Aspiration cap for dispensing blood or other fluids for diagnostic purposes

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising engaging said cap body against said first portion of the stopper to compress said first portion of the stopper between the lip of the container and the cap body as said cap is moved at least substantially axially toward the container.

Claim 4

A cap adapted for use in dispensing minute portions of fluid from a container where the container has a mouth with a resilient stopper closing said mouth and the resilient stopper has an outer end with a flexible diaphragm portion extending across at least a portion of said mouth, said cap comprising: a body portion having a first side and a second side, said second side being for contacting the outer end of said resilient stopper, a skirt extending outwardly from said body portion so as to circumferentially encircle said resilient stopper when said cap is operatively positioned on said container; a fluid communicating spike extending through said body portion, said fluid communicating spike having a dispensing end portion extending outwardly from said first side of said body portion and a stopper penetrating end portion extending outwardly from said second side of said body portion, said stopper penetrating end portion having a penetrating tip at the distal end thereof, said fluid communicating spike defining a fluid passage therethrough from said stopper penetrating end portion to said dispensing end portion, said stopper penetrating end portion having a sufficient length such that with the cap seated on the outer end of said resilient stopper the penetrating tip at the distal end of said stopper penetrating end portion extends through the resilient stopper and emerges into the interior of the container, said stopper penetrating end portion having an outer diameter of sufficient size to extend through an aperture in said flexible diaphragm portion while forming a seal with said flexible diaphragm portion with the seal being sufficient to cause said flexible diaphragm portion to move inwardly of the container upon movement of said spike substantially axially toward said container whereby a small amount of fluid in the container can be discharged therefrom by inserting said stopper penetrating end portion through said flexible diaphragm portion until said body portion contacts said outer end of said resilient stopper, and then with the container in an inverted position applying an axial force to the cap such that the flexible diaphragm portion is flexed inwardly of the container by said seal.

Claim 5

A cap adapted for use in dispensing minute portions of fluid from a container where the container has a mouth with a resilient stopper closing said mouth and the resilient stopper has an outer end with a flexible diaphragm portion extending across at least a portion of said mouth, said cap comprising: a body portion having a first side and a second side, said second side being for contacting the outer end of said resilient stopper, a skirt extending outwardly from said body portion so as to circumferentially encircle said resilient stopper when said cap is operatively positioned on said container; a fluid communicating spike extending through said body portion, said fluid communicating spike having a dispensing end portion extending outwardly from said first side of said body portion and a stopper penetrating end portion extending outwardly from said second side of said body portion, said stopper penetrating end portion having a penetrating tip at the distal end thereof, said fluid communicating spike defining a fluid passage therethrough from said stopper penetrating end portion to said dispensing end portion, said stopper penetrating end portion having a sufficient length such that with the cap seated on the outer end of said resilient stopper the penetrating tip at the distal end of said stopper penetrating end portion extends through the resilient stopper and emerges into the interior of the container, said stopper penetrating end portion having an outer diameter of sufficient size to extend through an aperture in said flexible diaphragm portion while forming a seal with said flexible diaphragm portion with the seal being sufficient to cause said flexible diaphragm portion to move inwardly of the container upon movement of said spike substantially axially toward said container whereby a small amount of fluid in the container can be discharged therefrom by inserting said stopper penetrating end portion through said flexible diaphragm portion until said body portion contacts said outer end of said resilient stopper, and then with the container in an inverted position applying an axial force to the cap such that the flexible diaphragm portion is flexed inwardly of the container by said seal.

Claim 6

A cap in accordance with claim 3 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from the circumference of said body portion.

Claim 7

A cap in accordance with claim 3 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from said second side a distance which is at least as great as the length of said stopper penetrating end portion.

Claim 8

A cap in accordance with claim 3 wherein said skirt is formed integrally with said body portion.

Claim 9

A cap in accordance with claim 3 wherein said penetrating tip has an inclined surface to form a penetrating point tip.

Claim 10

A cap in accordance with claim 3 wherein said skirt has a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed as a part of the skirt to provide rigidity to the skirt.

Claim 11

A cap in accordance with claim 8 wherein said ribs are equally spaced about the circumference of said skirt.

Claim 12

A cap in accordance with claim 3 wherein said body portion having a first side and a second side is a circular disk portion.

Claim 13

A cap in accordance with claim 10 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from the circumference of said circular disk portion.

Claim 14

A cap in accordance with claim 11 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from said second side a distance which is at least as great as the length of said stopper penetrating end portion.

Claim 15

A cap in accordance with claim 12 wherein said skirt and said spike are formed integrally with said circular disk portion.

Claim 16

A cap in accordance with claim 13 wherein said penetrating tip has an inclined surface to form a penetrating point tip.

Claim 17

A cap in accordance with claim 14 wherein said skirt has a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed as a part of the skirt to provide rigidity to the skirt.

Claim 18

A cap in accordance with claim 15 wherein said ribs are equally spaced about the circumference of said skirt.

Claim 19

A dispenser for use in dispensing minute portions of fluid, said dispenser comprising: a container having a mouth, a resilient stopper closing said mouth, said resilient stopper having an outer end with a flexible diaphragm portion extending across at least a portion of said mouth; and a cap seated on the outer end of said resilient stopper, said cap comprising: a body portion having a first side and a second side, said second side confronting the outer end of said resilient stopper, a skirt extending outwardly from said body portion so as to circumferentially encircle said resilient stopper, a fluid communicating spike extending through said body portion, said fluid communicating spike having a dispensing end portion extending outwardly from said first side of said body portion and a stopper penetrating end portion extending from said second side of said body portion toward the interior of said container, said stopper penetrating end portion having a penetrating tip at the distal end thereof, said spike defining a fluid passage therethrough from said stopper penetrating end portion to said dispensing end portion, said stopper penetrating end portion having a sufficient length such that the penetrating tip at the distal end of said stopper penetrating end portion extends through the resilient stopper and emerges into the interior of the container, said stopper penetrating end portion having an outer diameter of sufficient size to extend through an aperture in said flexible diaphragm portion while forming a seal with said flexible diaphragm portion with the seal being sufficient to cause said flexible diaphragm portion to move inwardly of the container upon movement of said spike substantially axially toward said container whereby a small amount of fluid in the container can be discharged therefrom by inserting said stopper penetrating end portion through said flexible diaphragm portion until said body portion contacts said outer end of said resilient stopper, and then with the container in an inverted position applying an axial force to the cap such that the flexible diaphragm portion is flexed inwardly of the container by said seal.

Claim 20

A dispenser for use in dispensing minute portions of fluid, said dispenser comprising: a container having a mouth, a resilient stopper closing said mouth, said resilient stopper having an outer end with a flexible diaphragm portion extending across at least a portion of said mouth; and a cap seated on the outer end of said resilient stopper, said cap comprising: a body portion having a first side and a second side, said second side confronting the outer end of said resilient stopper, a skirt extending outwardly from said body portion so as to circumferentially encircle said resilient stopper, a fluid communicating spike extending through said body portion, said fluid communicating spike having a dispensing end portion extending outwardly from said first side of said body portion and a stopper penetrating end portion extending from said second side of said body portion toward the interior of said container, said stopper penetrating end portion having a penetrating tip at the distal end thereof, said spike defining a fluid passage therethrough from said stopper penetrating end portion to said dispensing end portion, said stopper penetrating end portion having a sufficient length such that the penetrating tip at the distal end of said stopper penetrating end portion extends through the resilient stopper and emerges into the interior of the container, said stopper penetrating end portion having an outer diameter of sufficient size to extend through an aperture in said flexible diaphragm portion while forming a seal with said flexible diaphragm portion with the seal being sufficient to cause said flexible diaphragm portion to move inwardly of the container upon movement of said spike substantially axially toward said container whereby a small amount of fluid in the container can be discharged therefrom by inserting said stopper penetrating end portion through said flexible diaphragm portion until said body portion contacts said outer end of said resilient stopper, and then with the container in an inverted position applying an axial force to the cap such that the flexible diaphragm portion is flexed inwardly of the container by said seal.

Claim 21

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from the circumference of said body portion to overlie and circumferentially encircle the sides of said resilient stopper.

Claim 22

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from said second side a distance which is at least as great as the length of said stopper penetrating end portion.

Claim 23

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said skirt and said spike are formed integrally with said circular disk portion.

Claim 24

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said penetrating tip has an inclined surface forming a penetrating point tip.

Claim 25

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said container is a glass tube having a lip forming said mouth, and wherein said resilient stopper is a compressible, flexible rubber stopper.

Claim 26

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said resilient stopper has a reduced circumferential portion which is inserted into the mouth of said container, and an enlarged circumferential portion which engages the uppermost surface of said lip.

Claim 27

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein a radial clearance exists between the inside surface of said skirt and said resilient stopper, thereby permitting off axis movement of the cap with respect to said container.

Claim 28

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein a void exists between said flexible diaphragm portion and said second side of said body portion.

Claim 29

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said resilient stopper is entrapped between said body portion and said container whereby said resilient stopper is compressed upon advancement of said body portion toward the container while the flexible diaphragm portion is simultaneously flexed inwardly.

Claim 30

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said skirt has a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed as a part of the skirt to provide rigidity to the skirt.

Claim 31

A dispenser in accordance with claim 27 wherein said ribs are equally spaced about the circumference of said skirt.

Claim 32

A dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein said body portion having a first side and a second side is a circular disk portion.

Claim 33

A dispenser in accordance with claim 29 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from the circumference of said circular disk portion to overlie and circumferentially encircle the sides of said resilient stopper.

Claim 34

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30 wherein said skirt extends outwardly from said second side a distance which is at least as great as the length of said stopper penetrating end portion.

Claim 35

A dispenser in accordance with claim 31 wherein said skirt and said spike are formed integrally with said circular disk portion.

Claim 36

A dispenser in accordance with claim 32 wherein said penetrating tip has an inclined surface to form a penetrating point tip.

Claim 37

A dispenser in accordance with claim 33 wherein said skirt has a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed as a part of the skirt to provide rigidity to the skirt.

Claim 38

A dispenser in accordance with claim 34 wherein said ribs are equally spaced about the circumference of said skirt.

Claim 39

A dispenser in accordance with claim 35 wherein said container is a glass tube having a lip forming said mouth, and wherein said resilient stopper is a compressible, flexible rubber stopper.

Claim 40

A dispenser in accordance with claim 36 wherein said resilient stopper has a reduced circumferential portion which is inserted into the mouth of said container, and an enlarged circumferential portion which engages the uppermost surface of said lip.

Claim 41

A dispenser in accordance with claim 37 wherein a radial clearance exists between the inside surface of said skirt and said resilient stopper, thereby permitting off axis movement of the cap with respect to said container.

Claim 42

A dispenser in accordance with claim 37 wherein a void exists between said flexible diaphragm portion and said second side of said body portion.