Container and cap for a biological specimen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019015083-A1
Application number	US-201816133968-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2011
Publication date	Jan 17, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A container for collecting a biological specimen is provided that includes a peripheral wall extending from a base. The container further includes a longitudinal tower disposed within the container. The tower forms a partition within the container to form at least a first chamber and a second chamber therein, wherein the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with one another. In addition, the container includes an insert disposed within the container opposite the base, the insert comprising at least a first opening and a second opening. The second opening provides access to the second chamber and is further configured to engage a specimen collecting device to leave a portion of the specimen collecting device within the second chamber. The first opening provides access to the first chamber and is further configured to receive a syringe therein for accessing the biological specimen. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

First claim

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A method for collecting a biological specimen, the method comprising:
obtaining a biological specimen with a specimen collection device; and inserting the specimen collection device into a container comprising:
a peripheral wall extending from a base, the peripheral wall and base defining an interior surface and an exterior surface;
a longitudinal tower disposed within the container, wherein the longitudinal tower forms a partition within the container to form at least a first chamber and a second chamber therein, wherein the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with one another; and
an insert placed over and spanning the tower, wherein the tower defines a separation between a first portion of the insert over the first chamber and a second portion of the insert over the second chamber, wherein the first portion of the insert is not in fluid communication with the second portion of the insert, and wherein the specimen collection device is received by the second chamber.

27 . The method of claim 26 further comprising:
leaving a portion of the specimen collection device within the second chamber when the remainder of the specimen collection device is removed from the container;
inserting at least a portion of a syringe into the first chamber of the container; and
using the syringe to remove at least a portion of the specimen from the container.

28 . The method of claim 26 further comprising:
engaging the second chamber of the container and the second portion of the insert of the container with the specimen collection device to thereby leave a portion of the specimen collection device within the second chamber of the container.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the specimen collection device is a brush and the portion of the specimen collection device left within the second chamber of the container is a detachable brush head.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the step of engaging the second chamber of the container and the second portion of the insert of the container with the brush includes rotating the brush and pulling upwardly on the brush to thereby leave the detachable brush head within the second chamber of the container.

31 . The method of claim 28 further comprising:
aspirating, with an instrument, a portion of the specimen from the first chamber of the container without contacting the portion of the specimen collection device left within the second chamber of the container.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the instrument is at least one of a pipette, a syringe, or a needle.

33 . The method of claim 28 further comprising:
sealing the interior surface of the container with a cap, wherein the cap comprises a pierceable portion located above the first chamber.

34 . The method of claim 33 further comprising:
piercing, with an instrument, the pierceable portion of the cap; and
aspirating, with the instrument, a portion of the specimen from the first chamber of the container without contacting the portion of the specimen collection device left within the second chamber of the container.

35 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the peripheral wall of the container further comprises a flange and a threaded exterior surface disposed opposite from the base of the container, and wherein the step of sealing the interior surface of the container includes engaging the cap with the flange and the threaded exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the container.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the cap further comprises a plurality of fingers that are configured to engage a chuck, and wherein the step of sealing the interior surface of the container further includes engaging the fingers of the cap with an equal number of fingers of a chuck and rotating the chuck in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

37 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the container further comprises:
a notch defined in the exterior surface and configured to position the apparatus in subsequent processing.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the longitudinal tower of the container is disposed within the container such that the first chamber is located approximately radially opposite from the notch.

39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the base of the container is sloped downwards from the notch towards the longitudinal tower.

40 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the longitudinal tower of the container further comprises a base edge adjacent to the base and at least two longitudinal edges extending therefrom and are spaced apart from the peripheral wall, wherein the base edge and the at least two longitudinal edges do not contact the interior surface of the peripheral wall.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein a volume of the first chamber of the container is less than a volume of the second chamber of the container.

42 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the longitudinal tower of the container extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the peripheral wall of the container.

43 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first portion of the insert of the container is an opening configured to provide access to the first chamber of the container, and wherein the second portion of the insert of the container is an opening configured to provide access to the second chamber of the container.

44 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first portion of the insert of the container is configured to receive at least one of a pipette, a syringe, or a needle for aspirating a portion of the specimen from the first chamber of the container.

45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the second portion of the insert of the container is configured to engage a specimen collection device to thereby leave a portion of the specimen collection device within the second chamber of the container.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Hansen Timothy R
• Talmer Mark
• Bailey Kevin
• Livingston Dwight

Classifications

• A61B10/0096 Primary

  Casings for storing test samples (A61B10/0038, A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/10; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30) · CPC title

• A61J1/1412

  Containers with closing means, e.g. caps · CPC title

• A61J1/1418

  Threaded type · CPC title

• B65D41/005

  with integral sealing means (B65D41/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N33/48778

  Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage · CPC title