Liquid specimen collector with removable extraction device

A liquid specimen collector for biological fluids. A receptacle is provided for holding fluids, with a cover applied thereon. A sample port is formed in the cover, and a cap is threadedly applied to the port. A removable specimen extractor is installed in the sample port, having a needle for piercing a pierceable end of a specimen vial, and an extraction tube which extends into the receptacle to facilitate withdrawal of any fluid in the receptacle. While the specimen extractor is removable, it is held temporarily in place until its removal is desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to sampling of biological fluids, such as urine, and 
particularly to a container for collection of such fluids and extraction 
of one or more samples therefrom. 
Specimen collectors for biological fluids, in their simplest form, comprise 
simply a container with a removable cover. Once a sample has been 
collected in the container and the cover reapplied, the specimen collector 
is then transported to a laboratory, where sampling of the specimen takes 
place. 
For more immediate sampling of the collected biological fluids, the 
collector can include additional features. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,300,404 describes a liquid specimen container which has not only a 
receptacle for fluids, but also an integral sampling portion comprising a 
recess with a needle extending upwardly therein. The needle is connected 
to a tube which extends into the container for withdrawing fluid 
therefrom. When the pierceable end of an air-evacuated vial is inserted in 
the recess and is pierced by the needle, a sample is withdrawn from the 
container without the need of removing the cover. Once the sample has been 
withdrawn, the sample collector can then be discarded, another sample 
withdrawn in the same manner, or the sample collector can be transported 
to a laboratory for further testing of the fluid therein. 
Once a sample has been withdrawn from the specimen container of Pat. No. 
4,300,404, the needle is contaminated, yet it remains with the specimen 
container since it is an integral part thereof. The only protection from 
the needle is a replaceable label which must be physically reapplied to 
the container after the sample or samples have been withdrawn. Not only is 
reapplication of a label cumbersome, it also exposes the doctor, nurse, 
lab technician or other person handling the container to possible 
infection. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to an improved container for collection of 
biological fluids. The container includes a receptacle for fluids, the 
receptacle having an open end to which a cover is applied to sealingly 
close the open end. A sample port is formed in the cover, and a cap is 
shaped to sealingly close the sample port. A removable specimen extractor 
is formed to be seated within the sample port. The specimen extractor 
includes a sample cup which is shaped to receive a pierceable end of a 
specimen vial. A hollow, upstanding needle is located within the cup and 
is positioned to pierce the pierceable end of the vial when the vial is 
received in the cup. An extraction tube extends from the cup in 
communication with the needle, the extraction tube, when the extractor is 
seated within the sample port, extending into the receptacle to facilitate 
withdrawal of fluid therefrom. 
In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the sample port is 
formed in an upstanding collar in the cover. The collar preferably is 
offset toward one edge of the cover, and a counterbalance is provided to 
counterbalance the cover such that, when the cover is removed from the 
receptacle and placed on a horizontal surface, the tube is inclined 
upwardly away from contact with the horizontal surface. In the preferred 
form of the invention, the counterbalance comprises a weight secured to 
the underside of the cover. The weight is offset toward the edge of the 
cover in an opposite direction to that which the collar is offset. 
The invention includes means for temporarily retaining the specimen 
extractor in the sample port. The temporary retaining means comprises at 
least one protrusion in a downwardly depending wall of the sample port. 
Preferably the wall is cylindrical, and the protrusion or protrusions are 
annular protrusions extending from the wall. 
To assure proper removal of liquid specimens from the receptacle, the 
extraction tube is at least as long as the depth of the receptacle. In 
accordance with one form of the invention, the tube is longer than the 
depth and therefore a portion of the tube adjoins the bottom of the 
receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES Embodying The Best Mode of the Invention 
A container according to the invention is shown generally at 10 in the 
drawing figures. The container includes two basic portions, a receptacle 
12 for holding fluids, and a cover 14 formed to be sealingly applied to an 
open end 16 of the container 12. The cover 14 and the receptacle 12 can 
include mating threads or any other means of temporarily applying the 
cover to the receptacle. A conventional fluid seal (not shown in detail) 
is also used. 
The cover 14 includes an integral upstanding collar 18. As illustrated, 
preferably the collar 18 is offset toward one edge of the cover 14. A cap 
20 is shaped to be sealingly applied to the collar 18. The cap 20 may 
include internal threads which engage similarly-formed threads in the 
upstanding collar 18. Other means of applying the cap 20 to the collar 18 
may alternatively be employed, so long as the cap 20 is readily removable 
from the collar 18. A conventional fluid seal (not shown in detail) is 
also used. 
The collar 18 includes an internal sample port 22, comprising a downwardly 
depending cylindrical wall in the collar 18. A removable specimen 
extractor 24 is installed in the sample port 22. The specimen extractor 24 
comprises a sample cup 26, a hollow, upstanding needle 28 and an 
extraction tube 30. 
The sample cup 26 is shaped to extend within the sample port 22. The sample 
cup has a peripheral top flange 32 which seats on top of the collar 22, as 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The sample cup 26 is shaped to receive a 
pierceable end of a specimen vial 34, as shown in FIG. 5. 
The needle 28 is preferably integrally formed at the bottom of the sample 
cup 28. Alternatively, the needle can comprise a separate element, such as 
a metal needle, which extends through the bottom of the sample cup 26. For 
example, a double-ended cannula could be installed in the bottom of the 
sample cup 26. 
The extraction tube 30, which is hollow, is installed in direct 
communication with the hollow needle 28. The tube 30 can be affixed to the 
bottom of the sample cup 26 in any conventional manner, the tube 30 being 
depicted as being inserted and affixed within an annular flange 36 formed 
in the bottom of the sample cup 26. 
As illustrated, it is preferred that the tube 30 extend at least to the 
bottom of the receptacle 12 when the cover 14 is applied thereon. As shown 
in FIG. 5, however, the tube may be extended, as shown at 30' and 
therefore a portion of the tube 30' lies along the bottom of the 
receptacle 12. In this form of the invention, of course, the length of the 
tube 30' is greater than the depth of the receptacle 12. 
It is preferred that the specimen extractor 24 be temporarily retained or 
restrained in the sample port 22 until removal of the specimen extractor 
24 is desired. To this end, at least one protrusion 38 is provided in the 
sample port 22, the protrusion 38 extending in an annular fashion in 
engagement with the sample cup 26. As shown, the sample cup 26 is tapered 
so that a snug fit occurs between the sample cup 26 and the protrusion 38 
when the flange 32 engages the top of the collar 18. In this manner, the 
specimen extractor 24 is held in place until its removal is desired. More 
than one protrusion 28 may be formed in the sample port 22, and instead of 
being formed in an annular fashion, the protrusion or protrusions 38 may 
be bumps or only portions of an annular protrusion which engage the wall 
of the sample cup 26. Other means of holding the sample cup 26 in place 
may also be employed. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the sample port 22 is used in combination with the 
specimen vial 34 to withdraw a portion of a sample 40 within the container 
10. The vial 34 may be an evacuated glass vial having a pierceable end 42 
formed of rubber or another suitable material which can be pierced by the 
needle 28. The needle 28 extends sufficiently upwardly in the sample cup 
26 to cleanly pierce the end 42 to permit the vacuum in the vial 34 to 
withdraw a desired portion of the sample 40 from the receptacle 12 to 
within the vial 34. 
Once the vial 34 has withdrawn its available portion of the sample 40, the 
vial 34 and the specimen extractor 24 can be withdrawn from the sample 
port 22 as a unit, as shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the specimen 
extractor 24 can be held in place, by means of the protrusions 38 or 
otherwise, and the filled vial 34 may then be withdrawn individually. 
Normally, the container 10 is provided with a sterile interior. Therefore, 
it is advantageous when the cover 14 is withdrawn that the interior 
portions of the cover not contact any surface and become contaminated. As 
best shown in FIG. 4, when the cover 14 is removed as a unit including the 
specimen extractor 24, the combined weight of the collar 18, cap 20 and 
cup 26 causes the cover 14 to sit on a horizontal surface 44 in the 
orientation illustrated. To assure that orientation, the cover 14 also 
includes a counterbalancing weight 46 extending from the underside of the 
cover 14. The weight 46 is offset toward an edge of the cover 14 opposite 
to that which the collar 18 is offset. This geometry, in combination with 
the weight 46, assures that the removed cover assembly always rests in the 
orientation illustrated, with the extraction tube 30 being inclined 
upwardly away from contact with the horizontal surface 44. 
The container 10 according to the invention is intended to be used in the 
first instance by a patient, and then by a doctor, nurse or laboratory 
technician in the second instance for sampling of the collected specimen. 
The patient uses the container 10 by removing the entire cover assembly 14 
and then providing the sample 40. The cover 14 is then reapplied by the 
patient, and the container 10 is given to the test person. That person 
removes the cap 20 and inserts the evacuated specimen vial 34 into the cup 
26 until the needle 28 pierces the pierceable end 42. The vacuum of the 
vial 34 then causes a portion of the sample 40 to be drawn up the tube 30 
into the vial 34. The vial 34 and specimen extractor 24 can then be 
withdrawn as a unit as would normally occur, as shown in FIG. 6, or the 
vial 34 can be removed from the extractor 24 and a second, third, etc. 
vial applied on the needle 28 to withdraw additional portions of the 
sample 40. Once the final desired portion is withdrawn, the specimen 
extractor 24 is removed with a vial 34, the cap 20 reapplied, and the 
container 10 is then discarded or further handled as desired. 
It is preferred that all portions of the container 10 be formed of plastic 
for economy and ease of forming the parts and the seals. However, other 
materials can be employed, as desired. 
Various changes can be made to the invention without departing from the 
spirit thereof or scope of the following claims.