Patent US5060659A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5060659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical container stopper
Assignee: Covidien AG
•
Filing: 1989-08-11
•
Granted: 1991-10-29
•
Expires: 2009-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.
Inventors
- 👤 Boyce W. Cook
- 👤 William R. Fiehler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/508; B01L3/5082; B01L3/50825; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/15; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150015; A61B5/15003; A61B5/150351; B65; B65D; B65D51/00; B65D51/002; A61B5/150374; A61B5/150381; A61B5/150389; A61B5/150473; A61B5/150732; A61B5/153; A61B5/154
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
In combination, a blood collection tube and a stopper for use with a holder, the holder having an inside surface, an open end, a closed end and a hollow needle extending axially from the closed end of the holder toward the open end of the holder, the combination comprising: a hollow elongated blood collection tube having an open end, and a stopper body having flange and plug portions, said plug portion of said stopper body sealably positioned within said open end of said blood collection tube, the largest outside diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body being less than the inside diameter of the holder body, and said flange portion being greater than the largest outside diameter of the blood collection tube proximate said open end of said tube by a factor of at least 1.4 whereby, when said plug portion is inserted into said open end of said blood collection tube and said stopper and said blood collection tube is placed through the open end of the holder, said stopper is constrained within the holder and forced to be concentrically aligned with the needle by the inside surface of the holder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
In combination, a blood collection tube and a stopper for use with a holder, the holder having an inside surface, an open end, a closed end and a hollow needle extending axially from the closed end of the holder toward the open end of the holder, the combination comprising: a hollow elongated blood collection tube having an open end, and a stopper body having flange and plug portions, said plug portion of said stopper body sealably positioned within said open end of said blood collection tube, the largest outside diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body being less than the inside diameter of the holder body, and said flange portion being greater than the largest outside diameter of the blood collection tube proximate said open end of said tube by a factor of at least 1.4 whereby, when said plug portion is inserted into said open end of said blood collection tube and said stopper and said blood collection tube is placed through the open end of the holder, said stopper is constrained within the holder and forced to be concentrically aligned with the needle by the inside surface of the holder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said blood collection tube has a substantially uniform outside diameter over the length thereof, said tube outside diameter being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the holder, and said flange portion of said stopper body being substantially larger in diameter than the outside diameter of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said stopper body includes means forming aligned and opposed cavities in said flange and plug portions of said stopper body to define a diaphragm portion of said stopper body therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the largest outside diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body exceeds the largest outside diameter of said blood collection tube proximate said open end of said tube by a factor of from about 1.6 to about 1.8.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of said tube is about 10 millimeters and the largest outer diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body is from about 16.8 to about 17.8 millimeters, and the inside diameter of the holder is from about 16.9 millimeters to about 18.3 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
145 words
In combination, an open blood collection tube, a stopper for closing the tube, and a holder for receiving the stopper and tube, comprising: a tubular holder body having an open end and having a hollow needle extending axially from an opposite end of said holder body toward said open end of said holder body, a hollow elongated blood collection tube having an open end, and a stopper body having flange and plug portions, said plug portion of said stopper body sealably positioned within said open end of said blood collection tube, and the largest outside diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body being less than the inside diameter of said holder body, and said flange portion being greater than the largest outside diameter of the blood collection tube portion proximate said open end of said tube by a factor of at least 1.4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
In combination, an open blood collection tube, a stopper for closing the tube, and a holder for receiving the stopper and tube, comprising: a tubular holder body having an open end and having a hollow needle extending axially from an opposite end of said holder body toward said open end of said holder body, a hollow elongated blood collection tube having an open end, and a stopper body having flange and plug portions, said plug portion of said stopper body sealably positioned within said open end of said blood collection tube, and the largest outside diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body being less than the inside diameter of said holder body, and said flange portion being greater than the largest outside diameter of the blood collection tube portion proximate said open end of said tube by a factor of at least 1.4.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tube, stopper and holder combination of claim 6 wherein said stopper body includes means forming aligned and opposed cavities in said flange and plug portions of said stopper body to define a diaphragm portion of said stopper body therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tube, stopper and holder combination of claim 6 wherein the largest outside diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body exceeds the largest outside diameter of the blood collection tube portion proximate said open end of said tube by a factor of from about 1.6 to about 1.8.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The stopper recited in claim 6 wherein the outer diameter of said tube is about 10 millimeters and the largest outer diameter of said flange portion of said stopper body is from about 16.8 to about 17.8 millimeters, and the inside diameter of said holder body is from about 16.9 millimeters to about 18.3 millimeters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
262 words
In combination, a tube having an opening, a stopper for closing the opening in the tube and a holder for receiving the stopper and tube, comprising: a tubular holder body having an open end, an inside surface and having a hollow needle extending axially from an opposite end of said holder body toward said open end of said holder body, a blood collection tube body having an open end, said blood collection tube body having an outside diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of said inside surface of said holder body, and, a stopper body having flange and plug portions, said plug portion being adapted to be sealably inserted into said open end of said blood collection tube, said stopper body having aligned and opposed cavities in said flange and said plug portions defining a diaphragm portion therebetween, and means, on said flange portion of said stopper body, for preventing misalignment of said diaphragm portion of said stopper body with the axis of said needle when said tube body with said stopper body is inserted into the open end of said holder body and moved toward said needle, irrespective of the angle of orientation of said tube with respect to said needle and holder body axis whereby, when said plug portion is inserted into said open end of said blood collection tube and said stopper and said blood collection tube is placed through said open end of said holder, said stopper is constrained within said holder and forced to be concentrically aligned with said needle by said inside surface of said holder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
262 words
In combination, a tube having an opening, a stopper for closing the opening in the tube and a holder for receiving the stopper and tube, comprising: a tubular holder body having an open end, an inside surface and having a hollow needle extending axially from an opposite end of said holder body toward said open end of said holder body, a blood collection tube body having an open end, said blood collection tube body having an outside diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of said inside surface of said holder body, and, a stopper body having flange and plug portions, said plug portion being adapted to be sealably inserted into said open end of said blood collection tube, said stopper body having aligned and opposed cavities in said flange and said plug portions defining a diaphragm portion therebetween, and means, on said flange portion of said stopper body, for preventing misalignment of said diaphragm portion of said stopper body with the axis of said needle when said tube body with said stopper body is inserted into the open end of said holder body and moved toward said needle, irrespective of the angle of orientation of said tube with respect to said needle and holder body axis whereby, when said plug portion is inserted into said open end of said blood collection tube and said stopper and said blood collection tube is placed through said open end of said holder, said stopper is constrained within said holder and forced to be concentrically aligned with said needle by said inside surface of said holder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The tube, stopper and holder combination of claim 10 wherein said tube body has a substantially uniform outside diameter over the length thereof, said tube body outside diameter is substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said holder body, and said flange portion of said stopper body is substantially larger in diameter than the diameter of said tube body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2812231A
Cited
US3141460A
Cited
US3136440A
Cited
US3695478A
Cited
US3659587A
Cited
GB1345979A
Cited
US3817240A
Cited
US3898046A
Cited
US3931815A
Cited
US3958572A
Cited
US3974930A
Cited
US4150666A
Cited
US4154229A
Cited
US4202334A
Cited
US4576595A
Cited
US4444330A
Cited
US4488656A
Cited
US4465200A
Cited
US4893636A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |