Support for the preservation of biological samples and correlated method of production

Abstract

A support for conserving a sample of biological material comprising at least a substantially rigid body made of moulded plastic material, comprising at least a first through opening and at least a first portion of an absorbent matrix suitable for conserving a sample of biological material, fixed within the first through opening. The first portion of the absorbent matrix has at least a first part without support from the body and suspended inside the first through opening, the first part being directly accessible to contact.

1 . A support for conserving a sample of biological material, the support comprising:
 a substantially rigid body made of moulded or co-moulded or overmoulded plastic material, comprising a first through opening;   at least a first portion of an absorbent matrix, preferably made of a material comprising cellulose, suitable and intended for conserving a sample of biological material; the first portion of the absorbent matrix being fixed and maintained in a predetermined position within the first through opening;   wherein the first portion of the absorbent matrix has a first part without support from the body and which is suspended inside the first through opening, the first part of the first portion of the absorbent matrix being directly accessible to contact.   
     
     
         2 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the absorbent matrix is provided with a second lateral part constrained to the body and/or in contact with and/or adhering to the body and/or inserted in the body and surrounded and enclosed by the body; the first portion of the absorbent matrix being maintained in a predetermined position within the first through opening at least by fastening, contact and/or adhesion between the second lateral part of the first portion of the absorbent matrix and the body. 
     
     
         3 . The support according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second portion of the absorbent matrix, preferably made of material comprising cellulose, or a second portion of material suitable for cleaning a cutting head of a punch which is suitable for, configured and intended to constitute a cleaning zone for the cutting head of a punch suitable for taking a sample of biological material from the first portion; the body further having a second through opening distinct from the first through opening and the second portion being fixed and maintained in a predetermined position inside the second through opening, wherein the second portion of the absorbent matrix has at least a first part without support from the body and which is suspended inside the second through opening, the first part of the second portion being directly accessible to contact, and wherein the second portion of the absorbent matrix further has a second lateral part constrained to the body and/or in contact with and/or adhering to the body and/or inserted in the body and surrounded and enclosed by the body. 
     
     
         4 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is made by moulding or co-moulding or overmoulding plastic material on the second lateral part of the first portion of the absorbent matrix and/or on the second lateral part of the second portion of the absorbent matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The support according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least the first portion of the absorbent matrix has a thickness that is smaller than a corresponding thickness of the body at the first through opening, wherein the thickness of the body is equal to or greater than 1.0 mm, more preferably comprised in the interval of 1.2 mm-1.4 mm, and/or equal to or less than 3.0 mm, more preferably 2.0 mm, and/or the thickness of the first portion of the absorbent matrix is equal to or greater than 0.2 mm or 0.4 mm, more preferably 0.5 mm or 0.6 mm and/or equal to or less than 1 mm, more preferably 0.8 mm.   
     
     
         6 . The support according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the body has at least a first profile of discontinuity of thickness in a zone of proximity to the first portion of the absorbent matrix; or wherein   the body has at least a first profile of discontinuity of thickness and a second profile of discontinuity of thickness ( 25 ) in a zone of proximity to the first portion of the absorbent matrix and/or wherein   a part of the body overlaps part of a first face or surface and of a second face or surface of the first portion of the absorbent matrix, and wherein the portions of the body overlapping the first portion of the absorbent matrix create a stop preventing the axial mobility of the first portion of the absorbent matrix relative to the body.   
     
     
         7 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is a substantially planar body extending mainly along a first and a second direction respectively identified by a first reference axis (X) and a second reference axis (Y) identifying an upper face and a lower face opposite the upper face, wherein the first through opening and the second through opening extend substantially along a direction identified by a third reference axis (Z) orthogonal to the first reference axis (X) and wherein the first portion of the absorbent matrix has a first face and a second face substantially parallel to the upper face and/or to the lower face and/or wherein the first face and the second face of the first part of the first portion of the absorbent matrix are directly accessible to contact and/or wherein the body has a flat conformation and/or a card shape. 
     
     
         8 . The support according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one a radio-frequency identification chip integrated within the body and comprising one a memory suitable for containing electronic data, wherein the memory preferably optionally comprises one a non-rewritable portion, and/or comprising one an identification profile for identifying correct manipulation, designed to enable identification of a specific orientation of the body and configured to be read by an optical reader and/or a mechanical stop of a manipulator device; and/or wherein the identification profile for identifying correct manipulation is disposed at or substantially at the perimeter of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the first portion of the absorbent matrix is provided with at least a third part curved or bent, for example made by die-cutting, configured to compensate at least for expansions or contractions, thermal or of another nature, of the plastic material of the body and/or contractions or expansions of the first portion of the absorbent material, the third part being interposed between the first part and the body or the second lateral part and/or being disposed substantially at a perimeter of the first part of the absorbent matrix in proximity to the body and/or wherein also the second portion of the absorbent matrix is provided with an equivalent curved or bent third part. 
     
     
         10 . A production process for producing a support for conserving a sample of biological material, the process comprising:
 A step of making a first portion of absorbent matrix, preferably from a material comprising cellulose suitable and intended for the storage of a sample of biological material;   A step of positioning the first portion of the absorbent matrix in a mould, and of retaining the first portion of the absorbent matrix in a predetermined position in the mould;   A step of moulding or co-moulding or overmoulding plastic material in empty spaces of the mould, after which a body is made to retain the first portion of the absorbent matrix, wherein the body is provided with at least a first through opening and is fixed to the first portion of the absorbent matrix at least in a second lateral part of the first portion and wherein the first portion has a first part without support from the body and which is suspended inside the first through opening, the first part of the first portion of the absorbent matrix being directly accessible to contact.   
     
     
         11 . The production process according to  claim 10 , wherein after the moulding step, the body assumes a substantially planar shape, extending along a first and a second direction respectively defined along a first reference axis (X) and a second reference axis (Y) orthogonal to the first reference axis, and/or wherein the body has a thickness, measured at the first through opening and along a third reference axis (Z) orthogonal both to the first and the second reference axis, which is greater than the thickness of the first portion of the absorbent matrix and preferably at least equal to 1 mm and/or wherein the body has at least a first profile of discontinuity of thickness in a zone of proximity to the first portion of the absorbent matrix, or optionally a first profile of discontinuity of thickness at the first face of the first portion of the absorbent matrix, and a second profile of discontinuity of thickness at the second face of the first portion of the absorbent matrix, substantially where the body at least partly overlaps the first face and the second face.