Penetrable cap

• US 6,716,396 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tseo, Gus G., Anderson, Bruce W., Iheme, Mordi I., Johnson, Shirley J., Light, James P., Kacian, Daniel L., Carter, Nick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): CROSS, LATOYA I
• Application Number:
  US09/704,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/100-102, 215/247, 215/249, 215/250, 215/258, 215/232, 215/253, 738/647.4
• US Class Current: 422/501
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• 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: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25125 Digestion or removing interfering materials
• 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

The present invention relates to a cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with a vessel capable of receiving fluid specimens for clinical analysis and diagnosis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between the fluid specimen and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device, and may include a plurality of striations which were discovered to further improve penetrability of the cap. In this way, substances can be dispensed into or withdrawn from the vessel without having to physically separate the cap from the vessel. Also featured are fluid transfer devices and caps having surface ribs and/or grooves which aid in creating passageways for venting displaced air from a penetrated collection device.

Claims

1. A plastic cap comprising:

an annular top wall;

an aperture defined by an inner circumference of the annular top wall; and

a generally conical inner wall centered beneath the aperture and in fixed orientation relative to the annular top wall, wherein the inner wall terminates at a distal apex, and wherein the inner wall includes a plurality of striations, each striation extending radially outwardly from a start-point at or near the apex.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the top wall has a lower surface which can be affixed to an upper surface of an annular rim of an open end of a fluid-holding vessel.

3. The cap of claim 1 further comprising means for fixedly associating the cap with an open end of a fluid-holding vessel.

4. The cap of claim 1 further comprising an annular flange adapted to grip a side wall surface of an open end of a fluid-holding vessel, wherein the top wall is substantially perpendicular to the flange.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the flange is an outer flange having an inner wall adapted to grip an outer surface of the vessel.

6. The cap of claim 5, wherein the inner wall of the outer flange includes a thread for gripping the outer surface of the vessel.

7. The cap of claim 6, wherein the outer flange comprises an upper portion extending above the top wall, and wherein the upper portion includes an annular top surface which is substantially perpendicular thereto.

8. The cap of claim 7 further comprising a wick substantially contained within the upper portion of the outer flange.

9. The cap of claim 8, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

10. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cap is integrally molded of a high density polyethylene.

11. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner wall has an angle of from about 25°

to about 65°

with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cap.

12. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of The striations extends partially from a start-point at or near the apex to an outer circumference of the inner wall.

13. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the striations extends fully from a start-point at or near the apex to an outer circumference of the inner wall.

14. The cap of claim 1, wherein the thickness ratio between the inner wall in a non-striated portion and the inner wall in a striated portion is in the range of about 10:

1 to about 125;

1.

15. The cap of claim 1, wherein the average thickness of the inner wall in a striated portion is between about 0.002 inches and about 0.008 inches and the average thickness of the inner wall in a non-striated portion is between about 0.01 inches and about 0.02 inches.

16. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner wall includes from about 3 to about 12 of the striations.

17. The cap of claim 1, wherein the striations are formed on an inner surface of the inner wall, an outer surface of the inner wall or both the inner and outer surfaces of the inner wall.

18. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the striations comprises a groove in the inner wall.

19. The cap of claim 1 further comprising one or more radially extending ribs formed on an inner surface of the inner wall, each rib being positioned between a pair of adjacent striations.

20. The cap of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the inner wall is at least partially coated with a lubricant.

21. A kit comprising the cap of claim 4 in packaged combination with a second component selected from the group consisting of:

a vessel for receiving and retaining fluid substances;

one or more reagents;

an overcap containing a wick;

a fluid transfer device; and

a specimen retrieval device.

22. A kit comprising the cap of claim 7 in packaged combination with a second component selected from the group consisting of:

a vessel for receiving and retaining fluid substances;

one or more reagents;

a fluid transfer device; and

a specimen retrieval device.

23. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner circumference of the top wall and an outer circumference of the inner wall are coincident.

24. The cap of claim 1 further comprising an annular inner flange which extends from the inner wall to the top wall.

25. The cap of claim 24 further including an annular outer rim formed about an outer circumference of the inner wall.

26. The cap of claim 24 further including a skirt depending from an outer circumference of the inner wall.

27. The cap of claim 1, wherein the force needed to penetrate the inner wall with a plastic pipette up is less than about 8.0 pounds force.

28. The cap of claim 1, wherein the force needed to penetrate the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 6.0 pounds force.

29. The cap of claim 1, wherein the force needed to penetrate the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 4.0 pounds force.

30. A plastic cap comprising:

an annular top wall substantially perpendicular to and joining annular inner and outer flanges, wherein the inner flange depends from the top wall, and wherein the outer flange is adapted to grip an outer surface at an open end of a fluid-holding vessel and includes an upper portion which extends above the top wall;

a generally conical inner wall tapering inwardly from the inner flange to an apex, wherein the inner wall includes a plurality of striations, each striation extending radially outwardly from a start-point at or near the apex; and

a wick substantially contained within the upper portion of the outer flange.

31. The cap of claim 30, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

32. The cap of claim 30 further comprising a seal affixed to a top surface of the upper portion.

33. The cap of claim 30 further comprising an annular outer rim formed about an outer circumference of the inner wall.

34. The cap of claim 30 further comprising a skirt depending from an outer circumference of the inner wall.

35. The cap of claim 30, wherein each of the striations comprises a groove in the inner wall.

36. The cap of claim 30, wherein the combined force needed to penetrate the wick and the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 10.0 pounds force.

37. The cap of claim 30 wherein the combined force needed to penetrate the wick and the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 7.0 pounds force.

38. The cap of claim 30, wherein the combined force needed to penetrate the wick and the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 4.5 pounds force.