US 12,029,397 B2
Sample collection kit including cap having selectively openable diaphragm valve
Neil Jeremy Johnson, Riverton, UT (US)
Assigned to Spectrum Solutions L.L.C., Draper, UT (US)
Filed by SPECTRUM SOLUTIONS, LLC, Draper, UT (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/028,617.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/904,080, filed on Sep. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085296 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 10/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 10/0051 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502 (2013.01); A61B 2010/009 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biological sample collection system, comprising:
a sample collection vessel spanning between a closed first end and a second end having an opening to receive a biological sample into a sample collection chamber defined within the sample collection vessel;
a sealing cap configured to connect with the second end of the sample collection vessel;
a reagent chamber configured to secure within an interior space defined by the sealing cap and to retain a measure of sample preservation solution therein;
a shim configured to circumferentially connect with a proximal end of the reagent chamber and to span a distance between the proximal end of the reagent chamber and an interior sidewall of the sealing cap;
a plug having a diaphragm sized and shaped to fit within the opening of sample collection vessel and configured to selectively engage the shim and form a seal to retain the measure of sample preservation solution within the reagent chamber,
wherein connecting the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel displaces the diaphragm from the shim and breaks the seal formed therebetween, opening a fluid path between the reagent chamber and the sample collection chamber,
wherein the sample collection system comprises a separable two-piece sample collection system that includes (1) the sample collection vessel as a first piece of the separable two-piece sample collection system and (ii) a cap assembly as a second piece of the separable two-piece sample collection system, wherein the cap assembly comprises the sealing cap, the reagent chamber secured within the interior space of the sealing cap, the shim circumferentially connected with the proximal end of the reagent chamber and spanning the distance between the proximal end of the reagent chamber and the interior sidewall of the sealing cap, and the plug, the plug engaging the shim and sealing the measure of sample preservation solution within the reagent chamber,
wherein the plug additionally comprises a plug body, the plug body configured to insert within an interior portion of the proximal end of the reagent chamber, and
wherein the interior portion of the proximal end of the reagent chamber comprises one or more protrusions extending therefrom that are configured to engage the plug body and form a space between an outer sidewall of the plug body and an interior sidewall of the proximal end of the reagent chamber.