SPECIMEN COLLECTION RECEPTACLE

Abstract

A fluid specimen collection receptacle includes a cup containing a chamber and an open end and a lid for connection with the cup open end and closing the cup chamber. A closure and a specimen collection needle are connected with the lid and a reservoir is arranged beneath the lid and connected with the closure for rotation relative to the lid between open and closed positions. The closure affords access to the needle when the closure is in the open position and prevents access to the needle when the closure is in the closed position. The reservoir includes a chamber closed by a portion of the lid when the closure is in the open position. When the closure is rotated to the closed position, the reservoir is opened for communication with the cup chamber to release an absorbent material from the reservoir chamber into the cup chamber to solidify any residual fluid specimen within the cup chamber.

Claims

1. A specimen collection receptacle, comprising: a) a cup containing a chamber and an open end; b) a lid for connection with said cup open end and closing said cup chamber; c) a closure connected with an upper surface of said lid for rotation relative to said lid between open and closed positions; d) a specimen collection needle connected with said lid and extending into said cup chamber when said lid is connected with said cup, said closure affording access to said needle when said closure is in said open position, said closure preventing access to said needle when said closure is in said closed position; and e) a reservoir arranged beneath said lid and connected with said closure and configured for rotational movement, said reservoir including a bottom wall and a side wall defining a chamber beneath said lid, said side wall containing an opening, said reservoir being closed by said lid when said closure is in said open position and said reservoir opening affording communication between said reservoir chamber and said cup chamber when said closure is in said closed position.

2. The specimen collection receptacle of claim 1, wherein said lid contains a central opening and further comprising a key extending through said central opening, an upper end of said key being connected with a bottom surface of said closure and a lower end of said key being connected with said reservoir bottom wall, whereby rotation of said closure rotates said reservoir relative to said lid.

3. The specimen collection receptacle of claim 2, wherein a lower surface of said lid includes at least one wall arranged adjacent to said lid opening, wherein when said closure is in said open position said lid at least one wall cooperates with said reservoir side wall to define a closure for said reservoir chamber.

4. The specimen collection receptacle of claim 3, wherein said lid includes a stop and said reservoir side wall includes a projection which engages said stop to restrict movement of said closure beyond said closed position.

5. The specimen collection receptacle of claim 1, wherein said lid is connected with said cup via one of a screw thread and press pin connection.

6. The specimen collection receptacle of claim 5, wherein said one of a screw thread and press pin connection includes a locking assembly to lock said lid onto said cup.

7. The specimen collection receptacle of claim 1, and further comprising an absorbent composition arranged in said reservoir, said absorbent composition being released from said reservoir chamber for entry into said cup chamber when said closure is in the closed position, whereby a specimen within said cup chamber is absorbed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following disclosure when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top perspective of the specimen collection receptacle according to the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the specimen collection receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the specimen collection receptacle of FIG. 1 illustrating a closure of the lid in an open configuration;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the specimen collection receptacle of FIG. 1 illustrating the closure of the lid in a closed configuration;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the specimen collection receptacle of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 6 is an exploded front plan view of the specimen collection receptacle of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the specimen collection receptacle taken: along line 7-7 of FIG. 3; and

[0018] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the specimen collection receptacle taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The specimen collection receptacle 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a cup 4 containing a chamber 6 and an open end 8 for receiving a fluid specimen 10 such as urine or blood, and a lid 12 for connection with the cup open end 8 to close the cup chamber 6. The cup 4 includes a screw thread 14 on an outer surface thereof adjacent the open end. The lid includes screw thread (not shown) on an inner surface of a downwardly projecting portion 16 thereof configured to mate with the cup screw thread to close the cup open end. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other suitable connections such as a press pin or snap fit connection may be used to connect the lid with cup in a secure manner.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 6, a tab 18 extends from the downwardly projecting portion 16 of the lid and engages a slot 20 arranged on an exterior surface of the cup adjacent to the open end. The slot 20 may be arranged with the cup screw threads as shown in FIG. 2. Once the tab 18 engages the slot 20 the lid 12, it prevents reverse rotation of the lid to lock the lid onto the cup 4.

[0021] The lid 12 contains a through opening 22 configured for receiving an exposed specimen collection needle 24. The needle 24 extends into the cup chamber 6 when the lid is connected with the cup. The opening in the lid allows a technician to connect a syringe (now shown) with the needle.

[0022] An upper surface 25 of the lid 12 includes a recess 26 configured for receiving a closure 28. More particularly, an annular channel 32 is provided around the recess with the closure being arranged in the channel on an upper surface of the lid in a snap fit configuration for rotation relative to the lid between open and closed positions. More particularly, the closure includes a cut-out or recess 34 in an outer edge configured to correspond with the opening 22 in the lid above the needle 24. The open position of the closure is shown in FIG. 3, wherein the closure recess 32 is above the lid opening 22 to afford access to the needle. The closed position of the closure is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the closure covers the lid opening 22

[0023] The lid 12 further includes a central through opening 36. The through opening 36 communicates with a cylindrical keyway 38 defined by a wall 40 extending downwardly from a lower surface 42 of the lid 12 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The keyway 38. A key 44 extends through the keyway and is configured to connect the closure 28 with a reservoir 46. More particularly, the closure bottom surface contains a recess 52 configured to correspond with the configuration of the key such that the upper end 56 of the key is arranged in the closure recess. Similarly, an upper surface of the reservoir contains a recess 72 configured to correspond with the configuration of the key such that the lower end 74 of the key is arranged in: the reservoir recess. Accordingly, rotation of the closure 28 relative to the lid 12 also rotates the reservoir 46.

[0024] The reservoir 46: includes a bottom wall 60 and a plurality of side walls 62, 64, 66 to define a chamber 68 having an opening 70 as shown in FIG. 2. The reservoir chamber 68 is configured to receive and store an absorbent composition 78.

[0025] A lower surface 42 of the lid 12 includes a plurality of walls extending downwardly therefrom. One downwardly extending wall 82 cooperates with reservoir 46 to close the reservoir chamber opening 70 as shown in FIG. 7 when the closure 28 is in the open position. When the reservoir chamber 70 is closed by the lid housing 68, the absorbent composition 78 is retained in the reservoir chamber 68. As the closure 28 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the reservoir 46 rotates with the closure relative to the lid to expose the reservoir chamber opening 70 which allows the absorbent composition 78 to be released from the reservoir chamber 68 into the cup chamber 6 to absorb and solidify any residual fluid specimen 10 remaining within the cup chamber 6 after a sample of the specimen has been withdrawn from the cup chamber 6. The quantity of absorbent material in the reservoir chamber is selected according to the capacity of the cup to insure that any residual specimen in the cup is absorbed.

[0026] Another wall 84 extending downwardly from the lid acts as a stop to restrict the range of rotational movement of the closure 28 (FIGS. 7-8), More particularly, one of the plurality of reservoir side walls 64 includes an extension portion 64a. As the closure 28 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the tab 64a engages the wall 84 to prevent further rotation of the closure 28. Indicia 88, 90 on the upper surface 48 of the lid 12 indicates to a user whether the closure 28 is open or closed and whether the reservoir chamber 68 is closed or open.

[0027] While the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.