Method of and apparatus for collecting cultures

Claim 2

Apparatus for collecting cultures and the like comprising: a container having an open and closed end and having a first chamber and a second chamber therein; a culture-sustaining medium positioned within said second chamber; a swab including an elongated member and an absorbent tip retained within said container; means communicating between said first chamber and said second chamber so as to permit said medium to pass from said second chamber to said first chamber while said absorbent tip is retained within said first chamber; said first chamber being formed in part by a barrier member including an opening adapted to permit said absorbent tip to pass therethrough into said first chamber forming a substantially leak-proof seal around said swab at said opening so as to prevent gravity flow of said medium through said opening.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier member comprises an elastic material so as to permit said opening to enlarge as said absorbent tip passes therethrough and to contract into substantial sealing engagement with said swab after said absorbent tip passes therethrough.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elastic material is in sealing engagement around a portion of said absorbent tip at said opening.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said barrier member comprises a greater thickness near the sides of said tubular container than near said opening.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means comprises a movable piston member extending across said container and sealing means associated with said piston member and said barrier member for sealing engagement with said sides, said piston member being movable through said culture-sustaining medium toward said closed end when said swab is inserted through said opening in said barrier member and in pushing contact with said piston member, said piston member including valve means for allowing said culture-sustaining medium to enter the area between said barrier member and said piston member when said swab is in pushing contact therewith.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said barrier member is attached to said piston member so as to move together through the tubular member when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising walls for attaching said barrier member to said piston member so as to form a swab receiving chamber.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said walls, said barrier member and said piston member are integrally formed.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said barrier member and said piston member are spaced by a distance less than the axial length of the absorbent tip.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said walls, said barrier member and said piston member comprise an elastic material for contracting into substantial sealing engagement around a portion of said absorbent tip at said opening.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said barrier member cooperates with said container and is adapted to remain substantially stationary when said absorbent tip is inserted into and withdrawn from said first chamber.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a hollow tubular cap fitted over said container, said swab further comprising a bulbous portion spaced from said absorbent tip and received by said hollow tubular cap, said bulbous portion being removable from said cap.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bulbous portion forms a seal with said hollow tubular cap.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bulbous portion is axially aligned with the axis of the container.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bulbous portion forms a friction fit within said cap so as to permit removal of said cap from said container by applying a force transverse to the axis of said cap and said container while simultaneously withdrawing said swab from said container.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bulbous portion forms a sufficiently loose friction fit within said cap so as to permit removal of said bulbous portion from said cap upon removal of said cap in the absence of said transverse force.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bulbous portion forms a friction fit within said cap so as to permit said bulbous portion to be retained within said cap after removal of said absorbent tip from said chamber in the absence of said transverse force.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bulbous portion movably engages said elongated member.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said bulbous portion comprises a separable elastic member having a central opening receiving said elongated member, said central opening comprising a series of flanges slideably gripping said elongated member.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said seal comprises a flexible tape-like member adhesively sealed to said cap and said container.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said tape-like member includes a portion having a surface adapted to receive writing.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a breakable seal between said cap and said container.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a hollow tubular cap fitting over said container, said swab further comprising a bulbous portion spaced from said absorbent tip received by said hollow tubular cap, said bulbous portion being removable from said cap and a removable tape-like member sealed to said cap and said container so as to prevent accidental movement of said piston member.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said tape-like member includes a portion having a surface adapted to receive writing.

Claim 26

Apparatus for collecting cultures and the like, said apparatus comprising: a hollow tubular container having a closed end, an open end and sides extending therebetween; a culture-sustaining medium positioned within said tubular container adjacent said closed end; a swab including an elongated member and an absorbent tip extending into said tubular container; a movable piston member extending across said tubular container within said container and means associated therewith in sealing engagement with said sides, said piston member being movable through said culture-sustaining liquid toward said closed end when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member, said piston member including a valve means for allowing said culture-sustaining medium to enter the area between said open end and said piston member when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member; and means associated with said piston member within said container for forming a leak-proof chamber capable of enclosing at least a portion of said swab including said tip, said chamber adapted to contain a culture-sustaining medium which has passed through said valve means.

Claim 27

Apparatus for collecting cultures and the like, said apparatus comprising: a hollow tubular container having a closed end, an open end and sides extending therebetween; a culture-sustaining medium positioned within said tubular container adjacent said closed end; a swab including an elongated member and an absorbent tip extending into said tubular container; a movable piston member extending across said tubular container within said container and means associated therewith in sealing engagement with said sides, said piston member being movable through said culture-sustaining liquid toward said closed end when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member, said piston member including a valve means for allowing said culture-sustaining medium to enter the area between said open end and said piston member when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member; and means associated with said piston member within said container for forming a leak-proof chamber capable of enclosing at least a portion of said swab including said tip, said chamber adapted to contain a culture-sustaining medium which has passed through said valve means.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said chamber forming means includes an opening with said swab extending therethrough and said chamber forming means forming a substantial seal around said swab at said opening.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said chamber forming means engages a portion of said absorbent tip at said opening.

Claim 30

An improved method of collecting cultures in a live condition utilizing an apparatus comprising a collection tube having sides and a bottom, a culture-sustaining liquid adjacent the bottom of said tube, a swab including an elongated member having an absorbent tip, and barrier means extending across said tube above said liquid, said barrier means having an opening therein, the improved method comprising the steps of: swabbing an area of culturable material with the absorbent swabbing tip of the swab; inserting the swab into the tube; forcing the absorbent tip of the swab through the opening of the barrier means so as to permit the liquid to saturate the tip; forming a substantially leak-proof seal at said opening around said swab; and introducing culture-sustaining liquid into contact with the absorbent swabbing tip while said swab remains substantially stationary with respect to said opening.

Claim 31

An improved method of collecting cultures in a live condition utilizing an apparatus comprising a collection tube having sides and a bottom, a culture-sustaining liquid adjacent the bottom of said tube, a swab including an elongated member having an absorbent tip, and barrier means extending across said tube above said liquid, said barrier means having an opening therein, the improved method comprising the steps of: swabbing an area of culturable material with the absorbent swabbing tip of the swab; inserting the swab into the tube; forcing the absorbent tip of the swab through the opening of the barrier means so as to permit the liquid to saturate the tip; forming a substantially leak-proof seal at said opening around said swab; and introducing culture-sustaining liquid into contact with the absorbent swabbing tip while said swab remains substantially stationary with respect to said opening.

Claim 32

The improved method of claim 28 wherein said apparatus comprises piston means associated with said barrier means for sealingly engaging the sides of said tube and having an isolating valve remaining closed when the piston means is stationary above the liquid and open when the piston means is moved downwardly through the liquid, the method further comprising the steps of: transmitting a downward force to the piston means through the swab after the absorbent tip has passed through the opening in said barrier means; introducing culture-sustaining liquid into saturating contact with the absorbent tip as a function of the swab position; and closing the valve when the swab comes to rest in the tube so as to substantially isolate any culture-sustaining liquid remaining adjacent the bottom of the tube from the swab.

Claim 33

The improved method of claim 29 wherein said apparatus comprises a hollow tubular cap adapted to fit over said container and said swab comprises a bulbous portion spaced from said absorbent tip and adapted to be removably received by said hollow cap, said method comprising the following initial steps: removing said cap from said container by pulling axially on said cap; and selectively applying a transverse force on said cap so as to retain said bulbous portion within said cap while withdrawing said portion of said tip through said opening and withdrawing said swab from said container.

Claim 34

The improved method of claim 30 wherein the effective length of said swab as extended by said cap is adjusted by the selective application of said transverse force.

Claim 35

The improved method of claim 30 wherein said apparatus comprises a removable seal between said cap and said container, said method further comprising an initial step of breaking said seal.

Claim 36

The improved method of claim 28 wherein said apparatus comprises a hollow tubular cap adapted to fit over said container and said elongated member extends above said container into said cap, said method comprising the following initial steps: removing said cap from said container by pulling axially on said cap; and removing said swab from said container by pulling axially on said swab so as to pull said absorbent tip from said opening in said barrier means.

Claim 37

The improved method of claim 33 wherein said apparatus comprises a breakable seal between said cap and said container, said method further comprising an initial step of breaking said seal.