Container assembly and associated method

• US 10,376,247 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biopsafe APS
• Original Assignee: Biopsafe APS
• Inventors: Jakobsen, Ole, Bay, Christoffer, Ilskov, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US15/584,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20170231604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0202 without integral tamper element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/20 Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples

Abstract

A tissue-sample container assembly including a container defining a cavity configured to store a tissue sample and a lid connectable to the container to close the cavity. The lid has a receptacle adapted to contain a preserving agent, a seal forming at least a portion of a bottom of the receptacle, and a puncturing member arranged above the seal and actuatable to break the seal. A preserving agent is disposed in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A tissue-sample container assembly configured to store a tissue sample, comprising:

a container defining a cavity for storing the tissue sample; and

a cover adapted to engage with the container to close the cavity, the cover including a top member having a receptacle containing a preserving agent and a seal for sealing off the receptacle, and including a puncturing member for breaking the seal by displacement of the puncturing member relative to the seal, wherein the puncturing member is adapted to break the seal such that the ruptured seal remains attached to the cover.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle and seal cooperate to define an enclosure and a preserving agent is disposed within the enclosure.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the puncturing member is axially displaceable relative to the seal between at least a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the puncturing member to the second position causes the puncturing member to break the seal placing the receptacle and the container in fluid communication with each other.

4. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the top member has at least one wall that defines the receptacle and the seal is attached to the at least one wall, wherein the puncturing member is disposed radially inboard of the at least one wall.

5. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is a lid.

6. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is adapted to be fluid tightly sealed to the container.

7. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the container assembly comprises a tracking device.

8. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal is selected from a group consisting of a film, a foil, a membrane, and a polymer.

9. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the puncturing member is adapted to support the seal after the seal has been broken.

10. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the puncturing member has at least two projections for breaking the seal.

11. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the puncturing member has teeth.

12. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the top member further comprises a membrane defining an outer surface of the top member and having a substantially convex shape in a first position and a substantially concave shape in a second position.

13. The container assembly of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a protective cap for covering the membrane.

14. The container assembly of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for indicating whether the seal has been broken.

15. A method of preserving a tissue sample comprising:

providing a container;

providing a cover including a puncturing member and a top member with a receptacle filled with a preserving agent and sealed with a seal;

placing a tissue sample in said container;

engaging said cover with the container; and

displacing the puncturing member to rupture the seal and release the preserving agent into the container.

16. A tissue-sample container assembly comprising:

a container defining a cavity configured to store a tissue sample;

a lid connectable to the container to close the cavity, the lid including;

a receptacle adapted to contain a preserving agent,

a seal forming at least a portion of a bottom of the receptacle, and

a puncturing member arranged above the seal and actuatable to break the seal; and

a preserving agent disposed in the receptacle.

17. The container assembly of claim 16, wherein the puncturing member is disposed in the receptacle.

18. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the lid further includes a compressible top and the puncturing member is suspended from the top, and wherein the puncturing member is actuated through the seal to release the preserving agent onto the tissue sample by compressing the top.

19. The container assembly of claim 16, wherein the puncturing member functions as a separator.

20. The container assembly of claim 16, wherein the puncturing member functions as a separator at least after the seal has been broken.