Penetrable cap

• US 7,294,308 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kacian, Daniel L., Carter, Nick M., Kennedy, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wallenhorst; Maureen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/954,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20050079633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/100, 422/101, 422/102, 422/916, 436/174, 436/177, 436/180, 435/6, 215247-250, 215/258, 215/232, 738/647.4
• US Class Current: 422/534
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• 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 3/565 Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/0414 formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/002 Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1616 by means of a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/044 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67784 using air tracks
• 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 which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with an open-ended vessel capable of receiving and holding fluid specimens or other materials for analysis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between a fluid sample present in the vessel and humans or the environment, the cap has a frangible seal which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device. The cap further includes a filter for limiting dissemination of an aerosol or bubbles once the frangible seal has been pierced. The filter is positioned between the frangible seal and a retainer. The retainer is positioned on the cap above the filter and may be used to contain the filter within the cap. The material of the retainer may be penetrable by a fluid transfer device.

Claims

1. A cap comprising:

a core structure comprising a closed side wall adapted to grip an open-ended vessel and having an opening formed therein; and

axially aligned first and second frangible seals affixed to the core structure, the first frangible seal being situated beneath the second frangible seal in a spaced-apart relationship and covering the opening in the core structure so as to provide a fluid barrier, wherein the first and second frangible seals are constructed and arranged to remain affixed to the core structure when penetrated by a fluid transfer.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the core structure is a unitary plastic piece having a generally cylindrical shape.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first and second frangible seals are comprised of the same material.

4. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil or plastic film.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises the foil.

6. The cap of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a brittle layer.

7. The cap of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil layer, a heat seal layer and an intervening brittle layer.

8. The cap of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil layer and a combined brittle/heat seal layer.

9. The cap of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a plastic film.

10. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first frangible seal is affixed to a top or bottom surface of a ledge extending inwardly from the closed side wall.

11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the second frangible seal is affixed to a top surface of the closed side wall.

12. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first frangible seal is affixed to a top surface of a ledge extending inwardly from the closed side wall or to a bottom surface of a skirt depending from the ledge.

13. The cap of claim 12, wherein the second frangible seal is affixed to a top surface of the closed side wall.

14. The cap of claim 1 further comprising a filter interposed between the first and second frangible seals.

15. The cap of claim 14, wherein the filter is comprised of a resilient material.

16. The cap of claim 14, wherein the filter is constructed and arranged to facilitate the venting of air through the cap.

17. A closed system comprising the cap of any one of claims 1-16 in sealing engagement with an open-ended vessel adapted to hold a fluid substance.

18. A method for removing a fluid substance from the closed system of claim 17, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) penetrating the first and second frangible seals with a fluid transfer device;

(b) drawing a fluid substance contained in the vessel into the fluid transer device; and

(c) removing the fluid transfer device from the closed system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein air passageways are formed between the fluid transfer device and the first and second frangible seals during the penetrating step.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid transfer device is a plastic pipette tip.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of exposing the fluid substance removed in step (c) to reagents and conditions sufficient to amplify, a target nucleic acid sequence suspected of being contained in the fluid substance.