Disposable, pre-sterilized fluid receptacle sampling device

• US 20050132821A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: Proulx, Stephen P., Furey, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/863.310
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/00 Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 37/00 Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/10 in the liquid or fluent state burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/18 with provision for splitting samples into portions G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence; fraction-collection apparatus for chromatography B01D15/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1056 Disposable (single-use) samplers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/205 using a valve

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluid sampling device comprising a port insert, a plurality of flexible conduits, and a plurality of sample containers. The port insert comprises a body having a plurality of shafts therethrough and sample gating means for individually opening and closing any of said shafts to enable the flow of fluid therethrough. The flexible conduits (e.g., flexible tubing) are equal in number to the elongate member, with each flexible conduit connected to or otherwise in fluid communication with an individual shaft. Similarly, the sample containers (e.g., flexible bags) are equal in number to the conduits, with each sample container connected to an individual conduit opposite the connection to the shaft. A specific configuration for the port insert, as well as kit containing sterilized components of the fluid sampling device, are also described.

Claims

1. A fluid sampling device comprising:

(a) a port insert comprising a body having a plurality of shafts therethrough, and sample gating means for individually opening and closing any of said shafts to enable the flow of fluid, said sample gating means comprising single or multiple members displaceable between “

open” and

“

closed”

positions such that fluid can flow through said body through one of said shafts in said “

open”

position, but not in said “

closed”

position;

(b) a plurality of flexible conduits, equal in number to said plurality of shafts, each flexible conduit in fluid communication with an individual shaft; and

(c) a plurality of sample containers, equal in number to said plurality of conduits, each sample container in fluid communication with an individual conduit.

2. The fluid sampling device of claim 1, wherein said sample containers are flexible bags.

3. The fluid sampling device of claim 1, wherein said sample gating means comprises said single member, said single member having a passage therethrough that can be brought into and out of alignment with one of said shafts when said single member is displaced between said “

open” and

“

closed”

positions.

4. The fluid sampling device of claim 3, wherein said single member is displaceable by rotation.

5. The fluid sampling device of claim 1, wherein said sample gating means comprises said multiple members, each of said multiple members being an elongate member linearly displaceable within one of said shafts between said “

open” and

“

closed”

positions.

6. A port insert suitable for installation into a port provided in a fluid receptacle, said port insert comprising a monolithic body and an elongate member, wherein:

(a) the body is a monolithic elastomeric material with a shaft therethrough connecting a first open end with a second open end, the body being shaped to fit substantially water-tight within said port such that said first open end faces inside said fluid receptacle and said second open end faces outside said fluid receptacle; and

(b) the elongate member is monolithic and rigid, has a front and a back, and is shaped to fit substantially water-tight within said shaft, said elongate member being fitted within said shaft with the front thereof proximate said first open end and the back thereof proximate said second open end, said elongate member being movable within said shaft from a closed position to an open position, said back of said elongate member having means for attaching a flexible tube, the release of fluid out of said fluid receptacle through said port insert being preventable when said elongate member occupies said closed position and allowable when said elongate member occupies said open position.

7. The fluid sampling device of claim 6, further comprising integral locking means to secure said elongate member in either said open position or said closed position or both.

8. The fluid sampling device of claim 6, having a plurality of said elongate members matched and fitted within a plurality of said shafts.

9. The fluid sampling device of claim 6, wherein said device consists only of said body and said elongate member.

10. The fluid sampling device of claim 6, further comprising a collar attachable to said port on said fluid receptacle, whereby said fluid sampling device can be locked within said port by attaching said collar to said port.

11. The fluid sampling device of claim 10, wherein said collar is an integral part of said fluid sampling device.

12. The fluid sampling device of claim 6, wherein the body of said fluid sampling device is cylindrical in shape having a external diameter of 0.985 inch (2.5 cm.);

and the elongate member has a length greater than 1.600 inch (4.064 cm).

13. A fluid sampling kit for aseptically retrieving a fluid sample from a fluid receptacle, the fluid receptacle provided with a port, the fluid sampling kit comprising, enclosed within sterilized packaging, the following:

(a) a sterilized fluid sampling device comprising a monolithic body and an elongate member, said monolithic body having a shaft therethrough connecting a first open end with a second open end, said body shaped to fit substantially water-tight within said port such that said first open end faces inside said fluid receptacle and said second open end faces outside said fluid receptacle, said elongate member having a front and a back and shaped to fit substantially water-tight within said shaft, said elongate member being fitted within said shaft with the front thereof proximate said first open end and the back thereof proximate said second open end, said elongate member being movable within said shaft from an open position to a closed position, whereby the release of fluid out of said fluid receptacle through said fluid sampling device is prevented when said elongate member occupies said closed position and allowed when said elongate member occupies said open position;

(b) a sterilized flexible tube connected or connectable to said back of said elongate member; and

(c) a sterilized collection receptacle for collecting fluid released from said fluid receptacle through said fluid sampling device when said elongate member is moved to said open position, the sterilized collection receptacle being connected or connectable to said flexible tube.

14. The fluid sampling kit of claim 13, wherein said sterilized collection receptacle is a flexible bag.

15. The fluid sampling kit of claim 13, wherein said fluid sampling device has a plurality of said elongate members matched and fitted within a plurality of said shafts.

16. The fluid sampling kit of claim 13, wherein the body of said fluid sampling device is cylindrical in shape having a external diameter of 0.985 inch (2.5 cm.) and the elongate member has a length greater than 1.600 inch (4.064 cm).