Fluid transfer device

• US 6,723,289 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• 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: Kennedy, Mark R., Iheme, Mordi I, Kacian, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cross, LaToya
• Application Number:
  US09/860,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/100, 422/104, 738/640.1, 738/640.2, 738/641.1, 436/180
• 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 pipette tip comprising:

an elongate, hollow body comprising upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion has a proximal end opening configured to fixedly receive a fluid transfer apparatus probe, and wherein the lower portion has a distal end opening configured to receive a fluid substance therethrough;

one or more spaced-apart ribs positioned in a longitudinal orientation on an outer surface of the body, wherein at least one of the ribs is positioned on at least a portion of the lower portion of the body; and

one or more spaced-apart grooves positioned in a longitudinal orientation on the outer surface of the body, wherein at least one of the grooves is positioned on at least a portion of the upper portion of the body.

2. The pipette tip of claim 1, wherein the body has a conical shape.

3. The pipette tip of claim 1, wherein;

the upper portion of the body has a generally tubular shape;

the lower portion of the body has a conical shape; and

the upper and lower portions of the body are joined to each other.

4. The pipette tip of claim 2, wherein at least one of the grooves is positioned on at least a portion of each of the lower portion of the body.

5. The pipette tip of claim 2, wherein each of the grooves is positioned on at least a portion of each of the upper and lower portions of the body.

6. The pipette tip of claim 3, wherein each of the grooves is positioned on at least a portion of the upper portion of the body, and wherein each of the ribs is positioned on at least a portion of the lower portion of the body.

23. The pipette tip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the grooves overlaps at least one of the ribs on the lower portion of the body.

24. The pipette tip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ribs extends from the distal end opening of the lower portion of the body.

7. A pipette tip comprising:

an elongate, hollow body comprising upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion has a proximal end opening configured to fixedly receive a fluid transfer apparatus probe, and wherein the lower portion has a distal end opening configured to receive a fluid substance therethrough; and

one or more spaced-apart ribs positioned in a longitudinal orientation on an outer surface of the body, wherein at least one of the ribs is positioned on at least a portion of the lower portion of the body.

8. The pipette tip of claim 7, wherein the body has a conical shape.

9. The pipette tip of claim 7, wherein:

the upper portion of the body has a generally tubular shape;

the lower portion of the body has a conical shape; and

the upper and lower portions of the body are joined to each other.

10. The pipette tip of claim 9, wherein at least one of the ribs is positioned on at least a portion of the upper portion of the body.

11. The pipette tip of claim 9, wherein each of the ribs is positioned on at least a portion of the lower portion of the body.

12. The pipette tip of claim 9, wherein at least one of the ribs is positioned on at least a portion of each of the upper and lower portions of the body.

25. The pipette tip of claim 7, wherein at least one of the ribs extends from the distal end opening of the lower portion of body.

13. A pipette tip comprising:

an elongate, hollow body comprisinggupper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion has a proximal end opening configured to fixedly receive a fluid transfer apparatus probe, and wherein the lower portion has a distal end opening configured to receive a fluid substance therethrough; and

one or more spaced-apart inner ribs positioned in a longitudinal orientation on an inner surface of the body, wherein at least one of the ribs extends from the distal end opening.

14. The pipette tip of claim 13, wherein the body has a conical shape.

15. The pipette tip of claim 13, wherein:

the upper portion of the body has a generally tubular shape;

the lower portion of the body has a conical shape; and

the upper and lower portions of the body are joined to each other.

16. The pipette tip of claim 15 further comprising one or more spaced-apart outer ribs positioned in a longitudinal orientation on the outer surface of the body.

17. The pipette tip of claim 16, wherein at least one of the outer ribs is positioned on at least a portion of the upper portion of the body.

18. The pipette tip of claim 15 further comprising one or more spaced-apart grooves positioned in a longitudinal orientation on the outer surface of the body.

19. The pipette tip of claim 18, wherein at least one of the grooves is positioned on at least a portion of the upper portion of the body.

20. A fluid transfer device comprising:

an elongate, hollow body comprising upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion has a proximal end opening configured to fixedly receive a fluid transfer apparatus probe, and wherein the lower portion has a distal end opening configured to receive a fluid substance therethrough; and

means for forming an air passageway between an outer surface of the body and a surface of a collection device having an enclosed chamber when the surface of the collection device is penetrated by the fluid transfer device, the means being positioned on at least a portion of the lower portion of the body.

21. The fluid transfer device of claim 20, wherein the body has a conical shape.

22. The fluid transfer device of claim 20, wherein:

the upper portion of the body has a generally tubular shape;

the lower portion of the body has a conical shape; and

the upper and lower portions of the body are joined to each other.

26. The fluid transfer device of claim 20, wherein the means extends from the distal end opening of the lower portion of the body.