Search

EP-4739433-A1 - LIQUID SAMPLE TRANSFER DEVICE

EP4739433A1EP 4739433 A1EP4739433 A1EP 4739433A1EP-4739433-A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a sample transfer device for transferring a liquid sample from a sealed test container, the sample transfer device comprising a longitudinal center axis defining an axial direction, a circumferential direction, and a radial direction, a base extending in the radial direction and comprising a base top side facing in the axial direction and a base bottom side facing opposite the axial direction, the base further comprising a neck portion extending in the axial direction from the base top side, and a base protrusion extending from the base bottom side, wherein the neck portion comprises a cup with a cup top rim defining an opening to the cup distal from the base, and a cup bottom defining the bottom of the cup arranged proximal to the base, wherein the base protrusion comprises a cannula extending from the base protrusion in a direction substantially opposite or opposite of the axial direction, and wherein the cannula is in fluid connection with the cup bottom via a fluid conduit, wherein the inner diameter of the cup is larger than the inner diameter of the fluid conduit and configured for retaining a liquid sample within the cup when in use.

Inventors

  • PAUS, DIDRIK
  • MACKENZIE, Jenny
  • STENMARK, Sebastian

Assignees

  • SpinChip Diagnostics AS

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A sample transfer device (1) for transferring a liquid sample from a sealed test container (50), the sample transfer device (1) comprising a longitudinal center axis (AL) defining an axial direction (z), a circumferential direction (c), and a radial direction (r), a base (100) extending in the radial direction (r) and comprising a base top side (101) facing in the axial direction (z) and a base bottom side (102) facing opposite the axial direction (z), the base (100) further comprising a neck portion (107) extending in the axial direction (z) from the base top side (101), and a base protrusion (105) extending from the base bottom side (102), wherein the neck portion (107) comprises a cup (121) with a cup top rim (124) defining an opening (120) to the cup (121) distal from the base (100), and a cup bottom (122) defining the bottom of the cup (121) arranged proximal to the base (100), wherein the base protrusion (105) comprises a cannula (115) extending from the base protrusion (105) in a direction substantially opposite of the axial direction (z), and wherein the cannula (115) is in fluid connection with the cup bottom (122) via a fluid conduit (110), wherein the inner diameter of the cup (121) is larger than the inner diameter of the fluid conduit (110) and configured for retaining a liquid sample within the cup (121) when in use.
  2. 2. The sample transfer device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cup (121) is configured with a diameter and/or cross-sectional area that is adapted for reducing or eliminating risk of spilling of a liquid sample from the cup (121).
  3. 3. The sample transfer device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the cup bottom (122) is in the range 1mm - 20mm, 1,5mm - 15mm, 2mm - 13mm, 2,5mm - 12mm, 3mm - 11mm, 3,2mm-9mm, 3,4mm - 7mm or 3,5mm - 5mm.
  4. 4. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the extent in the axial direction (z) of the cup (121) from the cup bottom (122) to the cup top rim (124) is in the range 2mm - 30mm, 3mm - 25mm, 4mm - 20mm, 4,5mm - 15mm, 5mm - 11mm, 6mm - 9mm or 6,5mm - 8mm.
  5. 5. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the volume of the cup (121) is between lOpL - 500pL, 15pL - 350pL, 20pL - 300pL, 30pL - 250pL, 35pL - 200pL, 40pL - 150pL, 45pL - 120pL, 50pL - lOOpL, 55pL - 90pL, 60pL - 85pL or 70pL - 80pL.
  6. 6. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-sectional area of the cup (121) is equal to or larger distal from the cup bottom (122) compared to the cross-sectional area of the cup (121) proximal to the cup bottom (122).
  7. 7. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cup bottom (122) has a rounded profile.
  8. 8. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (100) comprises at least two arms (130) spread apart and extending from the base bottom side (102) in a direction substantially opposite of the axial direction (z).
  9. 9. The sample transfer device (1) according to claim 8, wherein each of the arms (130) further comprises finger grips (140) extending in the radial direction (r) from each of the arms (130) at an end distal from the base (100).
  10. 10. The sample transfer device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the sample transfer device (1) comprises a ring structure (131) connected to the arms (130) and extending in the circumferential direction (c), the ring structure having a central opening 150 suitable for accepting insertion of an end of the test container (50).
  11. 11. The sample transfer device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the ring structure (131) comprises a ring structure top (131a) proximal to the base (100), and a ring structure bottom (131b) distal from the base (100), and wherein the cannula (115) extends a maximum length from the base protrusion (105) to a vertical level of the ring structure bottom (131b), or to a vertical level between the ring structure top (131a) and the ring structure bottom (131b).
  12. 12.
  13. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (121) is made of a transparent material. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arms (130) are flexible.
  14. 14. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the volume displaced when base protrusion (105) is pressed against the seal (55) is equal to the volume of the cup (121).
  15. 15. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (121) displays a plurality of cup protrusions (125) on the internal side wall of the cup (121) configured for retaining a liquid sample within the cup (121).
  16. 16. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cup bottom (122) comprises at least one cup bottom stopper (126) arranged at the cup bottom (122) and protruding 0,5mm-2mm towards the cup top rim (124).
  17. 17. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (121) further comprises, a cup edge (123) defining a transition from a cup lower part (121a) to a cup upper part (121b), wherein the cup lower part (121a) is arranged proximal to the cup bottom (122) and the cup upper part (121b) is arranged distal from the cup bottom (122), and wherein the cross-sectional area of the cup upper part (121b) is larger distal from the cup edge (123) than proximal to the cup edge (123), and wherein an angle (a x ) between a side wall (121b 1) of the cup upper part (121b) and the longitudinal center axis (AL) is larger than an angle (a y ) between a side wall (121 al ) of the cup lower part (121a) and the longitudinal center axis (AL), and thereby configured for retaining a liquid sample within the cup lower part (121a) when in use.
  18. 18. The sample transfer device (1) according to claim 17, wherein the angle (a x ) between the side wall (12 lb 1) of the cup upper part (121b) and the longitudinal center axis (A L ) is from 15°-70°, 20°-65°, 25°-60°, 30°-55°, 35°-50°, 37°-45°, 38°-42° or is about 40°, and wherein the angle (a y ) between the side wall (121 al ) of the cup lower part (121a) and the longitudinal center axis (AL) is from 0°-25°, 3°-20°, 5°-17°, 7°-15°, 8°-12° or is about 10°.
  19. 19. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 17-18, wherein the volume of the cup lower part (121a) is from 10pL-70pL, 20pL-60pL, 25pL-55pL, 28pL-50pL, 30pL-40pL, 3 lpL-37pL, 32pL-35pL or is about 33pL.
  20. 20. The sample transfer device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 17-19, wherein the volume of the cup upper part (121b) is from 10pL-80pL, 20pL-70pL, 30pL-60pL, 35pL-55pL, 40pL-50pL, 43pL-47pL or is about 44pL.

Description

Title LIQUID SAMPLE TRANSFER DEVICE Technical field The present invention relates to a liquid sample transfer device, in particular a blood sample transfer device for transferring a blood sample from a test container such as a sealed blood sample tube and for further transfer of the blood sample to a capillary. Background for the invention Blood samples are typically collected from patients by venipuncture and collection of blood from a superficial vein in an upper limb. A vein is punctured by a cannula in fluid communication with a test container such as a blood sample tube. The test container is typically a sealed blood sample tube manufactured of sterile glass or plastic closed in one end and with a rubber seal covering the other end creating a vacuum seal. When manufactured, air may be evacuated from the tube creating a vacuum. The amount of air evacuated from the tube may predetermine the amount of blood that will fill the tube before the blood stops flowing. One test container as generally described above is marketed under the brand name “vacutainer”. A blood sample tube is typically filled with blood by inserting a cannula into a patient’s vein and then connecting the blood sample tube to the cannula and thereby puncturing the rubber seal. There is a number of devices on the market for transferring a blood sample from sealed blood sample tubes onto or into different sample testing devices. The U-Pette comprises a base with a cannula protruding on one side in fluid connection with a tube emerging on from the opposite side of the base. The base further comprises two arms with finger grips protruding from the sides of the base. When dispensing blood an operator inserts the cannula through the rubber seal of a blood sample tube, turns the tube up-side down and uses the finger grips to press the device against the rubber seal to create pressure within the blood sample tube. This results in dispensing drops of blood that will hang onto the tube emerging from the base until another drop is pressed out end replaces the hanging drop. The process exposes a free hanging drop of blood which typically drips off the device and risk of spilling is present, https://labcon.com/literatui stteZLabconupette.html The C-Pette comprises a circular base with a cannula protruding on one side of the circular base in fluid communication with a tube emerging from the opposite side of the base. The cannula is for inserting through the rubber seal of a blood sample tube and the circular base is for pressing or abutting against proprietary test cassette port to create pressure within the blood sample tube and thereby dispensing blood. Pressing down on the C-Pette when not connected to the proprietary cassette may leave a droplet of blood hanging from the device, resulting in risk of spilling. The C- Pette would not be suitable for transfer of blood via a capillary. https://labcon.com/literature/C-Pette/LabconC-Pette.html DIFF- SAFE is a similar product as the C-Pette, where a cannula is inserted through the rubber seal and is in fluid connection with the opposite side of a base. The base comprises a “tripod” configuration for pressing against a test-plate. This results in that the base is pressed against the rubber seal and a small volume of blood is released from the blood sample tube and drips onto the test-plate. http://www. alpha- scientific. com/Diff-safe2 html In the particular case where there is need to transfer blood from a test container via a capillary, the above-mentioned products all expose free droplets of blood and are not suitable due to risk of spilling of blood. HemoCup, blood dispensing cup is described in context with HemoScreen blood analysis apparatus. The HemoCup comprises a cannula for penetrating the rubber seal of a blood test tube. The cannula is in fluid connection with an integrated closed cup or container comprising a side opening for inserting a capillary for further transferring a blood sample to another device via a capillary. The HemoCup allows for sampling blood from a blood test tube by inserting the cannula through the rubber seal of a test tube and then turning the test tube upside down and pressing the test tube with the HemoCup attached towards a flat surface such that drops of blood are forced through the cannula and drips down into the cup that collects the blood. A capillary may then be inserted through the side opening for collecting and transferring the blood sample further. A disadvantage of the HemoCup may be that it is difficult to adjust the volume of blood needed for the capillary, and residual blood within the integrated cup may be of concern when the device is to be disposed due to that residual blood does not get sucked back into the blood test tube when pressure exerted on the seal is released. Residual blood in the cup makes the system vulnerable to spilling of blood. Additionally, it requires manufacture of the closed integrated cup which is challenging and a cost-driving f