US6513673B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple-compartment biological specimen cassette
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2002-05-03
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Granted: 2003-02-04
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Expires: 2022-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A multi-compartment biological specimen cassette. The perforations in one compartment of the cassette may have a different size and/or shape than the perforations in the other compartment or compartments.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth A. Alley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/36; G01N1/30; G01N1/31; G01N2001/315; G01N2001/366
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for holding a biological specimen, the apparatus comprising: a base having a perforated bottom member and a plurality of endwalls depending upward from the bottom member, said upward depending endwalls being joined to define a lower well, the base having a lower compartment wall depending upwards from the bottom member at a predetermined position to divide said lower well into at least two lower sections; and a cover that is movably attached to said base, said cover having a perforated top member and a plurality of endwalls depending downward from the top member, said downward depending endwalls being joined to define an upper well, the cover having an upper compartment wall depending downward from the top member, the position of the upper compartment wall being a mirror image of said lower compartment wall to divide said upper well into at least two upper sections corresponding to said two lower sections so that when the cover closes over the base one of said two lower sections and its corresponding one of said two upper sections form a primary compartment and the other of said two lower sections and its corresponding other of said two upper sections form a secondary compartment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for holding a biological specimen, the apparatus comprising: a base having a perforated bottom member and a plurality of endwalls depending upward from the bottom member, said upward depending endwalls being joined to define a lower well, the base having a lower compartment wall depending upwards from the bottom member at a predetermined position to divide said lower well into at least two lower sections; and a cover that is movably attached to said base, said cover having a perforated top member and a plurality of endwalls depending downward from the top member, said downward depending endwalls being joined to define an upper well, the cover having an upper compartment wall depending downward from the top member, the position of the upper compartment wall being a mirror image of said lower compartment wall to divide said upper well into at least two upper sections corresponding to said two lower sections so that when the cover closes over the base one of said two lower sections and its corresponding one of said two upper sections form a primary compartment and the other of said two lower sections and its corresponding other of said two upper sections form a secondary compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perforations in said primary compartment are larger than the perforations in said secondary compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perforations in said primary compartment are different in shape than said perforations in said secondary compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover is movably attached to said base via a living hinge along a common side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a tab that depends from the rear of the cover and a receptacle located on the rear of the base for receiving said tab, said tab and receptacle cooperating with each other to releasably secure the cover to the base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising ears that depend downward from said downward depending endwalls of the cover and detents in said upward depending endwalls of the base aligned directly under said ears.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a latch depending downward from the front of the cover and a latch receptacle in the front of the base for accepting said latch, said latch and latch receptacle working together to releasably join the cover to the bottom member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lower compartment walls and a plurality of upper compartment walls for defining more than two compartments within the cassette.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A unitary two-compartment tissue cassette, the cassette comprising: an open-topped perforated bottom member having lower endwalls and a lower compartment wall for defining two lower sections, each lower section adapted to receive a tissue sample; and a perforated cover member having upper endwalls and an upper compartment wall for defining two upper sections substantially identical in shape and position to their respective lower sections, the cover member adapted to cover the bottom member such that the first lower section and the first upper section form a primary compartment for securing a first tissue sample and contemporaneously the second lower section and the second upper section form a secondary compartment for securing a second tissue sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A unitary two-compartment tissue cassette, the cassette comprising: an open-topped perforated bottom member having lower endwalls and a lower compartment wall for defining two lower sections, each lower section adapted to receive a tissue sample; and a perforated cover member having upper endwalls and an upper compartment wall for defining two upper sections substantially identical in shape and position to their respective lower sections, the cover member adapted to cover the bottom member such that the first lower section and the first upper section form a primary compartment for securing a first tissue sample and contemporaneously the second lower section and the second upper section form a secondary compartment for securing a second tissue sample.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cassette of claim 9 wherein the perforations in the primary compartment are of a different size than the perforations in the secondary compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cassette of claim 10 further comprising a latch depending downward from the front of the cover member and a latch receptacle proximate the front of the base member for accepting said latch, said latch and latch receptacle working together to releasably join the cover to the bottom member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cassette of claim 11 wherein said cover member depends from said base member via a living hinge along a common edge.
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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) | 2006-02-03 | 2006-08-05 | 2007-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | 2011-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-03 | 2014-08-05 | 2015-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |