Patent US3890954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3890954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for collecting cultures
Assignee: U S Medical Research & Dev Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-08
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1993-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A swab is packaged in a tube having an open end and containing a culture-sustaining liquid at the bottom of the tube and a plug including a one-way isolating valve located above the liquid. After removal of the swab from the tube and swabbing of a body canal or the like with the absorbent tip of the swab, the swab may be placed back in the tube with the absorbent tip adjacent the plug. The plug may then be forced downwardly through the liquid by pressing on the end of the swab or another liquid member telescoped within the tube so as to force the liquid up through the valve into contact with the absorbent tip. A closure or cap which may be used to press on the end of the stick or the rigid member then forms a seal at the open end of the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J Greenspan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0096; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5029; C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/32; C12M33/00; C12M33/02; C12M45/00; C12M45/22; A61B50/00; A61B50/30; A61B2050/314; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/38; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/18; B01L2200/185; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0475; B01L2400/0478; B01L2400/06; B01L2400/0633; B01L2400/0638; B01L2400/0694; G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N2001/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for collecting cultures including an elongated member having an absorbent swabbing tip received within a container tube having an open end, a closed end and sides therebetween, a culture-sustaining liquid at the closed end of the tube, the improvement comprising plug means within said tube adjacent said culture-sustaining liquid, a portion of said plug means extending outwardly toward the sides of said tube in resilient contact therewith so as to form a sliding, substantially liquid-tight junction with the sides of said tube, said plug means including a resilient isolating valve member closing an opening in said plug means, said resilient isolating valve member being closed when said plug means is stationary within said tube so as to create substantial physical isolation of the swab within the tube from the culture-sustaining liquid when the plug means is located above the culture-sustaining liquid, said resilient isolating valve member opening in response to movement of said plug means toward the bottom of said tube through said culture-sustaining liquid so as to moisten said absorbent swabbing tip of said swab with said culture-sustaining liquid, said plug means having a surface adjacent said tip tapering radially inwardly toward said closed end for guiding the absorbent tip toward the center of said plug means to enable said elongated member to transmit a substantially axial force for moving said plug means through the culture-sustaining liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for collecting cultures including an elongated member having an absorbent swabbing tip received within a container tube having an open end, a closed end and sides therebetween, a culture-sustaining liquid at the closed end of the tube, the improvement comprising plug means within said tube adjacent said culture-sustaining liquid, a portion of said plug means extending outwardly toward the sides of said tube in resilient contact therewith so as to form a sliding, substantially liquid-tight junction with the sides of said tube, said plug means including a resilient isolating valve member closing an opening in said plug means, said resilient isolating valve member being closed when said plug means is stationary within said tube so as to create substantial physical isolation of the swab within the tube from the culture-sustaining liquid when the plug means is located above the culture-sustaining liquid, said resilient isolating valve member opening in response to movement of said plug means toward the bottom of said tube through said culture-sustaining liquid so as to moisten said absorbent swabbing tip of said swab with said culture-sustaining liquid, said plug means having a surface adjacent said tip tapering radially inwardly toward said closed end for guiding the absorbent tip toward the center of said plug means to enable said elongated member to transmit a substantially axial force for moving said plug means through the culture-sustaining liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a closure member having a surface tapering radially inwardly away from the end of said elongated member opposite said absorbent swabbing tip for guiding said end of said elongated member toward the center of said closure member thereby enabling the elongated member to transmit a substantially axial force from said closure member to said plug means when said closure means is pushed on said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said isolating valve member is spaced from the center of said plug means such that pressure applied at the center of said plug means by said swab tends to open said valve member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including more than one said valve member closing more than one said opening in said plug means, each valve member being spaced from another and the center of said plug means to assure that at least one valve member will open.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plug means includes holes extending upwardly from the bottom of the plug means and terminating in each said valve member, each said valve member comprising a flap extending across one of said holes to said tapered surface of said plug means and formed in part therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plug means includes at least one hole extending upwardly from the bottom of the plug means and terminating in at least one said valve member, said valve member comprising a flap extending across said hole and formed in part from the upper surface of said plug means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
An improved method of collecting cultures in a live condition utilizing an apparatus comprising a collection tube having sides and a botton containing a culture-sustaining liquid adjacent the bottom of the tube, a plug located within the tube above the liquid and in resilient contact with the sides of the tube, the plug including an isolating valve remaining closed when the plug is stationary above the liquid and opening as the plug is moved downwardly through the liquid, and a swab including an elongated member having an absorbent tip at one end thereof and adapted to be disposed within the tube above the plug, and closure means for sealingly engaging the open end of the tube, the improved method comprising the steps of: swabbing an area of culturable material with the absorbent swabbing tip of the swab; inserting the swab into the tube; transmitting a downward force to the plug through the swab so as to open the isolating valve and permit the liquid to saturate the absorbent tip of the swab; metering a selected amount of culture-sustaining liquid into saturating contact with the absorbent tip as a function of the swab position, and closing said valve when said swab comes to rest in said tube so as to substantially isolate any culture-sustaining liquid remaining adjacent the bottom of the tube from said swab.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
224 words
An improved method of collecting cultures in a live condition utilizing an apparatus comprising a collection tube having sides and a botton containing a culture-sustaining liquid adjacent the bottom of the tube, a plug located within the tube above the liquid and in resilient contact with the sides of the tube, the plug including an isolating valve remaining closed when the plug is stationary above the liquid and opening as the plug is moved downwardly through the liquid, and a swab including an elongated member having an absorbent tip at one end thereof and adapted to be disposed within the tube above the plug, and closure means for sealingly engaging the open end of the tube, the improved method comprising the steps of: swabbing an area of culturable material with the absorbent swabbing tip of the swab; inserting the swab into the tube; transmitting a downward force to the plug through the swab so as to open the isolating valve and permit the liquid to saturate the absorbent tip of the swab; metering a selected amount of culture-sustaining liquid into saturating contact with the absorbent tip as a function of the swab position, and closing said valve when said swab comes to rest in said tube so as to substantially isolate any culture-sustaining liquid remaining adjacent the bottom of the tube from said swab.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 including the step of applying said closure means and transmitting said downward force through said closure means to said swab.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for collecting cultures and the like comprising: a hollow tubular container having a closed end, an open end and sides extending therebetween; a culture-sustaining liquid positioned within said tubular container adjacent said closed end; piston means forming a swab-receiving chamber within said hollow tubular container, said chamber being substantially isolated from the sides of said tubular container, said piston means including a plug portion adjacent said culture-sustaining liquid and in resilient contact with the sides of said tube so as to form a sliding, substantially liquid-tight junction with the sides of said tube, said plug portion having an opening therethrough for communication between said swab-receiving chamber and said culture-sustaining medium, said plug portion including a resilient isolating valve member in said opening, said valve member remaining closed when said piston means is stationary within said tubular container; and a swab having an absorbent swabbing tip with at least said tip being enclosed within said chamber, said resilient isolating valve member adapted to open as said piston means is advanced through said culture-sustaining medium toward said closed end so as to allow said culture-sustaining medium to flow through said opening to moisten said absorbent tip of said swab enclosed within said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for collecting cultures and the like comprising: a hollow tubular container having a closed end, an open end and sides extending therebetween; a culture-sustaining liquid positioned within said tubular container adjacent said closed end; piston means forming a swab-receiving chamber within said hollow tubular container, said chamber being substantially isolated from the sides of said tubular container, said piston means including a plug portion adjacent said culture-sustaining liquid and in resilient contact with the sides of said tube so as to form a sliding, substantially liquid-tight junction with the sides of said tube, said plug portion having an opening therethrough for communication between said swab-receiving chamber and said culture-sustaining medium, said plug portion including a resilient isolating valve member in said opening, said valve member remaining closed when said piston means is stationary within said tubular container; and a swab having an absorbent swabbing tip with at least said tip being enclosed within said chamber, said resilient isolating valve member adapted to open as said piston means is advanced through said culture-sustaining medium toward said closed end so as to allow said culture-sustaining medium to flow through said opening to moisten said absorbent tip of said swab enclosed within said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said piston means comprises a tubular portion contacting said plug portion and extending along a substantial length of said swab.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said piston means further comprises a cap closing said tubular portion and said tubular container at said open end thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |