Point-of-care diagnostic systems and containers for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12303902-B2
Application number	US-202217836474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2022
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

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 container engagement device for engaging a container configured to hold a fluid utilized in a diagnostic process, the container engagement device comprising:
a hub configured to be fixed in a wall, the hub defining a plurality of guide slots;
at least one needle secured to the hub and protruding from the hub, the at least one needle configured to puncture the container;
a needle cover slideably coupled with the hub, the needle cover comprising:
a cap defining at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one needle, and
a plurality of glide posts extending from the cap,
wherein individual glide posts of the plurality of glide posts are positioned at least partially within individual guide slots of the plurality of guide slots of the hub, the plurality of glide posts configured to slide along the plurality of guide slots;

an engagement arm having a base portion secured to the hub and a grasping portion; and
a spring positioned between the hub and the cap of the needle cover, the spring having a first compressed state in which the spring pushes the cap against the grasping portion of the engagement arm such that, in the first compressed state of the spring, the grasping portion grasps the cap and maintains the spring in the first compressed state,
wherein in the first compressed state of the spring, the at least one needle is covered by the cap such that the at least one needle extends from the hub and terminates prior to the at least one aperture of the cap.

2. The container engagement device of claim 1 , wherein the spring has a second compressed state in which the spring is more compressed than in the first compressed state, wherein the spring contacts the hub and the cap in the second compressed state.

3. The container engagement device of claim 2 , wherein the spring compresses from the first compressed state to the second compressed state by the container pressing against the cap,
wherein as the spring compresses from the first compressed state to the second compressed state, the spring maintains contact with the hub and the cap.

4. The container engagement device of claim 3 , wherein as the spring compresses from the first compressed state to the second compressed state, the grasping portion releases the cap.

5. The container engagement device of claim 2 , wherein in the second compressed state of the spring, the at least one needle protrudes through the at least one aperture of the cap.

6. The container engagement device of claim 3 , wherein the hub further comprises a spring alignment structure configured to align the spring against the hub, and
wherein the cap comprises a spring alignment structure configured to align the spring against the cap.

7. The container engagement device of claim 6 , wherein in the second compressed state of the spring, the spring alignment structure of the hub contacts the spring alignment structure of the cap.

8. The container engagement device of claim 4 , wherein the spring decompresses from the second compressed state to the first compressed state by the container being moved away from the cap,
wherein as the spring decompresses from the second compressed state to the first compressed state, the grasping portion re-grasps the cap.

9. The container engagement device of claim 8 , wherein as the spring moves between the first compressed state and the second compressed state, the plurality of glide posts of the needle cover slide through the plurality of guide slots of the hub.

10. A system comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive a container storing a fluid utilized in a diagnostic process, the receptacle having a wall; and
a container engagement device configured to engage the container, the container engagement device comprising:
a hub fixed in the wall of the receptacle, the hub defining a plurality of guide slots;
at least one needle secured to the hub and protruding from the hub, the at least one needle configured to puncture the container;
a needle cover slideably coupled with the hub, the needle cover comprising:
a cap defining at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one needle, and
a plurality of glide posts extending from the cap,
wherein individual glide posts of the plurality of glide posts are positioned at least partially within individual guide slots of the plurality of guide slots of the hub, the plurality of glide posts configured to slide along the plurality of guide slots;

an engagement arm having a base portion secured to the hub and a grasping portion; and
a spring positioned between the hub and the cap of the needle cover, the spring having a first compressed state in which the spring pushes the cap against the grasping portion of the engagement arm such that, in the first compressed state of the spring, the grasping portion grasps the cap and maintains the spring in the first compressed state,
wherein in the first compressed state of the spring, the at least one needle is covered by the cap such that the at least one needle extends from the hub and terminates prior to the at least one aperture of the cap.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the spring has a second compressed state in which the spring is more compressed than in the first compressed state, wherein the spring contacts the hub and the cap in the second compressed state.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the spring compresses from the first compressed state to the second compressed state by the container pressing against the cap,
wherein as the spring compresses from the first compressed state to the second compressed state, the spring maintains contact with the hub and the cap.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein as the spring compresses from the first compressed state to the second compressed state, the grasping portion releases the cap.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein in the second compressed state of the spring, the at least one needle protrudes through the at least one aperture of the cap.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the hub further comprises a spring alignment structure configured to align the spring against the hub, and
wherein the cap comprises a spring alignment structure configured to align the spring against the cap.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein in the second compressed state of the spring, the spring alignment structure of the hub contacts the spring alignment structure of the cap.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the spring decompresses from the second compressed state to the first compressed state by the container being moved away from the cap,
wherein as the spring decompresses from the second compressed state to the first compressed state, the grasping portion re-grasps the cap.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein as the spring moves between the first compressed state and the second compressed state, the plurality of glide posts of the needle cover slide through the plurality of guide slots of 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

• B01L3/527

  for a plurality of reagents · CPC title

• B01L2200/026

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

• B01L3/523 Primary

  with means for closing or opening · CPC title