Adaptor for use with point-of-care testing cartridge

• US 20020143273A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Francavilla, Frank, Crawford, Jamieson W. M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips

Abstract

An adaptor is provided to facilitate delivery of a fluid specimen from a syringe to a point-of-care testing cartridge. The adaptor includes a tube with an outlet end, an inlet end and a passage extending between the ends. The outlet end of the tube is dimensioned for mating with the entry port of the testing cartridge. The inlet end of the tube is dimensioned for mating with the syringe. The adaptor further includes a support wall extending transversely from the tube and at least one positioning wall extending from the support wall. The positioning wall is spaced transversely from the outlet of the tube by a distance substantially equal to the distance between a side wall of the testing cartridge and the entry port of the testing cartridge. A bottom wall and a lock arm extend from the positioning wall. The bottom wall of the adaptor engages the bottom wall of the testing cartridge and the lock arm of the adaptor engages the top wall of the testing cartridge.

Claims

1. An adaptor for use with a testing cartridge and a syringe to facilitate delivery of a fluid specimen from said syringe to said testing cartridge, said adaptor comprising a bottom wall, a positioning wall extending angularly from said bottom wall, a support wall cantilevered from said positioning wall and spaced above said bottom wall, a tapered tube connected to said support wall at a location spaced from said positioning wall, said tapered tube having an outlet end, an inlet end and a passage extending between said ends, said outlet end and being spaced above said bottom wall, said outlet end of said tapered tube being disposed relative to said bottom wall and said positioning wall for aligning said outlet end of said tapered tube with a selected location on said testing cartridge.

2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said testing cartridge includes an entry port, said outlet end of said tube being disposed and dimensioned for alignment with said entry port of said testing cartridge.

3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein said testing cartridge comprises a housing having top and bottom walls, a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls extending between said top and bottom walls, said entry port of said testing cartridge extending through said top wall at a location in proximity to one said side wall and one said end wall, said bottom wall and said positioning wall of said adaptor being aligned for slidable engagement with said bottom wall and said side wall of said testing cartridge, and said outlet end of said tube being spaced from said bottom wall and said positioning wall sufficiently for alignment with said entry port of said testing cartridge when said bottom wall and said positioning wall are engaged with said bottom wall and said side wall respectively of said testing cartridge.

4. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein said positioning wall is a first positioning wall, and wherein said adaptor further comprises a second positioning wall connected to said bottom wall and disposed for slidable engagement with one said end wall of said testing cartridge when said outlet end of said tube is aligned with said entry port of said testing cartridge.

5. The adaptor of claim 3, further comprising a lock arm extending from said positioning wall and configured for locked engagement with said top wall of said testing cartridge when said outlet end of said tube is aligned with said entry port of said testing cartridge.

6. The adaptor of claim 5, wherein said adaptor is unitarily molded from a plastic material.

7. The adaptor of claim 5, wherein said bottom wall of said adaptor is substantially perpendicular to said positioning walls and to said tube.

8. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said syringe includes a Luer tip, and wherein said inlet of said tube of said adaptor is tapered for fluid-tight mating with said Luer tip of said syringe.

9. The adaptor of claim 8, wherein said syringe includes an internally threaded Luer collar surrounding said Luer tip, said inlet of the tube of said adaptor comprising a pair of opposite Luer projections for threaded engagement with said Luer collar.