Disposable device for venting a sealed container and aliquoting therefrom
Inventors
Pohl, Brent Ronald • Feijen, Franciscus Hermannus • Armstrong, Robert Edward • Lentz, Ammon David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12428617-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A multi-port disposable device that can both vent a sealed culture vessel and draw a sample therefrom into a collection vessel. The multi-port disposable device has a first port configured to receive the top portion of a culture vessel and attach thereto. The multi-port disposable device has a second port configured to receive a sample collection vessel. The multi-port disposable device has first and second needles. The first needle has a cannula configured to penetrate a septum or cap of the culture vessel. Optionally, the cannula terminates in a layer of foam that carries a microbial agent such that any vapor that is transmitted from the culture vessel through the cannula when venting the sealed culture vessel is absorbed by the foam. Optionally, the ports of the disposable device are configured as sleeves. The sleeve of the first port receives a portion of the culture vessel and the sleeve of the second port receives the collection vessel. The second needle has a cannula that penetrates both the septum or cap of the culture vessel and the septum or cap of the collection vessel, when the culture vessel and the collection vessel are brought into the device, thereby providing for fluid communication between the culture vessel and the collection vessel. The second cannula provides the flow pathway for delivering sample from the culture vessel to the collection vessel.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a multi-port disposable device for venting a sealed culture vessel and transferring an aliquot to a sample collection vessel or syringe. The device employs a venting needle separate from an aliquoting needle, with ports and needle inserts configured to establish fluid communication between vessels. Described embodiments include antimicrobial foam associated with the venting path as well as vessel-to-vessel and syringe-connected configurations.
The device provides mechanisms to safely vent pressurized culture vessels during sample aliquot transfers. Structural needle and port arrangements support automated handling while reducing coring, clogging, leakage, and sharps exposure. In addition, defined bottle orientation and sediment settling allow the system to obtain relatively bead-free aliquots from the culture vessel.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover two inventive features: a multi-port disposable device for transferring an aliquot to a sample collection vessel, and a multi-port disposable device configured for transfer to a syringe.
Vessel-to-vessel venting and aliquoting device
Claim 1 recites a multi-port disposable device comprising a first culture vessel port, a sample collection vessel port, and a second culture vessel port. A venting needle is disposed in the second culture vessel port needle insert, while an aliquoting needle provides fluid communication between the culture vessel and the sample collection vessel. Dependent claims further specify a foam layer carrying a microbial agent, needle-insert placement, and needle sheaths.
Syringe-connected venting and aliquoting device
Claim 7 recites a culture vessel port and a sample collection vessel port configured to receive a syringe. A venting needle is disposed in the culture vessel port needle insert, and an aliquoting needle provides fluid communication between the culture vessel and syringe. Dependent claims further recite a connector, including a luer connector, and arrangements wherein the syringe carries the aliquoting needle into the device.
The claims cover a disposable multi-port device that separates venting from aliquoting, with independent claims directed to transfer to a sample collection vessel and transfer to a syringe.
Stated Advantages
Antimicrobial foam captures aerosols and can neutralize microbial contamination.
Needle and port features support automation and reduce coring, clogging, leakage, and sharps exposure.
Bottle orientation and sediment settling help obtain relatively bead-free aliquots.
Documented Applications
Venting pressurized culture vessels and transferring sample aliquots to collection vessels or syringes.
Automated handling of the multi-port disposable device.
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