METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING URINE SPECIMENS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
First Claim
1. A device for maintaining stabilization of a urine specimen at room temperature for urine transport which comprises a plastic molded container that is simultaneously injection molded with both a plastic and a hydrophobic antimicrobial wherein the plastic molded container is configured to limit a ratio of urine volume to be contained in the container to an interior surface of the container to a value less than one and where the container maintains the presence and concentration of diagnostic markers contained within the urine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for preserving urine specimens at room temperature for testing includes a container which is made of a plastic and an antimicrobial where the plastic and antimicrobial form a uniform composition throughout the entire mass of the container by simultaneously injection molding the plastic and antimicrobial to form the container. The container preferably has a test tube shape with triclosan as the preferable antimicrobial.
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Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A device for maintaining stabilization of a urine specimen at room temperature for urine transport which comprises a plastic molded container that is simultaneously injection molded with both a plastic and a hydrophobic antimicrobial wherein the plastic molded container is configured to limit a ratio of urine volume to be contained in the container to an interior surface of the container to a value less than one and where the container maintains the presence and concentration of diagnostic markers contained within the urine.
- 13. A device for maintaining stabilization of a urine specimen at room temperature for culturing at least one of a bacteria and a fungus common to the urinary tract which comprises a plastic injection molded container that is simultaneously injection molded with both a plastic and a hydrophobic antimicrobial wherein the plastic injection molded container is configured to limit a ratio of urine volume to be contained in the container to an interior surface of the container to a value less than one and where the device maintains the presence and concentration of diagnostic markers and intact cells contained within the urine.
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23. A container for preserving a urine test specimen at room temperature comprising:
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a plastic within a range of about 99.5 to 99.99% by weight; and
a hydrophobic antimocrobial within a range of about 0.01 to 0.80% by weight, wherein said plastic and said hydrophobic antimicrobial are mixed together either before or during injection molding to form a container in the shape of a test tube such that a concentration of diagnostic markers contained in a urine specimen placed in the test tube remains constant. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for making a urine transport and storage container which preserves a urine sample for testing comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plastic material;
selecting a hydrophobic antimicrobial material;
blending said antimicrobial material into said plastic material during injection molding to form a container having an interior surface area; and
configuring the container to limit a ratio of a urine volume to be contained within the container to the interior surface area of the container to a value less than one and wherein a concentration of diagnostic markers in a the urine volume sample contained in the container remains constant during transport and storage.
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- 33. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of selecting a plastic material comprises the step of selecting at least one of a polypropylene copolymer, a polystyrene, a styrene butadiene copolymer, a clarified polypropylene, a polycarbonate, and an acrylic.
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37. A method for making a urine transport and storage container for preserving a urine specimen at room temperature for testing comprising the steps of:
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mixing a plastic and a hydrophobic antimicrobial to form a mixture; and
injection molding said mixture to form a container having an interior surface area; and
configuring the container to limit a ratio of a urine volume to be contained within the container to the interior surface area of the container to a value less than one and where a concentration of diagnostic markers in the urine volume specimen contained in the container remains constant.
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- 38. The method of claim 38 wherein said step of mixing a plastic and an antimicrobial further comprises the step of selecting a plastic from at least one of a polypropylene copolymer, and a polystyrene, a styrene butadiene copolymer, a clarified polypropylene, a polycarbonate, and an acrylic.
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41. A device for maintaining stabilization of a urine specimen at room temperature for urine transport comprising a device having a hydrophobic anitimicrobial uniformly distributed throughout a mass of the device wherein the antimicrobial uniformity enables stabilization of a concentration of diagnostic markers contained in urine specimens having a volume within a range of about 1 milliliter to about 8 milliliters that are contained within the device.
Specification