US4789639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid recovery device
Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
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Filing: 1987-01-02
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2007-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A liquid recovery device includes a receptacle, a swab for transferring a sample to a liquid in the receptacle, and a wringing unit to remove the liquid from the swab after the sample is transferred. The wringing unit has a sleeve with a closure in one end. A shaft of the swab extends through a passageway in the closure. When the swab in the receptacle is raised by upward movement of the shaft, an absorbent pad on the lower end of the shaft enters the passageway and is compressed. The compression of the pad wrings liquid therefrom which drips back into the receptacle. The device may be used in a method to prepare solutions of the sample in a minimum amount of liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Beverly M. Fleming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0096; C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/32; C12M33/00; C12M33/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/807; Y10S436/81; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/255
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for recovering liquid from an absorbent material using a receptacle having therein a reservoir of liquid, a sleeve spaced from the liquid and a swab which includes a shaft and an absorbent pad affixed to said shaft, said pad being immersed in the liquid, said swab being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle, said sleeve having top and bottom closures within open upper and lower ends of said sleeve, respectively, said top closure having a flange which rests on an upper lip of said receptacle thereby immobilizing said sleeve in said receptacle, said closures having passageways therethrough, said shaft extending through said passageways, said method comprising the steps of: (a) applying movement to said shaft whereby said absorbent pad having liqiud absorbed therein emerges from the liquid and enters said passageway through said bottom closure; (b) causing said pad to be compressed in the passageway through said bottom closure; (c) removing the absorbed liquid from said pad by compressing; and (d) collecting liquid removed from said pad in said reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for recovering liquid from an absorbent material using a receptacle having therein a reservoir of liquid, a sleeve spaced from the liquid and a swab which includes a shaft and an absorbent pad affixed to said shaft, said pad being immersed in the liquid, said swab being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle, said sleeve having top and bottom closures within open upper and lower ends of said sleeve, respectively, said top closure having a flange which rests on an upper lip of said receptacle thereby immobilizing said sleeve in said receptacle, said closures having passageways therethrough, said shaft extending through said passageways, said method comprising the steps of: (a) applying movement to said shaft whereby said absorbent pad having liqiud absorbed therein emerges from the liquid and enters said passageway through said bottom closure; (b) causing said pad to be compressed in the passageway through said bottom closure; (c) removing the absorbed liquid from said pad by compressing; and (d) collecting liquid removed from said pad in said reservoir.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for preparing a sample for analysis using a receptacle having therein a liquid, a sleeve spaced from the liquid and a swab which includes a shaft and an absorbent pad affixed to said shaft, said swab being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle, said sleeve having top and bottom closures within open upper and lower ends of said sleeve, respectively, said top closure having a flange which rests on an upper lip of said receptacle thereby immobilizing said sleeve in said receptacle, said closures having passageways therethrough, said shaft extending through said passageways, said method comprising the steps of; (a) taking a sample to be analyzed on said pad; (b) immersing said pad in the liquid whereby the sample and the liquid become mixed and a portion of the liquid containing the sample is absorbed into said pad; (c) applying movement to said shaft whereby said pad having the portion absorbed therein emerges from the liquid and enters the passageway through said bottom closure; (d) causing said pad to be compressed in the passageway through said bottom closure; (e) removing liquid containing the sample from said pad by compressing; and (f) collecting liquid removed from said pad in said receptacle.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for preparing a sample for analysis using a receptacle having therein a liquid, a sleeve spaced from the liquid and a swab which includes a shaft and an absorbent pad affixed to said shaft, said swab being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle, said sleeve having top and bottom closures within open upper and lower ends of said sleeve, respectively, said top closure having a flange which rests on an upper lip of said receptacle thereby immobilizing said sleeve in said receptacle, said closures having passageways therethrough, said shaft extending through said passageways, said method comprising the steps of; (a) taking a sample to be analyzed on said pad; (b) immersing said pad in the liquid whereby the sample and the liquid become mixed and a portion of the liquid containing the sample is absorbed into said pad; (c) applying movement to said shaft whereby said pad having the portion absorbed therein emerges from the liquid and enters the passageway through said bottom closure; (d) causing said pad to be compressed in the passageway through said bottom closure; (e) removing liquid containing the sample from said pad by compressing; and (f) collecting liquid removed from said pad in said receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
A liquid recovery kit comprising: (a) a receptacle having a body portion, a closed bottom and an open top defined by a lip of said body portion; (b) a swab having a shaft and an absorbent pad on an end of said shaft, said end and pad being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle; (c) a jacket within said receptacle, said jacket having integrally formed wall, head and base portions, said head portion having a flange which rests on said receptacle lip and immobilizes said jacket in said receptacle, said means and base portions having aligned holes therein, said shaft extending through said holes, said base portion hole having a size sufficient for said pad to pass therethrough and be compressed thereby; and (d) means for removably attaching said head portion to said receptacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
A liquid recovery kit comprising: (a) a receptacle having a body portion, a closed bottom and an open top defined by a lip of said body portion; (b) a swab having a shaft and an absorbent pad on an end of said shaft, said end and pad being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle; (c) a jacket within said receptacle, said jacket having integrally formed wall, head and base portions, said head portion having a flange which rests on said receptacle lip and immobilizes said jacket in said receptacle, said means and base portions having aligned holes therein, said shaft extending through said holes, said base portion hole having a size sufficient for said pad to pass therethrough and be compressed thereby; and (d) means for removably attaching said head portion to said receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The kit of claim 3 wherein said means for attaching includes threads on said receptacle body portion and on said jacket head portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
A liquid recovery kit comprising: (a) a receptacle having a body portion, a closed bottom, and an open top defined by a lip of said body portion; (b) a swab having a shaft and an absorbent pad on an end of said shaft, said end and pad being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle; and (c) a sleeve within said receptacle, said sleeve having top and bottom closures within open upper and lower ends of said sleeve, respectively, said top closure having a flange which rests on said lip thereby immobilizing said sleeve in said receptacle, said top and bottom closures having aligned passageways therein, said shaft extending through said passageways, said bottom closure passageway having a size sufficient for said pad to enter therein and be compressed thereby.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
A liquid recovery kit comprising: (a) a receptacle having a body portion, a closed bottom, and an open top defined by a lip of said body portion; (b) a swab having a shaft and an absorbent pad on an end of said shaft, said end and pad being constructed and arranged to be removably positioned inside of said receptacle; and (c) a sleeve within said receptacle, said sleeve having top and bottom closures within open upper and lower ends of said sleeve, respectively, said top closure having a flange which rests on said lip thereby immobilizing said sleeve in said receptacle, said top and bottom closures having aligned passageways therein, said shaft extending through said passageways, said bottom closure passageway having a size sufficient for said pad to enter therein and be compressed thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The kit of claim 5 wherein said top and bottom closures are compressible plugs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The kit of claim 5 wherein said sleeve, top closure and bottom closure are integrally formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The kit of claim 5 wherein said sleeve and said receptacle are made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The kit of claim 5 wherein said top and bottom closures are made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The kit of claim 5 wherein said pad is made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass wool, cotton, rayon, dacron and nylon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The kit of claim 5 further comprising a cap removably attached to said receptacle body portion, said cap having a means defining a hole in alignment with said passageways, said shaft extending through said hole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The kit of claim 11 wherein said cap is removably attached to said body portion by mating threads on said cap and body portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The kit of claim 5 further comprising a reagent in said receptacle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The kit of claim 13 wherein said reagent is a lyophilized reagent in said receptacle
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-06 | 1992-06-06 | 1992-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-06 | 1996-06-06 | 1996-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-06 | 2000-06-06 | 2000-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |