Samples storage system for pharmaceutical development

Abstract

A samples storage system for pharmaceutical development in which the usable volumes of ultramicrotubes (384 tubes) are increased and smooth insertion and extraction of ultramicrotubes is possible irrespective of the positions of the ultramicrotubes. The samples storage system includes tubes in which samples are sealed and a storage rack for vertically accommodating a plurality of the tubes in a grid pattern. Each tube is of a rectangular hollow tubular cross-section and the intersect is tapered toward the bottom portion of the tube. Corner portions of the outer four side surfaces of the tubes are chamfered. The storage rack has engagement partition walls forming open-ended sections in a grid pattern inside the rack frame. The height of the walls is smaller than the length of the tube, and tube-supporting pins project vertically from the intersections of the grid. The outermost walls of the grid are spaced inwardly from the frame so that all of the tubes in the grid are supported for ready insertion and removal.

1 . A samples storage system for pharmaceutical development including tubes in which samples for pharmaceutical development are sealed and a storage rack for vertically accommodating a plurality of said tubes in a grid pattern, characterized in that
 said tubes are of a rectangular hollow tubular cross-section which is tapered toward the bottom portion of the tube and four sides with chamfered corner portions on the outer surfaces, and   said storage rack has a frame and engagement partition walls intersecting one another and forming grid pattern sections inside said rack frame, said walls having a height smaller than the length of said tubes,   said grid partition walls have tube supporting pins extending vertically from respective intersections of the grid partition walls, whereby   all of said tubes, including the tubes accommodated adjacent said frame are held by said grid partition walls and said tube supporting pins.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said partition walls cooperate to form open-ended receptacles for association with said tubes,
 each said tube having a shoulder on its periphery in said side surfaces and a convex portion spaced a selected distance below said shoulder, said selected distance being not less than the height of said partition walls, and wherein further   at least one of said side surface and the associated partition wall is elastically deformable to enable said shoulder and said convex portion to engage the top and bottom of said partition wall to effect releasable interlocking engagement of said tube in said open-ended receptacle.   
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein said grid of partition walls have outermost walls adjacent said frame, said outermost walls being spaced from said frame and capable of being deflected to facilitate insertion and removal of said tubes into and from the open-ended receptacles formed by said outermost walls. 
     
     
         4 . A storage rack adapted for use in a system for pharmaceutical development having tubes in which samples for pharmaceutical development are sealed, said tubes having a rectangular hollow tubular cross-section which is tapered toward the bottom portion of the tube and four sides with chamfered corner portions on the outer surfaces,
 a storage rack having a frame and engagement partition walls intersecting one another and forming grid pattern of open-ended receptacles inside said rack frame, said walls having a height smaller than the length of said tubes,   said engagement partition walls have tube supporting pins extending vertically from respective intersections of the grid partition walls, whereby   all of said tubes, including the tubes accommodated adjacent said frame are held by said grid pattern engagement partition walls and said tube supporting pins.   
     
     
         5 . A storage rack according to  claim 4  adapted for use in a system for pharmaceutical development having tubes with shoulders on their outer surfaces and convex portions spaced a given distance below said shoulders, wherein
 said partition walls have a height less than said given distance and are formed of an elastically deformable material to permit passage of at least one of said shoulders and said convex portions through said receptacles during insertion and removal of said tubes into and from said receptacles, said shoulders and convex portions providing a releasable interlocking of said tubes with said partition walls of said receptacles.   
     
     
         6 . A storage rack according to  claim 4  wherein said pins are tapered upwardly to guide the tubes into said receptacles during insertion of the tubes into said receptacles. 
     
     
         7 . A storage rack according to  claim 4  wherein said grid of partition walls have outermost walls adjacent said frame, said outermost walls being spaced from said frame and capable of being deflected to facilitate insertion and removal of the tubes into and from the open-ended receptacles formed by said walls.