CA1086267A - Culture collection and transport device - Google Patents
Culture collection and transport deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1086267A CA1086267A CA311,273A CA311273A CA1086267A CA 1086267 A CA1086267 A CA 1086267A CA 311273 A CA311273 A CA 311273A CA 1086267 A CA1086267 A CA 1086267A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- piston
- fluid
- accordance
- tubular
- specimen
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B10/00—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B10/02—Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
- C12M23/32—Frangible parts
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M33/00—Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus
- C12M33/02—Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus by impregnation, e.g. using swabs or loops
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M45/00—Means for pre-treatment of biological substances
- C12M45/22—Means for packing or storing viable microorganisms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
- A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
- A61F13/38—Swabs having a stick-type handle, e.g. cotton tips
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N2001/028—Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S435/00—Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
- Y10S435/81—Packaged device or kit
Abstract
CULTURE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT DEVICE
Abstract of the Disclosure:
A culture collection and transport device which is uniquely configured employing a piston-like element which is adapted to maintain a medium-carrying chamber in fluid-tight relationship until such time as a specimen sample is introduced into the device and selectively put in contact with the medium. The culture medium preserves the viability or microorganisms comprising the specimen sample. The piston-like member is pressure responsive so that ambient temperature and pressure changes will not cause leakage of the medium from the medium-carrying chamber and wherein a simple, force oriented movement of a specimen collector on swab, containing a culture, is readily put into contact with the viability-maintaining, transport medium.
Abstract of the Disclosure:
A culture collection and transport device which is uniquely configured employing a piston-like element which is adapted to maintain a medium-carrying chamber in fluid-tight relationship until such time as a specimen sample is introduced into the device and selectively put in contact with the medium. The culture medium preserves the viability or microorganisms comprising the specimen sample. The piston-like member is pressure responsive so that ambient temperature and pressure changes will not cause leakage of the medium from the medium-carrying chamber and wherein a simple, force oriented movement of a specimen collector on swab, containing a culture, is readily put into contact with the viability-maintaining, transport medium.
Description
Background of the Invention:
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This invention pertains to culture collection and transport devices of the type utilized in doctors' offices and the like wherein a specimen is obtained from a patient. In order to maintain the viability of the microorganism obtained as a specimen, until such time as the specimen can be tested by a testing laboratory, the microorganism must be maintained, and must be put in contact with a culture-sustaining -~(~86Z67 meclium, such as Amies, agar or otner media that ~Jill preserve the viability oE microorganisms for in vitro diagnostic test purposes.
In taking a culture specimen, a culture - 5. collection and transport device must be such that sterility of the specimen collector, e.g. swab, is maintained in a sterile environment and can be handled `
in an aseptic manner a-fter the specimen of the microorganisms has been taken. Thereafter, the cul,ure - 10. collection and transport device must be capable of furnishing a life-sustaining medium for the specimen microorganisms so that their viablity will be maintained until such time as adequate laboratory tests may be made. Thus, a culture collection and transport device 15. must be sterile before a test specimen is introduced, must have a microorganism-sustaining fluid or medium for the transportational phase and, subsequént to the specimen taking, must be capable of maintain:ing specimen integrity so as to give accurate test results.
20. Additionally, because millions of cultures are taken annually, the devices must be economically and feas-bly manufactured and must be of relative low cost because of their single-use character.
Prior art devices have utilized glass ampuls, 25. partial and rupturable seals to maintain a cul,ure-sustaining medium in isolation from the specimen
,, .
This invention pertains to culture collection and transport devices of the type utilized in doctors' offices and the like wherein a specimen is obtained from a patient. In order to maintain the viability of the microorganism obtained as a specimen, until such time as the specimen can be tested by a testing laboratory, the microorganism must be maintained, and must be put in contact with a culture-sustaining -~(~86Z67 meclium, such as Amies, agar or otner media that ~Jill preserve the viability oE microorganisms for in vitro diagnostic test purposes.
In taking a culture specimen, a culture - 5. collection and transport device must be such that sterility of the specimen collector, e.g. swab, is maintained in a sterile environment and can be handled `
in an aseptic manner a-fter the specimen of the microorganisms has been taken. Thereafter, the cul,ure - 10. collection and transport device must be capable of furnishing a life-sustaining medium for the specimen microorganisms so that their viablity will be maintained until such time as adequate laboratory tests may be made. Thus, a culture collection and transport device 15. must be sterile before a test specimen is introduced, must have a microorganism-sustaining fluid or medium for the transportational phase and, subsequént to the specimen taking, must be capable of maintain:ing specimen integrity so as to give accurate test results.
20. Additionally, because millions of cultures are taken annually, the devices must be economically and feas-bly manufactured and must be of relative low cost because of their single-use character.
Prior art devices have utilized glass ampuls, 25. partial and rupturable seals to maintain a cul,ure-sustaining medium in isolation from the specimen
-2-.
1~86Z67 collector, usually a s~Jab or the~ like, until such i time as the specimen of microorganisrns has been -` obtained. The prior art devices suffer in that - ~they are difficult to manufacture and to main-tain 5. quality control over, are costly in the manufacture of the various components making up the culture ; collection and transport device and generally suffer from other shortcomings, which the-devices of this:invention overcome~
. ~ .
10. Objec~s and Summary of the Inven~ion:
-- - . . .
It is an object of t~e invention to provide a culture collection and transport : device which is suitable for in vitro diagnostic use.
It is another further object of the 15. invention to provide a culture collection and transport device wh-ich employs a sealing member which is responsive to ambient pressure so as to prevent leakage of microorganism-~aintaining medium.
20. It is still a further, and ev~n more important, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport device which employs a piston-like member of unique conEig-uration which maintains a culture medium chamber 25. in fluid-tight relationship until such time as it s desired to disrupt that rel~tionship ~........ .... .
, . :
~(~86Z~7 It is still an even ~urther, and more specific, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport device using an open-ended, tubular-like body member having a closed end which is adapted to carry a culture medium in one end thereof which is sealed off from the remainder of the tubular-like body : member by means of a~ piston-like member w'nich is respo~sive to a~ient pressure : 10. It is still another, even more specific and important, object of the invention to provide-a culture collection and transport device which employs a piston-like member of conformable material wherein the piston-like member may provide 15. a fluid-tight-barrier between a body of culture medium and a specimen collector.
It is still another further, even more specific and important, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport 20. device employing a cap-swab subassembly and a tube subassembly wherein the -tube subassembly carries a culture medium maintained in a normally fluid-tight chamber by means of a piston-like, conformable member which is responsive to 25. ambient pressure and which is selectively dis-86Z~i7 engageable in order to provicle culture medium contact with the specimen collector as desired.
It is still another, even more specific, and further object of the invention to provide 5. a culture collection and transport device which employs two plastic tube members, one o~ which carries a culture medium separated from the remainder of the tube by a pis~ton-like sealing member, and where~n the other tubuIar member ca~ries a specir.~en . ~' .
10. collector such as a swab and w~erein the two tubes-fit together to form a single unitary aseptic ; cuIture ta~ing and transport device.
It is another, even more further specific, object of the invention to provide a culture - lS. -- collection and transport device using a piston-like member wilich is of~~conformable material employing at least one perimetric sealing surface, protuberance or lip thereabout so as to provide a fluid-tight ; chamber for a culture medium carried in the device.
20. It is still a more further, and even more specific, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport device utilizing a piston-like member, employing perimetric sealing surfaces, protuberances or lips thereabout, 25. which is of a unique configuration and design so as to be responsive to ambient pressure and to selectively permit collapse upon itself to disrupt the fluid-sealing character thereof.
.
In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a culture collection and transport device comprising the combina-tion of an open-ended, tubular-like body member or tube subassembly `: 5. having a closed end adapted to carry a fluid thereat and employing a conformable, piston-- like member slideably positionable adjacent the closed end to form a normally, flui~-tight;
charnber therebetween, in which a fluid medium 10. is carried. The pis-ton-like member has a least one perimetric, continuous, sealing surface, ~ protuberance or llp thereabout in abutting relation-s ship to the interior surface of said tubular-like '` body or tube subassembly member. The piston-like 15. -- member is partially collapsible when subjected , to selected applied pressure -to open a fluid passage thereabout. A cap assembly member having disposed therein one or more specimen collectors and of a sufficlent size to tele-,~ 20. scopically receive the open-ended, ~ubular~like body or tube subassembly member completes the major components of the culture collection and transport device.
'; These and further objects of the invention 25. will become apparent from the hereinafter following ,.'~
' .
` - ~086267 commentary taken in conjunction ~lith the figures of dra~ing.
Brief Description of the Drawing:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view shos~ing 5. the culture collection and transport device or tne : invention in an aseptic package;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the culture collectlon and transport device illustrated in FI~. 1, but being shown outside of the pac~age 10. in which it would normally be carried;
- FIG. ~ is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the major components making up the culture collection and transport device of the ~-. invention;
15. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the mode of contacting ~he specimen collector with the culture medium 20. carried by the culture collection and transport device of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the culture medium and microorganisms retained on the tip of a specimen collector;
25. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view ta~en along the line 7- 7 of FIG . 4;
.~ FIG. 8 is an enlarged view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 4; and .
. FIG. 9 illustrates a section view of . . .
5. an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the cap subassem~ly member carries more than one specimen collector or swab.
Description of the Best Embodiments_Contemplated:
Referring to the drawings, wherein li'~e 10. numerals of reference designate like elements , throughout, it will be seen that a pacXage 2 : contalns a first paper sheet 4, heat or adhesively sealed to plastic over sheet 6 except at the corners 8 for ease of opening purposes, thereby 15. forming a sterile chamber 10 in which is disposed ~, the culture collection and transport device 12 of this invention.
The culture collection and transport . . , device 12 comprises a first open-ended, tubular-20. - like body memher or tube subassembly 14 sealed at one extremity 16, leaving surfac~ lS to which may be affixed by heat stampf .imprinting - or other means a lot number or identification to enable traceability throughout the life of 25. culture collection and transport device 12.
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. .
. .
t ~ (~86;~6~
The open end of the member 14 is beveled for ease of association with a cap member as will be seen hereinafter.
Also, ideally the tube diameter is sufficiently large to permit ease of access and ~gress of a specimen collector without wiping the specimen from the collector, as will be readily apparent.
Disposed in spaced relationship from the end 16 is piston-like member 20, which may be ~ natural~ synthetic rubber or of one of the plastics, such as Krayton, trade -mark owned by the Shell Company and applied to styrene polyolefin or Polyurethane. The piston-like member 20 may be compression molded or injection molded and, depending upon the materials of construction, will be soft and con-formable and have some lubricity, either by way of the materials of construction themselves or will utilize sili-cone oil or the like applied after fabrication or added to the materials making up the member 20 for purposes that will -become apparent.
Piston-like member 20, in this particular instance, is of cup-like design having an interior recess 22 with spaced sealing lips or protuberances 24 and 26 about the perimeter of the outer-wall of piston-like member 20. The piston-like _ 9 _ .
' ' . . ~ . .:
, - :
~086iZ67 men~er 20 is conformable and, generally, will have a shore A rating in the 40-70 rancJe for the size of piston-like member 20 u-tiIized in the type of culture collection and transport device 12 Y 5. illustrated in the figures of drar.~ling. Thus, for general use purposes, a p~ston-like memb~r 20 as illustrated will have a wall thickness of about .035 inches and a di~meter of approximately .453 ~nches, it being understood ~hat the length 10. of the tube subassembly 14 being approximately 6.19 inches. It i5 only important that piston-like member 20 be capable o~ forming a fluid-tight barrier, as will be described, and be capable or being responsive.to ambient pressures to which 15. the culture collection and transport device 12 will be subjected. Further, as will be seen, the piston-like member 20 should be collapsible . upon itself and be operative :Eor its apparent purposes within an operating range of between.
20. 2-4 pounds or thereabout for the particular device being descrihed, and i~ should be under-stood that.those of ordinary skill in the art wlll understand the various modifications and changes that would necessarily be inherent should larger 25. or smaller devices be desired, keeping in mind , ~10-` c` (~/ -;
~(J86Z~;7 the foregoing parameters.
` Positioned adjacent the closed end 16 - of tubular-like body member or tube subassembly 14 is a quan,ity of culture medium 28 wliich may be `~ 5. Amies clear or charcoal, agar or any other type of generally suitable microorganism sustaining i media well known in the art. Generally spea};ing, - the fluid level of the cul.ure medium 28 will be somewnat less than that amount that can be 10. retained within the culture medium chamber 30 formed between the 10~7er end 16 or tube subassembly member 14 and the bottom wall 31 of pis~on-like : member 20 so that a quantity of air (not shown) will provide an air spring to cushion impact or 15. shock loads on the medium chamber 30 due to ~
ambient pressure,-so that the piston-like member 20 may slide within the interior of tube subassembly 14 and still maintain the fluid-tight barrier between medium chamber 3D and the remainder of tube 20. subassembly member 14. .-Referring to FIG. 4, it ;~ill be seen that the piston-like member 20, by means of spaced sealing surfaces or lips 24 and 26, provides a fluid barrier to maintain substantial 25. fluid integrity within medium chamber 30. The .:, ' ~-. ` ' ',.' . . - .
- : , -1~86Zti7 ` cap asse~bly member 32 is also of tubular configuration, having a slightly larger inside diameter so as to be telescopically received over the upper end portion of tube subassembly member 14.
5. For ease of telescopic association, cap assembly membex 32 has a flared end 34 and a closed end 36, molded in the interior surface to form opposed - interior gripping s~ùrfaces 38 and 40 ~IG. 8~
havi~g spaced serrated projections 42 and 44 in 1Ø which is fric-tionally retained a specimen collector or swab 46, the shaft 48 being made of plastic or the like with the tip 50 being of rayon absorptive material of the type generally found in the culture collection field.
15. Referring to FIG. 4~ it will-be noted . that the overall length of specimen collector or : swab 46 is such that room is left between the inside recess surface 22 (mo~e particularlyt the inside, bottom wall of piston~ ke me~ber 20~ -20. and the outer periphery of rayon tip 50 of swab 46.
Thus, as seen in FIG. 4, the piston-like member 42 may linearly move between the closed end 16 and the open end of tube subassembly member 14, due to the influence of ambient pressures acting 25. upon the fluid medium 28 or air contained within ~ ~086Z67 fluid medium chamber 30. Because of the sealincJ
protuberances or lips 24 and 26 and the coaction of the configuration of piston-like member 20 and the lubricity of the materials of construc~ion 5. of both the piston-like member 20 and the tube subassembly 14, a fluid barrier or fluid tightness is achieved to prevent any contact of the,fluid medium 28 with swab~tip 50 r except under desired : and s41ected circumstances, as will be described.
10. In the FIG. 4 sho~Jing, the cap assen~ly member 32 is shown as being heat sealed or tack welded, as at 52, so as to join cap assembly member 32 to tube subassembly member 14 in releasable fashion. Thus, by simply twisting the 15. cap assembly member 32 the ~ack weld or tamper ., .
~ indicator 52 seal will be broken to allow removal - of the cap assembly 32 with its captively retained or staked swab 46, so that ~ microorganism speci~en may be taken by means of sw-lb tip 50~
20. Referring to FIG~ 5, once the specimen has been collected, it is now im~erativer for transportational purposes and to maintain the viability of the microorganism specimen, that the fluid Medium be put into association with the j~ 25. tip 50. Thus, once the specimen is taken, the user .
; -13-~ ~086Z67 of the culture collection and t~ansport device would merely position the cap assembly member 32 with specimen collector 46, as illustrated in ` FIG. 2, and by means of using one hand and 5. having the thumb in ballpoint pen actuating position, depress the outer end 36 of cap assembly - member 32 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 5 to there~by drive the tip S0, having the spec~men thereon, into abut-ting engagemen~ .
; lO. with the interior recess 22 of piston-like member 20, which because of the noncompressability of the fluid medium 28 in fluid chamber 30 will - cause the walls of piston-like member 20 to collapse -. about itself to thereby break the perimetric 15. seals formed by sealing surfaces or members 24 - . - --and 26 to provide fluid paths for meaium 28 to flow thereabout and contact the microorganisms contained on swab tip 50.
Referring to FIG. 6, obviously in order 20. to remove the specimen and to make whatever microorganism test would be desirable, the cap assembly member 32 is removed, containlng on ~: the swab tip S0 not only the collected specimen in viable form, but a portion of the fluid 25. medlum 28 which has saturated the swab tip 50 -.
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~086267 in order to m~intain ancl to preserve the viabilit~
of the collected specimen for in vitro testing purposes.
Referring now to FIG. 9, an alternative 5. type of cap asse~bly 62 is illustrated identical ln all particulars to cap assemjly member 32 except, in this particular instance, two specimen collectors or swab~members 64 and 66 are~carried in frictionally retained relationship bet~een 10. the interior of sidewalls 68 and 70 ~aking up the upper end of cap assembly 62. In all other partic-ulars, the serrated interior surfaces of wall members 68 and 70 serve to frictionally retain the plastic shafts of swab members 64 and 66.
15. Thus, ~Jith the dual concept, two specimen collectors are provided for specimen collection purposes.
In the specimen collection and trans-portational device 12 illustrated, it should be 20. remembered that the specific description is or il~ustrative purposes only. For example, ~hile the tube subassembly member 14 and the cap assembly member 32 are made of polyethylene, other materials of construction are, indeed, 25. possible, keepiny in mind the sliding parameter ~ -`
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: ~086267 `:~
` that is necessary for the piston ]ike member 20 ~ith respect to the interior wall of the tube subassembly member 14. In some ins-tances, the microorganism-sustaining fluid will be of varying 5. colors and the piston like rne~ber 20 may ~j~ likewise be colored to accommodate the sp~cific , .
color o-f the medium`with whlch it is to be -used.
The piston-like member mu~t have 10. sufficient sealing integrity so as to be able to provide the fluid barrier between the culture media chamber and the remainder of the tube subassembly and, thus, the parameters of the material of constr~ction of hoth the piston-lile 15. member, the tube subassembly and the relative sizes of each must be coordinated so that the ~ forces that may cause bending of the swab shaft would be greater than the Lorce neeessary to break the fluid barrier maintained by the 20. piston-like eiement, which, in turn, would be greater than the static friction force between the interior of the tube subassembly member and ~ the conformable or elastomeric piston-like member.
- Thus, as indicated hereinbefore, the various 25. component factors should provide an overall ~' ' .
~086Z67 device that ~ill only require between 2 and ~
pounds of force in order to break the fluid barrier formed by piston-like member 20 and still attain the aforealluded to advan-tages.
5. The culture collection and specimen device of the inven-tion, of course, may be utilized without an outer package. An outer ' package like that illustrated is however, deemed necessary where exterior sterility of the culture 10. collection and specimen device is desired.
Additionally, in some instances, a cap assembly having the retained swab may be dispensed with . . . .
and other alternative means utilized in order to obtain the specimen, in which event only the tube 15. subassembly member need be utilized. Various changes and modifications will make themselves apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, il and all such changes will not depart from the essence of the invention as d-sclosed herein 20. and as intended to be covered in the appended claims.
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1~86Z67 collector, usually a s~Jab or the~ like, until such i time as the specimen of microorganisrns has been -` obtained. The prior art devices suffer in that - ~they are difficult to manufacture and to main-tain 5. quality control over, are costly in the manufacture of the various components making up the culture ; collection and transport device and generally suffer from other shortcomings, which the-devices of this:invention overcome~
. ~ .
10. Objec~s and Summary of the Inven~ion:
-- - . . .
It is an object of t~e invention to provide a culture collection and transport : device which is suitable for in vitro diagnostic use.
It is another further object of the 15. invention to provide a culture collection and transport device wh-ich employs a sealing member which is responsive to ambient pressure so as to prevent leakage of microorganism-~aintaining medium.
20. It is still a further, and ev~n more important, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport device which employs a piston-like member of unique conEig-uration which maintains a culture medium chamber 25. in fluid-tight relationship until such time as it s desired to disrupt that rel~tionship ~........ .... .
, . :
~(~86Z~7 It is still an even ~urther, and more specific, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport device using an open-ended, tubular-like body member having a closed end which is adapted to carry a culture medium in one end thereof which is sealed off from the remainder of the tubular-like body : member by means of a~ piston-like member w'nich is respo~sive to a~ient pressure : 10. It is still another, even more specific and important, object of the invention to provide-a culture collection and transport device which employs a piston-like member of conformable material wherein the piston-like member may provide 15. a fluid-tight-barrier between a body of culture medium and a specimen collector.
It is still another further, even more specific and important, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport 20. device employing a cap-swab subassembly and a tube subassembly wherein the -tube subassembly carries a culture medium maintained in a normally fluid-tight chamber by means of a piston-like, conformable member which is responsive to 25. ambient pressure and which is selectively dis-86Z~i7 engageable in order to provicle culture medium contact with the specimen collector as desired.
It is still another, even more specific, and further object of the invention to provide 5. a culture collection and transport device which employs two plastic tube members, one o~ which carries a culture medium separated from the remainder of the tube by a pis~ton-like sealing member, and where~n the other tubuIar member ca~ries a specir.~en . ~' .
10. collector such as a swab and w~erein the two tubes-fit together to form a single unitary aseptic ; cuIture ta~ing and transport device.
It is another, even more further specific, object of the invention to provide a culture - lS. -- collection and transport device using a piston-like member wilich is of~~conformable material employing at least one perimetric sealing surface, protuberance or lip thereabout so as to provide a fluid-tight ; chamber for a culture medium carried in the device.
20. It is still a more further, and even more specific, object of the invention to provide a culture collection and transport device utilizing a piston-like member, employing perimetric sealing surfaces, protuberances or lips thereabout, 25. which is of a unique configuration and design so as to be responsive to ambient pressure and to selectively permit collapse upon itself to disrupt the fluid-sealing character thereof.
.
In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a culture collection and transport device comprising the combina-tion of an open-ended, tubular-like body member or tube subassembly `: 5. having a closed end adapted to carry a fluid thereat and employing a conformable, piston-- like member slideably positionable adjacent the closed end to form a normally, flui~-tight;
charnber therebetween, in which a fluid medium 10. is carried. The pis-ton-like member has a least one perimetric, continuous, sealing surface, ~ protuberance or llp thereabout in abutting relation-s ship to the interior surface of said tubular-like '` body or tube subassembly member. The piston-like 15. -- member is partially collapsible when subjected , to selected applied pressure -to open a fluid passage thereabout. A cap assembly member having disposed therein one or more specimen collectors and of a sufficlent size to tele-,~ 20. scopically receive the open-ended, ~ubular~like body or tube subassembly member completes the major components of the culture collection and transport device.
'; These and further objects of the invention 25. will become apparent from the hereinafter following ,.'~
' .
` - ~086267 commentary taken in conjunction ~lith the figures of dra~ing.
Brief Description of the Drawing:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view shos~ing 5. the culture collection and transport device or tne : invention in an aseptic package;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the culture collectlon and transport device illustrated in FI~. 1, but being shown outside of the pac~age 10. in which it would normally be carried;
- FIG. ~ is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the major components making up the culture collection and transport device of the ~-. invention;
15. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the mode of contacting ~he specimen collector with the culture medium 20. carried by the culture collection and transport device of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the culture medium and microorganisms retained on the tip of a specimen collector;
25. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view ta~en along the line 7- 7 of FIG . 4;
.~ FIG. 8 is an enlarged view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 4; and .
. FIG. 9 illustrates a section view of . . .
5. an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the cap subassem~ly member carries more than one specimen collector or swab.
Description of the Best Embodiments_Contemplated:
Referring to the drawings, wherein li'~e 10. numerals of reference designate like elements , throughout, it will be seen that a pacXage 2 : contalns a first paper sheet 4, heat or adhesively sealed to plastic over sheet 6 except at the corners 8 for ease of opening purposes, thereby 15. forming a sterile chamber 10 in which is disposed ~, the culture collection and transport device 12 of this invention.
The culture collection and transport . . , device 12 comprises a first open-ended, tubular-20. - like body memher or tube subassembly 14 sealed at one extremity 16, leaving surfac~ lS to which may be affixed by heat stampf .imprinting - or other means a lot number or identification to enable traceability throughout the life of 25. culture collection and transport device 12.
~ .
' ' .
. .
. .
t ~ (~86;~6~
The open end of the member 14 is beveled for ease of association with a cap member as will be seen hereinafter.
Also, ideally the tube diameter is sufficiently large to permit ease of access and ~gress of a specimen collector without wiping the specimen from the collector, as will be readily apparent.
Disposed in spaced relationship from the end 16 is piston-like member 20, which may be ~ natural~ synthetic rubber or of one of the plastics, such as Krayton, trade -mark owned by the Shell Company and applied to styrene polyolefin or Polyurethane. The piston-like member 20 may be compression molded or injection molded and, depending upon the materials of construction, will be soft and con-formable and have some lubricity, either by way of the materials of construction themselves or will utilize sili-cone oil or the like applied after fabrication or added to the materials making up the member 20 for purposes that will -become apparent.
Piston-like member 20, in this particular instance, is of cup-like design having an interior recess 22 with spaced sealing lips or protuberances 24 and 26 about the perimeter of the outer-wall of piston-like member 20. The piston-like _ 9 _ .
' ' . . ~ . .:
, - :
~086iZ67 men~er 20 is conformable and, generally, will have a shore A rating in the 40-70 rancJe for the size of piston-like member 20 u-tiIized in the type of culture collection and transport device 12 Y 5. illustrated in the figures of drar.~ling. Thus, for general use purposes, a p~ston-like memb~r 20 as illustrated will have a wall thickness of about .035 inches and a di~meter of approximately .453 ~nches, it being understood ~hat the length 10. of the tube subassembly 14 being approximately 6.19 inches. It i5 only important that piston-like member 20 be capable o~ forming a fluid-tight barrier, as will be described, and be capable or being responsive.to ambient pressures to which 15. the culture collection and transport device 12 will be subjected. Further, as will be seen, the piston-like member 20 should be collapsible . upon itself and be operative :Eor its apparent purposes within an operating range of between.
20. 2-4 pounds or thereabout for the particular device being descrihed, and i~ should be under-stood that.those of ordinary skill in the art wlll understand the various modifications and changes that would necessarily be inherent should larger 25. or smaller devices be desired, keeping in mind , ~10-` c` (~/ -;
~(J86Z~;7 the foregoing parameters.
` Positioned adjacent the closed end 16 - of tubular-like body member or tube subassembly 14 is a quan,ity of culture medium 28 wliich may be `~ 5. Amies clear or charcoal, agar or any other type of generally suitable microorganism sustaining i media well known in the art. Generally spea};ing, - the fluid level of the cul.ure medium 28 will be somewnat less than that amount that can be 10. retained within the culture medium chamber 30 formed between the 10~7er end 16 or tube subassembly member 14 and the bottom wall 31 of pis~on-like : member 20 so that a quantity of air (not shown) will provide an air spring to cushion impact or 15. shock loads on the medium chamber 30 due to ~
ambient pressure,-so that the piston-like member 20 may slide within the interior of tube subassembly 14 and still maintain the fluid-tight barrier between medium chamber 3D and the remainder of tube 20. subassembly member 14. .-Referring to FIG. 4, it ;~ill be seen that the piston-like member 20, by means of spaced sealing surfaces or lips 24 and 26, provides a fluid barrier to maintain substantial 25. fluid integrity within medium chamber 30. The .:, ' ~-. ` ' ',.' . . - .
- : , -1~86Zti7 ` cap asse~bly member 32 is also of tubular configuration, having a slightly larger inside diameter so as to be telescopically received over the upper end portion of tube subassembly member 14.
5. For ease of telescopic association, cap assembly membex 32 has a flared end 34 and a closed end 36, molded in the interior surface to form opposed - interior gripping s~ùrfaces 38 and 40 ~IG. 8~
havi~g spaced serrated projections 42 and 44 in 1Ø which is fric-tionally retained a specimen collector or swab 46, the shaft 48 being made of plastic or the like with the tip 50 being of rayon absorptive material of the type generally found in the culture collection field.
15. Referring to FIG. 4~ it will-be noted . that the overall length of specimen collector or : swab 46 is such that room is left between the inside recess surface 22 (mo~e particularlyt the inside, bottom wall of piston~ ke me~ber 20~ -20. and the outer periphery of rayon tip 50 of swab 46.
Thus, as seen in FIG. 4, the piston-like member 42 may linearly move between the closed end 16 and the open end of tube subassembly member 14, due to the influence of ambient pressures acting 25. upon the fluid medium 28 or air contained within ~ ~086Z67 fluid medium chamber 30. Because of the sealincJ
protuberances or lips 24 and 26 and the coaction of the configuration of piston-like member 20 and the lubricity of the materials of construc~ion 5. of both the piston-like member 20 and the tube subassembly 14, a fluid barrier or fluid tightness is achieved to prevent any contact of the,fluid medium 28 with swab~tip 50 r except under desired : and s41ected circumstances, as will be described.
10. In the FIG. 4 sho~Jing, the cap assen~ly member 32 is shown as being heat sealed or tack welded, as at 52, so as to join cap assembly member 32 to tube subassembly member 14 in releasable fashion. Thus, by simply twisting the 15. cap assembly member 32 the ~ack weld or tamper ., .
~ indicator 52 seal will be broken to allow removal - of the cap assembly 32 with its captively retained or staked swab 46, so that ~ microorganism speci~en may be taken by means of sw-lb tip 50~
20. Referring to FIG~ 5, once the specimen has been collected, it is now im~erativer for transportational purposes and to maintain the viability of the microorganism specimen, that the fluid Medium be put into association with the j~ 25. tip 50. Thus, once the specimen is taken, the user .
; -13-~ ~086Z67 of the culture collection and t~ansport device would merely position the cap assembly member 32 with specimen collector 46, as illustrated in ` FIG. 2, and by means of using one hand and 5. having the thumb in ballpoint pen actuating position, depress the outer end 36 of cap assembly - member 32 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 5 to there~by drive the tip S0, having the spec~men thereon, into abut-ting engagemen~ .
; lO. with the interior recess 22 of piston-like member 20, which because of the noncompressability of the fluid medium 28 in fluid chamber 30 will - cause the walls of piston-like member 20 to collapse -. about itself to thereby break the perimetric 15. seals formed by sealing surfaces or members 24 - . - --and 26 to provide fluid paths for meaium 28 to flow thereabout and contact the microorganisms contained on swab tip 50.
Referring to FIG. 6, obviously in order 20. to remove the specimen and to make whatever microorganism test would be desirable, the cap assembly member 32 is removed, containlng on ~: the swab tip S0 not only the collected specimen in viable form, but a portion of the fluid 25. medlum 28 which has saturated the swab tip 50 -.
' .
~086267 in order to m~intain ancl to preserve the viabilit~
of the collected specimen for in vitro testing purposes.
Referring now to FIG. 9, an alternative 5. type of cap asse~bly 62 is illustrated identical ln all particulars to cap assemjly member 32 except, in this particular instance, two specimen collectors or swab~members 64 and 66 are~carried in frictionally retained relationship bet~een 10. the interior of sidewalls 68 and 70 ~aking up the upper end of cap assembly 62. In all other partic-ulars, the serrated interior surfaces of wall members 68 and 70 serve to frictionally retain the plastic shafts of swab members 64 and 66.
15. Thus, ~Jith the dual concept, two specimen collectors are provided for specimen collection purposes.
In the specimen collection and trans-portational device 12 illustrated, it should be 20. remembered that the specific description is or il~ustrative purposes only. For example, ~hile the tube subassembly member 14 and the cap assembly member 32 are made of polyethylene, other materials of construction are, indeed, 25. possible, keepiny in mind the sliding parameter ~ -`
`:
: ~086267 `:~
` that is necessary for the piston ]ike member 20 ~ith respect to the interior wall of the tube subassembly member 14. In some ins-tances, the microorganism-sustaining fluid will be of varying 5. colors and the piston like rne~ber 20 may ~j~ likewise be colored to accommodate the sp~cific , .
color o-f the medium`with whlch it is to be -used.
The piston-like member mu~t have 10. sufficient sealing integrity so as to be able to provide the fluid barrier between the culture media chamber and the remainder of the tube subassembly and, thus, the parameters of the material of constr~ction of hoth the piston-lile 15. member, the tube subassembly and the relative sizes of each must be coordinated so that the ~ forces that may cause bending of the swab shaft would be greater than the Lorce neeessary to break the fluid barrier maintained by the 20. piston-like eiement, which, in turn, would be greater than the static friction force between the interior of the tube subassembly member and ~ the conformable or elastomeric piston-like member.
- Thus, as indicated hereinbefore, the various 25. component factors should provide an overall ~' ' .
~086Z67 device that ~ill only require between 2 and ~
pounds of force in order to break the fluid barrier formed by piston-like member 20 and still attain the aforealluded to advan-tages.
5. The culture collection and specimen device of the inven-tion, of course, may be utilized without an outer package. An outer ' package like that illustrated is however, deemed necessary where exterior sterility of the culture 10. collection and specimen device is desired.
Additionally, in some instances, a cap assembly having the retained swab may be dispensed with . . . .
and other alternative means utilized in order to obtain the specimen, in which event only the tube 15. subassembly member need be utilized. Various changes and modifications will make themselves apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, il and all such changes will not depart from the essence of the invention as d-sclosed herein 20. and as intended to be covered in the appended claims.
~'
Claims (15)
WE CLAIM:
1. A culture collection and transportational device comprising the combination of: an open-ended, tubular-like body member having a closed end adapted to carry a fluid thereat; a conformable piston-like member slideably positionable adjacent said closed end to form a normally fluid-tight chamber therebetween in which said fluid medium is carried, said piston-like member having at least one perimetric continuous sealing lip thereabout in abutting relationship to the interior surface of said tubular-like body member, said piston-like member being partially collapsible when subjected to selected applied pressure to open fluid passageways thereabout.
2. The device in accordance with Claim 1 including a cap member adapted for telescopic association with said tubular-like body member.
3. The device in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said cap member includes a specimen collector releasably carried thereby.
4. The device in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said piston-like member is collapsible upon itself and has two spaced continuous sealing lips about the perimeter thereof, each of which is in abutting relationship to the interior surface of said tubular-like body member.
5. The device in accordance with Claim 4 wherein a cap member is telescopically received on the open end of said tubular-like body member and is configured at one extremity thereof so as to receive the shaft of a specimen collector in releasably, frictionally-held association therewith.
6. The device in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said piston-like member is cup-shaped, wherein an open recess surface is projected to and positioned adjacent at the specimen end of said specimen collector.
7. The device in accordance with Claim 6 wherein said piston-like member is made or conformable material having elastomeric characteristics.
8. The device in accordance with Claim 6 wherein said cap member is adapted to receive two specimen collectors in friction held, side-by-side relationship and said cap member telescopically receives the exterior, circumferential surface of said tubular-like body member.
9. The device in accordance with Claim 6 wherein said tubular-like body member and said cap member are of heat-sealable plastic and wherein a tack weld is provided between said cap member and said tubular-like body member so as to provide a tamper evident seal.
10. The device in accordance with Claim 7 wherein said piston-like member and the interior wall of said tubular-like body member have relative coefficients of friction so as to permit said piston-like member to be responsive to fluid pressure changes in said normally fluid-tight chamber while maintaining fluid sealability about said piston-like member through said sealing lips.
11. The device in accordance with Claim 10 including a quantity of culture medium disposed in said fluid-tight chamber and a gaseous space between the surface of said medium and the presented surface of said piston-like member, whereby an air cushion or spring is provided for absorption of relatively high impact forces so as to maintain fluid sealability of said piston-like member, and wherein fluid sealability is disrupted of said piston-like member by impacting the recessed end of said piston-like member with said specimen collector.
12. A culture collection and transport device comprising the combination of: an open-ended plastic tubular body member having a sealed end; a conformable, piston-like member slideably positioned from said sealed end and forming a fluid-tight chamber therebetween, a quantity of fluid carried in said fluid-tight chamber, said piston-like member having spaced sealing surfaces coacting with the interior wall of said open-ended, plastic tubular body member to selectively maintain the fluid tightness of said fluid-tight chamber and adapted to disrupt said sealing surfaces upon the application of a selected fluid pressure within fluid-tight chamber.
13. The culture collection and transport device in accordance with Claim 12 including a plastic cap member carrying a swab and telescopically received over the upper end portion of the open end of said open-ended, plastic tubular body member to thereby cooperatively form an elongated, closed chamber.
14. The culture collection and transport device in accordance with Claim 13 when said piston-like element is of relatively thin-wall, elastomeric-like material of construction, and has a recessed or cup-like surface adjacent the tip of said swab.
15. The culture collection and transport device in accordance with Claim 14 wherein said spaced sealing surfaces are formed by spaced, continuous protuberances on the exterior surface of said piston-like member.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/935,841 US4223093A (en) | 1978-08-25 | 1978-08-25 | Culture collection and transport device |
| US935,841 | 1978-08-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1086267A true CA1086267A (en) | 1980-09-23 |
Family
ID=25467765
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA311,273A Expired CA1086267A (en) | 1978-08-25 | 1978-09-13 | Culture collection and transport device |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4223093A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5531988A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU513297B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1086267A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2846700C3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2028868B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE435395B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA785602B (en) |
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| US4312950A (en) * | 1980-03-31 | 1982-01-26 | Hillwood Corporation | Disposable swab and culture unit |
| US4387725A (en) * | 1981-02-10 | 1983-06-14 | Mull John D | Device for use in the collection and transportation of medical specimens |
| US4353868A (en) * | 1981-05-29 | 1982-10-12 | Sherwood Medical Industries Inc. | Specimen collecting device |
| US4653510A (en) * | 1982-03-01 | 1987-03-31 | Accu-Med Corporation | Apparatus for collecting and/or growing protected biological cultures |
| US4485824A (en) * | 1982-03-01 | 1984-12-04 | E & K Corporation | Method and apparatus for collecting and/or growing protected biological specimens |
| US4788985A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1988-12-06 | Medtest Corporation | Device for cell sampling in a body cavity |
| US4465078A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1984-08-14 | Medtest Corporation | Method for cell sampling in a body cavity |
| IT1153640B (en) * | 1982-11-05 | 1987-01-14 | Italiana L P Spa | APPARATUS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF THE SPEED OF ERITROSEDIMENTATION OF THE BLOOD |
| FR2540513A1 (en) * | 1983-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | Schmorak Raymond | Device for preserving and transporting a bacterial sample |
| EP0155747A1 (en) * | 1984-03-19 | 1985-09-25 | Kidde, Inc. | Tube culture system |
| US4657869A (en) * | 1984-05-18 | 1987-04-14 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Self-contained device for carrying out specific binding assays |
| US4803998A (en) * | 1986-01-27 | 1989-02-14 | Ncs Diagnostics, Inc. | Swab retaining vial cap and method of use |
| US4707450A (en) * | 1986-09-25 | 1987-11-17 | Nason Frederic L | Specimen collection and test unit |
| US4770853A (en) * | 1986-12-03 | 1988-09-13 | New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation | Device for self contained solid phase immunodiffusion assay |
| US4749655A (en) * | 1987-06-01 | 1988-06-07 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Specimen collection package |
| US5266266A (en) * | 1988-02-09 | 1993-11-30 | Nason Frederic L | Specimen test unit |
| US5238649A (en) * | 1988-02-09 | 1993-08-24 | Nason Frederic L | Specimen test unit |
| US4978504A (en) * | 1988-02-09 | 1990-12-18 | Nason Frederic L | Specimen test unit |
| US5078968A (en) * | 1988-02-09 | 1992-01-07 | Nason Frederic L | Specimen test unit |
| US4848167A (en) * | 1988-04-26 | 1989-07-18 | Battelle Memorial Institute | Sampling apparatus |
| US5091316A (en) * | 1988-06-09 | 1992-02-25 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Biological sample collection and transport device |
| US5163441A (en) * | 1988-06-09 | 1992-11-17 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Polyurethane biological sample collection and transport device and its use |
| GB8901665D0 (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1989-03-15 | Scan Labs Ltdd | Receptacles for specimens,and swabbing sets or the like incorporating such receptacles |
| US5212067A (en) * | 1989-03-30 | 1993-05-18 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Quick assay for detection of salmonella |
| US5208150A (en) * | 1989-03-30 | 1993-05-04 | The University Of Maryland | Salmonella-Selective plating medium |
| GB2248396B (en) * | 1990-10-05 | 1994-11-16 | Elizabeth Tinsou Houang | Swab |
| WO1993012421A1 (en) * | 1990-12-13 | 1993-06-24 | Nason, Frederic, L. | Specimen test unit |
| US5283038A (en) * | 1990-12-18 | 1994-02-01 | Saliva Diagnostic Systems, Inc. | Fluid sampling and testing device |
| US5129402A (en) * | 1991-02-19 | 1992-07-14 | Accu-Med Corporation | Apparatus for collecting and/or growing protected biological specimens |
| US5256537A (en) * | 1991-12-11 | 1993-10-26 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Culturette safety sleeve |
| US5522795A (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1996-06-04 | United States Surgical Corporation | Endoscopic swab device |
| US5879635A (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 1999-03-09 | Nason; Frederic L. | Reagent dispenser and related test kit for biological specimens |
| US6248294B1 (en) | 1998-04-15 | 2001-06-19 | Frederic L. Nason | Self contained diagnostic test unit |
| US5869003A (en) * | 1998-04-15 | 1999-02-09 | Nason; Frederic L. | Self contained diagnostic test unit |
| JP2004525823A (en) * | 2000-12-23 | 2004-08-26 | アカンティア・ホールディングス・リミテッド | Packaging system |
| US7022289B1 (en) * | 2001-10-10 | 2006-04-04 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Chemical and biological sampling device and kit and method of use thereof |
| US20050205202A1 (en) * | 2003-03-24 | 2005-09-22 | Precision Dynamics Corporation | Continuous lamination of RFID tags and inlets |
| US20040188010A1 (en) * | 2003-03-24 | 2004-09-30 | Chaoui Sam M. | Continuous lamination of RFID bands and inlets |
| US9052254B2 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2015-06-09 | The Bode Technology Group, Inc. | Evidence collector with integral quantified reagents and method of modulating specimen drying time |
| US8696595B2 (en) * | 2009-04-26 | 2014-04-15 | The Bode Technology Group, Inc. | Unitized system for collection, drying transport and analysis |
| US8677843B2 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2014-03-25 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Sample acquisition device |
| BRPI0905942A2 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2015-06-30 | 3M Innovative Properties Co | "sample capture device" |
| US8282612B1 (en) * | 2008-03-07 | 2012-10-09 | Denise H. Miller | Methods and devices for intrauterine absorption |
| US8225680B2 (en) * | 2009-01-05 | 2012-07-24 | Atomic Energy Council-Institute Of Nuclear Energy Research | Wipe sampling device of radioactive contaminants on surface of spent nuclear fuel storage canister |
| US8940547B2 (en) | 2010-02-27 | 2015-01-27 | The Bode Technology Group, Inc. | Evidence collector with integral quantified reagents and method of modulating specimen drying time |
| CA3085163A1 (en) * | 2010-02-27 | 2011-09-01 | The Bode Technology Group, Inc | Evidence collector with integral quantified reagents and method of modulating specimen drying time |
| WO2013181616A1 (en) | 2012-06-02 | 2013-12-05 | Health & Bliss Llc | Self diagnostic test |
| US9078786B1 (en) | 2012-10-19 | 2015-07-14 | Denise H. Miller | Methods and devices for collecting body fluids |
| KR102615068B1 (en) * | 2015-12-10 | 2023-12-19 | 반알엑스 파마시스템즈 인크. | Apparatus and method for protecting and deprotecting fluid paths in controlled environment enclosures |
| WO2020180535A1 (en) * | 2019-03-05 | 2020-09-10 | Thomas Jefferson University | Dual-function receptacle seal |
| CN214017618U (en) * | 2020-09-03 | 2021-08-24 | 广州洁特生物过滤股份有限公司 | Sampling device |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3163160A (en) * | 1962-11-15 | 1964-12-29 | Milton J Cohen | Disposable swab and culture medium device |
| US3450129A (en) * | 1966-07-06 | 1969-06-17 | Medical Supply Co | Swabbing unit |
| US3513830A (en) * | 1967-10-10 | 1970-05-26 | Wayne C Kalayjian | Instrument for obtaining body cultures |
| US3876503A (en) * | 1971-10-29 | 1975-04-08 | Frederick C Mennen | Method and instrument for the detection of neisseria gonorrheae without culture |
| US4018653A (en) * | 1971-10-29 | 1977-04-19 | U.S. Packaging Corporation | Instrument for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae without culture |
| US3835834A (en) * | 1972-02-24 | 1974-09-17 | J Brown | Culture transporter |
| US4014746A (en) * | 1973-05-08 | 1977-03-29 | U.S. Medical Research And Development, Inc. | Method of and apparatus for collecting cultures |
| US3915806A (en) * | 1974-01-17 | 1975-10-28 | Denver Chemical Manufacturing | Specimen holding kit |
| US3966552A (en) * | 1975-04-14 | 1976-06-29 | Smithkline Corporation | Device for making a culture of micro-organisms |
-
1978
- 1978-08-25 US US05/935,841 patent/US4223093A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1978-09-13 CA CA311,273A patent/CA1086267A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-09-28 AU AU40279/78A patent/AU513297B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-04 ZA ZA00785602A patent/ZA785602B/en unknown
- 1978-10-13 GB GB7840492A patent/GB2028868B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-26 DE DE2846700A patent/DE2846700C3/en not_active Expired
- 1978-11-01 SE SE7811303A patent/SE435395B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1979
- 1979-02-20 JP JP1898179A patent/JPS5531988A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SE7811303L (en) | 1980-02-26 |
| DE2846700B2 (en) | 1980-10-09 |
| SE435395B (en) | 1984-09-24 |
| US4223093A (en) | 1980-09-16 |
| DE2846700C3 (en) | 1981-12-24 |
| AU4027978A (en) | 1980-04-03 |
| ZA785602B (en) | 1979-09-26 |
| JPS5643351B2 (en) | 1981-10-12 |
| AU513297B2 (en) | 1980-11-27 |
| GB2028868A (en) | 1980-03-12 |
| GB2028868B (en) | 1982-09-15 |
| DE2846700A1 (en) | 1980-02-28 |
| JPS5531988A (en) | 1980-03-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |