WO2004050244A1

WO2004050244A1 - Opening sample containers using laser

Info

Publication number: WO2004050244A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen John Jenkins
Original assignee: The National Blood Authority
Priority date: 2002-11-29
Filing date: 2003-11-28
Publication date: 2004-06-17

Abstract

A method of opening a sealed container containing a sample to be tested, the method comprising using a laser to open the container.

Description

OPENING SAMPLE CONTAINERS USING LASER

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for opening a sealed container containing a sample .

In the blood product supply industry donated blood is collected in a blood collection bag via a flexible plastic tube having a needle at the remote end which is penetrated into a donor's vein. When collection is complete, the plastic tube is heat-sealed into segment tubes containing the same blood as has been collected in the blood collection bag. This method is frequently used when the destination of the blood is unknown at the time of collection. The segment tubes are normally made of polyvinylchloride or polypropylene plastic and are several millimetres in diameter and up to 20 cm in length.

When it is desired to use the blood in the collection bag, it is not necessary to obtain samples directly from the bag and risk contamination, but a segment tube containing the same product may be used. However, it is difficult to open segment tubes without cross-contaminating the contents of one with another, especially when the samples are to be used in highly sensitive tests. One known method of opening a segment tube is to cut it with scissors which then have to be decontaminated or disposed of between samples. Another method is to use needle-like devices which are inserted into both ends of each segment, one to allow the liquid to drain out, the other to allow air in to displace the liquid.

Both systems are manual, require extensive skill and care to avoid contamination and are also expensive in terms of disposable items or time for decontamination procedures.

Viewed from one aspect the invention provides a method of opening a sealed container containing a sample to be tested, the method comprising using a laser to open the container.

Viewed from another aspect the invention provides apparatus for opening a sealed container containing a sample to be tested, comprising a holder for the sealed container, and a laser for opening the sealed container.

By using a laser to open the sealed sample container there is no need physically to touch the container with a cutting instrument . The method and apparatus may be useful in dealing with e.g. microbiologiςal samples. It is particularly useful for blood product samples, such as blood, plasma or blood serum. The sample container may be a segment tube of the type traditionally opened by cutting with scissors or piercing with spikes.

Once the sample container is opened it will usually be desirable to transfer the contents to another receptacle, for example for testing. A preferred method comprises positioning a portion of the sealed container in or adjacent a vessel which is to receive the contents of the sealed container, and then using the laser to open the inserted portion. Preferred apparatus may therefore have a second holder for the vessel, and means for positioning the portion of the sealed container in or adjacent the vessel prior to use of the laser to open the portion. Such positioning may involve moving one or both of the sealed container and the vessel to achieve a relationship between the two to allow transfer of at least some of the contents of the sealed container to the vessel. For example, the sealed container may move laterally into vertical alignment with the vessel, which may then be lifted up to the sealed container. Advantageously, the proximity of the portion to be opened to the vessel, or its insertion in the vessel, can avoid splashing of the sample and hence contamination of surrounding equipment. The laser beam may be directed generally horizontally. However, it may be preferred to direct it downwardly, at an angle to the horizontal, in order to impinge on a bottom portion of the sealed container without being obstructed by a wall of the vessel. The sample container could be opened in two places, for example at the opposite ends of a segment tube, in order to facilitate transfer of the contents. The container is preferably made of a deformable material. Preferably, the need to open the sealed container in more than one place can be avoided by deforming the opened container to express the contents thereof. The apparatus may therefore have a deforming member suitable for this purpose. The deformation is advantageously controlled to control the speed of expression and hence reduce the possibility of aerosol formation. This further minimises the chance of contaminating neighbouring equipment . The deforming member preferably comprises a plate for applying pressure to the opened container. A preferred method comprises providing a flow of gas, for example filtered air, past a location at which the container is opened, the flow being separate from adjacent sample containers. There may therefore be a station at which the container is opened and which is separated from adjacent sample containers by appropriate walls, the flow of gas being arranged to pass the station whilst being guided by the walls.

The holder for the sealed container is preferably arranged automatically to present the container to the laser for opening. The process may be further automated so as to handle more than one sealed container. In preferred apparatus, the holder for the sealed container is a first carousel for a plurality of sealed containers and the second holder is a second carousel for a plurality of vessels. The sealed containers and vessels may be loaded onto their respective carousels whilst their individual identities are fed into a record system. The first and second carousels are desirably removable for loading and unloading. Preferably, the first and second carousels are removably mounted in a manner allowing only one position relative to each other. This ensures that their relative positions are always correct on assembly of the opening apparatus .

Any suitable laser cutting machine may be used to cut open the sealed container. In the case of segment tubes, the laser cutter will be suitable for cutting plastics.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is another schematic perspective view showing part of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a plan view of part of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a cross-section in a vertical and generally radial plane through part of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a cross-section in a vertical plane, generally perpendicular to the cross-section of Figure 4 ; and

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the use of a laser beam at an angle to the horizontal.

The apparatus for opening a sealed container comprises a first carousel 1, a second carousel 2 and a sample container opening station 3. The first carousel is loaded about its circumference with a plurality of segment tubes 5 each containing a sample to be tested.

The carousel 1 is motorised so as to be able to advance in steps by the spacing of one segment tube 5 to the next. The second carousel 2 holds a plurality of vessels in the form of sample receiving tubes. The second carousel 2 locates relative to the first carousel 1 in one orientation only, for example by location of a pin in a slot. Below the pair of carousels, there is shown a carousel motor drive and control box 9.

The container opening station 3 includes a housing 11. A duct 13 is provided for carrying filtered air from an inlet 15 to inside the carousel 1. Figures 3 and 4 show an outlet 17 of the duct 13. As seen in

Figure 4, the filtered air is conveyed past a location at which the segment tubes are opened and is then exhausted via an exhaust duct 19. The flow of filtered air so created is very localised and separates the segment tube being opened from all others and the local environment .

The carousel 1 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 21 (see Figure 2) arranged to register with the air outlet 17 and exhaust duct 19. Each opening 21 is arranged at the base of a respective segment tube 5.

As seen in Figure 2, a static cover 23 is arranged generally between the first and second carousels 1, 2. The cover 23 is formed with an opening 25. Figure 3 shows a laser unit 27 positioned above the opening 25 and directed so that the laser beam is emitted at the bottom end of a respective segment tube 5. Alongside the laser unit 27 a segment compressor 29 is provided. This includes an actuator 31, which may be motor driven, a ram 33 and a deforming plate 35. The segment compressor 29 is also seen in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a sample tube lift and carousel rotation unit 37 is provided. This includes a sample tube lifter 39 arranged to reciprocate between upper and lower positions.

Figure 6 shows an arrangement in which the laser unit (not shown) is arranged to direct a laser beam at a downward angle to the horizontal, to allow the beam to impinge on a segment tube 5 without having to pass through the wall of the respective sample tube 7.

In use, segment tubes 5 are loaded onto the first carousel 1 and their identities are recorded. Empty sample tubes 7 are loaded on the second carousel 2. One of the segment tubes 5 is positioned above the opening 25 in the static cover 23. The sample tube 7 below that segment tube is lifted from its lower position by lifter 39 to an upper position, as seen in Figure 5. The laser unit 27 operates to emit a laser beam to cut open the bottom of the segment tube. If necessary, the carousels 1, 2 may advance by a few millimetres during the cutting operation, so that a narrow beam can sweep across the width of the segment tube. At this time the bottom of the segment tube is inside or immediately above the mouth of the sample tube 7 , as seen in Figure 5.

Following cutting, the carousels advance a short distance to bring the cut open segment tube 5 into line with the compressor unit 29. The ram 33 is operated to cause the plate 35 to deform the segment tube and compress it against the outside of the vertical wall of the first carousel 1. This causes discharge of the contents of the segment tube into the sample tube. The speed of the ram 33 is controlled to minimise aerosol formation. Further, during the cutting and compression steps, the localised filtered air supply from duct outlet 17 creates an airflow across the opening and compression zone and out through exhaust duct 19. Contamination of adjacent segment and sample tubes is thereby avoided.

Once the contents of the segment tube have been expressed into the sample tube the lifter 39 moves to the lower position, allowing the sample tube 7 to drop to the lower position on the second carousel 2. The carousel rotation unit 37 then operates to rotate the next segment tube and sample tube pair into alignment with the laser unit 27. The previously filled sample tube moves beneath the static cover 23, as seen in Figure 5, and out of the cutting and compressing zone, where it will not be contaminated by the opening and emptying of' the next segment tube . Because the first and second carousels may only fit together in one way, it is known exactly which sample tube contains which sample .

The compressor plate 35 and the carousel 1 are the only parts that contact the segment tubes at all. The system could be provided with several carousels 1, enabling one to be being loaded, one to be on the machine and one to be being decontaminated of any potential contamination. The compression plate 35 is ideally located sufficiently upwardly of the portion of the sample tube which is cut open to avoid contamination, and is also away from the filtered air flow. It ought therefore not be necessary to use a different compressor plate for each segment, although if desired it would be possible to use a system of plates provided on a further carousel, each plate being arranged to rotate into registration with the ram 33 for each new segment tube to be cut open.

Claims

1. A method of opening a sealed container containing a sampie to be tested, the method comprising using a laser to open the container.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising positioning a portion of^' the sealed container in or adjacent a vessel which is to receive the contents of the sealed container, and then using the laser to open the inserted portion.

3. A method as claimed in .claim 1 or 2 , comprising deforming the opened container to express the contents thereof.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 , comprising providing a flow of gas past a location at which the container is opened, the flow being separate from adjacent sample containers.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sample is a blood product.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealed container is a segment tube.

7. Apparatus for opening a sealed container containing a sample to be tested, comprising a holder for the sealed container, and a laser for opening the sealed container.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, comprising a second holder for a vessel which is to receive the contents of the sealed container, and means for positioning a portion of the sealed container in or adjacent the vessel prior to use of the laser to open the said portion.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the holder for the sealed container is a first carousel for a plurality of sealed containers and the second holder is a second carousel for a plurality of vessels.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second carousels are removably mounted in a manner allowing only one position relative to each other.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, comprising a deforming member for deforming the opened container to express the contents thereof .

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the deforming member comprises a plate for applying pressure to the opened container.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12, comprising means for providing a flow of gas past a station at which the container is opened, the flow being separate from adjacent sample containers .