-chamfer, which enables a particularly clean cut.

[0014] The opener of the sample unit is preferably shaped to complement the opening of the reservoir into which it is inserted to lift the sealing film or plate; that is, the opener is shaped to fit the opening precisely. This allows the sealing film or plate to be lifted across essentially the entire cross-section of the opening and opened to release the substance from the reservoir. Furthermore, as the opener is successively inserted and the sealing film or plate lifted, the sealing film or plate can be moved to the side wall of the opening and / or the inner wall of the reservoir and fixed there by the opener, so that it is not carried along by the substance towards the outlet and does not obstruct it. The opener, and in particular the surface of the opener facing the sealing film or plate, can therefore have an outer contour.The opening has an outer edge shaped such that, when the opener is inserted into the opening, a gap is formed between the outer contour and / or outer edge and a side wall of the opening and / or the inner wall of the reservoir, in which the sealing film or sealing plate is fixed. In this application, "fixed" can be understood to mean, in particular, that the movement of the sealing film or sealing plate is restricted by an outer contour of the opener and the side wall of the opening and / or the inner wall of the reservoir in such a way that the sealing film or sealing plate is not moved by the substance exiting the opening. The sealing film or sealing plate can, in particular, lie flat against the side wall of the opening and / or the inner wall of the reservoir. The opener and / oror the surface of the opener arranged in the direction of the sealing film or sealing plate can, for example, be designed such that the outer contour or outer edge forms a gap when the opener is inserted into the opening, the gap dimension of which is 1.5 to 20 times the thickness of the sealing film or sealing plate, preferably 5 to 10 times the thickness of the sealing film or sealing plate.

[0015] The reservoir is preferably designed as a cavity open on one side, so that opening the sealing film or plate creates the largest possible cross-sectional area for releasing the substance from the reservoir. This has the advantage that even viscous or solid substances can be released quickly and easily from the reservoir by flushing it out with the sample or another liquid. The opening in the reservoir is particularly preferably located on the underside of the reservoir or substance container, allowing the substance to escape unimpeded by gravity.

[0016] It is advantageous if the opener, which is inserted into the reservoir opening, has at least one through-hole and / or at least one outlet opening through which the substance can escape from the reservoir when the sealing film or plate is lifted. The opener is designed as a ring or annular shape, which is connected to the sampler via several webs.

[0017] This prevents the opener from obstructing the substance from exiting through the outlet. The substance can escape from the reservoir even while penetrating the sealing foil or sealing plate.

[0018] The term "ring" is understood here to mean, in particular, a uniformly round, self-contained object of any width and / or length. With outlet openings oriented in different directions, a more homogeneous distribution of the ejected substance can also be achieved, which particularly facilitates the mixing of the substance with a sample in the area of ​​the opening. The term "bridge" in this application is understood to mean, in particular, a connecting element that does not completely fill or cover the space between two elements to be connected by this bridge.

[0019] The sampler can be designed as a capillary tube, which is configured to draw a defined sample quantity using capillary action. Capillary tubes are cost-effective and reliable samplers because they require neither electronic nor mechanically moving components. Due to the small opening cross-section of the capillary tubes, very little solid material can penetrate them, allowing the sample to be collected with minimal contamination. Typical diameters and capacities of capillary tubes range from 0.02 mm to 2 mm and 1 µl to 100 µl, respectively.

[0020] Preferably, the sampler is arranged opposite the opener on the sampling unit. For liquid substances, the sampler can, for example, be positioned centrally to the surface of the opener that is inserted into the reservoir opening and lifts the sealing film or plate from the opening. This allows the substance to flow around or through the sampler as it exits the reservoir, facilitating mixing of the substance with the sample from the sampler. For free-flowing solid substances, the sampler can also be positioned laterally offset from the center of the surface that is inserted into the reservoir opening and lifts the sealing film or plate from the opening, so that the substance does not clog the sampler as it exits the reservoir.

[0021] The sampler and the opener can be designed as a single, integrated unit. The sampler can, for example, be connected to the opener via webs, the webs having the narrowest possible cross-section, preferably less than 2 mm, so that they do not impede the flow of the substance from the reservoir. The webs can have an outer contour that is complementary to, and preferably precisely fitted to, a side wall of the opening and / or the inner wall of the reservoir. Particularly preferably, at least one web on the opener can be arranged in an area where the surface of the opener, upon contact with the sealing film or sealing plate, has a maximum distance from the opening, such that when the opener is inserted into the opening, the sealing film or sealing plate is moved and fixed by this web against the side wall of the opening and / or the inner wall of the reservoir.

[0022] Alternatively, the sample unit can also be modular, allowing, for example, different samplers to be attached to the sample unit by means of a positive, force-fit, or friction-fit through-connection. In one embodiment, the sample unit can also be provided with multiple samplers, enabling the sampling of different liquids or larger quantities of liquids.

[0023] For ease of use, the device may also be designed so that the substance container can be attached to the sample unit, and so that the opener is inserted into the opening by means of a pushing or twisting motion on the substance container or sample unit, and the sealing film or plate is lifted from the opening. The device can thus be transported and handled as a single unit consisting of the substance container and sample unit, and the substance can be released only when needed.

[0024] In particular, the device may be provided with a fastening and release mechanism that allows the substance container to be attached to the sample unit in such a way that the relative movement of the substance container to the sample container is blocked for inserting the opener into the reservoir opening and lifting the sealing film or plate, and is only released after the release mechanism has been activated. The fastening and release mechanism may, for example, be designed as a snap-fit ​​device with a releasable click or snap mechanism, or as a screw connection with a locking mechanism such as a pin, bolt, cotter pin, or lever that only releases the relative movement of the substance container to the sample container for inserting the opener into the opening and lifting the sealing film or plate after the opener has been removed or the release mechanism has been activated.The triggering device is preferably purely manual, although a mechanical child safety lock may also be provided for certain applications.

[0025] Preferably, the device, in particular the sample unit, also has a connection point to which a container can be attached, enclosing the sampler and the reservoir opening. Such a container can, for example, hold and mix the substance and the sample together, or it can be used to protect the sample from drying out or to provide a liquid for rinsing viscous or solid substances from the reservoir.

[0026] The connection point is preferably designed to allow the device to be detachably connected to standard laboratory vessels, such as cuvettes, vessels with standard ground joints, centrifuge tubes, or Eppendorf tubes, or to laboratory equipment that has a connection point compatible with standard laboratory vessels. The connection point can be designed, for example, for screw connections, snap-in connections, or click-fit connections. A friction-fit insertion or push-fit connection is particularly advantageous, allowing the device to be attached to a container quickly and easily.

[0027] The sample unit can, for example, have a jacket, sleeve, or ring that is arranged around the opener and serves as a connection point. An outer surface of the jacket, sleeve, or ring can, for example, be designed as a sealing surface for the frictional attachment of a container that is slid onto the jacket, sleeve, or ring. The jacket, sleeve, or ring can also form a protective barrier that prevents accidental contact with the opener when the sample unit is placed on a surface or handled. Furthermore, the jacket, sleeve, or ring can be provided with an outer surface that serves as a gripping surface for handling the sample unit, particularly for holding the sample unit during the intake of the liquid sample.

[0028] The jacket, sleeve, or ring can, for example, be attached to the opener by means of narrow ribs and form a unit with the opener. In one embodiment, the jacket, sleeve, or ring can have an inner surface that is shaped complementarily to an outer surface of the substance container or reservoir, so that the sample unit and the reservoir can be positively sealed against the environment at this surface when the opener is inserted into the opening of the reservoir and the sealing film or sealing plate is lifted from the opening, thus preventing uncontrolled leakage of the substance from the device. Instead of or in addition to this seal, the substance container or reservoir can be fitted with a...The sample unit may be provided with additional sealing surfaces where the substance container and the sample container can be sealed against the environment, if necessary by means of an additional sealing material, when the opener is inserted into the opening of the reservoir and the sealing foil or sealing plate is lifted from the opening.

[0029] In one embodiment, the substance container may further be provided with multiple reservoirs and the sample unit with multiple openers. The reservoirs and openers can be arranged in the substance container and on the sample unit, respectively, such that each opener can be inserted into an opening of a reservoir and opens the reservoir's sealing film or plate. The sample unit can accordingly have a connection point to which a container can be attached, enclosing the sampler and the reservoir openings. This makes it possible to provide different substances that are only miscible, or are mixed, after the sealing film or plate of the respective reservoir has been opened.

[0030] In particular, the openers may be of different lengths or arranged on different planes on the sample unit, so that when inserted into the reservoir openings they have different distances to the plane of the reservoir sealing films or plates. The reservoir sealing films or plates can thus be opened sequentially and independently of each other when the openers are inserted, with the reservoir with the smallest distance between the opener and the sealing film or plate being opened first.

[0031] Alternatively, the openers can be of equal length and arranged in one plane on the sample unit, while the reservoirs or their sealing films or plates can be arranged in different planes within the substance container. This allows the sealing films or plates to be opened sequentially and independently when the openers are inserted into the reservoir openings, with the reservoir with the smallest distance between the opener and the sealing film or plate being opened first. The device can accordingly have several locking and release units that can be actuated sequentially, allowing the openers to be inserted into the reservoir openings one after the other and the substances to be released sequentially. This allows for the definition of specific release sequences, enabling, for example, the sequential release of substances.This prevents mix-ups or errors in analysis sequences. The device is also particularly suitable for the time-controlled release of substances. For example, the substances can be released manually or automatically at specific intervals.

[0032] The sample unit, the substance container, and the sealing film or plate for sealing the reservoir are typically made of materials that allow for long-term storage of the substance or sample, i.e., materials that are chemically and / or thermally resistant and, if necessary, protect the substance or sample against environmental influences such as UV radiation, moisture, or oxygen. The sample unit or substance container can be made of plastics, e.g., thermoplastic plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, cycloolefin polymers or copolymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyetheretherketone, polycarbonate, polyamides, especially nylon, polyoxymethylene, or polyacrylic, or thermosetting plastics such as epoxy, polyurethane, or phenolic resins.The sample unit and the substance container are preferably manufactured by injection molding, but can also be manufactured by additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing or sintering, lamination, extrusion, gluing, milling, machining or ablation.

[0033] The sealing film or plate for sealing the reservoir typically consists of a water- and air-impermeable material, in particular a metal, for example aluminum, or a non-elastic plastic, i.e., a plastic with a modulus of elasticity greater than 0.1 GPa at 20 °C. The thickness of the sealing film or plate is typically between 10 µm and 200 µm, preferably between 20 µm and 100 µm. The sealing film or plate can be, for example, glued, laminated, or welded to the edges of the opening in the reservoir to seal it.

[0034] In a method for receiving and handling a liquid sample and a substance, a liquid sample is received using a sampler mounted on a sample unit, and a substance container is provided containing a reservoir. An opener, designed as a perforated hollow body or a ring and mounted on the sample unit, is then inserted into an opening in the reservoir, which is sealed by a sealing film or plate. Upon contact with the sealing film or plate, a surface on the opener, oriented towards it, is set at an oblique angle to the surface of the sealing film or plate and successively lifts the sealing film or plate from the reservoir opening, creating an outlet through which the substance can escape from the reservoir and mix with the sample in the sampler.

[0035] The described method can in particular be carried out with the described device, that is, the described device is set up to carry out the described method.

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 10 explained.

[0037] They show: Fig. 1 in a schematic, side view an example of a device according to the invention, Fig. 2 in a Figure 1 In the corresponding view, an example of a device according to the invention according to a possible use is shown in Fig. 3, in a schematic, partial lateral sectional view, another example of a device according to the invention is shown in Fig. 4, in a figure the lower part of Figure 3Fig. 5 shows an example of a device according to the invention with an open snap fastener in a schematic perspective view; Fig. 6 shows an example of a device according to the invention with a closed snap fastener before opening the sealing film or sealing plate in a schematic side view; Fig. 7 shows an example of a device according to the invention with a released snap fastener after opening the sealing film or sealing plate in a schematic perspective view; Fig. 8 shows an example of an opener designed as a hollow cylinder beveled on one side. Figure 7 corresponding view of the in Figure 7 The opener shown without casing, Fig. 9, is a sectional view of the opener. Figure 7 the illustrated embodiment and Fig. 10, compared to the illustration in Figure 9 Schematic sectional view rotated by 90°.

[0038] In Figures 1 and 2Figure 1 shows a schematic, side view of an embodiment of a device for receiving and handling a liquid sample. Figure 1 The device is shown in its disassembled state before use and Figure 2 shows the device in an assembled state after a possible use.

[0039] The device is equipped with a sample unit 1 and a substance container 2. The substance container 2 has a reservoir 3 designed to hold a substance. This reservoir 3 has an opening 4 which is sealed by a sealing film or plate 5, so that the substance stored in the reservoir 3 is sealed from the environment and remains in the reservoir 4. The reservoir 3 is thus a cavity closed by the sealing plate 5. The sample unit 1 has an opener 7 and a sampler 6 designed to receive and hold a liquid sample. The opener 7 of the sample unit 1 is designed to be inserted, at least partially or completely, into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 and to lift the sealing film or plate 5 away from the opening 4.In this arrangement, a surface 8 of the opener 7, arranged in the direction of the sealing film or sealing plate 5, which is inserted into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 and lifts the sealing film or sealing plate 5 from the opening 4, is designed such that the surface 8, upon contact with the sealing film or sealing plate 5, is oriented at an oblique angle, i.e., in particular an angle other than 0° and 90°, to the surface of the sealing film or sealing plate 5, and the sealing film or sealing plate 5 is successively lifted from the opening 4 as it is inserted into the opening 4, so that an outlet 9 is formed in the sealing film or sealing plate 5, which successively enlarges with increasing penetration of the opener 7, through which the substance exits the reservoir 3 and is miscible with the sample of the sampler 6.

[0040] Due to the oblique angle between the surface 8 of the opener 7 and the sealing film or sealing plate 5, the sealing film or sealing plate 5 can be successively, i.e., gradually, cut through from the edge of the surface 8 without tearing uncontrollably and lifted off as a continuous surface from the opening 4 of the reservoir 3. In the illustrated example, the angle at contact between the opener 7 and the sealing film or sealing plate 5 is 45°; however, angles smaller than 45°, preferably between 5° and 30°, and particularly preferably between 5° and 20°, can also be provided.

[0041] Reservoir 3 of substance container 2 can typically hold a volume of 0.5 ml to 5 ml. Reservoir 3 can, as shown in the Figures 1 and 2The reservoir 3 is depicted as a cavity open on one side, with the opening 4 located on the underside of the substance container 2, allowing the substance to flow freely out of the reservoir 3 by gravity when the sealing film or sealing plate 5 is opened. Accordingly, in the example shown, the opener 7 is inserted into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 from below, or the substance container 2 is placed onto the sample unit 1 from above, in order to establish contact between the opener 7 and the sealing film or sealing plate 5 and to successively lift the sealing film of the sealing plate 5 away from the opening 4 of the reservoir 3.

[0042] The sample unit 1 and the substance container 2 preferably consist of chemically inert plastics, in the illustrated example of the Figures 1 and 2made of polypropylene. The substance container 2 or the sealing film or sealing plate 5 are preferably made of thermoplastic materials, so that when applying the sealing film or sealing plate 5, only the sealing film or sealing plate 5 or the substance container 2 around the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 is heated and no additional adhesive is necessary. For the provision of temperature-sensitive substances or for the use of substance containers 2 made of, for example, thermosetting plastics, the sealing film or sealing plate 5 can also be bonded or laminated to the substance container 2 by means of a chemically internal adhesive.

[0043] In the example shown, opening 4 of reservoir 3 is the Figures 1 and 2The opening 4 is sealed with a 20 µm thick aluminum sealing film 5, which is welded to the edge of the opening 4 under pressure. Instead of aluminum foil, other non-elastic materials, in particular plastics, can also be used for the sealing film or sealing plate 5, provided they are chemically inert and impermeable to the substance and air or water. The thickness of the sealing film or sealing plate 5 is chosen such that the sealing film or sealing plate 5 can be cut and lifted from the opening 4 in the reservoir 3 by manually applying pressure to the sample unit 1 or the substance container 2 using the opener 7.

[0044] In the example shown, the Figures 1 and 2The sampler 6 is rigidly connected to the opener 7 via narrow webs 15 and forms a single unit with the opener 7, i.e., it is a single piece or formed with it in a material-bonded connection. However, it can also be provided that the sampler 6 is detachably connected to the opener 7, e.g., via a plug connection.

[0045] The sampler 6 can be attached to the sample unit 1, as shown in the Figures 1 and 2The sampler 1 is arranged such that it is positioned opposite the outlet 9 formed by the opener 7, and thus, in particular, centrally on the sample unit 1. In this arrangement, the substance exiting the reservoir 3 can flush the sample out of the sampler 1. This is particularly advantageous for liquid or dissolved substances that are mixed with the sample in a subsequent analysis step. However, it is also possible for the sampler 6 to be positioned laterally, rather than centrally, on the sample unit 1 when viewed from above, in order to prevent, for example, clogging of the sampler 6 or excessive flow resistance in the outlet direction of the substance.

[0046] As in Figures 1 and 2As shown, the sampler 6 can, for example, be designed as a capillary tube which, upon contact with a liquid sample, absorbs and retains a defined volume of this liquid by means of capillary forces. Such a passive sampler 6 without electronic or mechanically moving elements is reliable, cost-effective, and easy to use. Typical diameters and capacities of the capillary tubes range from 0.02 mm to 2 mm and 1 µl to 100 µl, respectively. The ends of the capillary tubes can be designed as flat surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the capillary tube for very precise volume measurement of the sample, with one end of the capillary tube, as shown in the Figures 1 and 2 shown, which is particularly well-suited for receiving the liquid sample from sample unit 1.

[0047] In the example of the Figures 1 and 2The device also has a connection point 13 for a container 14. The connection point 13 is formed on opposing outer surfaces of the opener 7, so that a container 14 can be attached to it, which encloses the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 and the sampler 6. The container 14 can be, as shown in Figure 2The device is shown to be attached to the sample unit 1 and to seal the sample in the sample holder 6 against the environment by friction. Instead of a plug-in connection, a connection point 13 for a screw, snap-in, or click connection can also be provided, for example. Preferably, the connection point 13 is designed such that the device can be connected to standard laboratory vessels, such as cuvettes, vessels with standard ground joints, centrifuge tubes, or Eppendorf tubes, in particular by being attached to or inserted into an opening of these vessels, or by being connected to laboratory equipment that has a connection point for standard laboratory vessels.

[0048] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows a schematic, partial sectional view of a device. Recurring features in this figure, as in the following figures, are identified by identical reference numerals. In the device of the Figure 3The surface 8 of the opener 7, which is inserted into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 and lifts the sealing film or sealing plate 5 from the opening 4, is designed such that, upon insertion into the opening 4, the surface 8 successively lifts the sealing film or sealing plate 5 from the edge of the opening 4 of the reservoir 3. The surface 8 is designed such that, when the opener 7 is inserted into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3, its distance to the sealing surface of the sealing film or sealing plate 5 is the smallest possible distance to the inner edge of the opening 4. The opener 7 also has a perforated pin 10 at the point where, when the opener 7 is inserted into the opening 4, the distance to the sealing surface of the sealing foil or sealing plate 5 is smallest, which pierces the sealing foil or sealing plate 5 upon first contact of the opener 7 with the sealing foil or sealing plate 5 and thus facilitates the opening of the sealing foil or sealing plate 5.The perforated mandrel 10 can be used to prevent, in particular, the unintentional tearing of the sealing film or sealing plate 5. Alternatively or additionally, the surface 8 can have a cutting edge on its outer edge, which facilitates opening the sealing film or sealing plate 5, so that only slight manual pressure is required to penetrate the sealing film or sealing plate 5.

[0049] The opener 7 is also designed with a length at least sufficient in the direction of the opening 4 such that the surface 8 completely penetrates the sealing film or sealing plate 5 when inserted into the opening 4 after the first contact of the opener 7 with the sealing surface or sealing plate 5. In the illustrated example of the Figure 3Reservoir 3 has a circular opening 4. The opener 7 is shaped to be complementary to this opening 4, meaning it can be inserted precisely into the opening 4. The length of the opener 7 in the direction of the opening 4 is a minimum length, which corresponds to the quotient of the sine of the angle formed by the surface 8 of the opener 7 and the sealing film or sealing plate 5 when the surface 8 contacts the sealing film or sealing plate 5, and the diameter of the opener 7 or the opening 4, such that the surface 8 of the opener 7 can completely penetrate the sealing film or sealing plate 5 when inserted into the opening 4, starting from the edge. The minimum length of the opener 7 thus corresponds to the minimum penetration depth of the opener 7 into the opening 4 or into the reservoir 3 after the initial contact of the opener 7 with the sealing film or sealing plate 5.

[0050] Preferably, the opener 7 is designed with a length extending towards the opening 4 such that, after the sealing film or sealing plate 5 has been completely penetrated by the surface 8, it can still be inserted far enough into the opening 4 or reservoir 3 to move the detached sealing film or sealing plate 5 against the inner wall of the opening 4 or reservoir 3 and fix it there. This has the advantage that the outlet 9 cannot be blocked by the loose sealing film or sealing plate 5 when the substance exits the reservoir 3. Preferably, the length of the opener 7 is the aforementioned minimum length required for complete penetration of the sealing film or sealing plate 5 plus at least 50%, and particularly preferably 75%, of the inner diameter of the opening 4 or, in the case of non-circular openings 4, of the longest distance between the inner walls of the opening 4 or reservoir 3.

[0051] In the example shown, the opener 7 is designed as a ring with two narrow webs 15 that connect the opener 7 to the sample holder 6, the webs 15 contributing to the length of the opener 7 in the direction of the opening 4. The webs 15 form two lateral outlet openings 12 on the opener 7, through which the substance can exit towards the successively formed outlet 9. The opener 7 also has a passage 11 through which the substance can additionally exit the reservoir 3 towards the outlet 9. The flow resistance of the opener 7 is therefore very low, and the substance can exit the reservoir 3 through the outlet 9 from both a lateral direction and a vertical direction, allowing the reservoir 3 to be emptied quickly and completely.

[0052] An outer contour of the webs 15 is shaped complementarily to the side wall of the opening 4 and the inner wall of the reservoir 3. One of the webs 15 is also arranged in an area where the surface of the opener 7 has a maximum distance to the opening 3 upon initial contact with the sealing film or sealing plate 5. This allows the sealing film or sealing plate 5 to be moved or folded over against the side wall of the opening 4 and the inner wall of the reservoir 3 when the opener 7 is inserted into the opening 4, and there be sealed by this web, which is located in Figure 3 the shorter of the two bridges 15 is fixed.

[0053] Sample unit 1 of the device in Figure 3The opener 7 is further equipped with a jacket 18 or sleeve, which is connected to the opener 7 via additional narrow webs 16. The jacket 18 encloses the opener 7 and is open towards the sampler 6 and the surface 8 of the opener 7, which is inserted into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3. The inner surface of the jacket 18 is contoured to complement an outer surface of the substance container 2, which is formed around the opening 4 in the reservoir 3, so that the jacket 18 seals the substance container 2 against this surface by force or friction when the opener 7 is inserted into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3. In addition to this surface, further sealing surfaces 17 may be provided on the jacket 18 or the substance container 2, at which the substance container 2 and the sample container 1 can optionally be sealed against the environment with additional sealing material.The casing 18 of the sample unit 1 protects the opener 7, in particular its pointed or sharp-edged areas, from unintentional contact during use. Furthermore, its outer surface provides a gripping surface for handling the sample unit 1 when taking up a liquid sample with the sampler 6. In addition, the casing 18 has a circumferential connection point 18 for attaching a laboratory vessel. The sampler 6 protrudes from the sample unit 1 to take up a liquid sample and, in the illustrated example, has a concave end surface at the end protruding from the sample unit 1.

[0054] In the Figures 4, 5 and 6 A further example of a device is shown in schematic, side views. The device exhibits, among other things, the following features: Figure 3For ease of use of the device, the substance container 2 can also be attached to the sample unit 1, and the substance container 2 and the sample container 1 are designed to insert the opener 7 into the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 only by means of pressure on the substance container 2, in order to lift the sealing film or sealing plate 5 from the opening 4.

[0055] Figure 4 Figure 1 shows the device in its disassembled state before use. The sample unit 1 has a fastening device 19 and a release device 20. The fastening device 19 can be detachably attached to the substance container 2 by means of a snap hook or locking head. In the example shown, the snap hook or locking head is arranged on the casing 18 of the sample unit 1, which encloses the opener 7. The substance container 2 is opened as shown in Figure 1. Figure 4Indicated by an arrow, the opener 7 is slid onto the sample unit 1 for attachment in such a way that it is positioned at the opening 4 of the reservoir 3 and the snap hook engages on an edge of the substance container 2 before the opener 7 can touch the sealing film or sealing plate 5 in the opening 4 of the reservoir 3. The sample unit 1 can be held, for example, by the retaining surface 21 of the jacket 18, which is offset from the connection point 13.

[0056] In Figure 5 The device is shown in an assembled state with the fastening device 19 closed before the sealing film or sealing plate 5 is opened. The snap hook is positively engaged in the groove provided for this purpose on the edge of the substance container 2, and the substance container 2 is attached to the sample unit 1. The snap hook can be released, for example, by pulling on the pull tab of the release device 20, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 5as indicated, the substance container 2 is released or removed from the groove on the substance container 2, so that the relative movement of the substance container 2 to the sample unit 1 is released and the substance container 2 can be pushed into the sample unit 1, as indicated by the arrow, with the opener 7 opening the sealing foil or sealing plate 5 of the reservoir 3 with a single vertical movement. Figure 6 The device shows Figures 4 and 5 correspondingly with a released snap fastener after opening the sealing foil or sealing plate 5.

[0057] In Figure 7 A schematic perspective view illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the basic concept of the Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the opener 7 is used, but now it is not designed as a ring with a comparatively narrow diameter, for example exactly the height of the mandrel 10 or less, but as a hollow cylinder chamfered on one side. As in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the opener 7 is completely enclosed by the sheath 18, which is shown in the illustration of the Figure 7 Some parts are omitted from the diagram for clarity of the structure. The beveled surface of the opener 7 is similar to the one shown in [reference missing]. Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, instead of the webs 15 running parallel to the shell 18, which are typically arranged vertically in this application, a lateral surface 22 of the hollow cylinder is now provided, which completely encloses an interior space of the opener 7. The opening 7 is located centrally in the opener 7 and enclosed by the lateral surface 22.

[0058] The lateral surface area 22 is in the Figure 7In the illustrated embodiment, the outer shell 18 is connected to the outer shell 18 via two webs 16, which, when viewed from above, are offset from the mandrel 10 by 90° and 270° respectively. The outer shell surface 22, the webs 16, and the outer shell 18 are formed integrally. At the lower end, two openings are provided opposite the mandrel 10, i.e., a gap not covered by either of the webs 16. In this embodiment, the webs 16 are wide enough that at least one quarter of the gap between the outer shell surface 22 and the outer shell 18 is covered by one of them. In the illustrated embodiment, the webs 16 are made of the same material as the opener 7 and are formed integrally with it.

[0059] In Figure 8 is in a Figure 7The corresponding view of the opener 7 without the casing 18 is shown. The webs 16 do not completely surround the casing surface 22 and thus the opener 7, but have the aforementioned recesses or openings. Figure 9 shows the in Figure 7 The arrangement shown in a sectional view clearly illustrates that a cavity of the hollow cylinder extends between the opening 11 and the outlet opening 12. Figure 10 The arrangement is also shown in a sectional view. Figure 7 As shown, the section now runs through the center of the hole mandrel 10 along the longitudinal axis of the arrangement, thus being at 90° to the sectional view of the Figure 9 turned.

Claims

1. A device for taking up and handling a liquid sample and a substance having a sample unit (1) and a substance container (2), in which the substance container (2) has a reservoir (3) that is configured to store a substance in the reservoir (3); the reservoir (3) has an opening (4) that is closed by a sealing film or a sealing plate (5) so that the substance is sealed toward the environment in the reservoir (3); the sample unit (1) has a sampler (6) and an opener (7); the sampler (6) is configured to take up and hold a liquid sample; the opener (7) is configured to be at least partially introduced into the opening (4) of the reservoir (3) and to raise the sealing film or sealing plate (5) from the opening (4), wherein a surface (8) of the opener (7) that is arranged in the direction of the sealing film or sealing plate and that is introduced into the opening (4) and raises the sealing film or sealing plate (5) from the opening (4) is configured such that the surface (8) is aligned at an oblique angle to the surface of the sealing film or sealing plate (5) on contact with the sealing film or sealing plate (5) and raises the sealing film or sealing plate (5) successively from the opening (4) on the introduction into the opening (4) so that an outlet (9) is formed in the sealing film or sealing plate (5) through which the substance exits the reservoir (3) and is miscible with the sample of the sampler (2), characterized in that the opener (7) is formed as a ring that is connected to the sampler (6) via webs (15, 16).

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the surface (8) of the opener (7) that is introduced into the opening (4) and that raises the sealing film or sealing plate (5) from the opening (4) is configured to raise the sealing film or sealing plate (5) successively starting from the margin of the opening (4).

3. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opener (7) has a tip, a pricker, a piercer (10), and / or a cutting edge that cuts the sealing film or sealing plate (5) on contact with the sealing film or sealing plate (5).

4. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opener (7) is formed as complementary with the opening (4) of the reservoir (3).

5. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opener (7) has at least one passage (11) and / or at least one outlet opening (12) through which the substance exits the reservoir (3) on the raising of the sealing film or sealing plate (5).

6. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opener (7) has an outer contour and / or outer edge that is / are shaped such that, on the introduction of the opener (7) into the opening (4), a gap is formed between the outer contour and / or outer edge of the opener (7) and a side wall of the opening (4) and / or inner wall of the reservoir (3) in which the sealing film or sealing plate (5) is fixed.

7. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substance container (2) is fastenable to the sample unit (1) and is configured to introduce the opener (7) into the opening (4) by means of a compressive movement and / or rotational movement at the sample unit (1) or at the substance container (2) and to raise the sealing film or sealing plate (5) from the opening (4).

8. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sample unit (1) has a connection point (13) at which a container (14) is fastenable that surrounds the sampler (6) and the opening (4) of the reservoir (3).

9. A device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substance container (2) has a plurality of reservoirs (3) and the sample unit (1) has a plurality of openers (7).

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the openers (7) have different lengths so that the sealing films or sealing plates (5) of the reservoirs (3) are opened after one another on the introduction of the openers (7) into the openings (4) of the reservoirs (3).

11. A method of taking up and handling a liquid sample and a substance having a device in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 10, in which a liquid sample is taken up by a sampler (6) of a sample unit (1); an opener (7) of the sample unit (1), which opener is formed as a ring that is connected to the sampler (6) via webs (15, 16), is introduced into the opening (4) of a reservoir (3) of a substance container (5); and the opener (7) raises a sealing film or sealing plate (5) by which the opening (4) of the reservoir (3) is closed from the opening (4) so that an outlet (9) is formed through which a substance exits the reservoir (3) and is miscible with the sample of the sampler (6).