EP0271448A2 - Container for keeping liquid mediums - Google Patents

Container for keeping liquid mediums Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0271448A2
EP0271448A2 EP87810725A EP87810725A EP0271448A2 EP 0271448 A2 EP0271448 A2 EP 0271448A2 EP 87810725 A EP87810725 A EP 87810725A EP 87810725 A EP87810725 A EP 87810725A EP 0271448 A2 EP0271448 A2 EP 0271448A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wall
test piece
groove
liquid
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP87810725A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0271448A3 (en
Inventor
Anthony Ringrose
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Intracel Corp
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Intracel Corp
Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by Intracel Corp, Battelle Memorial Institute Inc filed Critical Intracel Corp
Publication of EP0271448A2 publication Critical patent/EP0271448A2/en
Publication of EP0271448A3 publication Critical patent/EP0271448A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/508—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above
    • B01L3/5082—Test tubes per se
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/50—Mixing receptacles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a test tube intended to contain a liquid medium in which a phenomenon of cavitation must be generated by transmission of ultrasound using an ultrasonic transducer brought into contact with the external face of the wall of this enclosure. .
  • a container intended to contain a liquid, a portion of the bottom of which is connected to the rest of the container by a rubber diaphgragm which makes this portion free to vibrate relative to the wall of the container.
  • This portion is kinematically integral with an oscillator intended to communicate ultrasonic frequency vibrations to it.
  • the face of this portion of the bottom in contact with the liquid in the form of a very flared cone, the top of which is directed towards the outside of the container.
  • DE 952.763 shows a pipe, a portion of the wall of which is made more elastic and is connected to an ultrasonic transducer, to communicate vibrations to the liquid contained in the pipe in order to homogenize it.
  • the transmission of ultrasonic energy through the wall of a test tube with an energy density sufficient to cause cavitation in the liquid medium by simple pressing of the ultrasonic transducer poses various problems.
  • the test piece must be made of a material which has a sufficiently low acoustic impedance to transmit the vibrations.
  • the energy necessary to generate the cavitation must not be capable of damaging the test piece by breaking it or by melting it locally and superficially.
  • it is also important not to cause excessive heating of the liquid to be analyzed.
  • the samples to be analyzed are generally of the order of a microliter, the test pieces are very small. In the case where the mixing of liquids must be carried out on an automatic analysis apparatus, it is obvious that the transducer used must be sufficiently small and therefore of low power.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a solution which makes it possible to meet all of the required conditions.
  • the subject of this invention is a test tube intended to receive a liquid medium according to claim 1.
  • the proposed solution allows the adaptation of the ultrasonic mixing technique to test pieces using a low power transducer, without rigid connection either between the transducer and the test piece, or between the test piece and its support, which allows the use of this solution with an automatic analysis device in which the test pieces are removably fixed to a transfer member moving the test pieces opposite different stations corresponding to the different stages of analysis of the sample contained in the test tube.
  • This solution also solves the problem of contamination of the samples, as well as that relating to the integrity of the volume of sample and of reagent placed in the test piece. Given the low energy required with the proposed solution to generate cavitation, there is no risk of damaging the test piece and excessively heating its contents.
  • the width of the side of the groove open towards the inside of the test piece and therefore causing the portion of liquid contained in this groove to communicate with the rest of the liquid contained in the test piece must not be greater at the depth of this groove. If this groove is triangular, or conical, the angle must not exceed 60 °.
  • Figs 1 to 3 consists of a tubular element 1 of rectangular section and widening slightly upwards, intended to receive a sample to be analyzed with its appropriate reagent (s).
  • the side wall 2 has a portion 3 of square shape with rounded angles in which the wall is thinned in order to give it a certain elasticity.
  • This thinned portion 3 surrounds a circular portion 4 similarly thickness than that of the wall surrounding the thinned portion 3.
  • the walls of this tubular element 1 are relatively rigid, they are made of polystyrene or polyacrylic injected 0.8 mm thick, while the thinned portion 3 has a thickness 0.3 mm and a minimum width of 2 mm, the circular portion 4 has 2 mm in diameter. These dimensions are not critical and can be changed in fairly large proportions.
  • the thinned portion 3 could have an annular shape. It essentially serves to ensure good contact between the circular portion 4 and the ultrasonic transducer intended to press against it. This intimate contact between the face of this circular portion 4 and the sonotrode is indeed an essential condition for the transmission of ultrasonic waves.
  • a groove 5 is formed on the internal face of the wall of this tubular enclosure 1 at the center of the circular portion 4.
  • the role of this groove is decisive for inducing cavitation in the liquid medium, and is all the more decisive since it has made it possible to demonstrate that it was possible to induce cavitation without the thinned portion 3, provided that there is good contact between the sonotrode and the external face of the tubular element 1, opposite the groove 5.
  • This therefore proves the predominant role of this groove 5 over that of the elastic portion 3 , which only seems to have the role of ensuring good contact with the sonotrode by allowing the external face of the portion 4 a certain angular displacement if the end of this sonotrode is not perfectly parallel to its external face.

Abstract

This container (1) comprises a membrane (3) arranged in its wall (2) and whose centre has a thicker circular portion (4) in the inner face of which a groove (5) is arranged. The central portion (4) connected resiliently to the wall (2) by the membrane (3) is intended to come into contact with the end of an ultrasonic transducer. The groove (5) is used to generate a cavitation phenomenon in the liquid present in the container (1) with a view to mixing it. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention se rapporte à une éprouvette desti­née à contenir un milieu liquide dans lequel doit être engen­dré un phénomène de cavitation par transmission d'ultrasons à l'aide d'un transducteur ultrasonique mis en contact avec la face externe de la paroi de cette enceinte.The present invention relates to a test tube intended to contain a liquid medium in which a phenomenon of cavitation must be generated by transmission of ultrasound using an ultrasonic transducer brought into contact with the external face of the wall of this enclosure. .

On sait que dans le cas d'analyses chimiques, notamment d'analyses de liquides biologiques, le problème de l'homogé­néisation est délicat à résoudre, notamment dans un processus d'analyse automatisé. Or, la qualité de l'homogénéisation des liquides à analyser est un facteur important dans la précision de la mesure.It is known that in the case of chemical analyzes, in particular analyzes of biological liquids, the problem of homogenization is difficult to solve, in particular in an automated analysis process. However, the quality of the homogenization of the liquids to be analyzed is an important factor in the accuracy of the measurement.

Il existe différentes techniques pour mélanger des liqui­des dans le domaine de l'analyse, le plus courant est l'agita­tion de l'enceinte contenant la substance à mélanger. Cette technique est essentiellement manuelle et ne se prête pas à un processus d'analyse automatique, en outre, son efficacité est aléatoire notamment au niveau moléculaire. On a également pro­posé une technique de brassage par aspiration et expulsion répétées du liquide à homogénéiser, à l'aide d'une pipette. Ce mode de mélange est relativement efficace, toutefois il pré­sente deux graves inconvénients, celui du risque de contami­nation des différents échantillons à analyser et le fait qu'il est impossible de garantir qu'aucune goutte de liquide ne reste accrochée à la pipette, faussant ainsi le dosage. La tendance des modes d'analyse étant de travailler avec des volumes d'échantillons très petits, l'importance de ce prélé­vement de gouttes sur la précision est d'autant plus grande que le volume d'échantillon est réduit.There are different techniques for mixing liquids in the field of analysis, the most common being the agitation of the enclosure containing the substance to be mixed. This technique is essentially manual and does not lend itself to an automatic analysis process, in addition, its effectiveness is random, particularly at the molecular level. It has also been proposed a stirring technique by repeated suction and expulsion of the liquid to be homogenized, using a pipette. This mixing method is relatively effective, however it has two serious drawbacks, that of the risk of contamination of the different samples to be analyzed and the fact that it is impossible to guarantee that no drop of liquid remains attached to the pipette, thus distorting the dosage. The tendency of the modes of analysis being to work with very small volumes of samples, the importance of this sampling of drops on the precision is all the greater as the volume of sample is reduced.

Il faut encore relever qu'en raison des volumes très faibles analysés, l'efficacité de la technique de mélange par agitation de l'enceinte est encore réduite en raison de l'im­portance des forces capilaires qui s'exercent sur du liquide placé dans une enceinte de très petit volume, généralement tubulaire.It should also be noted that due to the very small volumes analyzed, the effectiveness of the mixing technique by agitation of the enclosure is further reduced due to the importance of the capillary forces which are exerted on the liquid placed in a enclosure of very small volume, generally tubular.

On sait depuis longtemps que la transmission d'ultrasons à travers un liquide engendre des phénomènes de cavitation. Cette propriété est utilisée soit pour le nettoyage de surfaces en contact avec ce liquide, soit pour l'homogénéisa­tion du liquide réunissant plusieurs substances et/ou conte­nant des suspensions solides, soit encore pour former un brouillard.It has long been known that the transmission of ultrasound through a liquid causes cavitation phenomena. This property is used either for cleaning surfaces in contact with this liquid, or for the homogenization of the liquid combining several substances and / or containing solid suspensions, or even to form a mist.

Il a déja été proposé, notamment dans le FR-A-2.344.329 de transmettre les ultrasons à travers la paroi d'un conduit, en vue d'homogénéiser un liquide. Pour que cette transmission soit efficace, il est nécessaire de former un réseau de vibra­tions stationnaires sur la paroi du conduit qui est ainsi quadrillée par des ventres ou zones actives de vibrations. Dans la solution proposée dans ce document, une extrémité du conduit est fixée à une embase rigide et l'autre extrémité est libre, la sonotrode solidaire de la même embase que le tube étant appliquée avec une pression importante contre la paroi de celui-ci. Une telle solution n'est efficace qu'à condition qu'une extrémité du tube soit reliée rigidement à un bâti et que la masse de celui-ci soit importante. Lorsque ces condi­tions ne peuvent pas être réunies, cette solution est inappli­cable.It has already been proposed, in particular in FR-A-2,344,329 to transmit the ultrasound through the wall of a conduit, in order to homogenize a liquid. For this transmission to be effective, it is necessary to form a network of stationary vibrations on the wall of the duct which is thus gridded by bellies or active vibration zones. In the solution proposed in this document, one end of the conduit is fixed to a rigid base and the other end is free, the sonotrode secured to the same base as the tube being applied with significant pressure against the wall thereof. Such a solution is only effective provided that one end of the tube is rigidly connected to a frame and that the mass of the latter is significant. When these conditions cannot be met, this solution is inapplicable.

Dans le US-3,633,877 on décrit un récipient destiné à contenir un liquide dont une portion du fond est reliée au reste du récipient par un diaphgragme de caoutchouc qui rend cette portion libre de vibrer par rapport à la paroi du réci­pient. Cette portion est cinématiquement solidaire d'un oscil­lateur destiné à lui communiquer des vibrations de fréquence ultrasoniques. La face de cette portion du fond en contact avec le liquide à la forme d'un cône très évasé dont le sommet est dirigé vers l'extérieur du récipient.In US Pat. No. 3,633,877, a container is described intended to contain a liquid, a portion of the bottom of which is connected to the rest of the container by a rubber diaphgragm which makes this portion free to vibrate relative to the wall of the container. This portion is kinematically integral with an oscillator intended to communicate ultrasonic frequency vibrations to it. The face of this portion of the bottom in contact with the liquid in the form of a very flared cone, the top of which is directed towards the outside of the container.

Le DE 952.763 montre un tuyau dont une portion de la paroi est rendue plus élastique et est reliée à un transduc­teur ultrasonique, pour communiquer des vibrations au liquide contenu dans le tuyau afin de l'homogénéiser.DE 952.763 shows a pipe, a portion of the wall of which is made more elastic and is connected to an ultrasonic transducer, to communicate vibrations to the liquid contained in the pipe in order to homogenize it.

L'une et l'autre de ces deux dernières solutions suppose une liaison rigide entre le transducteur untrasonique et la paroi à laquelle on veut communiquer les ultrasons, de sorte qu'il y a liaison cinématique rigide entre ce transducteur et la paroi entrainée. Dans le cas d'une éprouvette d'analyse, notamment pour un appareil d'analyse automatique, une telle laison cinématique n'est pas réalisable, les ultrasons devant être communiqués au liquide par simple appui du transducteur contre la face externe de l'éprouvette.Both of these latter two solutions assume a rigid connection between the ultrasonic transducer and the wall to which the ultrasound is to be communicated, so that there is a rigid kinematic connection between this transducer and the driven wall. In the case of an analysis test tube, in particular for an automatic analysis device, such a kinematic connection is not possible, the ultrasound having to be communicated to the liquid by simple pressing of the transducer against the external face of the test piece.

La transmission d'une énergie ultrasonique à travers la paroi d'une éprouvette avec une densité d'énergie suffisante pour engendrer la cavitation dans le milieu liquide par simple appui du transducteur ultrasonique pose divers problèmes. Il faut que l'éprouvette soit réalisée en un matériau qui présen­te une impédance acoustique suffisamment faible pour transmet­tre les vibrations. Il ne faut pas que l'énergie nécessaire pour engendrer la cavitation soit susceptible d'abîmer l'é­prouvette en la brisant ou en la faisant fondre localement et superficiellement. Lorsqu'il s'agit d'analyses dans le domaine de la chimie clinique, il ne faut pas non plus provoquer un échauffement trop important du liquide à analyser. En outre les échantillons à analyser étant généralement de l'ordre du microlitre, les éprouvettes sont très petites. Dans le cas où le mélange des liquides doit être réalisé sur un appareil d'analyse automatique, il est évident que le transducteur utilisé doit être suffisamment petit et donc de faible puis­sance. Ces différentes exigences sont difficiles à concilier, dans la mesure où elles sont plus ou moins contradictoires.The transmission of ultrasonic energy through the wall of a test tube with an energy density sufficient to cause cavitation in the liquid medium by simple pressing of the ultrasonic transducer poses various problems. The test piece must be made of a material which has a sufficiently low acoustic impedance to transmit the vibrations. The energy necessary to generate the cavitation must not be capable of damaging the test piece by breaking it or by melting it locally and superficially. When it comes to analyzes in the field of clinical chemistry, it is also important not to cause excessive heating of the liquid to be analyzed. In addition, the samples to be analyzed are generally of the order of a microliter, the test pieces are very small. In the case where the mixing of liquids must be carried out on an automatic analysis apparatus, it is obvious that the transducer used must be sufficiently small and therefore of low power. These different requirements are difficult to reconcile, since they are more or less contradictory.

Le but de la présente invention est d'apporter une solu­tion qui permette de répondre à l'ensemble des conditions requises.The object of the present invention is to provide a solution which makes it possible to meet all of the required conditions.

A cet effet, cette invention a pour objet une éprouvette destinée à recevoir un milieu liquide selon la revendication 1.To this end, the subject of this invention is a test tube intended to receive a liquid medium according to claim 1.

La solution proposée permet l'adaptation de la technique de mélange par ultrasons à des éprouvettes à l'aide d'un transducteur de faible puissance, sans liaison rigide ni entre le transducteur et l'éprouvette, ni entre l'éprouvette et son support, ce qui permet l'utilisation de cette solution avec un appareil d'analyse automatique dans lequel les éprouvettes sont fixées amoviblement à un organe de transfert déplaçant les éprouvettes en regard de différents postes correspondant aux différentes étapes d'analyse de l'échantillon contenu dans l'éprouvette. Cette solution résout en outre le problème de la contamination des échantillons, de même que celui relatif à l'intégrité du volume d'échantillon et de réactif placés dans l'éprouvette. Compte tenu de la faible énergie nécessaire avec la solution proposée pour engendrer la cavitation, il n'y a pas de risque d'abîmer l'éprouvette et de chauffer exagérem­ment son contenu.The proposed solution allows the adaptation of the ultrasonic mixing technique to test pieces using a low power transducer, without rigid connection either between the transducer and the test piece, or between the test piece and its support, which allows the use of this solution with an automatic analysis device in which the test pieces are removably fixed to a transfer member moving the test pieces opposite different stations corresponding to the different stages of analysis of the sample contained in the test tube. This solution also solves the problem of contamination of the samples, as well as that relating to the integrity of the volume of sample and of reagent placed in the test piece. Given the low energy required with the proposed solution to generate cavitation, there is no risk of damaging the test piece and excessively heating its contents.

Le dessin annexé illustre, schématiquement et à titre d'exemple, une forme d'exécution de l'enceinte objet de la présente invention.

  • La fig. 1 est une vue en élévation de face de cette forme d'exécution.
  • La fig. 2 est une vue en coupe agrandie selon la ligne II-II de la fig. 1.
  • La fig. 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la fig. 2.
The attached drawing illustrates, schematically and by way of example, an embodiment of the enclosure which is the subject of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of this embodiment.
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along line II-II of FIG. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2.

Dans un premier temps, on a pensé qu'il suffisait de ménager sur la paroi de l'enceinte une zone élastique sembla­ble à une membrane et d'appliquer l'extrémité d'un transduc­teur ultrasonique contre cette zone élastique. Des essais réalisés dans ces conditions avec un milieu liquide dans lequel doit être répartie uniformément une phase solide, ont montré que l'effet de mélange, lié à la cavitation n'était pas constant. Il est apparu que les ulstrasons transmis à travers la membrane élastique n'engendrait pas toujours de la cavita­tion et que ceci n'était pas lié à l'élasticité de la mem­brane. C'est alors que l'on a constaté que les seules parois qui permettaient d'engendrer de la cavitation étaient celles qui présentaient des fissures induites consécutivement à l'ap­plication du transducteur ultrasonique, et qui étaient réali­sées dans des matériaux qui sont aptes à transmettre les ultrasons avec un bon rendement, ces matériaux présentant en particulier un coéfficient d'élasticité supérieur à 25·10⁴ N/cm². Dans le cas des matières plastiques on peut citer à titre d'exemple le polystyrène et le polyacrylique.At first, it was thought that it was enough to provide on the wall of the enclosure an elastic zone similar to a membrane and to apply the end of an ultrasonic transducer against this elastic zone. Tests carried out under these conditions with a liquid medium in which a solid phase must be uniformly distributed, have shown that the mixing effect, linked to cavitation, was not constant. It appeared that the ulstrasons transmitted through the elastic membrane did not always cause cavitation and that this was not related to the elasticity of the membrane. It was then that it was found that the only walls which made it possible to generate cavitation were those which exhibited cracks induced following the application of the ultrasonic transducer, and which were produced in materials which are capable of transmitting ultrasound with a good yield, these materials having in particular a coefficient of elasticity greater than 25 · 10⁴ N / cm². In the case of plastics, there may be mentioned, by way of example, polystyrene and polyacrylic.

Etant donné que sous l'effet de la pression exercée sur la paroi de l'éprouvette par le transducteur, les bords de la fissure s'écartent en allant vers la face interne de la paroi, on a eu l'idée d'essayer de reproduire le même effet sans fissure mais avec de petites rainures ménagées sur la face interne. Ces essais ont permis de démontrer que la présence de rainures, voire même de simples cônes rentrants ménagées dans l'épaisseur de la paroi par des pointes chaudes, permettait d'obtenir un effet de cavitation. Il semble qu'il est possible d'interpréter ce phonomène, comme résultant d'une variation du volume à l'intérieur de la rainure susceptible de créer dans la portion du liquide contenue dans cette rainure une pression locale inférieure à la pression de vapeur de ce liquide.Given that under the effect of the pressure exerted on the wall of the test piece by the transducer, the edges of the crack move apart towards the internal face of the wall, we had the idea to try to reproduce the same effect without cracking but with small grooves made on the internal face. These tests made it possible to demonstrate that the presence of grooves, or even simple re-entrant cones formed in the thickness of the wall by hot tips, made it possible to obtain a cavitation effect. It seems that it is possible to interpret this phonomene, as resulting from a variation of the volume inside the groove likely to create in the portion of the liquid contained in this groove a local pressure lower than the vapor pressure of this liquid.

Parmi les essais comparatifs effectuées avec et sans rai­nure et avec le même transducteur ultrasonique alimenté avec le même courant, on a constaté que la présence de la rainure permet immédiatement d'engendrer la cavitation, alors que l'absence de rainure ne donne aucun résultat et peut même, en prolongeant le temps d'application de la sonotrode contre la paroi de l'éprouvette provoquer une déformation de celle-ci, consécutivement à l'échauffement. Cette expérience démontre qu'avec un transducteur ultrasonique de plus grande puissance, on risquait de détériorer l'éprouvette avant de créer la cavitation dans le liquide qu'elle contient. Il est évident que pour engendrer la cavitation, la rainure ménagée dans la face interne de la paroi de l'éprouvette doit être suffisament fermée. En règle générale, il ne faut pas que la largeur du côté de la rainure ouvert vers l'intérieur de l'éprouvette et faisant donc communiquer la portion de liquide contenue dans cette rainure avec le reste du liquide contenu dans l'éprou­vette, soit supérieure à la profondeur de cette rainure. Si cette rainure est triangulaie, ou conique il ne faut pas que l'angle excède 60°.Among the comparative tests carried out with and without groove and with the same ultrasonic transducer supplied with the same current, it was found that the presence of the groove immediately makes it possible to generate cavitation, while the absence of groove gives no results and may even, by prolonging the time of application of the sonotrode against the wall of the test piece, cause its deformation, following heating. This experience shows that with a higher power ultrasonic transducer, there was a risk of damaging the test piece before creating cavitation in the liquid it contains. It is obvious that to generate cavitation, the groove made in the internal face of the wall of the test piece must be sufficiently closed. As a general rule, the width of the side of the groove open towards the inside of the test piece and therefore causing the portion of liquid contained in this groove to communicate with the rest of the liquid contained in the test piece must not be greater at the depth of this groove. If this groove is triangular, or conical, the angle must not exceed 60 °.

La forme d'exécution des figs 1 à 3 est constituée par un élément tubulaire 1 de section rectangulaire et s'évasant légèrement vers le haut, destiné à recevoir un échantillon à analyser avec son ou ses réactifs appropriés.The embodiment of Figs 1 to 3 consists of a tubular element 1 of rectangular section and widening slightly upwards, intended to receive a sample to be analyzed with its appropriate reagent (s).

La paroi latérale 2 présente une portion 3 de forme carrée avec des angles arrondis dans laquelle la paroi est amincie afin de lui conférer une certaine élasticité. Cette portion amincie 3 entoure une portion circulaire 4 de même epaisseur que celle de la paroi entourant la portion amincie 3. Les parois de cet élément tubulaire 1 sont relativement rigides, elles sont réalisées en polystyrène ou en polyacryli­que injecté de 0,8 mm d'épaisseur, alors que la portion amin­cie 3 a une épaisseur de 0,3 mm et une largeur minimum de 2 mm, la portion circulaire 4 a 2 mm de diamètre. Ces dimensions ne sont pas critiques et peuvent être modifiées dans des proportions assez larges. De même, la portion amincie 3 pour­rait avoir une forme annulaire. Elle sert essentiellement à assurer un bon contact entre la portion circulaire 4 et le transducteur ultrasonique destiné à venir appuyer contre elle. Ce contact intime entre la face de cette portion circulaire 4 et la sonotrode est en effet une condition essentielle à la transmission des ondes ultrasoniques.The side wall 2 has a portion 3 of square shape with rounded angles in which the wall is thinned in order to give it a certain elasticity. This thinned portion 3 surrounds a circular portion 4 similarly thickness than that of the wall surrounding the thinned portion 3. The walls of this tubular element 1 are relatively rigid, they are made of polystyrene or polyacrylic injected 0.8 mm thick, while the thinned portion 3 has a thickness 0.3 mm and a minimum width of 2 mm, the circular portion 4 has 2 mm in diameter. These dimensions are not critical and can be changed in fairly large proportions. Similarly, the thinned portion 3 could have an annular shape. It essentially serves to ensure good contact between the circular portion 4 and the ultrasonic transducer intended to press against it. This intimate contact between the face of this circular portion 4 and the sonotrode is indeed an essential condition for the transmission of ultrasonic waves.

Sur la face interne de la paroi de cette enceinte tubulaire 1 au centre de la portion circulaire 4, une rainure 5 est ménagée. Comme on l'a déjà expliqué, le rôle de cette rainure est déterminant pour induire la cavitation dans le milieu liquide, et est d'autant plus déterminant qu'il a permis de démontrer qu'il était possible d'induire la cavita­tion sans la portion amincie 3, à condition d'avoir un bon contact entre le sonotrode et la face externe de l'élément tubulaire 1, en face de la rainure 5. Ceci prouve donc le rôle prédominant de cette rainure 5 sur celui de la portion élasti­que 3, qui ne semble avoir que le rôle d'assurer un bon con­tact avec la sonotrode en permettant à la face externe de la portion 4 un certain déplacement angulaire si l'extrémité de cette sonotrode n'est pas parfaitement parallèle à sa face externe.On the internal face of the wall of this tubular enclosure 1 at the center of the circular portion 4, a groove 5 is formed. As already explained, the role of this groove is decisive for inducing cavitation in the liquid medium, and is all the more decisive since it has made it possible to demonstrate that it was possible to induce cavitation without the thinned portion 3, provided that there is good contact between the sonotrode and the external face of the tubular element 1, opposite the groove 5. This therefore proves the predominant role of this groove 5 over that of the elastic portion 3 , which only seems to have the role of ensuring good contact with the sonotrode by allowing the external face of the portion 4 a certain angular displacement if the end of this sonotrode is not perfectly parallel to its external face.

Claims (4)

1. Eprouvette destinée à recevoir un milieu liquide, une portion de sa paroi au moins étant conformée pour transmettre audit milieu liquide des ondes ultrasoniques d'intensité d'é­nergie apte à y engendrer la cavitation, caractérisé par le fait que la paroi de l'éprouvette est réalisée en une pièce à l'aide d'un matériau dont le module d'élasticité se situe au-­dessus de 25·10⁴ N/cm² la face interne de la paroi de cette éprouvette comportant, dans la zone de transmission des vibra­tions ultrasoniques, une rainure ménagée dans l'épaisseur de cette paroi et dont la largeur de l'ouverture dans cette face interne n'est pas supérieure à sa profondeur, pour créer dans cette rainure des variations de volume susceptibles d'en­gendrer dans le liquide contenu dans cette rainure une pres­sion locale inférieure à la pression de vapeur du liquide.1. Test tube intended to receive a liquid medium, at least a portion of its wall being shaped to transmit to said liquid medium ultrasonic waves of energy intensity capable of causing cavitation therein, characterized in that the wall of the test piece is made in one piece using a material whose elastic modulus is above 25 · 10⁴ N / cm² the internal face of the wall of this test piece comprising, in the vibration transmission zone ultrasonic, a groove formed in the thickness of this wall and whose width of the opening in this internal face is not greater than its depth, to create in this groove volume variations capable of generating in the liquid contained in this groove a local pressure lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid. 2. Eprouvette selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que la portion de paroi contenant ladite rainure est entourée d'une zone d'épaisseur réduite, susceptible de flé­chir élastiquement par rapport à cette paroi, lorsque l'extré­mité d'un transducteur ultrasonique est appliquée contre elle.2. A test piece according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall portion containing said groove is surrounded by an area of reduced thickness, capable of flexing elastically relative to this wall, when the end of an ultrasonic transducer is applied against it. 3. Eprouvette selon la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait que ladite paroi présentant ladite zone délimitée de rigidité réduite est plane.3. A test piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said wall having said defined zone of reduced rigidity is planar. 4. Eprouvette selon la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait que ladite zone délimitéee de rigidité réduite compor­te une partie élastique de forme annulaire reliant une partie centrale plus rigide au reste de la paroi de cette enceinte.4. A test piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said demarcated area of reduced rigidity comprises an elastic part of annular shape connecting a more rigid central part to the rest of the wall of this enclosure.
EP87810725A 1986-12-11 1987-12-08 Container for keeping liquid mediums Withdrawn EP0271448A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH4931/86A CH667599A5 (en) 1986-12-11 1986-12-11 ENCLOSURE FOR CONTAINING A LIQUID MEDIUM.
CH4931/86 1986-12-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0271448A2 true EP0271448A2 (en) 1988-06-15
EP0271448A3 EP0271448A3 (en) 1989-12-27

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EP87810725A Withdrawn EP0271448A3 (en) 1986-12-11 1987-12-08 Container for keeping liquid mediums

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EP (1) EP0271448A3 (en)
JP (1) JPS6427649A (en)
CH (1) CH667599A5 (en)
DK (1) DK648587A (en)

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WO1999058637A2 (en) * 1998-05-07 1999-11-18 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Device and method for targeted exposure of a biological sample to sound waves
FR2791697A1 (en) * 1999-04-01 2000-10-06 Biomerieux Sa Apparatus for ultrasonic cell lysis, useful for recovering nucleic acids from bacteria and yeast, in which the probe has an active surface that matches the shape of the sample vessel
WO2000073413A2 (en) * 1999-05-28 2000-12-07 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US6431476B1 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-08-13 Cepheid Apparatus and method for rapid ultrasonic disruption of cells or viruses
US6440725B1 (en) 1997-12-24 2002-08-27 Cepheid Integrated fluid manipulation cartridge
US6664104B2 (en) 1999-06-25 2003-12-16 Cepheid Device incorporating a microfluidic chip for separating analyte from a sample
US6818185B1 (en) 1999-05-28 2004-11-16 Cepheid Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction
US8268603B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2012-09-18 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US8441629B2 (en) 2009-04-15 2013-05-14 Biocartis Sa Optical detection system for monitoring rtPCR reaction
US8512637B2 (en) 2009-05-06 2013-08-20 Biocartis Sa Device for cutting a sample carrier
US8641971B2 (en) 2009-04-14 2014-02-04 Biocartis Sa HIFU induced cavitation with reduced power threshold
US8815521B2 (en) 2000-05-30 2014-08-26 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US9073053B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2015-07-07 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
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Cited By (35)

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EP0337690A1 (en) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-18 Amoco Corporation Method for preparing sample nucleic acids for hybridization
US6440725B1 (en) 1997-12-24 2002-08-27 Cepheid Integrated fluid manipulation cartridge
WO1999058637A2 (en) * 1998-05-07 1999-11-18 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Device and method for targeted exposure of a biological sample to sound waves
WO1999058637A3 (en) * 1998-05-07 2000-01-27 Fraunhofer Ges Forschung Device and method for targeted exposure of a biological sample to sound waves
US6699711B1 (en) * 1998-05-07 2004-03-02 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. Device and method for selective exposure of a biological sample to sound waves
US6887693B2 (en) 1998-12-24 2005-05-03 Cepheid Device and method for lysing cells, spores, or microorganisms
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FR2791697A1 (en) * 1999-04-01 2000-10-06 Biomerieux Sa Apparatus for ultrasonic cell lysis, useful for recovering nucleic acids from bacteria and yeast, in which the probe has an active surface that matches the shape of the sample vessel
EP1466966A1 (en) * 1999-04-01 2004-10-13 Biomerieux S.A. Apparatus and process of lysis by biological ultrasounds of cells
WO2000060049A1 (en) * 1999-04-01 2000-10-12 Biomerieux S.A. Method and apparatus for ultrasonic lysis of biological cells
US9789481B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2017-10-17 Cepheid Device for extracting nucleic acid from a sample
US8709363B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2014-04-29 Cepheid Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction
US6783736B1 (en) 1999-05-28 2004-08-31 Cepheid Cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample
WO2000073413A2 (en) * 1999-05-28 2000-12-07 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US6818185B1 (en) 1999-05-28 2004-11-16 Cepheid Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction
US9943848B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2018-04-17 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US6881541B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2005-04-19 Cepheid Method for analyzing a fluid sample
WO2000073413A3 (en) * 1999-05-28 2001-01-25 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US6391541B1 (en) 1999-05-28 2002-05-21 Kurt E. Petersen Apparatus for analyzing a fluid sample
US8168442B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2012-05-01 Cepheid Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction
US8268603B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2012-09-18 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US9322052B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2016-04-26 Cepheid Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction
US9073053B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2015-07-07 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US8580559B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2013-11-12 Cepheid Device for extracting nucleic acid from a sample
US6878540B2 (en) 1999-06-25 2005-04-12 Cepheid Device for lysing cells, spores, or microorganisms
US6664104B2 (en) 1999-06-25 2003-12-16 Cepheid Device incorporating a microfluidic chip for separating analyte from a sample
US6431476B1 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-08-13 Cepheid Apparatus and method for rapid ultrasonic disruption of cells or viruses
US8815521B2 (en) 2000-05-30 2014-08-26 Cepheid Apparatus and method for cell disruption
US8641971B2 (en) 2009-04-14 2014-02-04 Biocartis Sa HIFU induced cavitation with reduced power threshold
US8986612B2 (en) 2009-04-14 2015-03-24 Biocartis Nv HIFU induced cavitation with reduced power threshold
US9097626B2 (en) 2009-04-14 2015-08-04 Biocartis Nv HIFU induced cavitation with reduced power threshold
US9079182B2 (en) 2009-04-15 2015-07-14 Biocartis Nv Protection of bioanalytical sample chambers
US8441629B2 (en) 2009-04-15 2013-05-14 Biocartis Sa Optical detection system for monitoring rtPCR reaction
US8512637B2 (en) 2009-05-06 2013-08-20 Biocartis Sa Device for cutting a sample carrier

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0271448A3 (en) 1989-12-27
CH667599A5 (en) 1988-10-31
DK648587D0 (en) 1987-12-10
JPS6427649A (en) 1989-01-30
DK648587A (en) 1988-06-12

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