Method for accessing the contents of a closed collection device with a modified pipette tip

• US 7,927,549 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• 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: Carter, Nick M., Anderson, Bruce W., Kennedy, Mark R., Iheme, Mordi I., Dickey, Kathleen A., Kacian, Daniel L., Tseo, Gus G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul; Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US11/929,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 422 99-102, 436/177, 436/180, 215247-250, 215/253, 215/258, 738/647.4, 222/80
• US Class Current: 73/864.73
• 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 method for accessing the contents of a closed collection device having a cap and a fluid-holding vessel in fixed association. The method includes penetrating one or more materials of the cap with an air displacement pipette, thereby forming one or more passageways for venting air displaced from within the collection device, where the pipette includes structure for forming the one or more passageways. A fluid present in the vessel is drawn into the pipette before the pipette is removed from the collection device.

Claims

1. A method for accessing the contents of a closed collection device having a cap and a fluid-holding vessel in fixed association, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) penetrating the cap with a plastic pipette tip having a plurality of ribs extending from an outer surface thereof, whereby the ribs contact a surface of the cap and aid in the formation of air passageways between the surface of the cap and the pipette tip;

(b) drawing a fluid present in the vessel into the pipette tip; and

(c) removing the pipette tip from the collection device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the cap is a plastic material, and wherein an outer surface of the pipette tip and/or a top surface of the plastic material is coated with a lubricant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (a) comprises penetrating a generally conical inner wall extending radially inwardly from a closed side wall of the cap.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the inner wall includes a plurality of wedge-shaped sections defined by striations formed in a surface of the inner wall.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the cap comprises a foil or plastic seal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cap further comprises a wick interposed between the seal and the inner wall.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wick comprises a fibrous material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wick is a pile fabric.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the wick is comprised of a resilient material.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the wick is constructed and arranged to inhibit the release of an aerosol and/or bubbles from the collection device during the steps of the method.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the wick is constructed and arranged to wipe an outer surface of the pipette tip as it is being removed from the collection device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a foil or plastic seal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid contains a biological specimen.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid contains a lubricant.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the lubricant is a detergent.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein collection device comprises a specimen retrieval device spaced-apart from the axis of the collection device.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of subjecting a nucleic acid present in the fluid removed from the collection device in step (c) to a nucleic acid-based amplification procedure.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the ribs have a generally longitudinal orientation on the pipette tip.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pipette tip comprises at least three ribs.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal terminus of one or more of the ribs is no more than about 0.5 inches from a bottom surface at the distal end of the pipette tip.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein one or more of the ribs extend from a distal end of the pipette tip to a proximal end of the pipette tip.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal terminus of one or more of the ribs is no more than about 0.25 inches from a bottom surface at the distal end of the pipette tip.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more of the ribs extend from a distal end of the pipette tip to a proximal end of the pipette tip.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein one or more of the ribs are semi-circular in cross-section.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal terminus of one or more of the ribs is tapered.