Actuated Septa and Systems and Methods Using the Same

• US 20100107784A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Stein, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,621,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/863.850
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes

Abstract

A device, system, and method for passively sealing a vessel containing a fluid and for sampling the fluid without carry-over or cross-contamination between the fluid sampling device, the sealing septum, and the vessel contents. The device includes an actuated septum having a plurality of septum fingers, to passively seal the vessel, and an actuation device, to open the passive seal without carry-over or cross-contamination. Each of the plurality of septum fingers includes a corresponding rib portion. The actuation device can be an actuation ring having an annulus. The plurality of septum fingers and corresponding rib portions are disposed internal or substantially internal to the vessel, while the actuation device is disposed external to the vessel.

Claims

1. An actuated septum for passively sealing a vessel containing a liquid from an ambient atmosphere, the septum comprising:

an outer ring portion to provide a tight, interference seal between the actuated septum and the vessel;

a plurality of septum fingers that are cantilevered from the outer ring portion, which in their natural, at-rest state produce a passive seal, each of the plurality of septum fingers having a corresponding rib portion, the plurality of septum fingers and corresponding upwardly projecting rib portions being disposed internal or substantially internal to the vessel; and

an actuation device disposed external to the vessel and adapted for selective engagement with the rib portions, wherein engagement between the actuation device and the rib portions results in outward deflection of said plurality of septum fingers.

2. The actuated septum as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuation device has a circular or polygonal shape and an annulus.

3. The actuated septum as recited in claim 2, wherein the actuation device is structured and arranged to open the passive seal and to provide an opening in the actuated septum by pushing the rib portions downward, into the vessel and out and away from said passive seal.

4. The actuated septum as recited in claim 3, wherein the annulus of the actuation device has a diameter that is greater than that of the opening.

5. The actuated septum as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flexible neck portion for connecting the actuation device to at least one of the plurality of corresponding rib portions and the outer ring portion.

6. The actuated septum as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of septum fingers is an elongate elastomeric or plastic portion that includes an edge portion along each adjacent septum finger;

and

a channel is provided between adjacent septum fingers and each edge portion includes a flap portion, to seal between adjacent septum fingers.

7. A system for sealing a vessel containing a liquid and for providing contamination-free sampling the liquid from the vessel, the system comprising:

a fluid transfer device for adding or removing the liquid to the vessel; and

an actuatable septum for sealing the vessel, the septum comprising;

an outer ring portion to provide a tight, interference seal between the actuated septum and the vessel;

a plurality of septum fingers that are cantilevered from the outer ring portion, which in their natural state produce a passive seal, each of the plurality of septum fingers having a corresponding upwardly projecting rib portion, the plurality of septum fingers and corresponding rib portions being disposed internal or substantially internal to the vessel; and

an actuation device disposed external to the vessel and adapted for selective engagement with the rib portions, wherein engagement between the actuation device and the rib portions results in outward deflection of said plurality of septum fingers.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the fluid sampling device is selected from the group consisting of a hollow cannulus or a sampling probe.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the fluid sampling device and actuation device are structured and arranged coaxially with the fluid sampling device disposed inside of the annulus of the actuation device.

10. The system as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

means for depressing the actuation device against the ribs of the plurality of septum fingers, to break the passive seal and to provide an opening into the vessel through the septum.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

control means for controlling the means for depressing the actuation device and for introducing, advancing, and withdrawing the fluid sampling device into or from the vessel.

12. A method of sampling a liquid from a passively sealed vessel with reduced carry-over or cross contamination, the method comprising

sealing the vessel with a septum having a central axis, the septum comprising:

an outer ring portion to provide a tight, interference seal between the actuated septum and the vessel,

a plurality of septum fingers that are cantilevered from the outer ring portion, which in their natural state produce a passive seal, each of the plurality of septum fingers having a corresponding upwardly projecting rib portion, the plurality of septum fingers and corresponding rib portions being disposed internal or substantially internal to the vessel, and

an actuation device disposed external to the vessel that is adapted for selective engagement with the rib portions;

depressing the actuation device against the ribs of the plurality of septum fingers to engage same, causing said plurality of septum fingers to outwardly deflect, to provide an opening;

introducing a fluid sampling device through an annulus in the actuation device and the opening;

sampling the fluid through the fluid sampling device;

removing the fluid sampling device from the opening; and

removing the actuation device from against the ribs, allowing the plurality of septum fingers to close and passively re-seal the vessel.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein depressing the actuation device includes translating the actuation device in the central axis of the septum mechanically, magnetically or electromechanically.