Method for accessing the contents of a closed collection device

• US 8,211,710 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• 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: Dickey, Kathleen A., Anderson, Bruce W., Iheme, Mordi I., Carter, Nick M., Kacian, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US11/928,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20080118989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 422 99-102, 422500-502, 436/177, 436/180, 215247-250
• US Class Current: 436/180
• 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 obtaining the contents of a fluid-holding vessel having a cap secured to an open end thereof. The method includes penetrating a surface of the cap with a fluid transfer device and forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the fluid transfer device to allow air to be vented from the vessel. At least a portion of the contents of the vessel is then drawn into the fluid transfer device before the fluid transfer device is removed from the vessel.

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) engaging plural components of the cap with a plastic pipette tip, whereby at least one of the components is pierced and one or more passageways between the pipette tip and the pierced components are formed and enlarged as the pipette tip passes through the pierced components and into the collection device, wherein the cap includes a plurality of inwardly extending wedge-shaped sections that are moveably engaged by the pipette tip, and wherein the one or more passageways permit displaced air to be vented from within the collection device;

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

(c) removing the pipette tip from the collection device, wherein each of the pierced components is in an open state after the pipette tip has been removed from the collection device, and wherein the wedge-shaped sections have a downward orientation after the pipette tip has been removed from the collection device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pipette tip has a generally conical portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a seal covering an opening in the cap is one of the components pierced by the pipette tip during step (a).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the seal comprises a foil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap includes means for substantially centering the pipette tip in the collection device during the steps of the method.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a molded plastic piece, and wherein the molded plastic piece comprises the wedge-shaped sections.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the molded plastic piece comprises high density polyethylene.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped sections form a generally conical shape prior to step (a).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wedge-shaped sections have a non-uniform thickness to facilitate the formation of the one or more passageways during step (a).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein one or more of the wedge-shaped sections have an outwardly extending rib that is engaged by the pipette tip during step (a).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises a wick interposed between the seal and the wedge-shaped sections.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wick comprises a fibrous material.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the wick is comprised of a resilient material.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the wick is constructed and arranged to inhibit the release of an aerosol and/or bubbles from the collection device during the method.

15. The method of claim 11, 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 during step (c).

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

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

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising subjecting a nucleic acid present in the fluid removed from the collection device in step (c) to a nucleic acid-based amplification procedure.