Sealed collection device having striated cap

• US 7,435,389 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kacian, Daniel L., Tseo, Gus G., Carter, Nick M., Anderson, Bruce W., Iheme, Mordi I., Johnson, Shirley J., Light, James P. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramdhanie; Bobby
• Application Number:
  US10/758,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100
• 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

A cap comprising a generally conical wall positioned beneath an opening in the cap and having a plurality of striations formed therein to facilitate penetration of the cap by a fluid transfer device.

Claims

1. A sealed collection device comprising a plastic cap frictionally fitted onto an open end of a fluid-holding vessel, said cap comprising:

an opening defined by a top wall; and

a downwardly tapered inner wall positioned beneath the opening and structurally interrelated to the top wall, the inner wall including a plurality of radially extending striations formed therein, wherein each of the striations has a thickness.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cap is in threaded engagement with the vessel.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner wall depends from the top wall.

4. The cap of claim 1 further comprising a lower annular wall joining the top wall to the inner wall.

5. The cap of claim 1 further comprising an upper annular wall extending upwardly from the top wall.

6. The cap of claim 5 further comprising an absorbent wick contained within the cap.

7. The cap of claim 6, wherein the wick is positioned substantially above the top wall.

8. The cap of claim 6, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

9. The cap of claim 6 further comprising a seal affixed to a top surface of the upper annular wall.

10. The cap of claim 6, wherein the combined force needed to penetrate the wick and the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 10 pounds force.

11. The cap of claim 6, wherein the combined force needed to penetrate the wick and the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 7 pounds force.

12. The cap of claim 6, 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.

13. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner wall is conically shaped and has an angle of from about 25°

to about 65°

relative to the longitudinal axis of the cap.

14. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner wall has a rounded bottom.

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

1 to about 1.25;

1.

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

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

18. The cap of claim 17, wherein the inner wall has between 3 and 12 of the striations.

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

20. 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.

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

22. The cap of claim 1, wherein the force needed to penetrate the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 8 pounds force.

23. The cap of claim 1, wherein the force needed to penetrate the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 6 pounds force.

24. The cap of claim 1, wherein the force needed to penetrate the inner wall with a plastic pipette tip is less than about 4 pounds force.