Stopper-shield assembly

• US 6,602,206 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Iskra, Michael J., Niermann, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/640,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/574, 600/575, 600/576, 600/577, 600/578, 600/579, 600/580, 215/200, 604/317
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150351 Caps, stoppers or lids for sealing or closing a blood collection vessel or container, e.g. a test-tube or syringe barrel caps for bottles or containers in general B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150496 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150732 Needle holders, for instance for holding the needle by the hub, used for example with double-ended needle and pre-evacuated tube,
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 Devices using pre-evacuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02

Abstract

The present invention is a stopper and shield closure assembly 16 millimeter (mm) fluid collection tube whereby the 16 millimeter tube is compatible with conventional needle holders.

Claims

1. A closure assembly for sealing an open end of a body fluid collection tube comprising:

a stopper comprising an annular stopper body with an integral upper flange portion;

a lower integral annular sealing portion on said body;

an annular notch in said body at the interface of said upper flange portion and said lower sealing portion;

wherein the outer annular surface of said lower portion being the sealing surface with a container and tapered inwardly continuously toward the axis of said body, said taper being from said annular notch to the bottom surface of said lower annular sealing portion;

said bottom surface of said annular sealing portion being convex; and

a flexible cap body for mounting on said stopper comprising a top surface, a bottom stop ledge, an annular skirt extending from said top surface to said bottom stop ledge;

said annular skirt comprising an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface;

a central opening in said top surface;

an integral annular abutment on said inner wall surface with a tapered surface;

wherein said integral annular abutment having a width of 0.011 to 0.021 inches and said annular skirt having a width of 0.008 to 0.018 inches with respect to said center-line axis.