US3939044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anaerobic microbe transport assembly and method of using
Assignee: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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Filing: 1975-04-23
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Granted: 1976-02-17
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Expires: 1995-04-23
Abstract
Abstract Disclosure is made of a novel assembly for transporting anaerobic microbes from clinical patient to laboratory. The assembly provides a convenient and reliable means of maintaining microbial viability in the critical period between collection and deposition in a culturing environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Tracy Dale Wilkins
- 👤 Franklin Jimenez-Ulate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:38
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/08; C12M33/00; C12M33/02; C12M45/00; C12M45/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An assembly for maintaining anaerobic microorganisms, which comprises; a. a first tubular container having hermetically sealed ends and which defines a hermetically sealed chamber; b. means disposed in said chamber for removing gaseous oxygen; c. a second tubular container having a closed end and an open end and which defines a compartment, said second container being mounted on said first container so that there is no communication between said chamber and said compartment, said compartment being in open communication with the atmosphere outside of said chamber; d. means of hermetically sealing said open end at will; and e. means of establishing communication between said chamber and said compartment when said open end is hermetically sealed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An assembly for maintaining anaerobic microorganisms, which comprises; a. a first tubular container having hermetically sealed ends and which defines a hermetically sealed chamber; b. means disposed in said chamber for removing gaseous oxygen; c. a second tubular container having a closed end and an open end and which defines a compartment, said second container being mounted on said first container so that there is no communication between said chamber and said compartment, said compartment being in open communication with the atmosphere outside of said chamber; d. means of hermetically sealing said open end at will; and e. means of establishing communication between said chamber and said compartment when said open end is hermetically sealed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of claim 1 which additionally comprises a detector for indicating the presence of oxygen, disposed in said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for removing gaseous oxygen comprises gaseous hydrogen and a catalyst which promotes the formation of water from gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein said catalyst is palladium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein said catalyst is palladium on a support carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said second tubular container is mounted on an inner wall defining said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 1 which additionally comprises a swab withdrawably positioned in said compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the hermetically sealed ends of said first container comprises an elastomeric, sealing plug having a bore therethrough, said open end of said second container is frictionally held by the walls of said bore and the means for hermetically sealing said open end comprises a rigid closure member slidably mounted in the bore above said open end, said member forming a sliding-seal with the inner walls of said bore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly of claim 8 wherein said closure member includes a swab attached to one end thereof, said swab extending into the open end of said second container when said closure member seals said open end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said closure member also additionally comprises said means for establishing communication.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein said means for establishing communication comprises a rod communicating between the inside and the outside of said chamber and which when pressed against said second container disengages said second container from its mount on said first container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
An assembly for transporting anaerobic microorganisms, which comprises, a. a first tubular container having one closed end and one open end and which defines a chamber; b. an elastomeric plug hermetically sealing said open end, and having a bore therethrough communicating between said chamber and the outside atmosphere; c. means disposed in said chamber for removing gaseous oxygen; d. a second tubular container having an open end and a closed end, the open end of said second container being detachably mounted in the lower end of said bore with the closed end of said second container extending into said chamber, said second container defining a compartment; and e. a rigid closure member engaged in a sliding-seal with the inner walls of the upper end of said bore, said closure being adapted to move downward to displace said second tubular container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
An assembly for transporting anaerobic microorganisms, which comprises, a. a first tubular container having one closed end and one open end and which defines a chamber; b. an elastomeric plug hermetically sealing said open end, and having a bore therethrough communicating between said chamber and the outside atmosphere; c. means disposed in said chamber for removing gaseous oxygen; d. a second tubular container having an open end and a closed end, the open end of said second container being detachably mounted in the lower end of said bore with the closed end of said second container extending into said chamber, said second container defining a compartment; and e. a rigid closure member engaged in a sliding-seal with the inner walls of the upper end of said bore, said closure being adapted to move downward to displace said second tubular container.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of maintaining viability in collected anaerobic microorganisms, which comprises; providing an assembly, which comprises: a first tubular container having hermetically sealed ends and which defines a hermetically sealed chamber; means disposed in said chamber for removing gaseous oxygen; a second tubular container having a closed end and an open end and which defines a compartment, said second container being mounted on said first container so that there is no communication between said chamber and said compartment, said compartment being in open communication with the atmosphere outside of said chamber; means of hermetically sealing said open end; and means of establishing communication between said chamber and said compartment when said open end is hermetically sealed; depositing a clinical specimen suspected of harboring anaerobic organisms into said compartment; hermetically sealing the open end of said compartment; and establishing communication between said chamber and said compartment when said open end is hermetically sealed; and activating means for removing gaseous oxygen from said chamber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of maintaining viability in collected anaerobic microorganisms, which comprises; providing an assembly, which comprises: a first tubular container having hermetically sealed ends and which defines a hermetically sealed chamber; means disposed in said chamber for removing gaseous oxygen; a second tubular container having a closed end and an open end and which defines a compartment, said second container being mounted on said first container so that there is no communication between said chamber and said compartment, said compartment being in open communication with the atmosphere outside of said chamber; means of hermetically sealing said open end; and means of establishing communication between said chamber and said compartment when said open end is hermetically sealed; depositing a clinical specimen suspected of harboring anaerobic organisms into said compartment; hermetically sealing the open end of said compartment; and establishing communication between said chamber and said compartment when said open end is hermetically sealed; and activating means for removing gaseous oxygen from said chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said means for removing gaseous oxygen is simultaneously activated by establishment of communication between said compartment and said chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said organism is Bacteroides melaninogenicus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Peptostreptococcus anaerobius.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Fusobacterium necrophorum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Clostridium innocum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said organism is Clostridium perfringens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Clostridium ramosum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said organism is Fusobacterium nucleatum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Peptococcus magnus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Bacteroides fragilis ss. fragilis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Bacteroides fragilis ss. thetaiotaomicron.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Eubacterium lentum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said anaerobe is Streptococcus intermedius.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3783106A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |