Point-of-care diagnostic systems and containers for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11358148-B2
Application number	US-201916378483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a medical diagnostic system. In various embodiments, the system includes a housing, a first receptacle in the housing for receiving a reagent container, a second receptacle in the housing for receiving a working fluid and waste container, where the second receptacle is larger than the first receptacle, two reagent access needles positioned and fixed within the first receptacle with each of the two reagent access needles being positioned to access the reagent container, and a working fluid access needle and a waste access needle positioned and fixed within the second receptacle with the working fluid access needle and the waste access needle being positioned to access the working fluid and waste container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a housing;
a receptacle in the housing configured to receive a container having a first compartment storing a reagent, the receptacle having a wall; and
a first compartment engagement mechanism configured to engage the first compartment in an engagement position, the first compartment engagement mechanism including:
a hub fixed within the wall of the receptacle,
at least one needle secured to the hub,
a needle cover slideably coupled with the hub, wherein the needle cover includes a cap having at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one needle, the needle cover configured to cover the at least one needle in a covered position in which the at least one needle does not protrude through the corresponding at least one aperture of the cap, and
at least one engagement arm secured to the hub and engaging the needle cover to grasp the needle cover in the covered position,

wherein the at least one needle, in the engagement position, protrudes through the corresponding at least one aperture of the cap and punctures a seal of the first compartment to withdraw the reagent stored in the first compartment,
wherein the at least one engagement arm includes a base portion secured to the hub, an elbow portion connected to the base portion, and a grasping portion connected to the elbow portion, and
wherein the elbow portion is semi-flexible and permits the grasping portion to move radially closer to and away from the needle cover.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one needle is a coated needle or a non-coated needle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the needle cover includes a plurality of glide posts slideably coupled with the hub, and
wherein the at least one needle protrudes through the at least one aperture of the cap as the plurality of glide posts slides into the hub.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the container,
wherein the container includes the first compartment having a first cap secured to a first neck of the first compartment, the first cap being sized to contact the grasping portion of the at least one engagement arm and move the grasping portion radially away from the needle cover as the first compartment engagement mechanism engages the first cap of the first compartment of the container.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first compartment includes a collar having at least one notch corresponding to the at least one engagement arm, and
wherein the at least one notch of the collar receives the grasping portion of at least one engagement arm as the first compartment of the container is fully engaged with the first compartment engagement mechanism.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the container includes a second compartment having a second neck and a second cap secured to the second neck, and
wherein the system further comprises a second compartment engagement mechanism coupled to the wall of the receptacle and configured to engage the second compartment of the container, the second compartment engagement mechanism including elements corresponding to the elements of the first compartment engagement mechanism.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a level detection mechanism coupled to the first compartment engagement mechanism and the second compartment engagement mechanism, the level detection mechanism detecting whether the container is level within the receptacle.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first compartment engagement mechanism is a different size from the second compartment engagement mechanism, and wherein the first cap is a different size from the second cap.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first compartment engagement mechanism and the second compartment engagement mechanism extend different distances from the wall of the receptacle, and wherein the first cap and the second cap extend different distances from a body of the container.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a spring positioned between the needle cover and the hub, the spring biasing the needle cover in the covered position.

11. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of glide posts slide through or along the hub.

Assignees

• Idexx Lab Inc

Inventors

• Fletcher Michael
• Connolly David L
• Leavitt Anne
• Furtney Matthew M
• Labak Christopher
• Aiston Christopher
• O'Sullivan Daniel

Classifications

• B01L3/523 Primary

  with means for closing or opening · CPC title

• B01L2200/026

  Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details · CPC title

• B01L3/527

  for a plurality of reagents · CPC title

• G01N35/10

  Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61B5/150389

  Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin · CPC title