초록 ▼

A container assembly for storing and stabilizing a biological sample includes a container, a closure cap and a sample holder coupled to the closure cap and removably received in the container. The sample holder can be a basket-like device coupled to an inner face of the cap and includes a central ca

A container assembly for storing and stabilizing a biological sample includes a container, a closure cap and a sample holder coupled to the closure cap and removably received in the container. The sample holder can be a basket-like device coupled to an inner face of the cap and includes a central cavity for receiving the sample and immersing the sample in the reagent in the container. The closure cap includes a body member with a dimension to displace a volume of air and reduce the head space to ensure that the sample holder is completely immersed in the reagent. The sample holder has a closure member for closing the open top end of the cavity.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A container assembly for storing a biological sample, said assembly comprising:a container having a bottom, a side and an open top end, said container having a dimension to contain a volume of a reagent sufficient to treat a biological sample; a closure cap for coupling to said open top end of sa

1. A container assembly for storing a biological sample, said assembly comprising:a container having a bottom, a side and an open top end, said container having a dimension to contain a volume of a reagent sufficient to treat a biological sample; a closure cap for coupling to said open top end of said container; and a sample holder coupled to said cap and being positioned to be received in said container, said sample holder having an internal cavity with a dimension for receiving a biological sample, said sample holder having a plurality of fluid openings into said cavity to enable free flow of said reagent into said cavity while retaining said biological sample in said cavity, said sample holder having a dimension to fit between said bottom and side of said container and said cap and to immerse said cavity in said reagent, said sample holder including a base member having a width equal to or greater than a width of said internal cavity to displace a predetermined portion of said reagent in said container and to reduce a head space above said reagent in said container and to maintain said internal cavity of said sample holder immersed in said reagent, said cavity of said sample holder having a volume to limit the size of said biological sample to maintain a predetermined ratio of an amount of said biological sample to an amount of said reagent to treat said biological sample. 2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said sample holder has a bottom wall and a side wall defining said cavity, said bottom wall including a permeable member defining said fluid openings.3. The container assembly of claim 2, wherein said side wall includes a permeable member to allow free flow of said reagent into said sample holder.4. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said sample holder includes a bottom, a side wall, an open end and a closure member for closing said open end.5. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said closure member is coupled to said sample holder and is pivotable about an axis oriented in a plane parallel to a plane of said side wall.6. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said closure member includes a porous material to enable the flow of said reagent into said sample holder.7. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said closure member is coupled to said sample holder and pivotable about an axis oriented in a plane perpendicular to a plane of said side wall.8. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said side wall and said bottom include a porous material to enable said treating liquid to flow into said sample holder.9. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said sample holder includes a base, and wherein said base is coupled to said cap for spacing said sample holder from said cap and immersing said sample holder in said reagent.10. The container assembly of claim 9, wherein said base comprises an annular wall having an axial dimension and width defining a volume to displace a portion of air and said reagent in said container to immerse said cavity of said sample holder in said reagent.11. A container assembly for storing a biological sample, said assembly comprising:a container having a bottom, a side and an open top end, said container having a dimension to contain a volume of a reagent sufficient to treat a biological sample; a closure cap for coupling to said open top end of said container; and a sample holder coupled to said cap and being positioned to be received in said container, said sample holder having an internal cavity with a dimension for receiving a biological sample, said sample holder having a plurality of fluid openings into said cavity to enable free flow of said reagent into said cavity while retaining said biological sample in said cavity, said sample holder having a dimension to fit between said bottom and side of said container and said cap and to immerse said cavity in said reagent, said cavity of said sample holder having a volume to limit the size of said biological sample, said container having an internal volume and said sample holder having an internal volume, and wherein the ratio of said internal volume of said container and said internal volume of said sample holder is at least 5:1. 12. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said closure member of said sample holder includes a top face and a handle member extending from said top face.13. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said cap has an axial dimension including a top wall lying in a plane, said top wall having a body portion extending outwardly from said top wall, said body portion having a dimension sufficient to displace a volume of air from said container and to reduce a head space above said reagent.14. The container assembly of claim 13, wherein said body portion of said top wall includes an annular side wall extending in an axial direction with respect to said top wall and having an end wall coupled to an outer end of said side wall, and wherein said sample holder includes a base member having an annular wall coupled to said side wall of said body portion.15. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein said base member of said sample holder has a dimension to displace a portion of said reagent from said container.16. The container assembly of claim 1, further comprising a closure member pivotally coupled to said side wall of said sample holder to close said open end, and wherein said side wall and closure include at least one porous portion.17. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said container contains a reagent in an amount sufficient to treat a biological sample, and wherein said reagent is included in an amount to provide a ratio of a volume of said reagent to a volume of a biological sample of at least 10:1.18. A container assembly, comprising:a container having a bottom, a side and an open top end, and being dimensioned to contain a biological sample treating reagent in a volume sufficient to treat a biological sample; a closure cap removably coupled to said container and closing said open top end, said closure cap having an outer face and an inner face; a sample holder coupled to said inner face of said cap, said sample holder having a side wall with at least one open area, and an internal cavity for receiving a biological sample, and at least one fluid opening into said cavity, said sample holder having a dimension to fit within said container to completely immerse said cavity in said reagent, said sample holder being positioned with respect to said inner face of said cap to substantially prevent linear movement of said sample holder in said container; and a body integrally formed with said sample holder and extending from said inner face of said closure cap and having a dimension to displace a portion of said air and reagent in said container to completely immerse said sample holder in said reagent and where said side wall of said sample holder extends axially from said body. 19. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein said body is integrally formed with said cap and extends from said inner face in a substantially axial direction with respect to a center axis of said cap.20. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein said body is coupled to said cap.21. The container assembly of claim 20, wherein said sample holder includes a porous member closing said at least one open area.22. The container assembly of claim 21, wherein said side wall of said sample holder includes an open end, and a closure member for closing said open end.23. The container assembly of claim 22, wherein said closure member of said sample holder includes at least one open area and a porous member closing said open area.24. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein said body is integrally formed with said cap.25. The container assembly of claim 24, wherein said sample holder has a base with a dimension to displace air from said container and reduce a head space above said reagent.26. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein said sample holder includes a post having an outer end coupled to said cap, whereby said sample holder is spaced from said cap.27. A container assembly for storing a biological sample, said assembly comprising:a container having a bottom, a side and an open top end, said container having a dimension to contain a volume of a reagent sufficient to treat a biological sample; a closure cap for coupling to said open top end of said container; and a sample holder coupled to said cap and being positioned to be received in said container, said sample holder having an internal cavity with a dimension for receiving a biological sample, and having a plurality of fluid openings into said cavity to enable free flow of said reagent into said cavity while retaining said biological sample in said cavity, said sample holder having a dimension to fit between said bottom and side of said container and said cap and to immerse said cavity in said reagent, said sample holder further having an annular side wall, a bottom, an open top and an annular base coupled to said closure cap and having an axial length to space said internal cavity from said closure cap. 28. The container assembly of claim 27, wherein said closure cap has a bottom side with a recess and where said base of said sample holder is received in said recess.29. The container assembly of claim 27, wherein said sample holder has a plurality of legs extending between said annular base and said annular side wall.30. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein said sample holder includes a post having a distal end coupled to said cap whereby said sample holder is spaced from said cap.31. The container assembly of claim 30, wherein said sample holder comprises a first member and a second member pivotally coupled together and defining a substantially spherical shape, and wherein said first member and said second member include at least one liquid permeable section.32. The container assembly of claim 31, wherein said sample holder further includes a base member extending from said first member, said base member having an outer end coupled to said cap for spacing said sample holder from said cap.33. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein said sample holder has a bottom, a side wall, an open end and closure member closing said open end and having an outer face with a handle member extending from said outer face.34. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein said closure cap has a bottom surface with a recess therein, and where said sample holder has a base received in said recess.35. The container assembly of claim 34, wherein said base is defined by an annular wall.36. The container assembly of claim 35, wherein said annular wall of said base has a plurality of openings defining legs extending from said sample holder.37. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein said closure cap has a body portion with an annular outer surface and extending in an axial direction, and where said sample holder has a base with an annular wall coupled to said annular outer surface of said body.38. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein said body is defined by an annular wall, and where said annular wall is coupled to said closure cap.39. The container assembly of claim 38, wherein said annular wall of said body defines a hollow cavity to displace said reagent and air in said headspace of said container.40. The container assembly of claim 39, wherein said body is integrally formed with said closure cap.41. The container assembly of claim 39, wherein said closure cap has an inner surface and where said body is coupled to said inner surface of said closure cap.42. The container assembly of claim 41, wherein said inner surface of said closure cap includes an annular wall and where said annular wall of said body mates with said annular wall of said closure cap.