Penetrable cap

• US 8,052,944 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carter, Nick M., Kennedy, Mark R., Kacian, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wallenhorst; Maureen M
• Application Number:
  US12/753,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20100190215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/100, 422/101, 422/102, 422/916, 422/500, 422/501, 422/512, 422/513, 422/527, 422/534, 422/535, 422/547, 422/549, 422/550, 422/558, 422/568, 422/570, 436/174, 436/177, 436/180, 435/6.1, 215247-250, 215/258, 215/232, 738/647.4
• US Class Current: 422/570
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• 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 3/565 Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/0414 formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/002 Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1616 by means of a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/044 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67784 using air tracks
• 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 having a core structure dimensioned to receive a pipette therethrough. The cap includes two axially aligned frangible seals that are affixed to the core structure in a spaced-apart relationship. The frangible seals include a foil layer and are constructed so that air passageways are formed between the frangible seals and a pipette tip when the pipette tip penetrates the frangible seals. The cap optionally includes a filter interposed between the first and second frangible seals.

Claims

1. A penetrable screw cap comprising:

a generally cylindrical core structure configured to be screwed onto an open-ended vessel, the core structure being a molded plastic formed to have an opening extending therethrough; and

first and second frangible seals affixed to the core structure, the second seal being axially aligned with and positioned below the first seal in a spaced-apart relationship, each of the first and second seals comprising a foil, and the second seal being constructed and arranged to provide a barrier to the passage of a fluid through the opening formed in the core structure,

wherein the cap is capable of being penetrated by a plastic pipette tip, and

wherein the first and second seals are constructed and arranged so that air passageways are formed between a plastic pipette tip and the first and second seals when the pipette tip penetrates the first and second seals.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the core structure comprises an inwardly extending ledge, and wherein the second seal is affixed to a surface of the ledge.

3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the ledge comprises a depending skirt.

4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the second seal is affixed to a bottom surface of the skirt.

5. The cap of claim 2, wherein the first seal is affixed to a top surface of the core structure.

6. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second seals comprises a foil layer and a brittle layer.

7. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second seals comprises a foil layer, a heat seal layer and a brittle layer interposed between the foil layer and the heat seal layer.

8. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second seals comprises a foil layer and a combined brittle/heat seal layer.

9. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first seal is modified to facilitate penetration of the first seal by a plastic pipette tip, wherein the modification reduces the tensile strength of the first seal.

10. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first seal is modified to include perforations that facilitate penetration of the first seal by a plastic pipette tip.

11. The cap of claim 1 further comprising a filter interposed between the first and second seals.

12. The cap of claim 11, wherein the filter is comprised of a resilient material.

13. The cap of claim 11, wherein the filter is gas permeable.

14. The cap of claim 13, wherein the filter is constructed and arranged to trap an aerosol and/or bubbles.

15. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cap does not include a filter interposed between the first and second seals.

16. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first and second seals tear when penetrated by a plastic pipette tip, thereby forming air passageways between the pipette tip and the first and second seals.

17. A collection device comprising the cap of claim 1 screwed onto an open end of a fluid-holding vessel, thereby providing a substantially leak-proof seal between the cap and vessel.

18. A method for removing a fluid substance from the collection device of claim 17, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) penetrating the first and second seals with a plastic pipette tip, thereby forming air passageways between the pipette tip and the first and second seals;

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

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

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the core structure comprises an inwardly extending ledge, and wherein the second seal is affixed to a surface of the ledge.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the ledge comprises a depending skirt.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second seal is affixed to a bottom surface of the skirt.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first seal is affixed to a top surface of the core structure.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second seals comprises a foil layer and a brittle layer.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second seals comprises a foil layer, a heat seal layer and a brittle layer interposed between the foil layer and the heat seal layer.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second seals comprises a foil layer and a combined brittle/heat seal layer.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising a filter interposed between the first and second seals.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the filter is comprised of a resilient material.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the filter is gas permeable.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the filter is constructed and arranged to trap an aerosol and/or bubbles.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the cap does not include a filter interposed between the first and second seals.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second seals are torn in step (a), thereby forming the air passageways between the pipette tip and the first and second seals.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the collection device contains a specimen-retrieval device within an interior space of the collection device.

33. The method of claim 18 further comprising, after step (c), the step of amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence present in the fluid substance removed from the collection device in step (c).

34. The method of claim 18, wherein the second seal is welded to the core structure.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein the second seal is affixed to the core structure with an adhesive.

36. The cap of claim 1, wherein the second seal is welded to the core structure.

37. The cap of claim 1, wherein the second seal is affixed to the core structure with an adhesive.