EP0348116A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for discharging contents of sealed container
Assignee: Helena Laboratories Corp
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Filing: 1989-06-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for discharging the contents of a sealed container (10), such as a test tube, having a resilient closure (18). A plurality of tubes or needles (32, 38) are mounted in a socket or holder (50). The tubes needles (32, 38) puncture the closure (18) to establish fluid flow paths between the interior and exterior of the container (10). A pump (66) is positioned at one end (34) of the first fluid flow path (32), and a discharge tube (70) extends through the second fluid flow path (38) such that upon activating the pump (66), air or the like is introduced into the interior of the container (10) creating a pressure therein, in response to which fluid from the container (10) is discharged through the discharge tube (70) onto a specimen plate (88) or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Tipton Lee Golias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:45
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/02; B01L3/0289; B01L3/0293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for transferring fluid (80, 82) from a sealed container such as a test tube (10) or the like, the container having a resilient closure (18) at one end (14), characterised in that the apparatus comprises means (30) for puncturing the resilient closure (18) and for establishing first and second fluid flow paths through the closure, means (50) for holding the puncturing means, and means (66) for creating a pressure differential within the container and for discharging fluid (86, 82) therefrom through the second fluid flow path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for transferring fluid (80, 82) from a sealed container such as a test tube (10) or the like, the container having a resilient closure (18) at one end (14), characterised in that the apparatus comprises means (30) for puncturing the resilient closure (18) and for establishing first and second fluid flow paths through the closure, means (50) for holding the puncturing means, and means (66) for creating a pressure differential within the container and for discharging fluid (86, 82) therefrom through the second fluid flow path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the puncturing means (30) includes two hollow tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the puncturing means (30) includes, or the hollow tubes are in the form of, two hollow needles (32, 38).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the two hollow needles (32, 38) are laterally spaced apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the holding means (50) is configured to seat on the closure (18).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the closure (48) has a concave upper closure surface (24) and the holding means includes a convex portion (56) for seating on the concave closure surface (24).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the holding means (50) includes first and second apertures therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the holding means (50) includes first and second apertures therethrough for retaining the puncturing means (30) therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the pressure differential creating means (66) includes a flexible chamber (68) for introducing air into the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it includes an elongated hollow tube (70) extending through the second fluid flow path, one end (72) of the tube (70) being positioned interiorly of the container (10) and the other end (74) of said tube (70) being positioned exteriorly of the container (10).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the hollow tube (70) is mounted for slidable movement relative to the holding means (50).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the fluid intended to be used in the container includes strands therein and the second fluid flow path has an inside diameter less than the size of the strands.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of discharging the contents from a container (10) such as test tube or the like, the container being sealed with a resilient closure (18) at one end (14) the method being characterised by the steps of puncturing the resilient closure (18) and establishing first and second fluid flow paths therethrough, introducing air through the first fluid flow path into the container, and transferring the contents from the interior of the container through the second fluid flow path in response to the introduction of air into the container through the first fluid flow path.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of discharging the contents from a container (10) such as test tube or the like, the container being sealed with a resilient closure (18) at one end (14) the method being characterised by the steps of puncturing the resilient closure (18) and establishing first and second fluid flow paths therethrough, introducing air through the first fluid flow path into the container, and transferring the contents from the interior of the container through the second fluid flow path in response to the introduction of air into the container through the first fluid flow path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the container contents are stratified into at least two layers (80, 28) and the step of transferring the contents through the second fluid flow path further includes selectively determining the layer from which fluid is transferred from the container (10).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the step of transferring includes filtering a portion of the container contents.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for transferring fluid from a container (10) sealed by a resilient closure (18) characterised in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of elongated hollow tubes (32, 38) for puncturing the resilient closure (18) and establishing at least first and second fluid flow paths therethrough and a pump (66) for introducing air through the first fluid path into the container (10) causing a pressure increase therein, in response to which fluid in the container (10) is dispensed through the second fluid flow path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for transferring fluid from a container (10) sealed by a resilient closure (18) characterised in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of elongated hollow tubes (32, 38) for puncturing the resilient closure (18) and establishing at least first and second fluid flow paths therethrough and a pump (66) for introducing air through the first fluid path into the container (10) causing a pressure increase therein, in response to which fluid in the container (10) is dispensed through the second fluid flow path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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