Apparatus for collection and transfer of particles

• US 5,364,597 A
• Filed: 02/28/1992
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vartanian, Hugh, Sloan, Walker M. III, Brown, Phillip P., Polk, Lewis T. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US07/843,571
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 422/101, 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 422/81, 210/406, 210/473, 210/477, 210/433.1, 210/450, 210/474, 210/495, 210/459, 210/460, 210/416.1, 356/36, 356/38, 356/244, 436/177, 436/178, 436/174
• US Class Current: 422/534
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/08 Flat membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/081 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/087 Single membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/034 Thermal after-treatments
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/114 Single butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1222 comprising at least a lapped joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1228 comprising at least one monotone curved joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/131 Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/534 Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/712 the composition of one of the parts to be joined being different from the composition of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73711 oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73715 heat-shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8242 Pneumatic or hydraulic drives using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91231 of the joining tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91421 of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91431 : the temperature being kept constant over time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/922 : by measuring the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9241 : by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/944 : by controlling or regulating the time
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 : PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 : Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

A device for collecting particles, such as human cells, from a fluid sample, and for transferring the collected particles to a receiver, such as a glass microscope slide, provides substantially exact replication of the spatial distribution of the cells on the collection device. The device supports a surface-collecting filter on a tubular rim, with a precise degree of flatness, and fastens the filter in place at a mounting shoulder recessed below the rim. Distortions of the mounting shoulder or of the filter at the mounting shoulder, caused by securing the filter to the shoulder, are confined to the shoulder structure, and do not detract from the desired precision flatness of the filter and rim structure.

Claims

1. Apparatus having a particle-collecting and transferring filter, said apparatus comprising

a tubular body having a planar rim at a first axial end spaced from a second axial end,

a planar annular mounting surface disposed parallel to said planar rim and on the body between the axial ends radially outwardly of the rim,

a filter comprising

a filter portion spanning the first axial end and seated on the rim for disposition in a first plane defined by the rim, the filter portion having an outer screen surface, facing outwardly from the tubular body, for collecting thereon microscopic particles carried in a fluid, and for transferring such collected particles to a planar receiver brought into abutment with the particle carrying outer surface, and

a mounting portion peripheral to the filter portion and extending from the rim and bonded to the annular mounting surface for securing the filter to the tubular support body, and

barrier means for isolating the rim from distorting action developed at the mounting surface during bonding of the mounting portion of the filter to the mounting surface, said barrier means being a portion of the tubular body spanned by said filter mounting portion and defining a trough between the mounting surface and the rim.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising cover means for closing the second axial end of the tubular support body, and first coupling means disposed on a first surface of said cover means for removably and replaceably receiving a fluid connection to a pressure source.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising orienting means carried with the tubular body for orienting the coupling means for alignment with the pressure source connection.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a second coupling means, disposed adjacent the first coupling means, for receiving a connection to a pressure monitoring source.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising hub means arranged on the tubular body for receiving a mounting force applied to one axial end of the tubular body.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting portion of the filter element is thermally bonded to the annular mounting surface.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting portion of the filter element is ultrasonically welded to the annular mounting surface.