Sample holder equipped with a conduit for receiving samples

Abstract

A sample holder for collecting liquid samples such as blood is provided. The holder may comprise a container, a conduit having a proximal end extending from the container and a distal end positioned within the container, and a cap configured to engage with the container and generate pressure to move the liquid sample in the conduit from the proximal end to the distal end. A desiccant can be used to dry the blood sample during storage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Related Application) This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority based on U.S. Application No. 63 / 499,280, filed on May 1, 2023, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Methods and apparatus for a sample holder.

Background Art

[0003] Sample holders comprising tubes and containers are widely used in applications such as laboratories for collecting, holding, and / or processing liquid samples such as whole blood samples for diagnostic tests and research. Such containers are used to subject samples to a variety of different treatments, such as exposure to acoustic energy and heating / cooling cycles such as those utilized in PCR processing.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In some embodiments, a sample holder comprises a container having a wall that defines an internal space. The container can be configured to receive and hold any suitable type of sample, including liquid samples such as blood. In some cases, the container can have immobilized substances such as chemical materials and / or physical structures suitable for interaction with a liquid sample such as blood, which can, for example, help maintain the sample within a desired range within the container and / or treat the sample for processing such as preservation.

[0005] In some embodiments, the sample holder comprises a container having walls defining an internal space and an opening to the internal space. For example, the container may be designed as a tube having any preferred cross-sectional shape such as circular, rectangular, or elliptical, and may be made of any preferred material such as polymer, metal, or composite material. The conduit may have a distal end located in the internal space and a proximal end extending from the internal space, and may be configured to receive a liquid sample at the proximal end of the conduit. As an example, the conduit may comprise a capillary tube configured to draw in or receive a liquid sample such as blood by bringing the proximal end into contact with a collection object such as a small drop of liquid material such as blood. The cap may be configured to engage with the container, and moving the cap from a first position to a second position relative to the container creates a pressure difference between the proximal and distal ends of the conduit that is suitable for moving the liquid sample from the conduit to the internal space. For example, when the cap is moved relative to the container, an attractive force or relatively low pressure is generated in the internal space of the container, which can draw or move the liquid sample in the conduit toward the distal end, so that the sample is received into the container. In some cases, the cap may be configured to generate a pressure lower than the ambient pressure in the internal space in response to the movement of the cap relative to the container. In some embodiments, a pressure lower than the ambient pressure may be suitable for moving the liquid sample from the conduit into the internal space via the distal end. The movement of the cap relative to the container may be in any preferred relative direction, for example, the cap may be configured to generate a pressure difference in response to rotation and / or linear movement of the cap relative to the container.

[0006] The cap may engage airtightly with one or more parts of the container to facilitate the creation of a pressure difference. For example, the cap may be configured to engage airtightly with the outer surface and / or inner surface of the container wall. In some cases, the internal space of the container may be ventilated at at least some positions of the cap relative to the container, for example, to allow a sample to move more easily from the conduit to the container. In some cases, parts of the outer surface and / or inner surface of the container wall may have channels, which become vents to the internal space when the cap is in a first position, for example, when the cap and container are fully engaged with each other.

[0007] In some cases, the conduit may be fixed to the cap, for example, so that if the cap is moved relative to the container, the conduit moves with the cap. In some configurations, the conduit may extend from the top of the cap, and the cap may be provided with a guard adjacent to the proximal end of the conduit and extending from the top of the cap. Extending the conduit from the top of the cap makes the proximal end of the conduit more accessible to the user, and the guard, for example, one or more walls adjacent to the proximal end, can help prevent accidental and / or unwanted contact with the conduit. In some embodiments, the cap and conduit may be removable from the container, for example, by moving the cap from a first position to a second position. As described above, such movement allows a sample, such as blood, to be moved from the conduit to the internal space of the container, so that the user can move the sample from the conduit to the container and remove the cap and conduit from the container in a single action. In some cases, after the cap and conduit are removed from the container, a cover may be configured to engage with the container to close the opening and seal the internal space. In some embodiments, a desiccant may be associated with the cover. The desiccant may be placed in the internal space and configured to dry the blood sample sealed within the internal space. For example, the desiccant may extend from the cover and be configured to be placed in the internal space with the cover engaged with the container.

[0008] In some cases, the sample holder may include a holder such as a tray or stand configured to engage with the container and hold the container in an upright position on the surface, with the proximal end of the conduit extending upward from the container. In some embodiments, the holder and container may include complementary engaging features that detachably engage the container with the holder. Such engaging features can help hold the container in place relative to the holder. This is, for example, rotational and / or linear holding, such that the container is resisted from moving around and / or along the long axis of the container. In some configurations, the cap and holder may be configured to support the container and conduit in a horizontal position on the surface, with the conduit extending horizontally. Such a design allows the sample holder to be positioned horizontally so that the user can supply a sample, such as blood, horizontally into the conduit.

[0009] In some embodiments, a method for collecting a blood sample includes providing a cap that engages with a container and a conduit having its distal end in the internal space of the container. A liquid sample, such as blood, may be brought into contact with the proximal end of the conduit, and the blood may be drawn into the conduit by means of, for example, capillary action, suction to draw the sample into the conduit, or pressure to push the sample into the conduit. The cap may be removed from the container to create a pressure difference between the proximal and distal ends of the conduit that is suitable for moving the blood from the conduit into the internal space of the container. For example, moving the cap relative to the container may create a relatively low pressure in the internal space of the container, moving the sample in the conduit from the proximal end to the distal end of the container. In some cases, removing the cap may include moving the cap relative to the container to engage the cap with another part of the container. For example, removing the cap may include engaging the cap with another part of the container wall, for example, when moving the cap relative to the container, the cap may engage with a part of the inner and / or outer surface of the container wall. In some cases, when the cap is moved relative to the container, the seal on the cap may overlap or engage along the length of the container wall, for example, the inner and / or outer surface of the wall.

[0010] In some cases, bringing blood into contact with the proximal end of the conduit involves expelling gas from the internal space as a fluid, such as blood, is drawn into the conduit. For example, expelling gas may involve expelling gas from the space between the cap and the container wall, for example, along channels formed in the container wall and / or within the cap. In some embodiments, removing the cap involves removing the conduit together with the cap from the container, for example, the conduit may be removed from the container when the cap is removed, since it is fixed to the cap. In some configurations, removing the cap involves rotating the cap relative to the container and / or moving the cap linearly relative to the container.

[0011] In some embodiments, this method includes, after removing the cap from the container, engaging the cover with the container to seal the internal space. Engaging the cover may also include placing a desiccant attached to the cover into the internal space, which is suitable for drying blood samples.

[0012] The sample holder may have any other features described above or herein, and may be in any combination, as long as such features are not mutually exclusive. Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the various non-limiting embodiments for carrying out the invention, in consideration together with the accompanying drawings and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] Aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, identical elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a sample holder in one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the sample holder, showing the cap engaged with the container of the sample holder. [Figure 3]Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the sample holder with the cap removed from the container. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sample holder container with the associated cover. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sample holder, which includes a holder for containers. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a front view of the sample holder with the cap engaged with the container. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sample holder positioned horizontally on the surface. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of a sample holder having a cap configured to engage with the inner surface of a horizontally positioned container. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of a sample holder, where the cap engages with the container holder via a screw mechanism. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the sample holder with the cap engaged with the container holder. [Figure 11] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the sample holder with the cap removed from the container and the cover engaged with the container. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view of a holder for the container and cap components of a sample holder. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment in which the container is engaged with the holder perpendicularly. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 13, with the cap removed from the container, which is held vertically by the holder. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 13, with the cover engaged with the container. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Aspects of this disclosure are understood to be described herein with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and drawings. The exemplary embodiments described herein are not necessarily intended to illustrate all aspects of the disclosure, but are used to illustrate some exemplary embodiments. Therefore, aspects of this disclosure are not intended to be constrained narrowly in terms of exemplary embodiments. Furthermore, aspects of this disclosure may be used alone or in any suitable combination with other aspects of this disclosure. For example, embodiments are disclosed in which a container is sealed using a desiccant with a cover, and embodiments in which a container is held in one or more directions using a holder. These features can be used in combination within a sample holder, or separately without using one or more other features. For example, the cover does not need to include a desiccant, and the sample holder does not need to include a holder for the container (such as a tray or stand). This is just an example, and other features described herein can be used in various embodiments, either in combination or separately, to the extent that they are not mutually exclusive.

[0016] Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sample holder 1 comprising a container 2 and a cap 4. The cap is engageable with the container 2 to close the internal space of the container 2 for receiving a liquid sample, such as blood, into the container 2. In some embodiments, the cap 4 can be detachably attached to the container 2, so that, for example, the cap 4 is removable from the container 2. In some cases, the sample holder 1 can be provided with the cap 4 engaged with the container 2, so that, for example, as shown in Figure 1, the sample holder 1 is ready to receive a sample. In some cases, it may be preferable to provide the container 2 and cap 4 packaged separately, so that, for example, the user assembles the container 2 and cap 4 into the configuration shown in Figure 1 before using them for sample collection. In some cases, the sample holder 1 comprises a conduit 3. The conduit is configured to receive a liquid sample into the conduit 3 by, for example, bringing the liquid material into contact with the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3. In some embodiments, the liquid material can be drawn into the conduit 3 by capillary action, so that the liquid material flows into the conduit 3 and at least partially fills the conduit 3 from the proximal end 31 to the distal end 32 located in the internal space of the container 2. For example, the conduit 3 may include a capillary tube. This capillary tube is configured to draw a liquid sample, such as liquid blood, into the conduit 3 by bringing the liquid sample into contact with the proximal end 31. In some cases, the conduit 3 may include components such as a wick that can receive the liquid sample (e.g., by wetting, capillary action). In some embodiments, components such as a wick may be housed in the outer tube or within the conduit. In some cases, the conduit 3 may include a material such as an anticoagulant. This is to prevent anything that would obstruct the flow of the liquid, such as coagulation in the conduit. The conduit 3 does not necessarily have to be configured to receive the sample by capillary action. Alternatively, the conduit 3 can accept a liquid sample by applying negative pressure to the distal end 32 of the conduit 3 (for example, by moving the cap 4 relative to the container 2, as described later) or by applying positive pressure to cause the liquid sample to flow into the conduit 3 (for example, by using a pipette to push the sample into the conduit 3).For example, by bringing the proximal end 31 into contact with the liquid sample and moving the cap 4 relative to the container 2 to create a negative pressure at the distal end 32 of the conduit 3, the sample can be moved into the conduit 3.

[0017] In some cases, the conduit 3 may be configured to collect a specific type of sample, such as a material like liquid blood, and the conduit 3 may be configured to collect a sample of a desired volume. For example, the conduit 3 may be configured to be completely filled with the liquid sample material or filled to a specific range, and may be configured to have a specific internal volume such that the total volume of the collected sample becomes the desired volume. With this configuration, the user may not need to perform steps to measure the sample material or collect a specific sample volume. In some cases, the conduit 3 may be visible to the user. For example, the container 2 and / or the cap 4 may be made transparent or provided with a window or the like so that one or more portions of the conduit 3 can be viewed. Thus, the user can confirm the range of the conduit 3 filled with the sample. Thereby, the user can confirm that a sample of a predetermined volume has been received in the conduit 3.

[0018] In some embodiments, the cap may be configured to allow the user to manipulate the sample collection container and / or support the container on a surface. For example, the cap 4 may have one or more portions larger than the container 2, thereby providing the user with an easier-to-grip area, such as one larger than the container 2. For example, this makes it easier for the user to grasp and manipulate the cap 4 and container 2 in order to collect a blood sample. In some cases, the cap 4 may be configured to support the container 2 on a surface such as a countertop, so that the container 2 and, in particular, the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3 are positioned above the surface on which the cap 4 is installed. In some cases, the cap 4 may include a gripping portion 46, which can provide the user with one or more gripping areas and / or help to support the container 2 on the surface in a desired manner. As an example, the container 2 engaged with the cap 4 may be installed horizontally on the surface, so that, for example, the conduit 3 is oriented almost horizontally or the conduit 3 is slightly inclined with the proximal end 31 above the distal end 32. The gripping portion 46 may be in contact with a surface so that the cap 4 and container 2 can be supported on the surface. This allows the user to prepare the sample holder 1 for sample collection and, while the sample holder 1 is placed on the surface, perform other tasks such as puncturing the subject's skin to generate a blood droplet for collection. Features on the cap 4, such as the size and / or shape of the gripping portion 46, may help prevent the sample holder 1 from rolling or moving on the surface. For example, the gripping portion 46 may be configured to prevent the cap 4 and container 2 from rolling when placed on a surface such as a tabletop, such as an ellipse as shown in Figure 1. In some cases, the cap 4 may be configured to support the container 2 in a different direction, for example, in the vertical direction, with the conduit 3 oriented vertically, with the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3 above the distal end 32 of the conduit 3. For example, the gripping portion 46 of the cap 4 may have a flat surface on which the cap 4 and container 2 can be placed. Therefore, without the support of a user or another support, the conduit 3 may be oriented vertically, for example, extending upward from the cap 4 and the container 2 extending below the cap 4, or it may be oriented horizontally, for example, the conduit may extend horizontally.In some cases, when the sample holder 1 is horizontally installed on the surface, the long edge of the gripping part 46 in FIG. 1 may contact the surface together with another part of the cap 4 and / or a part of the container 2.

[0019] Since the conduit 3 can be supported or held within the container 2, for example, the user can hold and manipulate the container 2 and / or the cap 4 to bring the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3 into contact with the sample material. This eliminates the need for the user to handle the relatively small and delicate conduit 3, which may facilitate the use of the sample holder 1. Since the likelihood that the user touches or contacts the conduit 3, for example at the proximal end 31, can be reduced, it may also help prevent sample contamination. In some cases, the cap 4 may include a guard 41 such as one or more wall portions. This guard extends from the upper surface of the cap 4 and helps prevent the proximal end 31 from unnecessary contact with the surface. In some cases, the guard 41 may extend from the upper surface of the cap 4 approximately the same extent as the conduit 3, and may at least partially extend around or be disposed around the conduit 3. For example, the guard 41 in FIG. 1 can have an arcuate shape when viewed from above, and can extend around the conduit 3 along an arcuate length of approximately 30 degrees to 90 degrees each (the arcuate length can be longer or shorter). Thus, a part of the conduit 3 can project from the cap 4 and, for example, has a sufficient length for the proximal end 31 to appropriately contact the liquid sample material. In some configurations, the guard 42 may extend further from the cap 4 than the conduit 3, and thus, for example, the cap 4 and the conduit 3 can be arranged upside down. This is done with the guard 41 supporting the cap 4 and the conduit 3 on the surface, the conduit being vertically oriented, and the proximal end 31 being below the distal end 32, and the proximal end 31 not contacting the surface. In some configurations, the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3 may extend upward beyond the guard 41.

[0020] In some cases, the conduit 3 can be fixed to the cap 4. For example, a portion of the conduit 3 may extend through the opening of the cap 4, and the cap may engage with the conduit 3 by friction fitting, adhesive, one or more fasteners, etc. The conduit 3 can be supported so that its distal end 32 is positioned within the container 2 in a desired manner. This ensures that, for example, when the cap 4 is fully engaged with the container 2, for example, in the position shown in Figure 1, the distal end 32 is positioned above the bottom of the container 2. This can help prevent the conduit 3 from drawing liquid material into the conduit 3 from the distal end 32, for example, because the distal end 32 can be positioned above any liquid material in the container 2, such as reagents or stabilizers. In some embodiments, the container 2 and cap 4 may be configured to allow the user to see the conduit 3, for example, while supplying a sample into the conduit 3. For example, the conduit 3 and / or the container 2 and / or cap 4 may have a transparent material or window that allows the user to see the conduit 3. This allows the user to determine that conduit 3 is filled and has an appropriate sample volume, preventing, for example, the user from aspirating too much sample.

[0021] When the cap 4 engages with the container 2, the internal space of the container 2 may be ventilated to facilitate the movement of the sample from the proximal end to the distal end within the conduit 3. That is, at several positions of the cap 4 relative to the container 2, the cap 4 may engage with the container 2 in a sealed manner, so that, for example, the internal space of the container 2 is completely sealed except for the path through the conduit 3. As an example, the cap 4 may have a seal 42 located between, for example, the inner surface of the wall of the cap 4 and the outer surface of the wall of the container 2, so that an airtight seal is formed between the cap 4 and the container 2. However, when the container 2 is fully engaged with the cap 4, one or more vents may be provided at several positions of the cap 4 relative to the container 2. Such positions are shown in Figure 1. The container 2 may have one or more channels 21 that serve as vents to the internal space of the container 2 when the cap 4 is in the positions shown in Figure 1. Thus, as the fluid moves from the proximal end 31 into the conduit 3, the replaced gas can escape from the internal space of the container 2 through the channels 21. The channel 21 may be configured such that the seal 42 cannot form an airtight seal with at least a portion of the channel 21. Other ventilation configurations, such as ports or valves passing through the container wall, are also possible within the internal space of the container. In some cases, the dimensions of the container, such as its diameter, may be smaller in one or more parts, for example, so that the seal 42 cannot contact the container 2, or only loosely, and cannot form an airtight seal when the cap 4 is fully engaged with the container 2. For example, when the cap 4 and container 2 are fully engaged, the seal 42 on the cap 4 may be positioned on a relatively small diameter portion of the container 2. This allows gas to flow into the space between the seal 42 and the container 2, allowing ventilation of the internal space. However, the upper diameter of the container 2 may be large, allowing the seal 42 to form an airtight seal between the cap 4 and the container 2.

[0022] After a sample, such as blood, is drawn into the conduit 3 and moved, the cap 4 can be moved from a first position (for example, a position where the seal 42 of the cap 4 engages with the location of the channel 21 or the location of a vent provided in the internal space of the container) to a second position (for example, a position where the cap 4 is removed from the container 2 or has moved at least partially from the fully engaged position). In some cases, the cap 4 may have a cavity 43 configured to receive at least a portion of the container 2, for example, so that the distal end 32 of the conduit 3 is placed inside the container 2, as shown in Figure 2. The cap 4 and the container 2 may be configured to create a pressure difference between the proximal end 31 and the distal end 32 of the conduit 3 when the cap 4 is moved from the first position (for example, as shown in Figure 2) to the second position, causing the liquid sample in the conduit 3 to move into the container 2. For example, the seal 42 on the cap 4 (for example, a gasket such as an O-ring) can engage with the container 2 to form an airtight seal between the cap 4 and the container 2. As container 2 moves out of the cavity 43 of cap 4, the gas capacity of the cavity 43 and the internal space of container 2 increases, so that the gas (such as air) in the cavity 43 and the internal space of container 2 is placed under a lower pressure than the surroundings. Because the pressure in the cavity 43 and the internal space is relatively low, the sample in conduit 3 flows from the proximal end 31 to the distal end 32 of conduit 3, thereby causing the sample, such as blood in tube 3, to flow into the bottom of container 2. When cap 4 is fully engaged with container 2, a ventilation feature such as channel 21 is provided, but it should be noted that when container 2 is withdrawn from the cavity 43, the seal 42 can engage with the outer surface of the wall of container 2 to form an airtight seal, thereby allowing fluid to flow into the proximal end 31 of conduit 3. In some embodiments, cap 4 is provided with a seal 42 that engages with container 2, but other configurations are also possible. For example, the cap 4 and the container 2 can be engaged by a precision fit or interlock fit, and the container 2 may have one or more seals that engage with the inner wall of the cavity 43 of the cap 4. In some cases described later, a portion of the cap 4 may engage with the inner surface of the wall of the container 2, and for example, as the cap 4 and the container 2 move relative to each other, a relatively low pressure may be generated in the internal space of the container by the seal between the inner surface of the container wall and the outer surface of the wall of the cap 4.In some cases, the container 2 and cap 4 can be configured such that when the cap 4 is moved from a first position (e.g., shown in Figure 2) to a second position (e.g., shown in Figure 3) relative to the container 2, a larger volume of gas than the volume of the conduit 3 flows through the conduit 3. This ensures that the sample in the conduit 3 is completely discharged into the container 2. In some cases, the volume of gas passing through the conduit 3 may be more than twice the volume of the conduit, for example, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times or more the volume of the conduit 3. If the conduit 3 includes elements such as a wick housed in an outer tube or within the conduit that receive the sample by wetting or capillary action, passing a relatively high volume of gas through the conduit 3 via the cap 4 can ensure that an appropriate amount of sample is reliably discharged from the conduit 3.

[0023] In some embodiments, after a sample such as blood is discharged from the conduit 3 into the internal space of the container 2, the opening to the internal space of the container can be sealed to contain the sample such as blood in the sealed internal space of the container 2. This isolates the sample, such as blood, from external environmental conditions such as humidity, oxygen, and air. For example, if the cap 4 is moved toward a second position relative to the container 2, the cap 4 can be removed from the container 2, as shown in Figure 3. When the cap 4 is removed from the container 2, the internal space of the container 2 may be sealed by a cover 5 that covers the opening of the container 2, as shown in Figure 4. In some cases, the cover 5 may be configured to receive the upper portion of the container 2 into a cavity 53 of the cover 5. The cover 5 and the container 2 may be engaged by any preferred method such as a press fit, adhesive, or screw. In some cases, the upper part of the container 2 may have threads 22 configured to engage with complementary threads 54 in the cavity 53 of the cover 5. In some cases, the size, such as the diameter of the portion of the container 2 having the threads 22, may be smaller than the wall of the container 2 below the threads 22. This may make it easier to remove the cap 4 from the container 2, for example, because a part of the cap 4, such as the seal 42, does not engage with the threads 22. The cover 5 may also have so-called automation features 52, such as notches, grooves, or tabs, which make it easier for an automated system to handle the cover 5 and the container 2 and / or to move the cover 5 relative to the container 2 for, for example, to engage and disengage the cover 5 from the container 2.

[0024] In some cases, the cover 5 may be equipped with a desiccant material 51 suitable for drying a liquid sample, such as blood, held in the container 2. The desiccant may include materials suitable for drying blood liquid samples, such as zeolite or molecular sieves such as silica gel. In some embodiments, a portion of the cover 5 may be entirely formed of the desiccant material. The desiccant 51 may be placed inside the container 2 so that it is in appropriate proximity to the liquid sample, such as blood, held inside the container 2, for example, at the bottom of the container 2. In some cases, the desiccant 51 may be configured to fill the internal space of the container 2 to a desired extent, for example, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or more of the internal space of the container 2. This helps to reduce the volume of the internal space and can aid in the drying of the blood sample. The sample holder 1 may be equipped with an immobilizer 24, such as a chemical material and / or structure, in the internal space of the container 2 (for example, at the bottom of the container 2) to immobilize a sample such as blood, for example, this is useful for procedures such as drying or preserving the sample for subsequent use. For example, the immobilized substance 24 can increase the viscosity of the sample, enhance the sample's ability to adhere to the surface of the container 2, or trap parts of the sample in spaces such as voids (e.g., by surface tension, wetting, or absorption properties).

[0025] In some embodiments, the cover may be configured to lock onto the container. For example, this prevents the cover from being removed from the container or part of the container. Such a configuration helps reduce sample contamination after sample collection and / or prevent the sample from being exposed to the external environment after it has been collected. In some cases, the cover 5 may be configured to lock onto the container 2 detachably or non-detachably. In some embodiments, the cover 5 may have one or more latches configured to engage with a part of the container 2, for example, so that once the latches engage with the container 2, the cover cannot be removed without releasing the latches. In some cases, the latches may be configured as hooks extending downward along one or more sides of the cover 5, for example, from the lower end of the cover 5. The latches may be configured to bend elastically inward, for example so that the lower hook portion of the latch moves radially inward toward the container 2. This may allow the hook portion to engage with a recess 23 of the container 2 or another part of the container 2. Therefore, when the cover 5 is pressed downwards against the container 2, the lowest surface of the hook on the latch may contact the outer surface of the container wall until the lowest part of the hook is positioned in the recess 23. With the hook positioned in the recess 23, the latch may bend inward, for example, due to elastic recovery, so that the hook engages with the recess 23. With the hook engaged with the recess 23, the cover 5 cannot be removed unless the latch is released from the recess 23, for example, by applying a suitable upward force to the cover 5 and / or bending the latch to release the hook from the recess 23. In some cases, the cover 5 and container 2 cannot be removed without using appropriate means. These means are, for example, to release the latch from the corresponding feature of the container, by applying a force of appropriate magnitude and / or cutting or breaking the latch. Therefore, a tamper-evident guarantee may be provided between the cover 5 and the container 2.

[0026] In some cases, the sample holder may be equipped with a support such as a holder or stand for the container, for example, which can support the container in two or more directions. Such a stand can assist the user in manipulating, fixing, holding, and using the sample holder during use. For example, Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which a container 2 is received and held in a stand 6. The stand 6 may be configured to receive and hold the container 2 in various ways, for example having an opening or cavity 61 that receives at least a portion of the container 2. For example, the lower part of the container 2 can be received into the opening 61, for example, thereby enabling the container 2 to be held upright on the surface without user assistance. In such a case, the base 63 of the stand 6 may be mountable on the surface and configured to hold the stand 6 and the container 2 upright on the surface. In some cases, the stand 6 can engage with the container 2, for example, thereby preventing movement of the container 2 in one or more directions relative to the stand 6. For example, in some cases, the stand 6 may engage with engaging features on the container 2 to help prevent rotation and / or longitudinal movement of the container 2 relative to the stand 6. Figure 5 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the stand 6 has a feature configured to engage with the lower part of the container 2, for example, to prevent the container from rotating relative to the stand 6 and / or moving out of the cavity 61. The engaging feature on the stand 6 can take any preferred shape and may be complementary to the engaging feature on the container 2. For example, in Figure 5, the lower part of the container has a circumferential recess and rib 23 (see Figure 1) configured to engage with a portion of the stand 6, preventing the container 2 from rotating in and / or moving out of the cavity 61. For example, the cavity 61 may have an annular ring or ring portion configured to engage with the recess and rib 23, which helps to keep the container 2 in the cavity 61 and / or prevent the container 2 from rotating. The stand 6 may also engage elastically with the container 2, for example, by slots extending along the side wall of the stand 6 near the cavity 61, the wall portion defining the cavity 61 may bend outward to receive the container 2 and bend inward to engage with the recess 23.However, the engagement features may be configured in other ways; for example, a recess on the container 2 may engage with a rib or tab on the stand 6. In some cases, the stand 6 may frictionally engage with the container 2, for example, preventing the container 2 from rotating and / or moving longitudinally relative to the stand 6. For example, a portion of the stand 6 in an area such as the opening 61 may frictionally engage with the container 2, thereby preventing the container 2 from being easily inserted into and / or removed from the opening. This ensures that the container 2 and the stand 6 do not separate in an unnecessary or unintended way. As an example, as shown in Figure 5, this allows the user to hold the stand 6 and install the cover 5 onto the container 2.

[0027] The engagement of the stand 6 with the container 2 can assist in disassembling and / or assembling the sample holder, taking sample material, and handling sample material within the container. For example, in some cases, the stand 6 may engage with the bottom of the container to prevent movement of the container 2 relative to the stand 6, such as relative rotation or linear movement along the long axis of the container, for example, by engaging the engagement feature on the container with the stand. However, the top of the container 2 and / or the cap 4 may not directly engage with the stand, for example, this allows the cap 4 to move relative to the bottom of the container 2 or the stand 6. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the cap 4 may be fully engaged with the container 2, and the container 2 may also engage with the stand 6, for example, in a recess 23. As a result, the user can move the cap 4 upward relative to the stand 6, so that the liquid sample in the conduit 3 can be moved into the internal space of the container 2 and the cap 4 can be removed from the container 2. This exposes the internal space of the container 2, for example, allowing the user to access the sample in the container and / or add materials such as treatment reagents to the container. As described above, the stand 6 may support the container 2 on a surface without user assistance, for example, by placing the base 63 on the surface. In some cases, the conduit 3 may also be removed from the container by removing the cap 4 from the container 2, for example as shown in Figure 3. This allows the cover 5 to be installed on the container 2, for example as shown in Figure 5.

[0028] In some cases, the stand 6 may be configured to allow observation, such as visualizing at least a portion of the container 2, when the container 2 is held in the stand 6. This allows, for example, a user to confirm that the sample has been properly received in the container 2 after moving the cap 4 relative to the container 2 and transferring the sample from the conduit 3 to the container 2. For example, the stand 6 may be transparent and / or have a window 66, which allows a portion of the container 2 to be observed by the user and / or an optical detector. The window 66 may be formed as a cavity or opening in a portion of the stand 6, for example, extending through a collar portion 65 that defines a portion of the opening 61 that receives the container 2. In some cases, the collar portion 65 may have a tapered or concave portion around the opening 61, for example, which helps guide the container 2 into the opening 61. In some cases, the lower part of the container 2 may have a tapered or rounded shape, for example, which helps guide the container 2 into the opening 61. The window 66 may serve two purposes, for example, to allow visibility of the container 2, while simultaneously allowing a portion of the colored section 65 to separate and receive the container 2 into the opening 61.

[0029] In some embodiments, the stand may be configured to assist the user in grasping and manipulating the stand 6 and the attached sample holder 1. For example, the stand 6 may be sized and shaped so that the user can comfortably and accurately manipulate it by hand. The features of the stand 6 for manipulative assistance can be modified as desired. In some cases, the stand 6 may have a gripping section, which may be, for example, one or more recesses below the collar section 65 that are sized and shaped so that the user can hold the stand 6 with their fingers. In some cases, the gripping section may be configured to be grasped between the index finger and thumb. In some cases, the gripping section may be configured to be positioned between adjacent fingers, for example, using part of the index finger and middle finger for the gripping section. This allows the user to place the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3 on the sample source and supply the sample to the conduit 3, for example by capillary action. Whether the stand 6 is held by the user or placed on a surface, as described above, the stand 6 may be configured to support the container 2 in multiple directions. One such orientation (for example, the vertical orientation in which the conduit 3 is oriented vertically) is shown in Figure 6, where the base 63 of the stand 6 is placed on a surface such as a countertop and the container 2 may be supported without assistance from a user. Another possible orientation (for example, the horizontal orientation in which the conduit 3 is oriented horizontally) is shown in Figure 7, where the stand 6 is placed horizontally on a surface 8 such as a countertop and the container 2 may be supported without assistance from a user. In the horizontal orientation, a part of the cap 4, such as the gripping part 46, may be in contact with the surface 8 and the holder 1 may be supported on the surface. Both orientations may be useful for different purposes such as sample collection, removal of the cap from the container, and placement of the cap on the container. As an example, with the container 2 and cap 4 in the horizontal orientation, a small drop of blood on the user's finger may be placed adjacent to the proximal end 31 of the conduit 3, thereby allowing the blood sample to be received into the conduit 3. This helps the user to fix their finger, for example, by partially placing their finger on the surface 8, making it easier to place the small drop of blood adjacent to the proximal end 31.

[0030] Figure 8 shows another sample holder 1 positioned horizontally on a surface. Figure 8 illustrates that the embodiment can be configured so that the user can visually inspect a portion of the inside of the conduit 3 and / or container 2, for example, by confirming that a sample has been accepted by the conduit 3 and / or container 2. Figure 8 illustrates how the user can confirm that the conduit 3 is holding a dark-colored liquid, for example, the color and opacity of blood, and how the user can confirm that a sample has been accepted into the conduit 3. Although not shown in Figure 8, once the cap 4 is removed from the container 2 and the liquid sample is accepted into the container 2, the user can also visually inspect the dark-colored liquid present inside the container. This is because, for example, the container 2 is configured so that the user can inspect the internal space, such as by being made of a transparent material or having a window.

[0031] The sample holder in Figure 8 differs from that in Figure 7 in that the cap 4 is configured to form a seal with the inner surface of the container 2 wall, rather than with an outer surface as in Figures 1 to 7. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a sample holder similar to that in Figure 8, which has a cap designed to form a seal with the inner surface of the container wall. For example, in some cases, the cap 4 may have a wall 44 configured to be inserted into the internal space of the container 2. In some cases, the wall 44 may have a tubular shape, such as a cylinder, which has a size and shape that fits the internal space of the container 2. The wall 44 may have a seal 42, for example at its lower end, configured to form an airtight seal with the inner surface of the container 2 wall that defines the internal space. Thus, when the cap 4 is moved and the wall 44 is withdrawn from the internal space of the container 2, a pressure gradient is created between the proximal and distal ends of the conduit 3, which can move the liquid sample and / or gas in the conduit 3 from the proximal end 31 to the distal end 32. To provide a vent that allows the sample to be received into the conduit 3, the inner surface of the container 2 may be configured such that an airtight seal is not formed between the cap 4 and the container 2, for example, by providing one or more channels (such as channel 21 in Figure 1). In some cases, the size and shape of the container 2, such as its diameter, may be configured such that the seal 42 does not contact the container wall and form an airtight seal. In some embodiments, the cap 4 may be configured to have features that do not form an airtight seal, such as one or more channels. For example, the groove in the wall 44 of the cap 4 containing the seal 42 may be sized and / or shaped such that when the cap 4 is inserted into the container 2, the seal 42 moves to a part of the groove (e.g., the upper part of the groove) that is configured not to form an airtight seal (for example, due to the presence of a channel, or because the size, such as the diameter, is reduced where the seal 4 contacts the wall 44). However, when the cap 4 is moved and the wall 44 is removed from the container 2, the seal 42 may engage with another part of the groove (e.g., the lower part of the groove) where an airtight seal may be formed. Other configurations are also possible, such as a one-way valve for cap 4 and / or container 2.

[0032] The movement of the cap 4 relative to the container 2 may be as shown in Figure 1, for example, the user may move the cap 4 freely relative to the container 2, either linearly along the long axis of the conduit 3 and / or container 2, or rotationally around the long axis. However, in some cases, the cap 4 may be configured to engage with a component such as the container 2 or the stand 6, thereby controlling the movement of the cap 4 relative to the container 2 in some way, such as restricting it. For example, in some cases, the cap 4 may engage with the container 2 and / or the stand 6 in a screw-in manner, so that when the cap 4 is rotated relative to the container 2 and / or the stand 6, the cap 4 moves linearly, for example along the long axis of the container 2, and the cap 4 is removed from the container 2. One such configuration in which the cap 4 engages with the stand 6 in a screw-in manner is shown in Figure 9. When the cap 4 rotates relative to the stand 6, the cap 4 moves vertically, for example, by moving the wall 44 of the cap 4 in a direction toward or toward the container 2. Therefore, for example, the cap 4 may be rotated counterclockwise relative to the stand 6 to remove the cap 4 and its wall 44 from the container 2 (to move the sample in the conduit 3 to the container 2), or it may be rotated clockwise to engage the cap 4 with the container 2 and move the wall 44 into the internal space of the container 2 (to prepare the sample holder 1 to receive the sample). In some embodiments, a screw-on connection between the cap 4 and the stand 6 or container 2 may help control the movement of the cap 4 relative to the container 2. For example, it may be desirable to move the liquid sample from the conduit 3 to the container 2 at a controlled speed, such as a slow speed, which can prevent splashing or splattering of the sample within the container. A screw-on connection may help control the movement of the cap 4 relative to the container 2, which can prevent rapid movement of the cap 4 relative to the container 2. In some cases, a screw-on connection may help maintain the cap 4 in the correct orientation relative to the container 2, such as perpendicular, which can help ensure that a proper seal is formed and maintained between the cap 4 and the container 2.In some cases, the cap 4 may have a female thread 45 configured to engage with a male thread 64 on the stand 6, thereby allowing the cap 4 to move relative to the stand 6 and the container 2 held in the stand 6, for example, within the cavity 61 of the stand 6. In some cases, the stand 6 may have a collar portion 65 configured to engage with a part of the container 2, thereby facilitating the container 2 to be held within the cavity 61 of the stand 6. For example, the collar portion 65 may have an annular ring that extends radially inward within the cavity 61 and is configured to engage with the rim or flange of the container 2, which helps to prevent the container 2 from moving out of the cavity, for example, upward along its long axis. Thus, after the sample has been received in the conduit 3, the thread of the cap 4 can be loosened from the stand 6 and the cap 4 can be moved upward relative to the stand 6 and the container 2, for example, thereby allowing the cap 4 to be removed from the container 2 while the container 2 remains held in the cavity 61. The cover 5 can then be engaged with the container 2, for example, to seal the opening to the internal space of the container 2. In some cases, the stand 6 and the container 2 may have complementary engaging features, which help to prevent movement of the container 2 relative to the stand 6, for example, rotational movement. For example, the stand 6 may have an engaging feature 72 that engages with a corresponding feature 26 on the container 2. For example, the engaging feature 72 may have a recess, fin, tab, etc. that engages with a corresponding recess, fin, tab, etc. on the container 2, which helps to prevent rotation of the container 2 relative to the stand 6.

[0033] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of a sample holder 1 with a configuration similar to that of Figure 9. As can be seen from Figure 10, the collar portion 65 may have a portion that engages with a part of the container 2, such as the flange 25 or the upper rim of the opening to the internal space, which helps to keep the container 2 in the cavity 61. Thus, the screw of the cap 4 can be loosened from its engagement with the threads 64 on the stand 6. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the cap 4 may engage with the container 2, for example, the threads 22 on the container 2, instead of or in addition to screwing it with the stand 6. With the cap 4 removed from the container 2, the cover 5 can be engaged with the container 2, for example, as shown in Figure 11. In some embodiments, once the cover 5 is engaged with the container 2, the container 2 can be removed from the stand 6, or the container 2 can be removed from the stand 6. For example, in some embodiments, the cover 5 may have one or more portions that engage with a part of the stand 6, such as the collar portion 65, which can free a part of the container 2, such as the flange 25, from constraints such as engagement by the collar portion 65. In some cases, the cover 5 may have a tapered or other shaped portion configured to engage with the collar portion 65, thereby biasing a portion of the collar portion 65 to move away from each other. For example, a portion of the stand 6, such as the rim, can be separated from a portion of the container 2, such as the flange 25, allowing the container 2 to be removed from the cavity 61. The collar portion 65 may have one or more slots similar to the window 66 in Figure 6, which facilitates the separation of portions of the collar portion 65. Alternatively, the portion of the stand 6 that engages with the container 2 may be made of a flexible material such as an elastic material. The cover 5 can be engaged with the container 2 by any preferred method, such as friction fitting or screwing into the threads 22 on the container 2. For example, the collar portion 65 can be moved by screwing the cover 5 into the container 2, freeing the container 2 from the stand 6.

[0034] In some embodiments, a holder, such as a stand, for one or more components of a sample holder may be configured to support multiple functions, such as transport in a small form factor, presentation of the sample holder components in a manner convenient for use, and / or other functions. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a stand 6 configured to hold the assembled container 2 and cap 4 in a first position 67 and the cover 5 in a second position 68. The stand 6 may be configured to be supported on a surface such as a tabletop, thereby allowing the user easy access to both positions 67 and 68. A third position 69 may be provided to receive the container 2, for example, together with the engaged cap 4, but may initially be provided with no components held in the third position 69. As an example, the configuration of Figure 12 may be packaged, for example, in a bag or box, which makes it easier to maintain the sample holder 1 in a sterile or otherwise appropriate clean environment until use, and allows the user to open it and access the stand 6. The user may remove the assembled cap 4 and container 2 from the first position 67 and place the container 2 in the third position 69, for example, so that the container 2 and cap 4 are in an upright position as shown in Figure 13. In some cases, the third position 69 may be equipped with an engaging feature such as a spring finger 71, which is configured to engage with a part of the container 2, such as a recess 23 in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The spring finger 71 may elastically engage the container 2 so that the container 2 and cap 4 are held upright without assistance from the user. Furthermore, the spring finger 71 can prevent movement of the container 2 in the vertical direction, for example, along the long axis of the container and / or conduit 3. With the cap 4 and container 2 held in the third position 69, a sample such as blood may be supplied to the conduit 3, for example by capillary action. After that, as shown in Figure 14, the cap 4 may be removed from the container 2 by, for example, pulling the cap 4 upward. The container 2 may be held in the third position 69 by an engaging feature such as a spring finger 71. This eliminates the need for the user to grasp the container 2 individually, and instead allows them to hold only the stand 6.The removed cap 4 may be discarded or placed in the first position 67. The cover 5 may be removed from the second position 68 and engaged with the container 2 in the third position 69, for example, as shown in Figure 15. The assembled container 2 and cover 5 may be packaged and transported as necessary, as shown in Figure 15, or the container 2 and cover 5 may be removed from the stand 6 and handled in any preferred manner, such as for processing.

[0035] Users of a sample holder should note that they may use the sample holder for one or more different functions. For example, in some cases, a user may use the sample holder solely for sample collection. Such a user may collect a sample from themselves, for example, by squeezing a blood droplet and using the sample holder to collect that sample, or by using the sample holder to collect a sample from another subject. After collection, the user may close the sample holder, for example by placing the cap on the container, and have no further interaction with the sample holder. In some cases, a user may use the sample holder to process and / or analyze a sample that has been previously collected by another person. Therefore, a user performing processing and / or analysis does not need to use the sample holder for sample collection and may interact with the sample holder in other ways, such as opening the container. Materials such as reagents may be added to container 2 for processing the sample in container 2, and / or sample material in container 2 may be removed for processing and / or analysis, and / or the sample in container may be processed without opening container 2. Such users may or may not utilize one or more features of the sample holder and / or stand.

[0036] Container 2 can be made of any suitable material or combination of materials. Different materials may be used to give different parts of the container their respective functions. For example, the container may be made of a material suitable for exposing the sample in holder 1 to treatment conditions such as concentrated acoustic energy or heat for, for example, shearing or PCR amplification of blood cells and / or nucleic acids. Part of container 2 may be made of a material that provides a suitable sealing surface for cap 4 and does not generate excessive friction that prevents cap 4 from moving relative to container 2. Examples of component materials for the container include polyethylene, polypropylene, glass, and metal.

[0037] While aspects of the present invention have been described using various exemplary embodiments, such embodiments are not limited to those described. Therefore, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications, and variations of the described embodiments will be apparent. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A container having walls that define the internal space and an opening to the internal space, A conduit having a distal end located in the internal space and a proximal end extending from the internal space, configured to receive a liquid sample at the proximal end of the conduit, A cap configured to engage with the container, wherein the movement of the cap from a first position to a second position relative to the container creates a pressure difference between the proximal end and the distal end of the conduit that is appropriate for moving a liquid sample from the conduit to the internal space, A sample holder equipped with the following features.

2. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to generate a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure of the internal space in response to the movement of the cap relative to the container.

3. The sample holder according to claim 2, wherein a pressure lower than the ambient pressure is suitable for moving the liquid sample from the conduit to the internal space via the distal end.

4. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to generate the pressure difference in accordance with the rotation of the cap relative to the container.

5. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to generate the pressure difference in accordance with the linear movement of the cap relative to the container.

6. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to engage airtightly with the outer surface of the wall of the container.

7. The sample holder according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the outer surface of the wall is provided with a channel that serves as a vent for the internal space when the cap is in the first position.

8. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to engage airtightly with the inner surface of the wall of the container.

9. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the wall is provided with a channel that serves as a vent for the internal space when the cap is in the first position.

10. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a capillary tube configured to aspirate a blood sample by bringing blood into contact with the proximal end.

11. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is fixed to the cap.

12. The sample holder according to claim 11, wherein the cap and the conduit are removable from the container by moving the cap from a first position to a second position.

13. The sample holder according to claim 12, further comprising a cover configured to engage with the container to close the opening and seal the internal space when the cap and conduit are removed from the container.

14. The sample holder according to claim 13, further comprising a desiccant associated with the cover and capable of being placed in the internal space, configured to dry the blood sample sealed in the internal space.

15. The sample holder according to claim 14, wherein the desiccant is configured to extend from the cover and be placed in the internal space with the cover engaged with the container.

16. The conduit extends from the upper side of the cap, The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a guard extending from the upper side of the cap adjacent to the proximal end of the conduit.

17. The sample holder according to claim 1, further comprising a holder configured to engage with the container and hold the container in an upright position on its surface, such that the proximal end of the conduit extends upward from the container.

18. The sample holder according to claim 17, wherein the holder and the container are provided with complementary engaging features that allow the container to be detachably engaged with the holder.

19. The sample holder according to claim 17, wherein the cap and the holder are configured to support the container and the conduit in a horizontal position on the surface, so that the conduit extends horizontally.

20. A cap that engages with a container and a conduit having its distal end in the internal space of the container, wherein the container has walls that define the internal space, Bringing the blood into contact with the proximal end of the conduit and drawing the blood into the conduit, The cap is removed from the container to create a pressure difference between the proximal and distal ends of the conduit that is suitable for moving the blood from the conduit to the internal space of the container, A method for collecting blood samples, including [specific details omitted].

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein removing the cap includes moving the cap relative to the container to engage the cap with another part of the container.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein removing the cap includes engaging the cap with another portion of the container wall.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein removing the cap involves engaging the cap with another portion of the inner surface of the container wall.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein removing the cap involves engaging the cap with another portion of the outer surface of the container wall.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein removing the cap includes moving the gasket of the cap along the surface of the container wall.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein bringing blood into contact with the proximal end includes discharging gas from the internal space when blood is drawn into the conduit.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the discharge of gas includes discharging gas from the space between the cap and the container wall.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein removing the cap includes removing the conduit together with the cap from the container.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein removing the cap includes rotating the cap relative to the container.

30. The method according to claim 20, further comprising, after removing the cap from the container, engaging the cover with the container to seal the internal space.

31. Engaging the cover includes placing the desiccant attached to the cover into the internal space, The method according to claim 20, wherein the desiccant is suitable for drying the blood sample.

32. The method according to claim 20, wherein preparing the cap includes preparing the conduit fixed to the cap.

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