Method for obtaining the contents of a fluid-holding vessel

• US 20030207463A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel L. Kacian, Mark R. Kennedy, Mordi I. Iheme
• Original Assignee: Daniel L. Kacian, Mark R. Kennedy, Mordi I. Iheme
• Inventors: Kacian, Daniel L., Kennedy, Mark R., Iheme, Mordi I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25125 Digestion or removing interfering materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A method for obtaining the contents of a fluid-holding vessel having a cap secured to an open end thereof. The method includes penetrating a surface of the cap with a fluid transfer device and forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the fluid transfer device to allow air to be vented from the vessel. At least a portion of the contents of the vessel is then drawn into the fluid transfer device before the fluid transfer device is removed from the vessel.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining the contents of a collection device comprising a fluid-holding vessel and an integrally molded plastic cap secured to an open end thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

a) penetrating a surface of the cap with a plastic pipette tip;

b) forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the pipette tip, thereby permitting air contained within the collection device to be vented into the surrounding environment during step a);

c) drawing at least a portion of the contents of the collection device into the pipette tip; and

d) removing the pipette tip from the collection device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contents of the collection device include a biological fluid selected from the group consisting of blood, urine, saliva, sputum, mucous or other bodily secretion, pus, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and seminal fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection device contains a specimen retrieval device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a lubricant is applied to at least a portion of the pipette tip or the surface of the cap prior to step a).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap contains a wick for limiting the release of an aerosol from the collection device during step a).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the wick is selected from the group consisting of pile fabrics, sponges, foams, felts, sliver knits, GORE-TEX®

fabrics and spandex.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of performing an amplification procedure with at least a portion of the contents of the collection device removed in step d) to detect the presence of a target nucleic acid suspected of being present in the contents.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the amplification procedure is a form of the polymerase chain reaction or a transcription-based amplification.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising penetrating a seal affixed to the cap with the pipette tip, wherein the seal maintains the wick within the cap.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pipette tip includes one or more ribs extending outwardly from an outer surface thereof, and wherein at least one of the ribs contacts the surface of the cap during step a).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pipette tip includes a beveled tip.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the pipette tip includes one or more grooves recessed from an outer surface thereof, and wherein at least one air passageway is formed between at least one of the grooves and the surface of the cap during step a).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pipette tip further includes one or more ribs extending outwardly from an outer surface thereof, and wherein at least one of the ribs contacts the surface of the cap during step a).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the grooves overlaps at least one of the ribs on the outer surface of the pipette tip.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap includes one or more radially extending ribs positioned on the surface of the cap.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the surface of the cap is an inner surface of a generally conical inner wall.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the inner wall includes a plurality of radially extending striations.

19. A method for obtaining a fluid sample from a fluid-holding vessel having a cap secured to an open end thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

a) penetrating a surface of the cap with a fluid transfer device, wherein the fluid transfer device includes one or more ribs extending outwardly from an outer surface thereof;

b) forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the fluid transfer device, wherein at least one of the air passageways is formed adjacent one of the ribs of the fluid transfer device;

c) drawing at least a portion of the sample into the fluid transfer device; and

d) removing the fluid transfer device from the vessel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the vessel contains a specimen retrieval device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the cap is an integrally molded plastic cap, and wherein the surface of the cap is an inner surface of a generally conical inner wall.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the inner wall includes a plurality of radially extending striations.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the cap contains a wick for limiting the release of an aerosol from the vessel during step a).

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wick is selected from the group consisting of pile fabrics, sponges, foams, felts, sliver knits, GORE-TEX®

fabrics and spandex.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of performing an amplification procedure with at least a portion of the sample removed in step d) to detect the presence of a target nucleic acid suspected of being present in the sample.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the amplification procedure is a form of the polymerase chain reaction or a transcription-based amplification.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising penetrating a seal affixed to the cap with the pipette tip, wherein the seal maintains the wick within the cap.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid transfer device includes one or more grooves recessed from an outer surface thereof, and wherein at least one air passageway is formed between at least one of the grooves and the surface of the cap during step a).

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the grooves overlaps at least one of the ribs on the outer surface of the fluid transfer device.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid transfer device is a plastic pipette tip.