Specimen trap with strainer

• US 7,244,236 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M D Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: M D Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Merkle, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers; Kristin D.
• Application Number:
  US10/847,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 604/319, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.09, 600/575, 600/573, 600/580
• US Class Current: 600/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065

Abstract

A specimen trap including a container forming a chamber. A strainer is fixedly positioned within the chamber and defines an upper portion of the chamber and a lower portion of the chamber. The strainer has a porous surface that provides fluidic communication between the upper portion and the lower portion. One tube connection is mounted to the cap and forms a passage through the cap and another tube extends through the cap and through the strainer into the lower portion. The cap is rotatable with respect to the container to form communication between one of the specimen compartments and the one tube connection passage for collection of an independent specimen.

Claims

1. A specimen trap comprising:

a container forming a chamber;

a strainer fixedly positioned within the chamber and defining an upper portion of the chamber and a lower portion of the chamber, the strainer having a porous surface providing fluidic communication between the upper portion and the lower portion;

a dividing element extending from a top surface of the strainer, the dividing element forming a plurality of specimen compartments;

a cap rotatably mounted with respect to the container;

a first tube connection mounted to the cap and forming a passage through the cap and in communication with the upper portion;

a second tube extending through the cap and extending through the strainer into the lower portion, the second tube forming a passage in communication with the lower portion, the second tube forming a shoulder interfering with the strainer to prevent the strainer from raising to a higher level within the chamber; and

the cap rotatable with respect to the container to form communication between one of the specimen compartments and the first tube connection passage.

2. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein a plurality of supports are connected to the strainer and maintaining the strainer in a fixed position within the chamber.

3. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the second tube forms a shoulder interfering with the strainer and maintaining the strainer in a fixed position within the chamber.

4. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the first tube connection is positioned at a periphery of the cap.

5. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the second tube is positioned along a rotational axis of the cap.

6. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the dividing element comprises a plurality of dividers, each divider extending radially outwardly from a center point of the strainer.

7. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the dividing element comprises a plurality of dividers, each divider extending upwardly between the top surface of the strainer and the cap.

8. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the dividing element is integrated with the strainer.

9. The specimen trap of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of indices on an outer surface of the container, each index of the plurality of indices corresponding to one of the specimen compartments.

10. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein a volume of the upper portion is about equal to a volume of the lower portion.

11. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein a volume of the upper portion is greater than a volume of the lower portion.

12. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the passage formed by the first tube connection provides communication between a suction field and the upper portion.

13. The specimen trap of claim 1 wherein the passage formed by the second tube provides communication between the lower portion and a suction source.

14. A specimen trap comprising:

a container forming a chamber;

a strainer fixedly positioned within the chamber and defining an upper portion of the chamber and a lower portion of the chamber, the strainer having a porous surface providing fluidic communication between the upper portion and the lower portion;

a plurality of supports connected to the strainer, each support extending to a bottom surface of the container and maintaining the strainer in a fixed position within the chamber to prevent the strainer from falling to a lower level within the chamber;

a cap mounted with respect to the container;

a first tube connection mounted to the cap and forming a passage through the cap and in communication with the upper portion, and the second tube forming a shoulder interfering with the strainer to prevent the strainer from raising to a higher level within the chamber; and

a second tube extending through the cap and extending through the strainer into the lower portion, the second tube forming a passage in communication with the lower portion.

15. The specimen trap of claim 14 wherein the shoulder maintains the strainer in the fixed position within the chamber.

16. The specimen trap of claim 14 wherein the cap is threadedly connected to the container.

17. The specimen trap of claim 14 wherein the cap is press-fitted on the container, and the cap rotatable with respect to the container.

18. The specimen trap of claim 14 further comprising a dividing element extending from a top surface of the strainer, and forming a plurality of specimen compartments.

19. The specimen trap of claim 18 wherein the dividing element comprises a plurality of dividers, each divider extending radially outwardly from a center point of the strainer.

20. The specimen trap of claim 18 wherein the dividing element comprises a plurality of dividers, each divider extending upwardly between the top surface of the strainer and the cap.

21. The specimen trap of claim 18 wherein the cap is rotatable with respect to the container to form communication between one of the specimen compartments and the first tube connection passage for collection of an independent specimen.

22. The specimen trap of claim 14 wherein a periphery of the strainer contacts an inner wall surface of the container.

23. The specimen trap of claim 14 wherein the passage formed by the first tube connection provides communication between a suction field and the upper portion.

24. The specimen trap of claim 14 wherein the passage formed by the second tube provides communication between the lower portion and a suction source.

25. A specimen trap comprising:

a container forming a chamber;

a strainer having a porous surface positioned within the chamber, the strainer fixedly positioned within the chamber and defining an upper portion of the chamber and a lower portion of the chamber;

a dividing element extending from a top surface of the strainer, and forming a plurality of specimen compartments;

a plurality of supports connected to the strainer, each support contacting a bottom surface of the container to prevent the strainer from falling to a lower level within the chamber;

a cap rotatably mounted with respect to the container;

a first tube connection mounted to the cap and forming a passage through the cap and in communication with the upper portion;

a second tube extending through the cap and extending through the strainer into the lower portion, the second tube forming a passage in communication with the lower portion, the second tube forming a shoulder interfering with the strainer to prevent the strainer from raising to a higher level within the chamber; and

the cap rotatable with respect to the container to form communication between one of the specimen compartments and the first tube connection passage.

26. The specimen trap of claim 25 wherein the dividing element comprises a plurality of dividers, each divider extending radially outwardly from a center point of the strainer.

27. The specimen trap of claim 25 wherein the dividing element comprises a plurality of dividers, each divider extending upwardly between the top surface of the strainer and the cap.