METHOD FOR REMOVING A FLUID SUBSTANCE FROM A CLOSED SYSTEM

• US 20090208966A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: KENNEDY, Mark R., KACIAN, Daniel L., CARTER, Nick M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• 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: B01L 3/565 Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/0414 formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/002 Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1616 by means of a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/044 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67784 using air tracks
• 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 cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with an open-ended vessel capable of receiving and holding fluid specimens or other materials for analysis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between a fluid sample present in the vessel and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap having a frangible seal which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device. The cap further includes a filter for limiting dissemination of an aerosol or bubbles once the frangible seal has been pierced. The filter is positioned between the frangible seal and a retaining structure. The retaining structure is positioned on the cap above the filter and may be used to contain the filter within the cap. The material of the retaining structure may be penetrable by a fluid transfer device.

Claims

1. A method for removing a fluid substance from a closed system comprising a cap fixed to a vessel in sealing engagement, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) penetrating first and second frangible seals affixed to the cap with a fluid transfer device so that air passageways are formed between the fluid transfer device and the affixed seals, wherein the second seal is axially aligned with and positioned below the first seal in a spaced-apart relationship; and

(b) removing the fluid substance from the system with the fluid transfer device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the seals are comprised of the same material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the seals comprises a foil or plastic film.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each of the seals comprises a foil.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the seals comprises a brittle layer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the seals comprises a foil layer, a heat layer and an intervening brittle layer.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the seals comprises a foil layer and combined brittle/heat seal layer.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a filter interposed between the seals.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the filter is comprised of a resilient material.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the filter is constructed and arranged to facilitate venting of air from system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer device is a plastic pipette tip.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid substance is a biological fluid.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the biological fluid is blood, urine, saliva, sputum, mucous, pus, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid or seminal fluid.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence contained in the fluid substance removed in step (b).

15. A method for removing a biological fluid from a closed system comprising a cap fixed to a vessel in sealing engagement, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) penetrating first and second frangible seals affixed to the cap with a plastic pipette tip so that air passageways are formed between the fluid transfer device and the affixed seals, wherein the second seal is axially aligned with and positioned below the first seal in a spaced-apart relationship; and

(b) removing the biological fluid from the system with the pipette tip.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence contained in the biological fluid removed from the system in step (b).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological fluid is blood, urine, saliva, sputum, mucous, pus, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid or seminal fluid.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the seals are comprised of the same material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the seals comprises a foil.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a filter interposed between the seals.