Sample cup assembly, system and method for purging

• US 9,841,360 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Solazzi
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Solazzi
• Inventors: Solazzi, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roberts, Herbert K
• Application Number:
  US14/051,555
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/049 Valves integrated in closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• 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 3/52 Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent B01L3/02 takes precedence; containers for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; containers in general B65D; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/00 Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/002 Devices for supplying or distributing samples to an analysing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/005 Packages for mailing or similar transport of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/402 purging a device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0233 Gas purge
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/20025 Sample holders or supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/2204 Specimen supports therefor; Sample conveying means therefore

Abstract

A sample analysis cup assembly, system and method for purging including a cell body, including a top end; a bottom end; a cell body wall extending axially from the top end to the bottom end; a transverse wall adjacent the top end, including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; and a raised portion on the transverse wall including a central aperture extending therethrough; a rotatable cap, including a top surface; a bottom surface; and a series of apertures extending from the top surface through the bottom surface, the rotatable cap being structured to engage with the top end of the cell body; and a ring member structured to couple with the bottom end of the cell body are provided.

Claims

1. A sample analysis cup assembly, comprising:

a cell body, comprising;

a top end;

a bottom end;

a cell body wall extending axially from said top end to said bottom end;

a transverse wall adjacent said top end, including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

a hollow chamber defined between said top end and said bottom end of said cell body; and

a raised portion on said transverse wall including a central aperture extending therethrough;

a rotatable cap, comprising;

a top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a series of apertures extending from said top surface through said bottom surface, said rotatable cap being structured to engage with said top end of said cell body and to rotate about the raised portion thereof, said series of apertures being selectively and rotatably alignable with said plurality of apertures of said transverse wall, thereby allowing control of the rate of release of a gas through said selectively aligned apertures upon purging said chamber with a gas through said central aperture; and

a ring member structured to couple with said bottom end of said cell body.

2. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein said series of apertures are arranged in a selected pattern.

3. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 2, wherein said apertures have different diameters.

4. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 2, wherein the selected pattern is repeated about a periphery of said rotatable cap.

5. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cell body wall includes a plurality of ribbed members.

6. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 5, wherein said rotatable cap includes a peripheral sidewall, with a plurality of ribbed members disposed thereon.

7. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a thin film of material.

8. The sample analysis cup assembly according to claim 7, wherein said thin film of material comprises a polymer.

9. The sample analysis cup according to claim 8, wherein the polymer is a polyester.

10. A sample cup system, comprising:

a cell body, comprising;

a top end;

a bottom end;

a cell body wall extending axially from said top end to said bottom end;

a transverse wall adjacent said top end, including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

a hollow chamber defined between said top end and said bottom end of said cell body; and

a raised portion on said transverse wall including a central aperture extending therethrough;

a rotatable cap, comprising;

a top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a series of apertures extending from said top surface through said bottom surface, said rotatable cap being structured to engage with said top end of said cell body and to rotate about the raised portion thereof, said series of apertures being selectively and rotatably alignable with said plurality of apertures of said transverse wall, thereby allowing control of the rate of release of a gas through said selectively aligned apertures upon purging said chamber with a gas through said central aperture;

a thin film of material;

a ring member structured to couple with said bottom end of said cell body and to attach said thin film of material to said cell body; and

a stacking adapter structured to engage with said rotatable cap and said ring member upon assembly of a sample cup.

11. A method for purging a sample analysis cup, comprising the steps of:

providing a cell body, comprising;

a top end;

a bottom end;

a cell body wall extending axially from said top end to said bottom end;

a transverse wall adjacent said top end, including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

a hollow chamber defined between said top end and said bottom end of said cell body; and

a raised portion on said transverse wall including a central aperture extending therethrough;

disposing a rotatable cap onto said cell body, said rotatable cap comprising;

a top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a series of apertures extending from said top surface through said bottom surface, said rotatable cap being structured to engage with said top end of said cell body and to rotate about the raised portion thereof, said series of apertures being selectively and rotatably alignable with said plurality of apertures of said transverse wall, thereby allowing control of the rate of release of a gas through said selectively aligned apertures upon purging said chamber with a gas through said central aperture;

providing a ring member structured to couple with said bottom end of said cell body;

disposing a thin film of material between said bottom end of said cell body and a ring member, thereby assembling a sample cup;

rotating said rotatable cap about said raised portion of said cell body to selectively align said plurality of apertures of said transverse wall with one or more of said selected apertures from said series of apertures; and

introducing a gas into said central aperture to purge said assembled sample cup, said selectively aligned apertures permitting the escape of said gas.