Pierceable cap having spaced-apart grooves

• US 8,334,145 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• 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: Anderson, Bruce W., Iheme, Mordi I., Dickey, Kathleen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US12/177,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 422 99-100, 422500-502, 422 63- 65, 422/67, 436/180, 215247-249
• 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 cap having a plurality of spaced-apart grooves in a downwardly tapered inner wall of the cap to facilitate the formation of air passageways as the cap is penetrated by a pipette tip. The air passageways aid in venting air from a fluid-holding vessel closed with the cap.

Claims

1. A pierceable cap configured to close an open end of a fluid-holding vessel, the cap having a solid, downwardly depending inner wall comprising a plurality of spaced-apart grooves defined by a top surface thereof, wherein the cap is capable of being pierced by a plastic pipette tip, and wherein the grooves facilitate the formation of air passageways between a pipette tip and the inner wall as the cap is being penetrated by the pipette tip.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the grooves of the inner wall have a generally radial arrangement.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner wall has a conical shape.

4. The cap of claim 1 further comprising a seal covering an opening in the cap above the inner wall, the seal being adapted to be pierced by the pipette tip.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the seal comprises a foil or plastic film.

6. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cap is formed from a molded plastic.

7. A collection device comprising a fluid-holding vessel closed by the cap of claim 1, thereby providing a substantially leak-proof seal.

8. The collection device of claim 7, wherein the collection device contains a specimen-retrieval device having a proximal portion positioned between the inner wall of the cap and a side wall of the vessel.

9. The collection device of claim 8, wherein the specimen-retrieval device comprises a swab.

10. The collection device of claim 8, wherein the inner wall has a conical shape.

11. A method for accessing the contents of the collection device of claim 7, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) piercing the inner wall of the cap with a plastic pipette tip, thereby forming air passageways between the inner wall and the pipette tip, the air passageways permitting 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.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the grooves of the inner wall have a generally radial arrangement.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the inner wall has a conical shape.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the cap comprises a seal covering an opening in the cap above the inner wall, the seal being pierced by the pipette tip during step (a).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the seal comprises a foil or plastic film.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the cap is formed from a molded plastic.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the collection device contains a specimen-retrieval device having a proximal portion positioned between the inner wall of the cap and a side wall of the vessel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the specimen-retrieval device comprises a swab.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the inner wall has a conical shape.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising subjecting the fluid removed from the collection device in step (c) to a nucleic acid-based amplification procedure.