Reagent component dispensing caps for reagent containers used in automated clinical analyzers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10456787-B2
Application number	US-201615234111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 11, 2016
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Described is an automated reagent dispensing cap and methods of use in an automated clinical analyzer for introducing one or more reagent components housed in the reagent dispensing cap into a container enclosing another reagent component with which it is combined to achieve a reagent useful for diagnostic testing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for storing reagent components in an automated clinical analyzer, comprising:
a container lid, said container lid comprising,
a cylindrical wall about a longitudinal central axis, the cylindrical wall defining a lumen,
a first opening to the lumen at a first end of the cylindrical wall,
a second opening to the lumen at a second end of the cylindrical wall
a portion of the lumen defining a reagent chamber 62 configured to store one or more reagents,
wherein the cylindrical wall further comprises internal threads 30 extending from the first end 20 to the second end 22 of the cylindrical wall;
a cylindrical member 40 positioned within the lumen and confined between and shorter than the distance between the first and second ends, said cylindrical member 40 comprising external threads 50 configured to operatively engage the internal threads 30 of said cylindrical wall and thereby to move the cylindrical member along the central longitudinal axis within the lumen, and wherein said engagement between the internal threads 30 and said external threads 50 form a gas-tight seal between the first opening of the lumen and the reagent chamber 62 ;
a breakable seal 60 positioned at the second end 22 of cylindrical wall extending across the second opening of the lumen, wherein the reagent chamber 62 is bounded by the cylindrical wall, the cylindrical member 40 and the breakable seal 60 ; and

an attachment structure 75 joined to the second end of the cylindrical wall, the attachment structure 75 including an engagement portion shaped for receiving a mating engagement portion of a container 72 at an opening of the container 72 and retaining the cylindrical wall and the breakable seal 60 in a fixed position against the container 72 such that the breakable seal 60 seals the opening of the container 72 .

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said attachment structure 75 is selected from the group consisting of threads, snap-lock, mating rings, receiving grooves, a friction-fit mechanism, Luer lock, and one or more tabs.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising; a cap 100 positioned at the first end 20 of the cylindrical wall, the cap 100 enclosing the cylindrical member and sealing the first opening of the lumen.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein said cap 10 is configured to reversibly attach to the container 72 .

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising;
the container 72 coupled to the container lid via the attachment structure 75 .

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first reagent stored in the reagent chamber of the container lid; and
a second reagent separately stored in the container, wherein the first reagent and the second reagent are separated from each other by the breakable seal 60 .

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first reagent is capable of breaking the breakable seal and mixing with the second reagent in response to displacement of the cylindrical member along the longitudinal axis toward the breakable seal.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a piercing probe extending from the cylindrical member toward the breakable seal, the piercing probe including a pointed tip configured for piercing the breakable seal in response to displacement of the cylindrical member along the longitudinal axis toward the breakable seal.

Assignees

• Instr Laboratory Co

Inventors

• Blankenstein Gert
• Zeng Hansong

Classifications

• B65D81/3211

  coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture · CPC title

• B65D51/2892

  the element, e.g. a valve, opening an aperture of the auxiliary container (B65D51/2864, B65D51/2878 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D51/2864

  the element being a plug or like element closing a passage between the auxiliary container and the main container · CPC title

• B65D51/2835 Primary

  ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer · CPC title

• B01L2300/0672

  Integrated piercing tool · CPC title