Disposable package for collecting and transporting cultures for laboratory analysis

Claim 2

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an enlongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly-bulging and transversely extending pliable intermediate portion between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable intermediate portion without substantially reducing the cross sectional area of the compartment''s lower portion immediately therebelow.

Claim 3

The package of claim 1 in which at least one of said panels is gas permeable to permit gas sterilization of said package and its contents.

Claim 4

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly bulging and transversely extending pliable intermediate portion between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable intermediate portion without substantially reducing the cross sectional area of the compartment''s lower portion immediately therebelow; each of said panels having an upper section above said transverse fold line and a lower section below said transverse fold line; the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; and a rupturable container disposed within said second compartment and containing an organism-sustaining liquid, whereby, said container may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain through said passage into the swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 5

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly bulging and transversely extending pliable intermediate portion between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable intermediate portion without substantially reducing the cross sectional area of the compartment''s lower portion immediately therebelow; each of said panels having an upper section above said transverse fold line and a lower section below said transverse fold line; the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; and a rupturable container disposed within said second compartment and containing an organism-sustaining liquid, whereby, said container may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain through said passage into the swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 6

The package of claim 3 in which said passage slopes downwardly from said second compartment to said first compartment.

Claim 7

The package of claim 3 in which a transverse vent passage joins the upper end of said second compartment and said first compartment above the tip portion of said swab.

Claim 8

The package of claim 3 in which said container comprises a pouch formed essentially of metal foil.

Claim 9

The package of claim 3 in which the upper section of at least one of said panels is formed to define a third compartment; a microscope slide being removably supported in said third compartment; a surface of said slide being exposed as said one panel is folded downwardly along said transverse fold line.

Claim 10

The package of claim 7 in which said third compartment is substantially deeper than the thickness of the slide contained therein; and means provided within said third compartment for maintaining said slide out of surface contact with said panels.

Claim 11

The package of claim 8 in which said means comprises pairs of resilient shoulders provIded by said one panel; said shoulders defining channels therebetween for releasably holding said slide with its surfaces in spaced relation relative to said panels.

Claim 12

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and absorbent tip portion; and a tubular resilient sheath slidably and removably carried by said handle and visible through said transparent panel; said panels being separable to uncover said sheath for permitting the manual removal of said swab from said compartment, and the manual return of said swab to that compartment, without direct touching of the handle of the swab with the fingers; said sheath being slidably removable from said handle after said swab has been returned to its compartment to expose the unsheathed handle and provide visual indication through the transparent wall of the resealed package that such package has been opened and that a specimen culture has been taken; said panels being generally rectangular in shape and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the sheathed portion of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly bulging and transversely extending pliable area between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable area without substantially reducing the cross section of the compartment''s lower portion immediately adjacent said area.

Claim 13

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and absorbent tip portion; and a tubular resilient sheath slidably and removably carried by said handle and visible through said transparent panel; said panels being separable to uncover said sheath for permitting the manual removal of said swab from said compartment, and the manual return of said swab to that compartment, without direct touching of the handle of the swab with the fingers; said sheath being slidably removable from said handle after said swab has been returned to its compartment to expose the unsheathed handle and provide visual indication through the transparent wall of the resealed package that such package has been opened and that a specimen culture has been taken; said panels being generally rectangular in shape and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the sheathed portion of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly bulging and transversely extending pliable area between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable area without substantially reducing the cross section of the compartment''s lower portion immediately adjacent said area.

Claim 14

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and absorbent tip portion; and a tubular resilient sheath slidably and removably carried by said handle and visible through said transparent panel; said panels being separable to uncover said sheath for permitting the manual removal of said swab from said compartment, and the manual return of said swab to that compartment, without direct touching of the handle of the swab with the fingers; said sheath being slidably removable from said handle after said swab has been returned to its compartment to expose the unsheathed handle and provide visual indication through the transparent wall of the resealed package that such package has been opened and that a specimen culture has been taken; said panels being generally rectangular in shape and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the sheathed portion of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly bulging and transversely extending pliable area between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable area without substantially reducing the cross section of the compartment''s lower portion immediately adjacent said area; each of said panels having an upper sectioN above said transverse fold line and a lower section below said transverse fold line, the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; and a rupturable container disposed within said second compartment containing an organism-sustaining liquid; whereby, said container may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain downwardly through said passage into said swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 15

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and absorbent tip portion; and a tubular resilient sheath slidably and removably carried by said handle and visible through said transparent panel; said panels being separable to uncover said sheath for permitting the manual removal of said swab from said compartment, and the manual return of said swab to that compartment, without direct touching of the handle of the swab with the fingers; said sheath being slidably removable from said handle after said swab has been returned to its compartment to expose the unsheathed handle and provide visual indication through the transparent wall of the resealed package that such package has been opened and that a specimen culture has been taken; said panels being generally rectangular in shape and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an enlarged upper portion housing the sheathed portion of said handle and a reduced lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip; said one panel being provided with an outwardly bulging and transversely extending pliable area between said upper and lower portions of said compartment to permit downward folding of said one panel along a transverse fold line extending through said pliable area without substantially reducing the cross section of the compartment''s lower portion immediately adjacent said area; each of said panels having an upper sectioN above said transverse fold line and a lower section below said transverse fold line, the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; and a rupturable container disposed within said second compartment containing an organism-sustaining liquid; whereby, said container may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain downwardly through said passage into said swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 16

The package of claim 11 in which said passage slopes downwardly from said second compartment to said swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 17

The package of claim 11 in which a transverse vent passage joins the upper end of said second compartment and said first compartment above the tip portion of said swab.

Claim 18

The package of claim 11 in which said container is a pouch formed essentially of metal foil.

Claim 19

The package of claim 11 in which the upper section of at least one of said panels is formed to define a third compartment; a microscope slide being removably supported in said third compartment; a surface of said slide being exposed as said one panel is folded downwardly along said transverse fold line for removal of said swab.

Claim 20

The package of claim 15 in which said third compartment is substantially deeper than the thickness of the slide contained therein; and means provided within said third compartment for maintaining said slide out of surface contact with said panels.

Claim 21

The package of claim 16 in which said means comprises pairs of resilient shoulders provided by said one panel; said shoulders defining channels therebetween for releasably holding edge portions of said slide with the opposite surfaces of the slide in spaced relation relative to said panels.

Claim 22

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and releasably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip portion; said panels being foldable away from each other along a transverse fold line extending between the upper and lower portions of said compartment; each of said panels having an upper section above said transverse fold line and a lower section below said transverse fold line; the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment along said first-mentioned compartment and having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; the lower section of at least one of said panels also being formed to define a transverse vent passage joining the upper end of said second compartment and said first compartment above the tip portion of said swab; and a rupturable pouch disposed within said second compartment, said pouch having flexible walls and containing an organism-sustaining liquid; whereby, said pouch may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain through said passage into the swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 23

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and releasably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip portion; said panels being foldable away from each other along a transverse fold line extending between the upper and lower portions of said compartment; each of said panels having an upper section above said transverse fold line and a lower section below said transverse fold line; the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment along said first-mentioned compartment and having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; the lower section of at least one of said panels also being formed to define a transverse vent passage joining the upper end of said second compartment and said first compartment above the tip portion of said swab; and a rupturable pouch disposed within said second compartment, said pouch having flexible walls and containing an organism-sustaining liquid; whereby, said pouch may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain through said passage into the swab-containing first compartment.

Claim 24

The package of claim 18 in which said passage slopes downwardly from said second compartment to said first compartment.

Claim 25

The package of claim 18 in which said pouch is formed essentially oF metal foil.

Claim 26

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip portion; said panels being foldable away from each other along a transverse fold line extending between the upper and lower portions of said compartment; each of said panels having an upper section above said transverse fold line; the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; and a rupturable container disposed within said second compartment and containing an organism-sustaining liquid; whereby, said container may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain through said passage into the swab-containing first compartment; the upper section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a third compartment; a microscope slide being removably supported in said third compartment; a surface of said slide being exposed as said panels are folded apart from said tab portions and about said transverse fold line.

Claim 27

A disposable package for collecting and transporting culture specimens for laboratory analysis comprising a pair of flexible panels separably and resealably secured together by zones of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed therebetween; one of said panels being formed of transparent plastic material; at least one of said panels being formed to define an elongated compartment between said panels; a swab disposed within said compartment having an elongated handle and an absorbent tip portion; said panels being vertically elongated and having a pair of unsealed tab portions at the upper ends thereof for gripping the respective panels and stripping the same apart; said compartment having an upper portion housing the upper end of said handle and a lower portion containing the lower end of said handle and said absorbent tip portion; said panels being foldable away from each other along a transverse fold line extending between the upper and lower portions of said compartment; each of said panels having an upper section above said transverse fold line; the lower section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a second compartment having at its lower end a passage communicating with the lower portion of said first-mentioned swab compartment; and a rupturable container disposed within said second compartment and containing an organism-sustaining liquid; whereby, said container may be ruptured by squeezing said flexible panels of said second compartment to permit said liquid to drain through said passage into the swab-containing first compartment; the upper section of at least one of said panels being formed to define a third compartment; a microscope slide being removably supported in said third compartment; a surface of said slide being exposed as said panels are folded apart from said tab portions and about said transverse fold line.

Claim 28

The package of claim 21 in which said third compartment is substantially deeper than the thickness of the slide contained therein; and means provided within said third compartment for maintaining said slide out of surface contact with said panels.

Claim 29

The package of claim 22 in which said means comprises pairs of resilient shoulders provided by said one panel; said shoulders defining channels therebetween for releasably holding said slide with its surfaces in spaced relation relative to said panels.