Collection device

• US 7,309,469 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• 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: Anderson, Bruce W., Carter, Nick M., Iheme, Mordi I., Kacian, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US10/715,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 422 99-102, 436/180, 436/177, 215/274, 215/247, 215/248, 600/300
• US Class Current: 422/550
• 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

A collection device comprising an open-ended vessel for receiving and holding a fluid substance and a cap configured to position a specimen retrieval device along an inner surface of the vessel when the cap is fixedly associated the vessel.

Claims

1. A collection device comprising:

a fluid-holding vessel comprising an open end, a closed end and a side wall having an inner surface;

a specimen retrieval device comprising a swab having a handle member, the specimen retrieval device being contained within the vessel; and

a pierceable cap fixed onto the open end of the vessel, wherein the cap positions the specimen retrieval device along the inner surface of the vessel and in a spaced-apart relationship to the longitudinal axis of the collection device.

2. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the handle member includes a score line to facilitate removing a portion of the handle prior to fixing the cap onto the open end of the vessel.

3. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the cap can be pierced by a plastic pipette tip that enters the vessel in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the specimen retrieval device.

4. The collection device of claim 3, wherein the cap can be pierced by the pipette tip with the application of less than 8 pounds force.

5. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises a wick for inhibiting the release of an aerosol or bubbles from the collection device.

6. The collection device of claim 5, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

7. The collection device of claim 5, wherein the cap includes a seal for retaining the wick within the cap.

8. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the cap has a generally conical inner wall.

9. The collection device of claim 8, wherein the conical inner wall includes a plurality of radially extending striations.

10. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the cap and the vessel include mated threads and the cap is screwed onto the open end of the vessel.

11. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the cap and the vessel are each formed from a plastic resin.

12. A collection device comprising:

a fluid-holding vessel comprising an open end, a closed end and a side wall having an inner surface;

a specimen retrieval contained within the vessel; and

a pierceable cap fixed onto the open end of the vessel, wherein the cap positions the specimen retrieval device along the inner surface of the vessel and in a spaced-apart relationship to the longitudinal axis of the collection device.

13. The collection device of claim 12, wherein the cap can be pierced by a plastic pipette tip that enters the vessel in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the specimen retrieval device.

14. The collection device of claim 13, wherein the cap can be pierced by the pipette tip with the application of less than 8 pounds force.

15. The collection device of claim 12, wherein the cap has a generally conical inner wall.

16. The collection device of claim 15, wherein the conical inner wall includes a plurality of radially extending striations.

17. The collection device of claim 12, wherein the cap and the vessel include mated threads and the cap is screwed onto the open end of the vessel.

18. The collection device of claim 12, wherein the cap and the vessel are each formed from a plastic resin.

19. A collection device comprising:

a fluid-holding vessel comprising an open end, a closed end and a side wall having an inner surface;

a specimen retrieval contained within the vessel; and

a pierceable cap fixed onto the open end of the vessel, wherein the cap positions the specimen retrieval device along the inner surface of the vessel and in a spaced-apart relationship to the longitudinal axis of the collection device, and wherein the cap comprises a wick for inhibiting the release of an aerosol or bubbles from the collection device.

20. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the specimen retrieval device is a swab having a handle member, and wherein the handle member includes a score line to facilitate removing a portion of the handle prior to fixing the cap onto the open end of the vessel.

21. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the cap can be pierced by a plastic pipette tip that enters the vessel in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the specimen retrieval device.

22. The collection device of claim 21, wherein the cap can be pierced by the pipette tip with the application of less than 8 pounds force.

23. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

24. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the cap includes a seal for retaining the wick within the cap.

25. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the cap has a generally conical inner wall.

26. The collection device of claim 25, wherein the conical inner wall includes a plurality of radially extending striations.

27. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the cap and the vessel include mated threads and the cap is screwed onto the open end of the vessel.

28. The collection device of claim 19, wherein the cap and the vessel are each formed from a plastic resin.