Lockable specimen transporter

• US 6,354,104 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darrell L. Feagin
• Original Assignee: Darrell L. Feagin
• Inventors: Feagin, Darrell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/769,574
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 624/571, 624/577, 624/579, 220/210, 220/315, 220/254, 220/524, 70/63, 70/68, 701/67, 701/68, 701/69
• US Class Current: 62/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0252 Temperature controlling refrigerating apparatus, i.e. devices used to actively control the temperature of a designated internal volume, e.g. refrigerators, freeze-drying apparatus or liquid nitrogen baths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/005 Packages for mailing or similar transport of samples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5053 Interengageable slide fastener type

Abstract

A lockable blood and urine sample transporter. The transporter has a thermostatically controlled cooling unit which maintains the specimens at a fixed temperature. The transporter also has a securing lock which prevents unauthorized access to the specimens contained therein.

Claims

1. A securable device for transporting biological specimens while maintaining said specimens at a reduced temperature, comprising:

a. an essentially rectangular chassis having an insulated bottom wall and insulated side walls extending upward therefrom to form a hollow interior having an upward-facing opening, wherein said hollow interior is capable of receiving said biological specimens;

b. at least one bulkhead dividing said hollow interior into at least two wells;

c. a top, covering said upward-facing opening, and containing at least two hatches providing access to said at least two wells;

d. at least two hatch covers covering said at least two hatches;

e. cooling means for cooling said hollow interior; and

f. securing means for prohibiting unauthorized opening of said at least two hatch covers, thereby prohibiting unauthorized access to said biological specimens within said hollow interior.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, having at least one removable sample tray configured to fit securely within one of said at least two wells.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one more removable sample tray, wherein said at least two sample trays are configured to stack one upon the other within one of said at least two wells.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises a fabric cover fitting over said rectangular chassis and having a securing flap lockably securable over said at least two hatch covers.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a document slot having access through said top.