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A closure and method of making a closure are disclosed. The closure includes a cap body having a top portion and an opening extending therethrough defining a cavity in communication with said opening. A flow channel is defined within a portion of the cap body having an inlet and an outlet. A stopper

A closure and method of making a closure are disclosed. The closure includes a cap body having a top portion and an opening extending therethrough defining a cavity in communication with said opening. A flow channel is defined within a portion of the cap body having an inlet and an outlet. A stopper is disposed within the cavity adjacent the outlet of the flow channel. The stopper is formed from a material adapted for flowing through the flow channel to form a pierceable portion, with at least one of the cap body and the stopper configured for closing a container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A closure, comprising: a closure assembly for closing and sealing a container, the closure assembly comprising: a cap body defining a permanent cavity therethrough and having a top portion defining an opening, the cavity in fluid communication with the opening, and a portion of the cap body defin

1. A closure, comprising: a closure assembly for closing and sealing a container, the closure assembly comprising: a cap body defining a permanent cavity therethrough and having a top portion defining an opening, the cavity in fluid communication with the opening, and a portion of the cap body defining a flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; anda stopper disposed within the cavity adjacent the outlet of the flow channel, the stopper having a pierceable portion formed of a material, wherein the material is adapted to flow through the flow channel of the cap body to form the pierceable portion. 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the cap body is formed from a first molding material and the stopper is formed from a pierceable second molding material, the second molding material being different than the first molding material. 3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the flow channel inlet extends toward the top portion. 4. The closure of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the flow channel is offset with respect to a longitudinal centerline extending through the cavity of the closure assembly. 5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the stopper has a bottom surface and a conical recess defined within the stopper forming the pierceable portion. 6. The closure of claim 5, wherein the conical recess is in communication with an interior of the container when the closure assembly closes the container. 7. The closure of claim 5, wherein the stopper is positioned within the cavity at a predetermined location such that a distance between the top portion and the conical recess corresponds to a distance between a probe contact surface and an aspiration hole of a probe assembly. 8. The closure of claim 5, wherein the bottom surface has a conical shape such that the pierceable portion has an area of reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of another portion of the stopper. 9. The closure of claim 1, wherein the pierceable portion includes a star shape to facilitate piercing thereof. 10. The closure of claim 1, wherein the cap body is formed from a high density polyethylene and the stopper is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. 11. A closure, comprising: a closure assembly for closing and sealing a container, the closure assembly comprising: a cap body having a top portion defining an opening extending therethrough;an external annular skirt depending from an outer perimeter of the top portion;an internal annular skirt depending from an inner portion of the top portion adjacent the opening, the internal annular skirt defining a permanent cavity in fluid communication with the opening in the top portion, and a portion of the internal annular skirt defining a flow channel having an inlet adjacent the top portion and an outlet; anda stopper disposed within the cavity adjacent the outlet of the flow channel, the stopper having a pierceable portion formed of a material, wherein the material is adapted to flow through the flow channel of the cap body to form the pierceable portion. 12. The closure of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of gripping members disposed in connection with an outer surface of the external annular skirt. 13. The closure of claim 11, wherein the flow channel inlet extends through the top portion. 14. The closure of claim 11, wherein the flow channel extends within an interior surface of the internal annular skirt. 15. The closure of claim 11, wherein the stopper is co-formed with a portion of an interior surface of the internal annular skirt. 16. The closure of claim 11, wherein the internal annular skirt includes a ramped portion defining a funnel-shaped cavity having a larger diameter adjacent the top portion and a smaller diameter adjacent the stopper. 17. A container assembly comprising: a collection container having a closed bottom, an open top portion, and a sidewall extending therebetween, adapted to receive a specimen sample therein; anda closure assembly for closing and sealing the open top portion of the collection container, the closure assembly comprising: a cap body defining a permanent cavity therethrough and having a top portion defining an opening, the cavity in fluid communication with the opening, and a portion of the cap body defining a flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; anda stopper disposed within the cavity adjacent the outlet of the flow channel, the stopper having a pierceable portion formed of a material, wherein the material is adapted to flow through the flow channel of the cap body to form the pierceable portion. 18. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the inlet of the flow channel is offset with respect to a longitudinal centerline extending through the cavity of the cap assembly. 19. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein a top portion of the sidewall of the collection container comprises a collection lip funnel for facilitating flow of a sample into an interior of the collection container. 20. The container assembly of claim 19, wherein the cap body comprises an external annular skirt and an internal annular skirt extending from the top portion, defining a channel therebetween configured for receiving the top portion of the sidewall and the collection lip funnel therein. 21. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the closure assembly comprises at least one downwardly extending ramp member, and the collection container comprises at least one upwardly extending ramp member configured for cooperating with the at least one downwardly extending ramp member to engage or disengage the closure assembly with the collection container. 22. The container assembly of claim 17, further comprising a conical recess defined within the stopper, wherein the conical recess is in communication with an interior of the collection container when the closure assembly closes the open top portion of the collection container. 23. The container assembly of claim 22, wherein the stopper defines a conical recess extending between a bottom surface and the pierceable portion, and a sampling distance extending between a top surface of the top portion of the cap body and an apex of the conical recess is adapted to position an aspiration hole of a probe assembly at the apex of the conical recess during withdrawal of a specimen from the collection cavity. 24. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the collection container defines an interior having at least one capillary channel disposed therein. 25. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the pierceable portion is pierceable by a cannula while the closure assembly closes the open top end of the collection container. 26. The container assembly of claim 25, wherein the pierceable portion is adapted to remove vestige from the cannula upon withdrawal of the cannula from an interior of the collection container. 27. The closure of claim 1, wherein the stopper further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the pierceable portion is disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, and the lower portion defines a funnel-shaped recess. 28. The closure of claim 11, wherein the stopper further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the pierceable portion is disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, and the lower portion defines a funnel-shaped recess. 29. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the stopper further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the pierceable portion is disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, and the lower portion defines a funnel-shaped recess. 30. The closure of claim 11, wherein the cap body is formed from a first molding material and the stopper is formed from a pierceable second molding material, the second molding material being different than the first molding material. 31. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the cap body is formed from a first molding material and the stopper is formed from a pierceable second molding material, the second molding material being different than the first molding material. 32. The closure of claim 1, wherein the stopper is in continuous contact with the cap body. 33. The closure of claim 32, wherein the stopper is integrally connected with the cap body. 34. The closure of claim 32, wherein the stopper is permanently connected with the cap body. 35. The closure of claim 1, wherein the entirety of the stopper is disposed within the cavity of the cap body. 36. The closure of claim 11, wherein the entirety of the stopper is disposed within the cavity of the internal annular skirt. 37. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the entirety of the stopper is disposed within the cavity of the cap body. 38. The closure of claim 1, wherein the cap body defines an elliptical-shaped cut out portion. 39. The closure of claim 11, wherein the external annular skirt defines an elliptical-shaped cut out portion. 40. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein the cap body defines an elliptical-shaped cut out portion. 41. The closure of claim 1, wherein only the cap body defines the permanent cavity. 42. The closure of claim 11, wherein only the internal annular skirt of the closure assembly defines the permanent cavity. 43. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein only the cap body defines the permanent cavity.