WO1989002399A1 - Cap - Google Patents
Cap Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1989002399A1 WO1989002399A1 PCT/AU1988/000353 AU8800353W WO8902399A1 WO 1989002399 A1 WO1989002399 A1 WO 1989002399A1 AU 8800353 W AU8800353 W AU 8800353W WO 8902399 A1 WO8902399 A1 WO 8902399A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cap
- access
- container
- piercing
- sample
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/508—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above
- B01L3/5082—Test tubes per se
- B01L3/50825—Closing or opening means, corks, bungs
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a cap or closure member for a container and relates particularly but not exclusively to a cap or closure member capable of sealing the container in a substantially pressure tight manner to allow a predetermined reduced pressure to be applied to the cap and container combination to enable a fluid or fluidized sample to be drawn into the container by way of the reduced pressure.
- the present invention also relates to a cap or closure member which enables access to the fluid sample so collected without the necessity of removing the cap from the container.
- the present invention also relates to a cap or closure member which enables access to interior of the container by disassembling a portion of the cap.
- the present invention most particularly relates to such a cap or cap and container such as a test or sample tube combination for obtaining and storing body fluid samples such as blood.
- Body fluid samples such as blood are presently taken either simply by way of a standard syringe and needle or by way of a needle arrangement in which the body fluid to be sampled is withdrawn into an evacuated sample tube through needle means which pierce a stopper or cap sealing the sample tube in a substantially air tight manner.
- cap and sample tube combinations comprise a tube sealed in a substantially airtight manner by a cap which is held on the tube by means of complementary thread means on the cap and tube or in which the cap is secured to the tube in substantially airtight manner by friction between the tube and the cap.
- the cap in the former case is of rigid plastics material and includes an orifice to permit access via a needle to the interior of the sample tube through a resiliant synthetic or other plastics material sealing member disposed between the cap and the top of the tube.
- a resiliant synthetic or other plastics material sealing member disposed between the cap and the top of the tube.
- the case itself is made of, or is predominantly made of, a resilient synthetic or other plastics material.
- This resilient cap or sealing member permits access to the evacuated sample tube by a delivery needle which permits passage of the fluid sample from a patient or other fluid sample reservoir into the sample tube under the influence of the reduced pressure in the sample tube.
- the container must be of glass as synthetic plastic materials containers do not retain a reduced pressure over an extended period.
- the glass containers are by their nature fragile and liable to breakage with the resultant risk of a contaminated or contagious body fluid or blood sample being accidentally spilled.
- the degree of evacuation applied to the cap and tube combination is preset and cannot be relied on to be accurate after an extended period to draw the predetermined volume of body fluid required for subsequent processing or medical or pathological analysis.
- the prior art caps or cap and tube combinations do not enable ready access to the sample, once collected in the sample tube, for such subsequent processing or medical or pathological analysis.
- the cap must be removed in most cases to obtain access to the sample and thus exposes an operator to undue risk of exposure to a contaminated body fluid or blood sample as the collected sample in the tube is invariably in contact with the cap. Additionally removal of the cap increases the risk of exposure to a contaminated sample should the tube be inadvertently overturned or upset resulting in spillage of the sample.
- Australian Patent No. 561,490 discloses a cap closure for a container having a pierceable sealing element for sealing the container neck and closing cap covering the sealing element and engageable with the container neck in which a supporting member forms a skeleton of the sealing element and an elastic filling member is injection molded and rigidly fixed to the supporting member, which cap defines a seal to seal the neck of the container.
- Other known art of peripheral relevance is disclosed in Australian Patent Specifications 554491, 76223/81, 547866 and 500401. None of these specifications overcome the disadvantages of currently known sampling methods and apparati referred to above.
- the present invention provides a resealable and pierceable cap or closure member adapted for co-operating with a tube to provide an enclosed space which is adapted for evacuation and/or contents storage.
- the present invention may provide a cap having tube co-operation means, tube access means and tube sealing means. Wiping means may also be provided. Furthermore, dimple means may also be provided.
- the present invention may alleviate capillary flow of the tube contents to the outside of the tube by providing a dimple on said cap and/or providing wiping means adjacent the access means.
- the present invention provides, in one aspect, a cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure, said cap comprising : an upper portion including a sealing member, and a lower portion including an access, said sealing member being adapted to form a reusable seal with said access so as to define said resealable enclosed space, said cap being further adapted to facilitate piercing communication with said enclosed space, after which said cap reusably seals.
- the present invention provides, in another aspect, a cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space, said cap comprising : an upper portion including- a longitudinally extending portion, and a lower portion including access means and container co-operation means, said container co-operation means being adapted for abutting said container, said access means being adapted to co-operate with said longitudinally extending part, wherein in a first position, said upper and lower portions provide a sealed cap adapted for piercing access and retaining, in said tube, a vacuum or predetermined partial o vacuum for a finite period of time and wherein, in an access position, non-piercing access is provided to the enclosed space.
- the present invention provides, in another aspect, a combination comprising a container for holding a fluidized 5 sample and a cap adapted to fit said container to form a resealable space for holding said fluidized sample, said cap comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said portions adapted to form a reusable seal, said upper portion including a longitudinally extending member having thereon a z ⁇ substantially bulbous portion, said lower portion adapted to fit adjacent an orifice in said container, said lower portion including access means adapted to receive said extending member and forming sealing means about said bulbous portion and wiping
- 25 means for wiping residual container contents from said extending member when said extending member is withdrawn from a sealed position in said access means, and wherein in said sealed position, a piercing apparatus can communicate with said space through said cap whereas in an
- said extending member is in a withdrawn position from said access means thereby allowing substantially unobstructed communication with said space.
- the present invention provides, in another aspect, a method for obtaining a first sample of a fluidized or
- 35 fluid sample enclosed within a container fitted with a cap said method comprising the steps of : a) providing said container and said cap in a sealed position having therein said fluidized or fluid sample, b) providing sampling means for obtaining said first sample, said sampling means comprising evacuating means and piercing means, c) passing said piercing means through said cap such that an end of said piercing means is located a predetermined distance into the fluidized or fluid sample, said predetermined distance being dependent upon the size of said first sample to be obtained, d) providing said evacuating means in communication with said piercing means for obtaining or drawing said first sample through said piercing means and into said evacuating means, e) withdrawing said sampling means from said cap after said first sample is obtained.
- the present invention provides, in still another aspect, a cap adapted for co-operation with a container, said co-operation functioning to provide an accessible space in a first use and a resealable space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure in a second use, said cap comprising : an upper portion having a sealing member and being co-operable with a lower portion having an access, said sealing member and said access forming a seal during said evacuation, said lower portion, during said first use-, allowing substantially unimpeded communication to said accessible space, said cap being pierceable during said second use and upon a piercing action providing communication between an apparatus piercing said cap and said resealable space, whereupon removal of the apparatus, said cap reseals said resealable space.
- the cap of the pres-ent invention may be made from one or more suitable materials of any type provided the material allows the cap to fulfil the function of providing a seal adapted to be pierceable.
- the material preferably may be elastically defor able.
- the material preferably may be silicon rubber, soft rubber or neoprene or other suitably pierceable materials.
- FIG 1 shows one basic embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS 3A and 3B show still another embodiment of the present invention, in unsealed and sealed configuration.
- FIGS 4A and 4B show still another embodiment of the present invention in unsealed and sealed configuration
- Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 6 shows a cross-section of A-A. It is to be noted that in the figures means or features of a similar type are indicated by the same reference numeral. Also, gaps shown between upper and lower portions of the- cap in Figures 3B, 4B and 5 are only for the purpose of illustration of the components outline.
- Fi'gure 1 shows a basic embodiment of the present invention.
- the cap comprises an upper cap portion 11 and a lower cap portion 10.
- the upper portion 11 includes sealing means 3 and the lower portion 10 includes access means 2 and tube co-operation means 1.
- Tube co-operation means 1 may be adapted for co-operation or interaction with a tube.
- the tube means 1 may be formed to fit over a tube opening, clip to the tube, push-fit to the tube, threadingly engage the tube or be of any other form such that the cap may be fixed to the tube in a manner which prevents easy removal of the cap from the tube.
- the access means 2 may be adapted to co-operate with the sealing means 3 to provide a releasable tube seal and may be further adapted to allow access to the tube contents when the sealing means 3 is retracted from a sealing position.
- a pipette (not shown) may be used to pass through the access means 2 and remove a sample of the tube contents from the unsealed tube.
- the sealing means 3 may also provide a means whereby a vacuum or pressure may be retained in a tube fitted with a cap in a sealed position for a predetermined period of time.
- the upper portion 11 may comprise a sealing means 3, which preferably, comprises a longitudinal portion
- the sealing means 3 may be adapted to co-operate with the access means 2 in a sealing manner.
- the lateral portion 21 may be adapted to provide an additional sealing means and/or a convenient means of removing the sealing means 3 from co-operation with the access means 2.
- Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
- the tube co-operation means 1 may also include a tube mating means 8 to facilitate engagement of the cap to the tube 7.
- the tube 7 may also include a corresponding cap mating means 9, which is adapted to also facilitate engagement of the cap to the tube 7.
- the lower portion 10 may include a wiping means 4 associated with the access means 2.
- the wiping means 4 may be adapted to wipe from the sealing means 3 a portion of the contents of the tube 7 that may be on the end part of the sealing means when the upper portion 11 is retracted from a sealing position. This provides a reduction in sample and/or operator or handler contamination due to exposure of the tube contents.
- the lateral portion 21 may be adapted to be fitted into a recess in the lower portion 10, such that accidental removal of the upper portion 11 from lower portion 10 is much more difficult.
- Upper lip 12 may provide the boundary of the recess into which the upper portion 11 is fitted into the lower portion 10 and may further provide a means for preventing accidental disengagement of the upper 11 and lower 10 portions.
- the upper portion 11 may also include an upper sealing surface 14, and may include a bulbous portion 6, and a neck portion 15. In a sealing position, the upper portion 11 mates correspondingly with the lower portion 10, the bulbous portion 6 extending beyond access means 2, the neck portion 15 being engaged by access means 2, upper sealing surface 14 abutting lower sealing surface 13. The lateral part of upper portion 11 may be nestled within the area bounded by lip 12.
- the bulbous portion 6 With the bulbous portion 6 extending beyond access means 2, upon sealing separation of the upper 11 and lower 10 portions, the bulbous portion 6 is pulled through access means 2 thereby wiping off tube contents from bulbous portion 6.
- the access means 2 may also be fitted with wiping means 4 which will facilitate the wiping off of any tube contents from bulbous portion 6.
- the tight fitting of the access means 2 around the neck portion 15 may provide a seal.
- the longitudinal portion of the upper portion 11 may be formed larger than the access means 2 and when the upper portion is passed into the access means 2, the access means 2 expands and may thereby provide a sealingly tight grip about the longitudinal portion of the upper portion 11.
- corresponding association of surfaces of the upper and lower portions may provide an adequate seal for a cap/tube combination.
- the upper 11 and/or lower 10 portions may be adapted to be pierced by a suitable apparatus or means, such as a needle or syringe in order to obtain a sample of the tube contents when the upper and lower portions 11, 10 are in a sealing position.
- the upper and lower portions may be made of any suitable material which will allow such piercing access to the tube contents and which will reseal the cap after the piercing apparatus is withdrawn from the cap.
- suitable material may include soft rubber compounds, Silicon rubber or neoprene.
- a cap fitted tube subjected to a vacuum or pressure should maintain substantially that vacuum or pressure for a predetermined period of time after the cap has been pierced. In other words, the cap is preferably resealably pierceable.
- the upper portion 11 may also include one or more indentation or dimple means 5.
- the dimple 5 may be formed such that, if the cap is pierced via the dimple 5, upon extraction of the piercing means from the capped tube, a droplet of tube contents which is invariably left on the cap's upper surface about the point of entry of the piercing means as a result of capillary action, will be held within the dimple 5.
- the dimple 5 thereby may alleviate the possibility of an operator or tube handler coming into contact with the droplet and thereby alleviating the possibility of contamination.
- Dimples 5 may alternately be formed such that the upper surface of upper portion 11 is substantially pitted, similar to the outer surface of a golf ball, so that retention of the droplet in a dimple 5 is enhanced if the piercing point is randomly chosen by an operator.
- the cap may also be fitted with means to alleviate the upper and lower portions 11, 10 disengaging from a sealing position when a piercing means is retracted from the cap.
- Figures 3A and 3B show another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 3A shows the upper and lower portions of the cap in an unsealed position and
- Figure 3B shows the upper and lower portions in a sealed position.
- the cap shown in Figures 3A and 3B includes a tapered portion 16 on the longitudinal portion 22.
- the tapered portion 16 can alleviate contamination by or with the tube contents, in that tube contents on the longitudinal portion 22 will tend to accumulate at the apex of tapered portion 16.
- the apex can be wiped during separation of portions 10 and 11.
- the cap may also include guide means 17 which provide location means fo-r the upper and lower portions 11,10 and may also provide additional sealing means and/or operation means for the upper and lower portions.
- the cap may also include additional retention means 18 which co-operate with longitudinal portion 22, particularly the bulbous portion 6 to hold the upper portion 11 in a substantially sealed position until removal of the upper portion 11 is necessitated.
- the retention means may comprise inwardly facing fingers or a lip or ring portion. 0
- the retention means 18 may assist in sealing and/or wiping the upper portion 11.
- An upwardly extending conical portion 19a may also be provided on the lower portion 10 and a corresponding conical recess portion 19b.
- the conical portions may
- Wiping means 4 may be provided on the end of or any other appropriate position on the access means 2 as shown in 0 Figure 3B.
- a piercing action may be performed as aforementioned, especially if the tube is, or is to be, subjected to a pressure or vacuum. However, if the tube is not subjected to a pressure or vacuum, access may be gained
- Non-piercing access may be provided by separating the sealing means provided by the upper and lower portions 11, 10 of the cap. For example, an operator may grasp the upper portion 11 of the cap and disengage the upper and
- non-piercing access to the tube contents may be provided without removing the cap as a whole from the tube, only the upper portion of the cap may be temporarily withdrawn to allow access.
- the sealing part of the cap may be adapted to be replaced in a sealing manner in order to again provide a sealed tube cap.
- the upper and lower portions of the cap may be connected by a hinge member (20 in Figure 3B) so that the upper and lower portions of adjacent caps are not swapped, therefore avoiding sample mixing or contamination.
- Figures 4A and 4B show a further embodiment of the present invention.
- An upper portion 11 of mushroom type configuration is shown in Figure 4A removed from the lower portion 10.
- This embodiment is a "push-over" tube cap, wherein the lower portion is adapted to fit over and around the top of tube 7.
- Access means 2 is configured to substantially the configuration of the longitudinal portion 22, although substantial correlation of upper and lower portions adjacent access means 2 is not essential if an adequate closure is provided elsewhere between the upper ⁇ nd lower portion.
- a bulbous portion 6 is adapted to fit snug / ly through access means 2. As portion 6 passes through the end of the access means, wiping means 4, preferably in the form of flaps, contact the bulbous portion so as to effect a wiping action of the end of the sealing means 3 as it is retracted from the access means 2.
- Figure 4B shows the upper and lower portions of the cap in a sealed position.
- Dimple 5 is shown greatly enlarged and may be contoured to substantially follow the shape of the j - longitudinal portion 22.
- This enlarged dimple provides for greater retention of tube contents, normally left on top of a cap after piercing, out of the way of a tube handler.
- the dimple as shown causes the walls of the longitudinal portion to be thinned. These walls may be - n thinned, in particular, more at the bulbous portion to allow easier piercing access to the interior of the tube. The walls may be thinned to such an extent that piercing access by laboratory machines can be accomplished on a capped tube.
- Wiping means 4 although not essential to the - t - present invention, may be formed as shown in a closed position in Figure 6.
- the longitudinal portion 22 of the upper portion 11 or a pipette or other suitable apparatus can pass 7 - through the closed fingers and thereby come into contact with the interior space of the tube/cap combination.
- the spacing between adjacent fingers should be such that " inversion of the tube having contents therein will not allow the contents to leak out if the upper portion has been 7 - removed. This provides an added saftey feature to the present invention. Furthermore, laboratory machines can more easily probe past the fingers in order to sample the tube's contents when the upper portion 11 of the cap is removed. The fingers also reduce sample evaporation of the
- the cap is adapted to co-operate with plastic and gloss or other composition tubes, and still provide at least some of the advantages herein disclosed.
- FIG. 5 shows a still further embodiment, wherein
- the lower portion 10 of the cap is formed as a "push-in" tube cap. As can be seen, the lower portion is adapted to fit snugly within the diameter of the tube 7.
- a tapered portion or chamfer 16 may be formed on the bulbous portion to facilitate wiping of the bulbous portion when the cap is unsealed.
Abstract
A cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure, said cap comprising: an upper portion (11) including a sealing member (3), and a lower portion (10) including an access (2), said sealing member (3) being adapted to form a reusable seal with said access (2) so as to define said resealable enclosed space, said cap being further adapted to facilitated piercing communication with said enclosed space, after which said cap reusably seals.
Description
CAP FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cap or closure member for a container and relates particularly but not exclusively to a cap or closure member capable of sealing the container in a substantially pressure tight manner to allow a predetermined reduced pressure to be applied to the cap and container combination to enable a fluid or fluidized sample to be drawn into the container by way of the reduced pressure. The present invention also relates to a cap or closure member which enables access to the fluid sample so collected without the necessity of removing the cap from the container. The present invention also relates to a cap or closure member which enables access to interior of the container by disassembling a portion of the cap. The present invention most particularly relates to such a cap or cap and container such as a test or sample tube combination for obtaining and storing body fluid samples such as blood. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Body fluid samples such as blood are presently taken either simply by way of a standard syringe and needle or by way of a needle arrangement in which the body fluid to be sampled is withdrawn into an evacuated sample tube through needle means which pierce a stopper or cap sealing the sample tube in a substantially air tight manner. These presently known cap and sample tube combinations comprise a tube sealed in a substantially airtight manner by a cap which is held on the tube by means of complementary thread means on the cap and tube or in which the cap is secured to the tube in substantially airtight manner by friction between the tube and the cap. The cap in the former case is of rigid plastics material and includes an orifice to permit access via a needle to the interior of the sample tube through a resiliant synthetic or other plastics material sealing member disposed between the cap and the top of the tube. In the latter case the case itself is made of, or is predominantly made of, a resilient synthetic or other plastics material. This resilient cap or sealing member
permits access to the evacuated sample tube by a delivery needle which permits passage of the fluid sample from a patient or other fluid sample reservoir into the sample tube under the influence of the reduced pressure in the sample tube.
These prior art caps or cap and container combinations suffer from various disadvantages. The container must be of glass as synthetic plastic materials containers do not retain a reduced pressure over an extended period. The glass containers are by their nature fragile and liable to breakage with the resultant risk of a contaminated or contagious body fluid or blood sample being accidentally spilled. Furthermore the degree of evacuation applied to the cap and tube combination is preset and cannot be relied on to be accurate after an extended period to draw the predetermined volume of body fluid required for subsequent processing or medical or pathological analysis. Furthermore the prior art caps or cap and tube combinations do not enable ready access to the sample, once collected in the sample tube, for such subsequent processing or medical or pathological analysis. The cap must be removed in most cases to obtain access to the sample and thus exposes an operator to undue risk of exposure to a contaminated body fluid or blood sample as the collected sample in the tube is invariably in contact with the cap. Additionally removal of the cap increases the risk of exposure to a contaminated sample should the tube be inadvertently overturned or upset resulting in spillage of the sample.
Various cap structures are known, for example Australian Patent No. 561,490 discloses a cap closure for a container having a pierceable sealing element for sealing the container neck and closing cap covering the sealing element and engageable with the container neck in which a supporting member forms a skeleton of the sealing element and an elastic filling member is injection molded and rigidly fixed to the supporting member, which cap defines a seal to seal the neck of the container.
Other known art of peripheral relevance is disclosed in Australian Patent Specifications 554491, 76223/81, 547866 and 500401. None of these specifications overcome the disadvantages of currently known sampling methods and apparati referred to above.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus and or cap/container combination which alleviates some or all of the disadvantages of the prior art. THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a resealable and pierceable cap or closure member adapted for co-operating with a tube to provide an enclosed space which is adapted for evacuation and/or contents storage.
The present invention may provide a cap having tube co-operation means, tube access means and tube sealing means. Wiping means may also be provided. Furthermore, dimple means may also be provided.
The present invention may alleviate capillary flow of the tube contents to the outside of the tube by providing a dimple on said cap and/or providing wiping means adjacent the access means.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure, said cap comprising : an upper portion including a sealing member, and a lower portion including an access, said sealing member being adapted to form a reusable seal with said access so as to define said resealable enclosed space, said cap being further adapted to facilitate piercing communication with said enclosed space, after which said cap reusably seals.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space, said cap comprising :
an upper portion including- a longitudinally extending portion, and a lower portion including access means and container co-operation means, said container co-operation means being adapted for abutting said container, said access means being adapted to co-operate with said longitudinally extending part, wherein in a first position, said upper and lower portions provide a sealed cap adapted for piercing access and retaining, in said tube, a vacuum or predetermined partial o vacuum for a finite period of time and wherein, in an access position, non-piercing access is provided to the enclosed space.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a combination comprising a container for holding a fluidized 5 sample and a cap adapted to fit said container to form a resealable space for holding said fluidized sample, said cap comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said portions adapted to form a reusable seal, said upper portion including a longitudinally extending member having thereon a zσ substantially bulbous portion, said lower portion adapted to fit adjacent an orifice in said container, said lower portion including access means adapted to receive said extending member and forming sealing means about said bulbous portion and wiping
25 means for wiping residual container contents from said extending member when said extending member is withdrawn from a sealed position in said access means, and wherein in said sealed position, a piercing apparatus can communicate with said space through said cap whereas in an
30 open or access position, said extending member is in a withdrawn position from said access means thereby allowing substantially unobstructed communication with said space.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a method for obtaining a first sample of a fluidized or
35 fluid sample enclosed within a container fitted with a cap, said method comprising the steps of :
a) providing said container and said cap in a sealed position having therein said fluidized or fluid sample, b) providing sampling means for obtaining said first sample, said sampling means comprising evacuating means and piercing means, c) passing said piercing means through said cap such that an end of said piercing means is located a predetermined distance into the fluidized or fluid sample, said predetermined distance being dependent upon the size of said first sample to be obtained, d) providing said evacuating means in communication with said piercing means for obtaining or drawing said first sample through said piercing means and into said evacuating means, e) withdrawing said sampling means from said cap after said first sample is obtained.
The present invention provides, in still another aspect, a cap adapted for co-operation with a container, said co-operation functioning to provide an accessible space in a first use and a resealable space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure in a second use, said cap comprising : an upper portion having a sealing member and being co-operable with a lower portion having an access, said sealing member and said access forming a seal during said evacuation, said lower portion, during said first use-, allowing substantially unimpeded communication to said accessible space, said cap being pierceable during said second use and upon a piercing action providing communication between an apparatus piercing said cap and said resealable space, whereupon removal of the apparatus, said cap reseals said resealable space.
Throughout this specification, the term "tube" or "container" is to be construed in it's broadest sense. A very specific application of the present invention relates to test tubes, jars or specimen containers. The cap of the pres-ent invention may be made from one or more suitable materials of any type provided the material allows the cap to fulfil the function of providing a seal adapted to be pierceable. The material preferably may be elastically defor able. The material preferably may be silicon rubber, soft rubber or neoprene or other suitably pierceable materials.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein, in cross-section,
Figure 1 shows one basic embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 3A and 3B show still another embodiment of the present invention, in unsealed and sealed configuration.
Figures 4A and 4B show still another embodiment of the present invention in unsealed and sealed configuration, and
Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 shows a cross-section of A-A. It is to be noted that in the figures means or features of a similar type are indicated by the same reference numeral. Also, gaps shown between upper and lower portions of the- cap in Figures 3B, 4B and 5 are only for the purpose of illustration of the components outline.
Fi'gure 1 shows a basic embodiment of the present invention. The cap comprises an upper cap portion 11 and a lower cap portion 10. The upper portion 11 includes sealing means 3 and the lower portion 10 includes access means 2 and tube co-operation means 1. Tube co-operation means 1 may be adapted for co-operation or interaction with a tube. The tube means 1 may be formed to fit over a tube opening, clip
to the tube, push-fit to the tube, threadingly engage the tube or be of any other form such that the cap may be fixed to the tube in a manner which prevents easy removal of the cap from the tube.
The access means 2 may be adapted to co-operate with the sealing means 3 to provide a releasable tube seal and may be further adapted to allow access to the tube contents when the sealing means 3 is retracted from a sealing position. For example, a pipette (not shown) may be used to pass through the access means 2 and remove a sample of the tube contents from the unsealed tube.
The sealing means 3 may also provide a means whereby a vacuum or pressure may be retained in a tube fitted with a cap in a sealed position for a predetermined period of time. The upper portion 11 may comprise a sealing means 3, which preferably, comprises a longitudinal portion
22 and may further comprise a lateral portion 21. The sealing means 3 may be adapted to co-operate with the access means 2 in a sealing manner. The lateral portion 21 may be adapted to provide an additional sealing means and/or a convenient means of removing the sealing means 3 from co-operation with the access means 2.
Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the tube co-operation means 1 may also include a tube mating means 8 to facilitate engagement of the cap to the tube 7. The tube 7 may also include a corresponding cap mating means 9, which is adapted to also facilitate engagement of the cap to the tube 7.
The lower portion 10 may include a wiping means 4 associated with the access means 2. The wiping means 4 may be adapted to wipe from the sealing means 3 a portion of the contents of the tube 7 that may be on the end part of the sealing means when the upper portion 11 is retracted from a sealing position. This provides a reduction in sample and/or operator or handler contamination due to exposure of the tube contents. The lateral portion 21 may be adapted to be fitted into a recess in the lower portion 10, such that accidental removal of the upper portion 11 from lower
portion 10 is much more difficult. Upper lip 12 may provide the boundary of the recess into which the upper portion 11 is fitted into the lower portion 10 and may further provide a means for preventing accidental disengagement of the upper 11 and lower 10 portions.
The upper portion 11 may also include an upper sealing surface 14, and may include a bulbous portion 6, and a neck portion 15. In a sealing position, the upper portion 11 mates correspondingly with the lower portion 10, the bulbous portion 6 extending beyond access means 2, the neck portion 15 being engaged by access means 2, upper sealing surface 14 abutting lower sealing surface 13. The lateral part of upper portion 11 may be nestled within the area bounded by lip 12.
With the bulbous portion 6 extending beyond access means 2, upon sealing separation of the upper 11 and lower 10 portions, the bulbous portion 6 is pulled through access means 2 thereby wiping off tube contents from bulbous portion 6. The access means 2 may also be fitted with wiping means 4 which will facilitate the wiping off of any tube contents from bulbous portion 6.
The tight fitting of the access means 2 around the neck portion 15 may provide a seal. Alternatively, the longitudinal portion of the upper portion 11 may be formed larger than the access means 2 and when the upper portion is passed into the access means 2, the access means 2 expands and may thereby provide a sealingly tight grip about the longitudinal portion of the upper portion 11. Alternatively, corresponding association of surfaces of the upper and lower portions may provide an adequate seal for a cap/tube combination.
The upper 11 and/or lower 10 portions may be adapted to be pierced by a suitable apparatus or means, such as a needle or syringe in order to obtain a sample of the tube contents when the upper and lower portions 11, 10 are in a sealing position. The upper and lower portions may be made of any suitable material which will allow such piercing access to the tube contents and which will reseal the cap
after the piercing apparatus is withdrawn from the cap. Such suitable material may include soft rubber compounds, Silicon rubber or neoprene. A cap fitted tube subjected to a vacuum or pressure should maintain substantially that vacuum or pressure for a predetermined period of time after the cap has been pierced. In other words, the cap is preferably resealably pierceable.
The upper portion 11 may also include one or more indentation or dimple means 5. The dimple 5 may be formed such that, if the cap is pierced via the dimple 5, upon extraction of the piercing means from the capped tube, a droplet of tube contents which is invariably left on the cap's upper surface about the point of entry of the piercing means as a result of capillary action, will be held within the dimple 5. The dimple 5 thereby may alleviate the possibility of an operator or tube handler coming into contact with the droplet and thereby alleviating the possibility of contamination. Dimples 5 may alternately be formed such that the upper surface of upper portion 11 is substantially pitted, similar to the outer surface of a golf ball, so that retention of the droplet in a dimple 5 is enhanced if the piercing point is randomly chosen by an operator.
The cap may also be fitted with means to alleviate the upper and lower portions 11, 10 disengaging from a sealing position when a piercing means is retracted from the cap.
Figures 3A and 3B show another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3A shows the upper and lower portions of the cap in an unsealed position and Figure 3B shows the upper and lower portions in a sealed position. The cap shown in Figures 3A and 3B includes a tapered portion 16 on the longitudinal portion 22. The tapered portion 16 can alleviate contamination by or with the tube contents, in that tube contents on the longitudinal portion 22 will tend to accumulate at the apex of tapered portion 16. The apex can be wiped during separation of portions 10 and 11.
The cap may also include guide means 17 which provide location means fo-r the upper and lower portions 11,10 and may also provide additional sealing means and/or operation means for the upper and lower portions.
The cap may also include additional retention means 18 which co-operate with longitudinal portion 22, particularly the bulbous portion 6 to hold the upper portion 11 in a substantially sealed position until removal of the upper portion 11 is necessitated. The retention means may comprise inwardly facing fingers or a lip or ring portion. 0 The retention means 18 may assist in sealing and/or wiping the upper portion 11.
An upwardly extending conical portion 19a may also be provided on the lower portion 10 and a corresponding conical recess portion 19b. The conical portions may
15 provide a locating means for the upper and lower portions 11, 10 and/or additional sealing surfaces.
Wiping means 4 may be provided on the end of or any other appropriate position on the access means 2 as shown in 0 Figure 3B.
In order to gain access to the interior space of the tube, a piercing action may be performed as aforementioned, especially if the tube is, or is to be, subjected to a pressure or vacuum. However, if the tube is not subjected to a pressure or vacuum, access may be gained
25 to the interior space of the tube with or without a piercing action. Non-piercing access may be provided by separating the sealing means provided by the upper and lower portions 11, 10 of the cap. For example, an operator may grasp the upper portion 11 of the cap and disengage the upper and
30 lower portions 11, 10 of the cap in a lifting or peeling fashion by slowly moving, in a lateral and upward direction, one side of the upper portion 11 toward an opposite side of the upper portion 11. During this movement, the ?t- longitudinal part of upper portion 11 will be drawn upwardly out of access means 2 and then in a substantially lateral direction. As the longitudinal part is drawn upwardly, wiping means 4 wipes the longitudinal part of the upper
portion 11. When the longitudinal part is almost completely withdrawn from access means 2, the lateral movement of the upper portion 11 will assist tapered portion 16 to come into contact with an inner wall of access means 2 or the wiping means 4 and may therefore also allow the tapered portion 16 to be wiped. Non-piercing access to the tube may thus be gained through the now open access portion. Accordingly, non-piercing access to the tube contents may be provided without removing the cap as a whole from the tube, only the upper portion of the cap may be temporarily withdrawn to allow access. The sealing part of the cap may be adapted to be replaced in a sealing manner in order to again provide a sealed tube cap.
The upper and lower portions of the cap may be connected by a hinge member (20 in Figure 3B) so that the upper and lower portions of adjacent caps are not swapped, therefore avoiding sample mixing or contamination.
Placing a piece of suitable tape on the cap over the dimple(s) allows the dimple(s) to remain sterile should the cap be exposed to a sterilization process (e.g. gamma radiation). Prevention of contamination of tube/cap combination contents is thereby enhanced.
Figures 4A and 4B show a further embodiment of the present invention. An upper portion 11 of mushroom type configuration is shown in Figure 4A removed from the lower portion 10. This embodiment is a "push-over" tube cap, wherein the lower portion is adapted to fit over and around the top of tube 7. Access means 2 is configured to substantially the configuration of the longitudinal portion 22, although substantial correlation of upper and lower portions adjacent access means 2 is not essential if an adequate closure is provided elsewhere between the upper ^nd lower portion.
A bulbous portion 6 is adapted to fit snug/ly through access means 2. As portion 6 passes through the end of the access means, wiping means 4, preferably in the form of flaps, contact the bulbous portion so as to effect a wiping action of the end of the sealing means 3 as it is
retracted from the access means 2. Figure 4B shows the upper and lower portions of the cap in a sealed position.
Dimple 5 is shown greatly enlarged and may be contoured to substantially follow the shape of the j- longitudinal portion 22. This enlarged dimple provides for greater retention of tube contents, normally left on top of a cap after piercing, out of the way of a tube handler. Furthermore, the dimple as shown causes the walls of the longitudinal portion to be thinned. These walls may be -n thinned, in particular, more at the bulbous portion to allow easier piercing access to the interior of the tube. The walls may be thinned to such an extent that piercing access by laboratory machines can be accomplished on a capped tube. Wiping means 4, although not essential to the - t- present invention, may be formed as shown in a closed position in Figure 6. In the embodiment shown, four fingers 23 are shown, although any number of fingers, more than two, are contemplated. The longitudinal portion 22 of the upper portion 11 or a pipette or other suitable apparatus can pass 7- through the closed fingers and thereby come into contact with the interior space of the tube/cap combination.
The spacing between adjacent fingers should be such that "inversion of the tube having contents therein will not allow the contents to leak out if the upper portion has been 7- removed. This provides an added saftey feature to the present invention. Furthermore, laboratory machines can more easily probe past the fingers in order to sample the tube's contents when the upper portion 11 of the cap is removed. The fingers also reduce sample evaporation of the
30 sample in the tube which is the cause of much inaccuracy in laboratory analysis results. The cap is adapted to co-operate with plastic and gloss or other composition tubes, and still provide at least some of the advantages herein disclosed.
Figure 5 shows a still further embodiment, wherein
35 the lower portion 10 of the cap is formed as a "push-in" tube cap. As can be seen, the lower portion is adapted to fit snugly within the diameter of the tube 7. A tapered
portion or chamfer 16 may be formed on the bulbous portion to facilitate wiping of the bulbous portion when the cap is unsealed.
Claims
1. A cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure, said cap comprising: an upper portion including a sealing member, and a lower portion including an access, said sealing member being adapted to form a reusable seal with said access so as to define said resealable enclosed space, said cap being further adapted to facilitate piercing communication with said enclosed space, after which said cap reusably seals.
2. A cap adapted for co-operation with a container to provide a resealable enclosed space, said cap comprising: an upper portion including a longitudinally extending portion, and a lower portion including access means and container co-operation means, said container co-operation means being adapted for abutting said container, said access means being adapted to co-operate with said longitudinally extending part, wherein in a fitted position, said upper and lower portions provide a sealed cap adapted for piercing access and retaining, in said tube, a vacuum or predetermined partial vacuum for a finite period of time and wherein, in an access position, non-piercing access is provided to the enclosed space.
3. A cap as claimed in Claim 2, further wherein said lower portion includes wiping means adapted to remove container contents from said longitudinally extending part.
4. A cap as claimed in claims 2 or 3, further wherein said lower portion is provided with retention means adapted to engage said longitudinally extending part.
5. A cap as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said longitudinally extending part further includes a bulbous portion positioned such that in said fitted position, said bulbous portion is located adjacent said retention means thereby substantially preventing accidental separation of said upper and lower portions.
6. A cap as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said upper portion is provided with dimple means.
7. A cap as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said access means includes flap means which, upon inclination of a container fitted with said cap in the access position, little, if any, contents of the container will be spilt.
8. A container fitted with a cap as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7.
9. A combination comprising a container for holding a fluidized sample and a cap adapted to fit said container to form a resealable space for holding said fluidized sample, said cap comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said portions adapted to form a reusable seal, said upper portion including a longitudinally extending member having thereon a substantially bulbous portion, said lower portion adapted to fit adjacent an orifice in said container, said lower portion including access means adapted to receive said extending member and forming sealing means about said bulbous portion and wiping means for wiping residual container contents from said extending member when said extending member is withdrawn from a sealed position in said access means, and wherein in said sealed position, a piercing apparatus can communicate with said space through said cap whereas in an open or access position, said extending member is in a withdrawn position from said access means thereby allowing substantially unobstructed communication with said space.
10. A method fo_r obtaining a first sample of a fluidized or fluid sample enclosed within a container fitted with a cap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing said container and said cap in a sealed position having therein said fluidized or fluid sample, b) providing sampling means for obtaining said first sample, said sampling means comprising evacuating means and piercing means, c) passing said piercing means through said cap such that an end of said piercing means is located a predetermined distance into the fluidized or fluid sample, said predetermined distance being dependent upon the size of said first sample to be obtained, d) providing said evacuating means in communication with said piercing means for obtaining or drawing said first sample through said piercing means and into said evacuating means, e) withdrawing said sampling means from said cap after said first sample is obtained.
11. A cap adapted for co-operation with a container, said co-operation functioning to provide an accessible space in a first use and a resealable space capable of evacuation to a predetermined level of reduced pressure in a second use, said cap comprising : an upper portion having a sealing member and being co-operable with a lower portion having an access, said sealing member and said access forming a seal during said " evacuation, said lower portion, during said first use, allowing substantially unimpeded communication to said accessible space, said cap being pierceable during said second use and upon a piercing action providing communication between an apparatus piercing said cap and said resealable space, whereupon removal of the apparatus, said cap reseals said resealable space.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPI4261 | 1987-09-10 | ||
AU426187 | 1987-09-10 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1989002399A1 true WO1989002399A1 (en) | 1989-03-23 |
Family
ID=3694709
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU1988/000353 WO1989002399A1 (en) | 1987-09-10 | 1988-09-09 | Cap |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO1989002399A1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0447425A1 (en) * | 1988-11-28 | 1991-09-25 | Medix International Pty Ltd (Acn 051 838 352) | Cap |
EP0454493A2 (en) * | 1990-04-26 | 1991-10-30 | Charles Terrence Macartney | Reinsertable closure for sample tubes |
EP0521299A2 (en) * | 1991-06-03 | 1993-01-07 | Abbott Laboratories | Reagent bottle and cap |
EP1066881A2 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2001-01-10 | Becton Dickinson and Company | Specimen collection assembly with cap |
EP1082998A2 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2001-03-14 | Becton Dickinson and Company | Specimen collection assembly with cap |
WO2001036289A1 (en) * | 1999-11-17 | 2001-05-25 | Fredrick Michael Coory | Piercing cap for a container |
US6562300B2 (en) | 1998-08-28 | 2003-05-13 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Collection assembly |
US7854896B2 (en) | 2001-09-25 | 2010-12-21 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Closed system storage plates |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1164864B (en) * | 1958-06-20 | 1964-03-05 | Metallwerke Adolf Hopf K G | Bottle cap |
US3167202A (en) * | 1964-01-15 | 1965-01-26 | Tolciss Joseph | Closure assembly for container neck |
DE2104543A1 (en) * | 1971-02-01 | 1972-08-10 | Sachau, Werner, 2842 Lohne | Closure caps for beaded bottles and processes for their manufacture |
US3900028A (en) * | 1974-02-26 | 1975-08-19 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Injection site for sterile medical liquid container |
US4084718A (en) * | 1977-02-28 | 1978-04-18 | Varian Associates, Inc. | Compression seal for elastomeric septum |
AU4492679A (en) * | 1978-03-31 | 1979-10-04 | Baxter Travenol Laboratories Inc. | Diagnostic reagent dispensing bottle |
AU5821080A (en) * | 1979-05-18 | 1980-11-20 | Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. | Container lid |
AU1090783A (en) * | 1982-01-30 | 1983-08-04 | Gesepa Anstalt Fur Patentverwertung | Cap closure |
AU2397084A (en) * | 1983-06-06 | 1984-12-13 | Becton Dickinson & Company | Closure for evacuated tube |
-
1988
- 1988-09-09 WO PCT/AU1988/000353 patent/WO1989002399A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1164864B (en) * | 1958-06-20 | 1964-03-05 | Metallwerke Adolf Hopf K G | Bottle cap |
US3167202A (en) * | 1964-01-15 | 1965-01-26 | Tolciss Joseph | Closure assembly for container neck |
DE2104543A1 (en) * | 1971-02-01 | 1972-08-10 | Sachau, Werner, 2842 Lohne | Closure caps for beaded bottles and processes for their manufacture |
US3900028A (en) * | 1974-02-26 | 1975-08-19 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Injection site for sterile medical liquid container |
US4084718A (en) * | 1977-02-28 | 1978-04-18 | Varian Associates, Inc. | Compression seal for elastomeric septum |
AU4492679A (en) * | 1978-03-31 | 1979-10-04 | Baxter Travenol Laboratories Inc. | Diagnostic reagent dispensing bottle |
AU5821080A (en) * | 1979-05-18 | 1980-11-20 | Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. | Container lid |
AU1090783A (en) * | 1982-01-30 | 1983-08-04 | Gesepa Anstalt Fur Patentverwertung | Cap closure |
AU2397084A (en) * | 1983-06-06 | 1984-12-13 | Becton Dickinson & Company | Closure for evacuated tube |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0447425A4 (en) * | 1988-11-28 | 1993-05-19 | Joseph Parsons Nominees Pty. Ltd. | Cap |
EP0447425A1 (en) * | 1988-11-28 | 1991-09-25 | Medix International Pty Ltd (Acn 051 838 352) | Cap |
EP0454493A2 (en) * | 1990-04-26 | 1991-10-30 | Charles Terrence Macartney | Reinsertable closure for sample tubes |
EP0454493A3 (en) * | 1990-04-26 | 1992-05-13 | Charles Terrence Macartney | Reinsertable closure for sample tubes |
EP0521299A2 (en) * | 1991-06-03 | 1993-01-07 | Abbott Laboratories | Reagent bottle and cap |
EP0521299A3 (en) * | 1991-06-03 | 1993-02-24 | Abbott Laboratories | Reagent bottle and cap |
US6562300B2 (en) | 1998-08-28 | 2003-05-13 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Collection assembly |
EP1066881A2 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2001-01-10 | Becton Dickinson and Company | Specimen collection assembly with cap |
EP1082998A2 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2001-03-14 | Becton Dickinson and Company | Specimen collection assembly with cap |
EP1082998A3 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2002-07-03 | Becton Dickinson and Company | Specimen collection assembly with cap |
EP1066881A3 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2002-07-03 | Becton Dickinson and Company | Specimen collection assembly with cap |
WO2001036289A1 (en) * | 1999-11-17 | 2001-05-25 | Fredrick Michael Coory | Piercing cap for a container |
US6772910B1 (en) | 1999-11-17 | 2004-08-10 | Fredrick Michael Coory | Piercing cap for a container |
AU782107B2 (en) * | 1999-11-17 | 2005-07-07 | Fredrick Michael Coory | Piercing cap for a container |
KR100747092B1 (en) * | 1999-11-17 | 2007-08-07 | 미첼 쿠리 프레드릭 | Cap for a container and resealable container |
US7854896B2 (en) | 2001-09-25 | 2010-12-21 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Closed system storage plates |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3419179A (en) | Captive cap specimen vial | |
US5370252A (en) | Cap | |
US3706305A (en) | Combination blood sampling vacuum syringe centrifuge container and specimen cup | |
US4808381A (en) | Fluid transfer device | |
US6054099A (en) | Urine specimen container | |
US5514339A (en) | Stopper of analysis test tubes | |
US6426049B1 (en) | Collection assembly | |
US8926582B2 (en) | Sealing cap for a body fluid container and a blood collection device | |
US6361744B1 (en) | Self-resealing closure for containers | |
CA2067691C (en) | Stopper-shield combination closure | |
EP0517119B1 (en) | Blood microcollection tube assembly | |
US6752965B2 (en) | Self resealing elastomeric closure | |
US4465200A (en) | Low contamination closure for blood collection tubes | |
US5270219A (en) | Fluid transfer device | |
JP4846894B2 (en) | Gathering assembly | |
US4387725A (en) | Device for use in the collection and transportation of medical specimens | |
US2906423A (en) | Closure puncturable by polyethylene needle | |
US20020131904A1 (en) | Device and method for separating components of a fluid sample | |
US20030053938A1 (en) | Liquid specimen collection container | |
US5312009A (en) | Liquid specimen collector with removable extraction device | |
US3923040A (en) | Biological specimen collectors and method | |
WO1989002399A1 (en) | Cap | |
US3983037A (en) | Apparatus for transfer, storage, and distribution of liquid | |
EP0047735B1 (en) | Blood sampling sets | |
US20190120730A1 (en) | Aseptic tamper evident sampling container |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT AU BB BG BR CH DE DK FI GB HU JP KP KR LK LU MC MG MW NL NO RO SD SE SU US |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BJ CF CG CH CM DE FR GA GB IT LU ML MR NL SE SN TD TG |
|
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |