Repuncturable self-sealing sample container with internal collapsible bag

• US 6,805,842 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mds Sciex
• Original Assignee: Mds Sciex
• Inventors: Ghanouni, Pejman, Palmer, Tyler A., Bodner, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US09/976,628
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 215/11.1, 215/11.3, 215/11.6, 215/247, 215/248, 215/249, 215/269, 228/9.1, 228/9.2, 228/9.4, 228/495.01, 228/495.05, 228/495.06, 228/500, 228/528
• US Class Current: 422/555
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0854 Double walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0217 of the plunger pump type medical syringes A61M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• 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: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates

Abstract

A sample container for minimizing evaporation of a contained volume of sample includes a container housing, a repuncturable self-sealing membrane, and a collapsible sample bag. The container housing includes an open end and a hollow interior region. The repuncturable self-sealing membrane configured to self-seal after repeated punctures is engaged in the open end of the container housing and includes an exterior surface exposed to the external environment and an interior surface oriented toward the hollow interior region of the container housing. The collapsible sample bag includes a proximate end that is permanently attached to the interior surface of the repuncturable self-sealing membrane.

Claims

1. A sample container, comprising:

a container housing having an open end and a hollow interior region;

a repuncturable self-sealing membrane engaged in the open end of the container housing and configured to self-seal after repeated punctures, the repuncturable self-sealing membrane comprising an exterior surface exposed to the external environment, and an interior surface oriented toward the hollow interior region of the container housing; and

a collapsible sample bag comprising a proximate end that is permanently attached to the interior surface of the repuncturable self-sealing membrane.

2. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the container housing and collapsible sample bag are cylindrical in shape.

3. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the collapsible sample bag and the container housing comprises a material which has a maximum dielectric loss factor of 1×

10<sup>−

3</sup> at one or more frequencies from 1 KHz to 1,000 GHz.

4. The sample container of claim 1, further comprising a container plug circumscribing the repuncturable self-sealing membrane, the container plug comprises one or more vents for admitting the external environment into the hollow interior region of the container housing.

5. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the repuncturable self-sealing membrane comprises one or more vents for admitting the external environment into the hollow interior region of the container housing.

6. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the interior hollow region of the container housing comprises a temperature controlled chamber.

7. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the repuncturable self-sealing membrane and the collapsible sample bag are composed of dissimilar materials.

8. The sample container of claim 6, further comprising a fluid occupying a least a portion of the hollow interior region of the container housing.

9. The sample container of claim 6, further comprising a heating or cooling element attached to the exterior surface of the container housing.

10. The sample container of claim 7, wherein the repuncturable self-sealing membrane is formed from silicon, latex, or polyurethane.

11. The sample container of claim 7, wherein the integral attachment between the interior surface of the repuncturable self-sealing membrane and the proximate end of the collapsible sample bag comprises a co-molded bond.

12. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the container housing is substantially the size of a conventional test tube.

13. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the radius of the container housing is substantially the radius of a well in a 96 well tray.

14. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the radius of the container housing is substantially the radius of a well in a 384 well tray.

15. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the radius of the container housing is substantially the radius of a well in a 1536 well tray.

16. The sample container of claim 1, wherein the collapsible bag has a collapsed volume of less than 10,000 microliters.

17. The sample container of claim 16, wherein the collapsible bag has a collapsed volume of substantially 0.01 microliters and an expandable volume of greater than 1 microliter.

18. An array of sample containers, comprising:

a plate having a first major surface;

a plurality of container housings formed within the first major surface of the plate, each of the plurality of container housings having an open end and a hollow interior region;

a plurality of repuncturable self-sealing membranes engaged in the open end of a respective plurality of container housings, wherein each of the plurality of repuncturable self-sealing membranes comprises an exterior surface exposed to an external environment, and an interior surface oriented toward the hollow interior region of the container housing; and

a plurality of collapsible sample bags extending into a respective plurality of hollow interior regions of the container housings, each collapsible sample bag comprising a proximate end that is permanently attached to the interior surface of the repuncturable self-sealing membrane.

19. The array of claim 18, wherein the radius of the container housing is the radius of a well in a 96 well tray, and wherein the plate comprises a 96 well tray.

20. The array of claim 18, wherein the radius of the container housing is the radius of a well in a 384 well tray, and wherein the plate comprises a 384 well tray.

21. The array of claim 18, wherein the radius of the container housing is the radius of a well in a 1536 well tray, and wherein the plate comprises a 1536 well tray.

22. The array of claim 18, wherein one or more of the plurality of collapsible sample bags and a respective one or more plurality of container housings is formed from a material which has a maximum dielectric loss factor of 1×

10<sup>−

3</sup> at one or more frequencies from 1 KHz to 1000 GHz.

23. The sample container of claim 19, wherein the plate comprises a 96 well tray having a standard microtitre format compatible with an automated sample handling processor.

24. The sample container of claim 20, wherein the plate comprises a 384 well tray having a standard microtiter format compatible with an automated sample handling processor.

25. The sample container of claim 21, wherein the plate comprises a 1536 well tray having a standard microtiter format compatible with an automated sample handling processor.

26. The array of claim 18, wherein the one or one or more of the plurality of repuncturable self-sealing membranes and respective one or more collapsible sample bags are formed from dissimilar materials.

27. The sample container of claim 26, wherein the repuncturable self-sealing membrane is formed from silicon, latex, or polyurethane.

28. The sample container of claim 18, wherein the interior hollow region of one or more of the plurality of containers housing comprises a temperature controlled chamber.

29. The sample container of claim 28, further comprising a fluid occupying a least a portion of the hollow interior region of the one or more container housings.

30. The sample container of claim 28, further comprising a heating or cooling element attached to the exterior surface of the one or more container housings.