Abstract:
A system and method for transferring fluid directly from a container sealed with a closure, to a receptacle. The receptacle includes an aperture and an interior floor. The fluid dispenser has two ends—a first end pierces the closure to establish fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the container and the second end engages the aperture in the receptacle. Relative movement of the receptacle and container toward each other dispenses fluid from the container, through the dispenser, and directly into the receptacle. The second end of the dispenser is precluded from contacting the interior floor of the receptacle to avoid unintentional withdrawal of the fluid from the receptacle.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments relate in general to a system and method for dispensing the contents of a fluid container directly into a receptacle and, more particularly, to a system and method for dispensing the contents of a test tube directly into a cartridge-type receptacle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Test tubes are commonly used as collection containers for blood specimens and other liquids, such as biological fluids. When blood is to be collected, an anticoagulant is placed in the test tube and a blood specimen is withdrawn from a patient directly into the test tube. The test tube is closed with a rubber stopper. 
         [0003]    Typically, the blood or other fluid must be removed from the test tube to analyze it. Thus, the task of conveniently and efficiently dispensing fluid from a test tube onto a desired surface must be routinely performed by laboratory workers in a variety of circumstances. However, care must be taken when dispensing such fluids to avoid contamination of the fluid to be tested, such as when dispensed fluid is drawn back into the test tube. Care must also be taken to avoid spillage of the fluid and the possibility of the fluid becoming airborne, such as when the fluid is dispensed from the test tube too rapidly, which can expose the laboratory worker to the fluid as well as any diseases that may be carried by the fluid. 
         [0004]    Prior to the present invention, devices were available to transfer fluid directly from a test tube onto a slide. This type of device eliminated the need to remove the stopper from the test tube thus avoiding the problem of creating an aerosol effect when a stopped is removed from a test tube, since laboratory workers would no longer be exposed to any contaminants or diseases in the blood. 
         [0005]    Recently a cartridge-type receptacle has become popular for use in the analysis of the sample of biological fluid. Pipettes are typically used to transfer the fluid from the test tube into an aperture in the cartridge. But the use of the pipette required removal of the stopper from the test tube thus again creating an aerosol as the stopper is removed, thus exposing the laboratory worker to any contaminants and diseases contained in the biological fluid. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments are directed to a system for dispensing fluid directly from a container into a cartridge type receptacle without the need for removing a closure or stopper from the container thus avoiding the creation of the undesirable aerosol effect. 
         [0007]    A fluid dispenser punctures the stopper of the container and, upon creation of an increase of pressure within the container, such as by flexing the stopper inwardly, fluid exits the container through the dispenser. 
         [0008]    A receptacle, preferably a cartridge-type receptacle, has an aperture to receive the fluid dispenser such that the fluid exiting the container through the dispenser flows directly into the receptacle. 
         [0009]    Various embodiments of the interface between the dispenser and the receptacle are described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings, which are not to scale, and wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding components; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation partially cross-sectional view of a fluid dispensing system, showing a fluid dispenser inserted through a closure of a test tube such that, after relative movement between the test tube and/or the fluid dispenser, the closure flexes to pressurize the interior of the test tube resulting in a portion of a fluid in the test tube being dispensed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of a cartridge-type receptacle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the interface between a fluid dispenser and a hole in a fluid receptacle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the interface between a fluid dispenser and a hole in a fluid receptacle. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the interface between a fluid dispenser and a hole in a fluid receptacle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments herein are directed to systems and methods for dispensing fluid from a container. Embodiments will be explained in connection with the dispensing blood from a test tube, but the detailed description is intended only as exemplary. Indeed, it will be appreciated that aspects can be used in connection with other containers as well as with other fluids. Embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , but they are not limited to the illustrated structure or application. 
         [0017]    Before describing systems and methods for dispensing fluid from a container, various possible components of such systems and methods will be initially described. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fluid dispenser includes a base  12  having opposed first and second sides  14 ,  16 , respectively. In one embodiment, the base  12  can be generally circular in cross-sectional shape. However, the base  12  can have any suitable conformation, such as being rectangular, triangular, oval or polygonal. 
         [0018]    An elongated puncturing shaft  20  can extend from the first side  14  of the base  12 . The puncturing shaft  20  can extend at any suitable angle relative to the first side  14  of the base  12 . In one embodiment, the puncturing shaft  20  can be substantially perpendicular to the first side  14  of the base  12 . The puncturing shaft  20  can be substantially centrally located on the first side  14  of the base  12 . 
         [0019]    The puncturing shaft  20  can include a stem portion  22  that can extend directly from the first side  14  of the base  12 . The stem portion  22  can transition to a cannula portion  24 . The cannula portion  24  can culminate in a tip  25  which may be pointed or chamfered to facilitate puncturing. 
         [0020]    The transition between the stem portion  22  and the cannula portion  24  can have any suitable configuration. For instance, the transition between the stem portion  22  and the cannula portion  24  can include a shoulder  26 , which may determine an insertion length of the puncturing shaft  20  into the container. In one embodiment, the stem portion  22  and cannula portion can each have a substantially circular cross-section with the diameter of the circular cross-section of stem portion  22  being greater than the substantially circular cross-section diameter of the cannula portion  24 , thereby forming the shoulder  26 . 
         [0021]    The cannula portion  24  can include a plurality of serrations, teeth, or barbs (not shown) for resisting any tendency of the cannula portion  24  from accidentally withdrawing from the item into which it is inserted, such as the closure of a test tube or other container. Thus, the serrations can minimize subsequent movement of the fluid dispenser  10  after it has been attached to a container. 
         [0022]    A hollow protrusion  28  can extend from the second side  16  of the base  12 . In some instances, the protrusion  28  may be the only structure that extends from the second side  16  of the base  12 . The protrusion  28  can extend at any suitable angle relative to the second side  16  of the base  12 . In one embodiment, the protrusion  28  can be substantially perpendicular to the second side  16  of the base  12 . The protrusion  28  can be substantially centrally located on the second side  16  of the base  12 . The hollow interior of the protrusion  28  can be substantially aligned with the hollow interior of the puncturing shaft  20 . The protrusion  28  can terminate at a tip  30 . The protrusion  28  can have an associated length L p  defined as the distance between the second side  16  of the base  12  and the tip  30 . 
         [0023]    The protrusion  28  can have any suitable conformation. In one embodiment, the protrusion  28  can be substantially circular in cross-section. In other embodiments, the protrusion  28  can be rectangular, triangular, oval or polygonal. The protrusion  28  can include one or more side walls  32 , depending on the configuration of the protrusion  28 . For instance, when the protrusion  28  is substantially circular, the protrusion  28  can have a single continuous side wall  28 . When the protrusion  28  is polygonal, the protrusion  28  can have a plurality of side walls  32 . The one or more side walls  32  can be substantially straight. Alternatively, the one or more side walls  32  can be tapered. 
         [0024]    A flow passage  34  can extend through the fluid dispenser  10  from the protrusion  28  to the cannula portion  24 . The flow passage  34  can have an inlet opening  36  in the cannula portion  24 , such as at the cannula tip  25 . The flow passage  34  can have an outlet opening  38  in the protrusion  28 , such as at the protrusion tip  30 . The flow passage  34  can extend from the inlet opening  36  to the outlet opening  38 . 
         [0025]    The flow passage  34  can have any suitable size and shape. The cross-sectional size and shape of the flow passage  34  can be substantially constant along its length or at least one of the cross-sectional size and shape of the flow passage  34  can vary along at least a portion of the flow passage  34 . In one embodiment, the flow passage  34  can be substantially circular in cross-sectional shape. The flow passage  34  can be substantially straight. Alternatively, the flow passage  34  can include one or more bends, turns, curves and/or angles. 
         [0026]    The fluid dispenser  10  can be a unitary structure. That is, all portions of the fluid dispenser  10  can be formed as a single structure, such as by plastic injection molding. Alternatively, at least a portion of the fluid dispenser  10  can be made separately and/or of a different material. For instance, the cannula portion  24  can be made of metal, and the rest of the fluid dispenser  10  can be made of plastic. In such case, stem portion  22  can be molded around the metal cannula portion  24 , or the metal cannula portion  24  can be received in a passage in the stem portion  22 . At least a portion of the fluid dispenser  10  can be transparent, such as by using a transparent plastic material, thereby allowing a user a greater field of view during use. 
         [0027]    Embodiments of systems and methods herein can include a container  40 . The container  40  can have an opening  42 . The container  40  can include an inner chamber  44  having an associated volume. In one embodiment, the container  40  can be a test tube in which the opening  42  is provided at a first end  48  thereof. The second end  50  of the test tube can be closed. For convenience, the following discussion will be made in connection with a test tube, but it will be understood that embodiments are not limited to test tubes, as any suitable container can be used. 
         [0028]    The open first end  48  of the test tube can be closed by a closure  52 . Any suitable structure can be used for the closure  52 . The closure  52  can form a seal with the opening  42 . The closure  52  can be a rubber stopper or other structure that is reusable, resealable, repuncturable, flexible and/or resilient. The closure  52  can be force fit into the opening  42  of the test tube and retained in place by at least friction. 
         [0029]    The inner chamber  44  of the test tube can include a fluid  60 . The fluid  60  can be any type of fluid. In one embodiment, the fluid  60  can be blood or another biological fluid. There may be an air space  64  between the top of the fluid  60  and the interior end of the end  50  of the test tube. In some instances, there may be little or no air space  64  between the top of the fluid  60  and the interior of the end  50  of the test tube. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates in general terms a cartridge-type receptacle  70  into which fluid is to be placed for subsequent evaluation. The receptacle, which will be described as a cartridge for convenience only, is a generally thin, flat, rectangular member having an aperture  72  and an interior passageway  80 . The aperture or hole  70  can extend to a first depth within the receptacle such that the aperture will be in fluid communication with the interior passageway  80 . The first depth may be considered to extend from the top of the receptacle to an interior floor  74  of the receptacle. The distance from the top of the receptacle  70  to the interior floor  74  of the receptacle can be considered as the depth  74  of the hole and may be designated L d . The diameter of the hole  72  at the top surface of the cartridge is sufficient to receive at least a portion of the diameter of the protrusion  28  as will be more fully described below. 
         [0031]    The hole  72 , which is formed in the receptacle, can have any suitable cross-sectional shape which is thus defined by the size and shape of the interior wall  78  of the hole. Thus the cross-sectional diameter of the hole  72  can be substantially constant, as is shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the cross-sectional size of the hole  72  can vary. For instance, the cross-sectional diameter of the hole  72  can be conical or chamfered to decrease in the downward direction toward the floor  74  as is shown in  FIG. 4 . One or more projections  76  can extend from the wall  78 , as is shown in  FIG. 5 . In some instances, the fluid receptacle  70  can include more than one hole  72 . 
         [0032]    The fluid receptacle  70  can include an elongated channel  80  for receiving a fluid. The channel  80  can be in direct or indirect fluid communication with the hole  72 . In some instances, there can be more than one channel  80  associated with the hole  72 . At least a portion of the channel  80  can extend within the interior of the fluid receptacle  70 . 
         [0033]    The channel  80  can have any suitable size or shape. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the channel  80  can be substantially constant along its length. Alternatively, the cross-sectional area of the channel  80  can vary along at least a portion of its length. The channel  80  can be substantially straight. Alternatively, the channel  80  can include one or more bends, turns, curves or angles. 
         [0034]    The fluid receptacle  70  can be a test cartridge for use in connection with a blood/biological fluid analysis device. For instance, in one embodiment, the fluid receptacle can be a test cartridge for an i-STAT 1 handheld analysis device, which is available from Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill. The fluid receptacle  70  can include sensors, electronic components and circuitry to conduct analysis of the fluid and/or for operative communication with a blood/biological fluid analysis device. The fluid receptacle  70  can provide an interface for operative connection and/or communication with another device, such as a blood/biological fluid analysis device. In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, the receptacle  70  is generally rectangular shaped, including a rectangular base  82  and a generally rectangular upper member  84 . The channel  80  may extend partially in the upper member  84  and thereafter downwardly into the base  82 . Alternatively, the channel  80  may be solely in the upper member  84  or solely in the base  82 . 
         [0035]    Now that the individual components of the systems and methods herein have been described, an example of the interaction and operation of these various components will be presented. 
         [0036]    The fluid  60  to be dispensed can be collected within the inner chamber  44  of the container  40  by conventional techniques and sealed with a closure  52 . The fluid dispenser  10  can then inserted through the closure  52 . Specifically, the puncturing shaft  20  can be inserted through the closure  52  until the shoulder  26  of the puncturing shaft  20  engages and abuts against the closure  52 . The base  12  may be gripped or held during insertion of puncturing shaft  20  into the closure  52 . The stem portion  22  can provide structural support for the cannula portion  24  and can help to prevent any accidental breakage of the cannula portion  24  during insertion of the puncturing shaft  20  into the closure  52 . At least a part of the cannula portion  24  can extend into the inner chamber  44 , thereby establishing fluid communication between the inner chamber  44  of the test tube and the exterior of the test tube. The test tube (with dispenser  10  attached) can be inverted into the position generally shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    When the stopper or closure  52  is flexed inwardly toward end  50  of the container  40 , fluid flows through the interior of the fluid dispenser  10  and out through the dispenser tip  30 . When the fluid dispenser  10  and the fluid receptacle  70  are brought together, fluid flows out through the dispenser tip  30  and directly into the hole  72  of the receptacle  70 . After a sufficient amount of fluid (or the desired amount of fluid) is dispensed into the receptacle, the container and receptacle can be separated such as by removing the dispenser tip  30  from the hole  72 . 
         [0038]    However, during the time that the dispenser tip  30  is within the hole  72 , if the pressure imparted on the closure  52  is released, care must be taken to avoid a vacuum or capillary effect, either of which would cause fluid in the receptacle to be withdrawn back up through the dispenser tip  30  and thus not be available for analysis within the receptacle. Similarly, when the dispenser tip  30  is to be deliberately withdrawn from the receptacle, care must be taken to avoid a vacuum or capillary effect, either of which would cause fluid in the receptacle to be withdrawn back up through the dispenser tip  30  and thus not be available for analysis within the receptacle. 
         [0039]    Several techniques will now be described which avoid the capillary or vacuum effect. In one such embodiment, as diagrammatically illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the depth L d  of the hole  72  is less than the length L p  of the protrusion. Thus as the protrusion is inserted into the hole  72 , the second side  16  of the base  12  will contact the top of the receptacle  70 . This contact prevents the dispenser protrusion from making contact with the floor  74  of the receptacle, thus reducing, if not eliminating entirely, the effect of a vacuum and/or the capillary effect. 
         [0040]    A second embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in which the side wall  78  is tapered and the diameter of the side wall  32  of the protrusion  28  may engage the side wall  78  at a point above the floor  74 , thus physically preventing the dispenser protrusion from making contact with the floor  74  of the receptacle, thus reducing, if not eliminating entirely, the effect of a vacuum and/or the capillary effect. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 5 , the interior of the hole  72  can include an interior projection  76  that limits the degree of insertion of the protrusion  28  into the hole  72 . This interior projection may be accomplished during the manufacture or molding of the receptacle. 
         [0042]    In all three embodiments, the protrusion tip  30  is spaced from the interior floor  74  at the bottom of the hole  72 . That is, various means are provided maintain the protrusion tip  30  spaced a desired distance from the floor  74  of the receptacle. 
         [0043]    Once the protrusion  28  is received in the hole  72 , the test tube may be moved toward the fluid dispenser  10  and/or the fluid dispenser  10  may be moved toward the test tube such that the shoulder  26  causes the inward flexing of the closure  52  relative to the test tube, as is shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, the volume of the interior of the test tube is reduced thereby increasing the pressure within the interior of the test tube and the pressure increase ultimately results in a pumping or dispensing of a corresponding small volume (such as a droplet  61 ) of the fluid  60  from the test tube. A droplet  61  of fluid  60  can enter the flow passage  34  through the inlet opening  36 , flow through the flow passage  34  and exit through the outlet opening  38 . The fluid can be dispensed into the hole  72 . This process can be repeated as many times as necessary to dispense the desired amount of fluid from the test tube directly into the cartridge hole  72 . 
         [0044]    The products illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  individually are, conceptually, part of the prior art. The term “conceptually” is used to indicate that, inter alia, (1) the relative proportion of L p  being less than L d , is not part of the prior art, (2) the use of an interior conical or chamfered side wall to limit the depth to which the tip  30  can be inserted is not part of the prior art, and (3) the use of the interior protrusion to limit the depth to which the tip  30  can be inserted is not part of the prior art. Thus, the prior art did not provide for direct transfer or direct dispensing from a container into a cartridge. 
         [0045]    It will be appreciated that systems and methods described herein can facilitate the convenient and efficient dispensing fluid from a test tube into a fluid receptacle. Systems and methods herein can also help to avoid contamination of the fluid to be tested. By providing a spacing between the bottom  74  of the interior of the cartridge and the fluid dispenser tip  30 , the possibility that fluid dispensed into the hole  72  will be inadvertently drawn back into the test tube such as by capillary action can be minimized or eliminated. 
         [0046]    The foregoing description is provided in the context of one possible application for systems and methods of dispensing a fluid. While the above description is made in the context of a test tube, it will be understood that the systems and methods described herein be used in other contexts. Thus, it will of course be understood that embodiments are not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the following claims.