Patent ID: 7731036

Claim:
A reversible vacuum filter cartridge for connection to a pair of tubes or other entities to filter a sample liquid medium placed in a tube or other entities of any one of said pair of tubes or other entities and a filtrate collected in the other tube or other entities, said filter cartridge comprising an injection molded male and female coupling, each said couplings having identical integrally formed connecting means for securing to an open end of a respective one of said tubes or other entities thereto, said male coupling having a mating projection dimensioned for close fit within a mating cavity of said female coupling, said mating projection having an integrally formed perforated outer wall, said mating cavity having an integrally formed perforated bottom wall, fluid-tight connecting means about an outer coupling surface of said projection and an inner coupling surface of said mating cavity for securing said couplings together with said perforated outer wall juxtaposed to said perforated bottom wall, an identically formed connecting port in each said male and female couplings having a communication conduit with an open end facing rearwardly of said perforated outer wall of said male coupling and perforated bottom wall of said female coupling for communication with said open end of said tubes, said connecting ports serving either as a vacuum port or an air intake port, a filter retained captive between said perforated outer wall and said perforated bottom wall when said couplings are secured together by said fluid-tight connecting means.