Apparatus and methods for maintaining sterility of a specimen container
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining bodily-fluid samples from a patient, the method comprising:
- establishing fluid communication between the patient and a first fluid reservoir, the first fluid reservoir being in selective fluid communication with a transfer adapter;
withdrawing a volume of bodily-fluid from the patient and into the first fluid reservoir;
coupling a second fluid reservoir to the transfer adapter, the second fluid reservoir having an inlet surface and being coupled to a sterilization member configured to at least temporarily obstruct the inlet surface to maintain the inlet surface in a sterile environment prior to coupling the second fluid reservoir to the transfer adapter;
moving the sterilization member relative to the inlet surface such that the inlet surface is unobstructed by the sterilization member as the second fluid reservoir is coupled to the transfer adapter, the second fluid reservoir placed in fluid communication with the transfer adapter when the second fluid reservoir is coupled to the transfer adapter and the inlet surface is unobstructed by the sterilization member;
establishing fluid communication between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir; and
transferring a volume of the bodily-fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the second fluid reservoir.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a fluid reservoir, a sterilization member, and a transfer adapter. The sterilization member operably couples to the fluid reservoir. The sterilization member is configured to be transitioned between a first configuration, in which the sterilization member obstructs an inlet surface of the fluid reservoir and maintains the inlet surface in a substantially sterile environment, and a second configuration, in which the inlet surface is unobstructed. The transfer adapter is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a portion of a patient. The transfer adapter is configured to move relative to the sterilization member from a first position to a second position such that a surface of the transfer adapter contacts the sterilization member to transition the sterilization member to the second configuration. The fluid reservoir is placed in fluid communication with the transfer adapter when the transfer adapter is in the second position.
161 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining bodily-fluid samples from a patient, the method comprising:
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establishing fluid communication between the patient and a first fluid reservoir, the first fluid reservoir being in selective fluid communication with a transfer adapter; withdrawing a volume of bodily-fluid from the patient and into the first fluid reservoir; coupling a second fluid reservoir to the transfer adapter, the second fluid reservoir having an inlet surface and being coupled to a sterilization member configured to at least temporarily obstruct the inlet surface to maintain the inlet surface in a sterile environment prior to coupling the second fluid reservoir to the transfer adapter; moving the sterilization member relative to the inlet surface such that the inlet surface is unobstructed by the sterilization member as the second fluid reservoir is coupled to the transfer adapter, the second fluid reservoir placed in fluid communication with the transfer adapter when the second fluid reservoir is coupled to the transfer adapter and the inlet surface is unobstructed by the sterilization member; establishing fluid communication between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir; and transferring a volume of the bodily-fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the second fluid reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification