Specimen Collection Container Assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016296931-A1
Application number	US-201615183196-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 15, 2016
Priority date	Dec 3, 2010
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A specimen collection container comprising:
an inner tube having a closed bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an inner tube interior, said sidewall having an inner surface including at least one angled surface extending toward the closed bottom end, the inner tube comprising at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end, said funnel portion including at least one introducing surface having a curvature configured for directing a specimen down the funnel and into the inner tube interior, said angled surface and said at least one introducing surface together forming a combined gradually angled surface; and an outer tube comprising a bottom end, a top end including an upper end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, wherein the inner tube is disposed at least partially within the outer tube such that the at least one funnel portion sits above the upper end of the outer tube, wherein a portion of the sidewall of the inner tube including at least a portion of the angled surface comprises an exterior stabilizer extending along the sidewall of the inner tube in a longitudinal direction, the exterior stabilizer being configured to contact a portion of an inner surface of the sidewall of the outer tube, the angled surface of the inner tube being angled relative to the exterior stabilizing surface.

2 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the inner tube is configured to cooperate with the sidewall of the outer tube to secure the inner tube within the outer tube.

3 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the inner tube includes an annular ring extending outwardly therefrom and the at least one funnel portion is located adjacent to and above the annular ring and wherein a portion of the upper end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

4 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein the top end of the inner tube comprises a second funnel portion, such that the second funnel portion is substantially opposite the at least one funnel portion.

5 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sidewall of the inner tube and the sidewall of the outer tube includes at least one fill-line for allowing a clinician to determine the volume of specimen within the inner tube.

6 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the outer tube comprises at least one vent for venting air from the space defined between the inner tube and the outer tube.

7 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube completely seals the top end of the outer tube.

8 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , further comprising a specimen collection cap sealing at least one of the top end of the inner tube and the top end of the outer tube.

9 . The specimen collection container of claim 1 , wherein an overall length of the container is a length that is compatible with standard industry specifications for automated clinical processes.

10 . The specimen collection container of claim 9 , wherein the overall length of the container is between 75 mm and 100 mm.

11 . A specimen collection container comprising:
an inner tube having a closed bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an inner tube interior, said sidewall having an inner surface including at least one angled surface extending toward the closed bottom end, the inner tube comprising at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end, said funnel portion including at least one introducing surface having a curvature configured for directing a specimen down the funnel and into the inner tube interior, said angled surface and said at least one introducing surface together forming a combined gradually angled surface, said top end of said inner tube having a receiving portion diameter D 1 and an annular ring having an outer diameter D 2 that is greater than D 1 , said at least one funnel portion being located adjacent to and extending above the annular ring; and an outer tube comprising a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an outer tube interior having an inner diameter D 3 which is greater than D 1 and less than D 2 and wherein the inner tube is disposed at least partially within the outer tube, wherein a portion of the sidewall of the inner tube including at least a portion of the angled surface comprises an exterior stabilizer extending along the sidewall of the inner tube in a longitudinal direction, the exterior stabilizer being configured to contact a portion of an inner surface of the sidewall of the outer tube, the angled surface of the inner tube being angled relative to the exterior stabilizing surface.

12 . The specimen collection container of claim 11 , wherein the inner tube has an overall length L 2 , the outer tube has an overall length L 3 which is greater than L 2 , and wherein assembly of the inner tube within the outer tube results in the specimen collection container having an overall length L 5 which is greater than L 3 .

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Bartfeld Benjamin R
• Ellis Robert G
• Golabek Jr Robert S
• Dubrowny Nancy
• Parmar Girish
• Holmes Paul
• Blekher Alex
• Delk Michael

Classifications

• B01L2300/0609

  Holders integrated in container to position an object · CPC title

• B01L3/50825 Primary

  Closing or opening means, corks, bungs · CPC title

• B01L2200/0684

  Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles · CPC title

• B01L3/5082 Primary

  Test tubes per se · CPC title

• B01L2300/123

  Flexible; Elastomeric · CPC title