Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CLOSURE AND METHOD OF USING SAME
RELATED APPLICATION DISCLOSURE
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
61/272,603
filed Oct. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference
herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Art
[0001] The present disclosure describes a closure for sealing a complementary
opening. An exemplary embodiment includes an operating member having an
operating
surface that is contacted during insertion or removal; one or more sealing
members which
can impart a pressure-resistant seal; and a centering member that facilitates
alignment of
the closure during insertion. The closure can be operated manually or in an
automated
system. In another aspect, this disclosure describes methods of operating a
closure,
which can be manual or automated methods.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] Medical testing is increasingly performed at central locations that
process
hundreds or even thousands of patient samples per day. These tests can be
performed
manually or with assistance of automated systems. Medical tests often involve
processing biological samples to determine a patient characteristic. The
biological
sample is often provided in or as a fluid, or a fluid is generated as a test
intermediate.
Consequently, fluid containers and their closures are a central part of many
medical tests.
[0003] Many conventional closures are not designed for high-throughput use,
and
perform poorly in such a demanding environment. Poor performance can lead to
containment failure and compromised assay reliability. In high-throughput
automated
systems, closure problems can not only lead to loss of one particular sample,
but also can
jeopardize an entire sample run if the system becomes jammed, damaged, or
contaminated due to one problem closure. Thus in high-throughput automated
systems,
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there is a particular need for closures that are highly reliable and highly
resistant to faults
for example breakage, jamming, or containment failure.
[0004] For example, conventional push-type closures can be overly flexible,
tending to become distorted when grasped with sufficient force to permit
insertion,
resulting in a poor seal that can cause containment failure. Other closures
can be
sufficiently rigid to prevent distortion, but (presumably for convenience of
manufacturing) are made of a single material having uniform thickness
throughout;
consequently, the inserted portion of the closure in some instances can be
overly rigid
and unable to accommodate imperfect alignment, resulting in deformation or
breakage of
the closure, potentially resulting in containment failure. Many conventional
push-type
closures also lack centering features or aligning features, increasing the
frequency of mis-
insertion and risk of containment failure.
[0005] In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for improved
closures
that can be operated quickly, efficiently, consistently, and with sufficient
reliability for
use in a high-throughput setting. Further, while the following discussion
emphasizes
high-throughput uses in particular areas of the medical field, it will be
readily apparent
that the inventions described herein can in some instances be used separately
or together
and can have medical and testing applications beyond those described herein or
even
outside the medical field.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure provides a number of inventions that can be used
collectively, in various combinations, or alone. The following summary
provides
examples of such inventions, and does not limit the invention as claimed in
any way.
[0007] In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure provides a closure for
sealing a complementary opening. The closure has an operating member, a lower
member having a near end connected to the operating member and a far end
spaced along
an axial direction from the proximal end. One or more sealing members extend
from the
lower member. A first bore extends along the axial direction through the
operating
member and into the lower member. Second bores extend along the axial
direction into
the operating member. The second bores are located around the first bore with
dividers
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between adjacent bores. The dividers are arranged to increase the compression
stiffness
of the operating member.
[0008] In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure provides machines
and
methods for installing and removing a closure. In still other aspects, the
disclosure
provides various other embodiments of closures and features that can in some
embodiments be used with closures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Figure IA is an isometric view of an exemplary push-type closure that
includes a rigid operating member, a centering member, and two sealing
members.
[0010] Figures I B and I C are side and cut away side views, respectively, of
the
closure of Figure 1A shown installed in a test tube.
[0011] Figures 2 and 3 are cut away side views of push-type closure similar to
the
closure illustrated in Figure IA, but having one or three sealing members,
respectively.
[00121 Figures 4A and 4B are isometric and side views, respectively, of an
exemplary push-type closure similar to the closure illustrated in Figure 1, in
which the
closure includes bore features.
[0013] Figure 5A is an isometric view of another exemplary push-type closure
that includes a rigid operating member, a centering member, two sealing
members, and
an alignment feature.
[0014] Figures 5B and 5C are side and cut away side views, respectively, of
the
closure of Figure 5A shown installed in a test tube.
[0015] Figure 5D is a cut away side view of the closure of Figure 5A,
illustrating
the interaction of an alignment pin with the alignment feature.
[0016] Figures 6A and 6B are side and cut away side views, respectively, of
another exemplary push-type closure that includes a rigid operating member, a
centering
member, two sealing members, and a lock.
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[0017] Figures 7A-7D are side, cut away side, top and isometric views,
respectively, of another exemplary push-type closure that includes a bored
rigid operating
member, a centering member, and two sealing members.
[0018] Figure 8 is a cut away side view of an exemplary gripper adapted for
operating a closure similar to the closure illustrated in Figure 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The embodiments described below generally relate to closures that
include
one or more of a rigid operating member, a centering member, one or more
sealing
members, and one or more alignment features. These closures can give excellent
performance in automated and manual operation. As noted above, many
conventional
closures are insufficiently reliable for use in a demanding environment, due
to
insufficient rigidity (leading to distortion during use), excessive rigidity
(leading to
inability to accommodate misalignment during insertion), and other
shortcomings. To
address these problems, the present closures include a rigid operating member
and
features that can prevent misalignment and/or features that can correct
misalignment
during insertion (examples of such features are described in further detail
below).
[0020] Definitions
[0021] "Operation" of a closure refers to insertion of a closure into a
complementary opening or removal of a closure from a complementary opening, as
well
as the holding of a closure prior to or subsequent to insertion of a closure
into a
complementary opening or removal of a closure from a complementary opening.
[0022] "Complementary opening" refers to an opening into which a closure can
be inserted to provide partial or complete obstruction of the opening. Where a
closure
includes one or more sealing members, a complementary opening can in some
embodiments be an opening that includes one or more surfaces that will be
contacted by
the sealing members upon insertion, which can in some embodiments result in
formation
of a pressure-resistant seal.
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[0023] "Pressure-resistant seal" refers to a seal formed upon insertion of a
closure
into a complementary opening that can prevent the passage of a fluid (liquid
or gas)
through the opening. A pressure-resistant seal can in some embodiments be
further
specified by reference to an amount of pressure that can be held against the
seal, e.g., a
15 psi pressure-resistant seal refers to a seal that is pressure-resistant
when the fluid is
pressurized at 15 psi. Different pressure-resistance values can be specified
with reference
to particular fluids. In the context of a pressure-resistant seal, the
pressure indicated
typically will be gauge pressure, i.e., indicated relative to ambient
pressure.
[0024] "Contact surface" refers to a surface that makes contact with a closure
during operation. Exemplary contact surfaces include an automated gripper, a
manually
operated gripper, other manually operated tool for operating a closure, or a
surface of an
operator (e.g., a finger, hand, knuckle, thumb, tooth, etc. of a human or
animal operator).
One exemplary tool comprises a contact surface adapted to contact the
underside or
lateral side of the closure, a fulcrum across which to exert the force that
will remove the
closure, and optionally a lever for mechanical advantage, wherein said lever
can in some
embodiments comprise the structure that defines the opening.
[0025] When referring to a closure, relative spatial terminology for example
"upper," "middle," "lower," and the like are understood to refer to relative
position when
a closure is viewed in one particular orientation in which insertion of the
closure would
be performed in the direction from the upper to lower portion of the closure
(e.g., as in
the orientation depicted in Figure 4B), however, it is understood that a
closure is not
limited to being used in such an orientation but rather could have any
absolute orientation
during operation or use. Similarly, the terms "length" or "height" refer to a
dimension
measured along a line parallel to the direction of insertion of the closure
into an opening,
while the term "width" refers to a dimension measured along a line
perpendicular to the
direction of insertion of the closure into an opening. The terms "front" and
"back" refer
to the directions that would be out of or into the page, respectively, in the
depicted views.
Coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes or sections likewise have their
standard meaning
with respect to this orientation. Longitudinal planes or sections can in some
instances
generically refer to any plane or section perpendicular to a transverse plane.
The "axis"
of the closure is defined with reference to a closure that is fully inserted
into an opening,
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and refers to the line that is parallel to the direction of insertion and
collinear with the
axis of symmetry of a planar cross-section of the opening (rotational axis or
N-fold axis,
where N is a positive integer greater than 1). If no axis of symmetry is
present, the line
that is parallel to the direction of insertion and passes through the centroid
of a planar
cross-section of the opening, wherein the planar cross-section of the opening
is
perpendicular to the direction of insertion and is the highest planar cross-
section whose
intersection with the walls of the opening form a closed shape. "Proximate"
and "distal"
refer to the directions towards or away from the axis, respectively.
[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used
herein
have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art. In
case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will
control. Further,
unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shall include pluralities
and plural
terms shall include the singular. Exemplary methods and materials are
described below,
although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein
can also
be used in the practice or testing of the present invention.
[0027] The following examples are provided to illustrate and help understand
aspects and embodiments of the invention. These examples are not be construed
as
limiting the scope of the invention in any way.
[0028] Referring now to Figures lA-I C, in a first exemplary embodiment, there
is provided a closure 100 that can in some embodiments be used to close a
container 150
having an opening 152. The closure 100 is shown in a perspective view (Figure
IA), side
view after insertion into an opening (Figure 1B) and cut away view after
insertion into an
opening (Figure 1C). The opening, which can in some embodiments comprise the
opening of a test tube, can have any suitable size, for example between about
12 mm and
about 16 mm. The first exemplary closure 100 has an operating member 102, a
centering
member 104, and two sealing members 110 that extend from a lower member 112.
The
closure 100 in some embodiments be formed of polyethylene, low-density
polyethylene,
high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymer. In the exemplary
embodiment the operating member 102 has a solid (non-bored) structure which
provides
sufficient rigidity that its lateral walls can in some embodiments be grasped
and pushed
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or pulled into or out of an opening without appreciable distortion of the
closure 100, and
without changes in the spatial relationship between the operating member 102
and the
remainder of the closure. Insertion of the closure 100 into container 150 is
arrested by
contact between shoulder 103 and opening 152. The centering member 104
includes a
tapered surface 106 and a truncated tip 108. If the closure 100 is misaligned
during
insertion, the tapered surface 106 or truncated tip 108 will contact the
internal walls 154
of the container 150 and guide the closure toward proper alignment, provided
that the
degree of misalignment is not too great. The centering member 104 can in some
embodiments define a tapered surface having an angle of less than 90 degrees
from
vertical, for example an angle of between about 45 degrees and about 85
degrees from
vertical. The centering member 104 is slightly narrower than the opening, but
sufficiently wide to guide each sealing member 110 into contact with the
opening 152,
the resulting contact force tending to provide further improvement in
alignment.
[0029] The sealing members 110 may have any suitable shape and size. In one
embodiment, the sealing members 110 can in some embodiments project outward
from
the lower member 1] 2, in the form of annular rings, by between about 5 and
about 15
times a substantially uniform thickness of the sealing member. This average
distance
may in some embodiments be between about 5 mm and about 15 mm. The thickness
of
the sealing member 110 can in other embodiments be between about 0.5 mm and
about
2.0 mm. The thickness of each sealing members 110 in some embodiments is
related to
the minimum insertion force F by the formula:
F=[E* { (D-d)/D]]* [PI*D*T]*fs
wherein: E is the modulus of elasticity of the sealing member material; D is
the diameter
of the sealing member; d is the diameter of the opening; T is the
substantially uniform
thickness; and fs is the coefficient of static friction between the closure
and the internal
walls of the complementary opening. The values for these variables can in some
embodiments be chosen such that the force F is approximately 10 N. In some
embodiments, the minimum force required for insertion and removable of the
closure can
in some embodiments be between approximately 2 N and approximately 20 N or
approximately 40 N.
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[00301 Upon insertion, the two sealing members 110 provide a pressure-
resistant
seal capable of containing a fluid in the container. Each sealing member 110
will in
some embodiments be able to individually provide a sufficient seal for many
uses, such
that the presence of two sealing members 110 provides redundancy and ensures
containment even if one of the sealing members is damaged or defective. The
two
sealing members 110 also help ensure vertical orientation of the closure 100
in container
150 by contacting the container at two locations spaced along the closure
axis.
[00311 Operating member 102 has sufficient rigidity to resist deformation and
distortion when contacted with sufficient force for operation. For example,
the operating
member and the remainder of the closure 100 will in some embodiments be shaped
and
formed of a material such that the operating member has a modulus of
elasticity between
about 0.2 GPa and about 3.0 GPa as measured when the operating member is
laterally
compressed. By resisting distortion, the closures provide a consistent spatial
relationship
between operating member 102 and the remainder of the closure, and provides a
more
consistent shape for the closure throughout operation. This rigidity decreases
or entirely
eliminates undesired behaviors that might otherwise occur during use,
including improper
alignment, increased insertion or removal force, or failure to form a desired
seal.
[00321 In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure having an operating member are also
envisioned. For
example, surfaces of the operating member will in different embodiments be
vertical,
horizontal, have other orientations, or include combinations of the foregoing
or surfaces
having multiple orientations. For example, a closure will in some embodiments
include a
shoulder or undercut that can be gripped or contacted from beneath when the
closure is
fully inserted to permit removal of the closure, an upper surface that can in
some
embodiments be contacted during insertion, lateral or angled surfaces that can
be gripped
during insertion and removal of the closure, and any combination thereof.
[00331 Upon insertion of a closure into an opening or during removal of a
closure
from an opening, the sealing members 110 can in some embodiments compress
and/or
deflect to form an interference fit, which can in some instances result in an
approximately
frustoconical or waved shape of the sealing members 110. Exemplary sealing
members
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110 can in different embodiments have a taper or draft angle, or can extend
perpendicular
to the closure axis, as shown in Figure 1C. In exemplary embodiments, the
length and
thickness of a sealing member 110 are selected to provide sufficient
flexibility for the
sealing member to facilitate centering of the closure during insertion.
[0034] In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure without a shoulder are also envisioned. For
example,
rather than insertion of the closure being arrested by contact between a
shoulder and the
container, a closure may not include any feature that arrests insertion.
Alternatively, a
closure can in some embodiments include an upper portion that widens along the
direction of insertion, such that insertion is arrested by interference and
friction.
[0035] In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure having a centering member 104 are also
envisioned. For
example, a centering member 104 can in some embodiments include a taper that
is more
or less sharp. A sharper taper tends to increase the centering force, which
can facilitate
faster insertion, but also can increase the overall length of the centering
member, which
can decrease the available volume inside a container, increase the likelihood
that the
closure will contact a contained liquid, and interfere with one-handed
opening. A
centering member can in some instances have a truncated or non-truncated end.
A
truncated end, when present, can have any desired taper or shape including
rounded,
flattened, concave, convex, etc. A truncated end decreases the width of the
tapered
surface and accordingly may in some embodiments decrease the amount of
misalignment
tolerance; however, where the truncated end is convex or rounded, the loss of
mismatch
tolerance can in some embodiments be somewhat mitigated. A rounded or convex
end
tends to allow liquids to accumulate on the tip and form drops of sufficient
size to drip,
which can in some embodiments allow liquids to drip back into their container
before or
during closure removal and prevent contamination; however, in other
embodiments, the
truncated end can be flattened or concave which tends to prevent dripping and
can in
some embodiments lead to decreased risk of contamination in some use
conditions.
[0036] In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, closures having
other cross-sectional shapes are also envisioned. Portions of a closure can in
some
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embodiments be independently be radially symmetrical, symmetrical about an N-
fold
axis of symmetry (where N is a positive integer greater than 1), or
asymmetrical. For
example, a centering feature and sealing member will generally match the shape
of the
opening, whereas an operating member need not match the shape of the opening.
The
closures can in some embodiments be adapted for use with an opening having any
cross-
sectional shape. Innumerable shapes are readily envisioned, with non-limiting
examples
including circles, ovals, other rounded shapes, squares, triangles,
rectangles, other regular
or irregular polygons (with optionally rounded corners), or any other closed
convex or
concave closed shape.
[0037] Referring now to Figure 2, in a second exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a closure 200 similar to the closure of Figure 1, with only a single
sealing
member 210 included.
[0038] Referring now to Figure 3, in a third exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a closure 300 similar to the closure of Figures 1 and 2, with three
sealing
members 310 included.
[0039] In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure having a sealing member are also envisioned.
For
example, one or more sealing members can in some embodiments contribute to
centering,
such that the centering member provides sufficient alignment that a sealing
member can
contact the opening, resulting in a contact force that tends to further guide
the closure
towards proper alignment. To further contribute to centering, sealing members
can in
some embodiments have staggered widths, with narrower centering members
entering the
opening before wider members, such that centering can proceed progressively as
the
closure is inserted. It is also envisioned that in some embodiments one or
more of the
sealing members can be variously shaped in order to help guide the closure in
place, and
in some embodiments may not actually form a seal against the container 150.
Still
further, one, some or all of the sealing members can alternatively form only a
partial seal
(i.e., a seal in which only a portion of the space between the closure and
container is
blocked), and a suitable seal can alternatively be formed by the collection of
these partial
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seals, or by a supplemental seal, for example a gasket or o-ring located at
the base of the
operating member.
[0040] Referring now to Figure 4, in a fourth exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a closure 400, similar to the closure of Figures 1-3, having an
operating member
402, centering member 404, and lower member 412. The closure is shown in a
perspective view (Figure 4A) and a side view (Figure 4B). As shown in the
illustrations,
the closure 400 is formed with laterally-extending bores 406 that extend
perpendicular to
the closure axis. The bores are provided to facilitate molding the closure 400
from plastic
or other materials, which processes often are facilitated by providing a
generally uniform
wall thickness throughout the part. The shown closure 400 can in some
embodiments be
manufactured by injection molding as a single piece, and the thicknesses of
the walls
forming the molding can in some embodiments range between approximately 1/32"
and
approximately 1/10". While this part could be formed without the bores,
accommodations can in some embodiments be necessary to account for
differential flow
through the mold, differential cooling and expansion or contraction of the
parts. The use
of laterally extending bores 406 allows the part to be manufactured as a
lattice of
generally uniform-thickness wall, yet still have sufficient rigidity that the
lateral walls
that form the operating member 402 can be grasped and pushed or pulled into or
out of an
opening without appreciable distortion of the closure 400, and without changes
in the
spatial relationship between the operating member 402 and the remainder of the
closure.
[0041] In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure having bored elements are also envisioned.
Generally,
bored elements are present when the structure of a portion of the closure
comprises one
or more walls that are formed around a protrusion or "core" on a part-forming
mold.
Coring can be used to create bores in the final structure, to retain much of
the strength
and rigidity of a non-bored structure while decreasing weight and material
usage. Coring
can in some instances reduce manufacturing costs by providing a closure of
more
uniform wall thickness. The addition of bores (by coring or other
manufacturing
methods) can in some embodiments also decrease the mass of the closure,
potentially
improving ease or speed of operation, and decrease costs of materials and
shipping
weight. As part of the closure can contact a contained liquid, the use of
bored features
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can increase the tendency of liquids to adhere to the closure. When the
closure is
removed, the adhering liquids can in some instances drip, splatter, flow, or
otherwise
reach undesired locations outside the closure, potentially causing
contamination of the
work area containment, cross-contamination, or carry-over. To prevent these
potential
problems, in exemplary embodiments the portions of the closure that can come
into
contact with a contained liquid are not bored; or alternatively, the coring
can in some
embodiments comprise walls only in a vertical orientation (i.e., along the
closure axis),
such that when the container is oriented such that the closure is vertically
oriented above
the contained fluid, liquids tend to flow to the bottom of the closure and
drop down to the
container.
[0042] Referring now to Figure 5, in a fifth exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a closure 500 that can is some embodiments be used to close container
550
having an opening 552. The closure 500 is shown in a perspective view (Figure
5A), side
view after insertion into an opening (Figure 5B), cut away view after
insertion into an
opening (Figure 5C), and depicting use with an alignment feature (Figure 5D).
The fifth
exemplary closure 500 has an operating member 502, a centering member 504, two
sealing members 510, and an alignment feature 514. As with the previous
embodiment, a
lower member 512 is extends from a proximal end at the operating member 502 to
a
distal end at the alignment feature 514. The closure 500 can in some
embodiments be
formed, for example, of polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, high-density
polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymers or materials. In the exemplary
embodiment the operating member 502 has, with the exception of the shown
alignment
feature 514, a solid (non-bored) structure that provides sufficient rigidity
that its lateral
walls can inn some instances be grasped and pushed or pulled into or out of an
opening
without appreciable distortion of the closure 500, and without changes in the
spatial
relationship between the operating member 502 and the remainder of the
closure.
Insertion of the closure 500 into container 550 is arrested by contact between
shoulder
503 and opening 552. When the closure is fully inserted, shoulder 503
protrudes beyond
opening 552 and can be contacted from below during removal. The vertical
thickness of
the operating member 502 is selected such that the center of mass of the
closure 500 is
lower than the opening 552 when fully inserted therein, improving stability.
For
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example, the operating member 502 can in some embodiments have a vertical
thickness
of greater than 1.5 mm or greater than 3.0 mm. The centering member 504
includes a
tapered surface 506 and a truncated tip 508. If the closure 500 is misaligned
during
insertion, the tapered surface 506 or truncated tip 508 will contact the
internal walls 554
of the container 550 and guide the closure toward proper alignment, provided
that the
degree of misalignment is not too great. The centering member 504 is slightly
narrower
than the opening, but sufficiently wide to guide at least the lowermost
sealing member
510 into contact with the opening 552, the resulting contact force tending to
provide
further improvement in alignment. Upon insertion, the two sealing members 510
provide
a pressure-resistant seal capable of containing a fluid in the container. Each
sealing
member 510 can in some embodiments be able to individually provide a
sufficient seal
for many uses, such that the presence of two sealing members 510 provides
redundancy
and ensures containment even if one of the sealing members is damaged or
defective.
The two sealing members 510 also help ensure vertical orientation of the
closure 500 in
container 550.
[0043] The exemplary alignment feature 514 is a bore that extends into the
operating member 502, and also can in some embodiments extend into the lower
member
512. An alignment pin 570 fits into alignment feature 514 and helps maintain
the
orientation and position of the closure 500 relative to a gripper (not shown
in this figure)
used for removal and insertion of the closure 500 into the container 550. The
alignment
pin 570 includes a taper 572 which has a different taper than the alignment
feature 514.
In alternative embodiments, the taper 572 of the alignment pin 570 can in some
embodiments be the same as the taper of alignment feature 514. Tapered tip 574
of
alignment pin 570 can in some embodiments contact bottom 516 of alignment
feature
514 when fully inserted therein, and helps ensure proper alignment.
[0044] In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure made of other materials or of more than one
material are
also envisioned. For example, an inner structure of the closure can be made of
a
relatively hard material, then overmolded with a softer, more compliant
material.
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[00451 The distribution of mass in closure 500 is such that, when inserted
into an
opening, the center of mass of the closure is below the top of the opening.
This
distribution of mass can contribute to stability of the closure in the opening
during use by
counteracting the effects of small perturbations due to vibration and
movement.
[00461 In addition to the foregoing exemplary embodiments, other embodiments
and configurations of a closure having alignment features are also envisioned.
For
example, an alignment feature can in some embodiments include a structural
feature
(including projections, recesses, and combinations thereof) situated on an
operating
surface of the closure and providing increased control of alignment during
operation. An
alignment feature can also include one or more detectable features that are
not necessarily
contacted during operation, including optically, electromagnetically, or
sonically
detectable features, whose detection can provide feedback regarding position
and/or
orientation of the closure. An alignment feature can in some embodiments be
used with
manual cap operation or automated cap operation. For example, an alignment
feature can
in some embodiments comprise one or more raised or recessed surfaces located
on an
outer surface of the cap that are adapted to be complementary to a contact
surface, for
example an automated gripper, manually operated gripper or other manually
operated
tool for operating a closure, or a surface of an operator (for example a
finger, hand,
knuckle, thumb, toe, tooth, etc. of a human or animal operator).
"Complementary" in this
context means that some portion of the alignment feature is contacted by some
portion of
a contact surface during operation such that the contact tends to maintain a
particular
orientation of the closure. An alignment feature can in some embodiments serve
a dual
purpose of both facilitating alignment and facilitating operation. For
example, an
alignment feature can in some embodiments include a structural feature of a
vertical
surface which can provide positive contact, decrease likelihood of slipping,
or otherwise
improve reliability or stability of contact with the closure.
[00471 Referring now to Figure 6, in a sixth exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a closure 600 similar to the closure of Figures 1-3, with a locking
feature also
included. An overhang 620 defines slot 622. Locking projection 656 is attached
to
container 650. During closure insertion, closure 600 is turned to orient
locking projection
656 with the opening 624 of slot 622. As insertion proceeds, closure 600 is
rotated so
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that locking projection 656 travels along slot 622, then drops into recess
626, thereby
locking closure 600 onto container 650. During removal, closure 600 is twisted
and
optionally pushed downward so that locking projection 656 exits recess 626 and
can
travel out of slot 622 as closure 600 is simultaneously twisted and pulled out
of container
650. Insertion of the closure 600 into container 650 is arrested by contact
between
shoulder 603 and opening 652.
[0048] Referring now to Figure 7, in a seventh exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a closure 700 that can in some embodiments be used to close a
container
having an opening. The closure 700 is shown in a side view (Figure 7A), cut
away view
(Figure 7B), top view (Figure 7C), and perspective view (Figure 7D). The
seventh
exemplary closure 700 has an operating member 702, a centering member 704, two
sealing members 710, a lower member 712, and an alignment feature 714. The
closure
700 can in some embodiments be formed of polyethylene, low-density
polyethylene,
high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymer. In the exemplary
embodiment the operating member 702 has sufficient rigidity that operating
member 702
walls can in some embodiments be grasped and pushed or pulled into or out of
an
opening without appreciable distortion of the closure 700, and without changes
in the
spatial relationship between the operating member 702 and the remainder of the
closure.
[0049] As shown in Figure 7, the operating member 702 can in some
embodiments include bores 730 surrounding or adjacent the alignment feature
714. In
contrast to the bores described with respect to Figures 4A and 4B, these bores
730 can in
some embodiments be aligned along the closure axis. The bores 730 can in some
embodiments reduce the overall mass of the device and facilitate molding by
avoiding
large areas of increased thickness, without compromising the operating
member's rigidity
and ability to be used. For example, the bores 730 can in some embodiments
comprise
radially-extending dividers 732 between adjacent bores that increase the
compression
stiffness of the operating member 702 to help reduce or resist radial
deflection that may
otherwise occur when the operating member 702 is grasped using compressive
forces
(i.e., forces directed generally inward from the outer perimeter of the
operating member
702). This enhanced stiffness is expected to facilitate repeated removal and
reinsertion of
the closure 700, which is particularly helpful when the contents of the
container that the
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closure 700 closes are processed in an automated system. As shown in Figure
7B, the
operating member 702 can in some embodiments have a vertical dimension t1
between a
first side to which the lower member 712 is connected and a second side
opposite the first
side that is substantially greater than the wall thickness t2 between an outer
surface of the
lower member 712 and the alignment bore 714. The use of bores 730 in the
operating
member 702 may facilitate this construction by reducing excessive changes in
mold
volume.
[0050] Insertion of the closure 700 into a container is arrested by contact
between
shoulder 703 and the opening of the container. When the closure is fully
inserted,
shoulder 503 can in some embodiments protrude beyond the opening and can be
contacted from below during removal. The vertical thickness of the operating
member
702 is selected such that the center of mass of the closure 700 is lower than
an opening
when fully inserted therein, improving stability. The centering member 704
includes a
tapered surface 706 and a truncated tip 708. If the closure 700 is misaligned
during
insertion, the tapered surface 706 or truncated tip 708 will contact the
internal walls of
the container and guide the closure toward proper alignment, provided that the
degree of
misalignment is not too great. The centering member 704 can in some
embodiments be
slightly narrower than the opening, but sufficiently wide to guide each
sealing member
710 into contact with the opening, the resulting contact force tending to
provide further
improvement in alignment. The two sealing members 110 have staggered
diameters,
with the lower sealing member having a diameter about 0.4% less than the upper
sealing
member, such that centering can progressively improve as the closure is
inserted and the
sealing members 110 sequentially contact the closure. Upon insertion the two
sealing
members 710 provide a pressure-resistant seal capable of containing a fluid in
the
container. Each sealing member 710 is able to individually provide a
sufficient seal for
many uses, such that the presence of two sealing members 710 provides
redundancy and
ensures containment even if one of the sealing members is damaged or
defective. The
two sealing members 710 also help ensure vertical orientation of the closure
700 in a
container.
[0051] The alignment feature 714 comprises a bore that extends into the
operating
member 702, and can in some embodiments extend into the lower member 712. In
the
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exemplary embodiment, the alignment feature 714 extends all the way through
the
operating member 702, continues through the lower member 712, and terminates
within
the centering member 704. As shown, the alignment feature's shape can in some
embodiments generally match the outer walls of the lower member 712 and
centering
member 704, so that the various features form a wall having a generally
uniform
thickness. An alignment pin (not shown) can fit into alignment feature 714 to
help
maintain the orientation and position of the closure 700 relative to a gripper
(not shown
in this figure) used for removal and insertion of the closure 700 into a
container. The
alignment pin can include a narrower taper than the alignment feature 514. The
tip of an
alignment pin can contact bottom 516 of alignment feature 514 when fully
inserted
therein to help ensure proper alignment. An alignment pin can in some
embodiments
also help support and add strength to the closure 700 during the installation
and removal
processes.
[00521 Also envisioned are methods of operating these or other closures. The
closures can in some embodiments be operated manually, in an automated system,
or
with assistance of a tool or partial automation. For example, exemplary
embodiments
can in some embodiments be opened manually with one-hand. Where the portion of
the
closure inserted into the opening is sufficiently short, one-handed removal
can in some
embodiments be effected by grasping the container and pushing toward the
center of the
closure (e.g., with a thumb or against another surface). Alternatively, where
the closure
has a "shoulder" or other surface that is accessible from beneath when the
closure is fully
inserted, one-handed removal can in some embodiments be effected by
simultaneously
pushing upward and toward the center of the closure. A further method provides
a
combination of these approaches, wherein the operator first pushes toward the
center of
the closure, which provides partial opening and exposes a lower surface, and
then
pushing on this surface upward and toward the center of the closure. Yet a
further
method involves holding the container with three fingers while pinching the
closure
between the thumb and forefinger and pulling upward (and optionally, first
loosening the
closure with a lateral push). The closures can in some embodiments be twisted
during
insertion and/or removal, which can in some embodiments be performed during
manual
or automated operation. Such methods can in some embodiments be used when the
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closure has some freedom to rotate during operation (typically due to
rotational
symmetry). Use of a twisting movement can facilitate removal by decreasing
force
required. Without intent to be limited by theory, it is believed that a
twisting motion can
overcome static friction between the closure and container, thus insertion or
removal
would only require sufficient force in the direction of insertion or removal
to overcome
kinetic friction. Moreover, by decreasing friction, it is expected that
sealing members (if
present) could become less distorted during operation and accordingly provide
less
resistance to operation.
[0053] Referring now to Figure 8, there is provided an exemplary embodiment of
a gripper able to operate a closure similar to those described above. Gripper
880 includes
alignment pin 870, two jaws 886, and projection 882. During operation, gripper
880
contacts closure 800 in several places: presser surface 888 contacts the upper
surface of
operating member 802; jaws 886 compress lateral surfaces of operating member
802;
projection 882 contacts the lower surface of shoulder 803; and alignment pin
870
contacts the inside of alignment feature 814. Jaws 886 open and close to
permit gripper
880 to grasp and to release closure 800. Additionally, alignment pin 870 is
optionally
retractable into the gripper, or is fixed in place. Alignment pin 870 fits
into alignment
feature 814 and helps maintain the orientation and position of the closure 800
relative to
gripper 880. Alignment pin 870 includes a taper 872 which has a different
taper than the
alignment feature 814. In alternative embodiments, the taper 872 of the
alignment pin
870 can in some embodiments be the same as the taper of alignment feature 814.
Tapered tip 874 (which is truncated in the depicted embodiment) of alignment
pin 870
contacts bottom 816 of alignment feature 814 when fully inserted therein, and
helps
ensure proper alignment. During removal of closure 800 from container 850,
force is
conveyed to the closure from the gripper through the lower surfaces of
shoulder 803 and
through the lateral surfaces of operating member 802. During insertion of
closure 800
into container 850, force is conveyed to the closure from the presser surfaces
888 through
the upper surfaces of operating member 802, and through the lateral surfaces
of operating
member 802.
[0054] The closures, grippers, and methods described herein can in some
embodiments be incorporated for use within a sample processing system. For
example,
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an automated system can in some embodiments use these closures, grippers, or
methods
with input sample containers, output sample containers and/or intermediate
sample
containers between input and output processing. In one example, samples are
provided in
a container having a closure that is damaged or is incompatible with the
automated
system, in which case the sample can in some embodiments be transferred into a
container that is then closed with an embodiment of the present closures.
Example of
such systems are described in U.S. Application Ser. No. 12/588,304 (Attorney
Docket
No. 74708.000401), entitled "AUTOMATED ASSAY AND SYSTEM," filed October 9,
2009, and in U.S. Application Ser. No. 12/588,306 (Attorney Docket No.
74708.001001),
entitled "Open Platform Automated Sample Processing System," filed October 9,
2009,
each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0055] It should be understood that the foregoing embodiments are exemplary
only, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art in light
of the teachings provided herein. For example, while the foregoing embodiments
describe closures and methods for use in medical testing, it will be readily
apparent that
these can in some embodiments be modified for use in other processes. As
another
example, a linkage element can in some embodiments be provided to couple a
closure to
the structure that defines the complementary opening (for example a test
tube), such that
the closure remains attached to the test tube when removed from the opening. A
flexible
and/or hinged element can in some embodiments be used as the linkage. Other
variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of
the present
disclosure and with practice of the invention.
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