Biological specimen collection device

Claim 2

A biological specimen collection device comprising: an elongated specimen receptacle having a closed bottom end and an open top end; a funnel having a relatively wide specimen receiving portion and a passage tube to which said receptacle is removably connected so that said tube communicates with the inside of said receptacle through its open end; a base for removably receiving the closed bottom end of said receptacle for supporting same in a substantially vertical position; a cap removably connected to said base, said cap adapted to engage the open top end of the said receptacle after said funnel is removed therefrom to provide a liquid seal between the cap and the receptacle; and means associated with the base for maintaining the cap in a protective environment prior to use of the device and for permitting access to the cap for capping the open end of the receptacle with its contents.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said funnel further includes a cover removably connected thereto to provide a sealing closure over the receiving portion of the funnel.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said cover is hingedly connected to the funnel.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein the closed bottom end of said receptacle is conically shaped.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is threaded at its open end and said cap includes a mating thread to engage the thread of said receptacle to provide said liquid seal between the cap and the receptacle.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said base includes a bottom support surface, a top surface and side walls interconnecting said top and bottom surfaces.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 wherein said base further includes an opening through said top surface sized to receive the receptacle therethrough so that the receptacle is supported in the base.

Claim 9

The device of claim 7 wherein said base further includes a bore communicating with said opening, said bore sized to receive the receptacle therein and extending into said base from said top surface in a direction perpendicular to said bottom surface so that said receptacle is supported therein in a substantially vertical position.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8 wherein said bore includes a plurality of spaced, inwardly extending locking ribs to engage the receptacle and facilitate its support in the base.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein said receptacle is cylindrically shaped and said bore has a circular cross-section.

Claim 12

The device of claim 6 wherein said means for maintaining includes a recess extending inwardly from the bottom support surface of the base inside which said cap is removably maintained.

Claim 13

The device of claim 11 wherein said recess includes a plurality of spaced, inwardly extending locking ribs to engage the cap and facilitate its maintenance in the base.

Claim 14

The device of claim 11 wherein said means for maintaining further includes a removable protective cover positioned over said recess and said cap maintained therein.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13 wherein said protective cover is peelably connected to the bottom support surface of said base.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14 wherein said cap is sterilized and said protective cover maintains the sterility of the cap prior to use of the cap.

Claim 17

The device of claim 1 further including a removable, flexible outer protective package enclosing the receptacle, funnel, base and cap until ready for use.

Claim 18

The device of claim 16 wherein said receptacle, funnel, base and cap are sterilized and said outer protective package maintains said sterility until the enclosure provided by said package is compromised.

Claim 19

A biological specimen collection device comprising: a specimen receptacle having a closed first end and an open second end; removable conduit means for introducing a biological specimen into the receptacle connected to the second end of said receptacle; base means for removably receiving the first end of the receptacle for supporting same in a substantially vertical position; cap means removably connected to said base means, said cap means adapted to provide a liquid seal between the cap means and the open second end of said receptacle; and means associated with the base means for maintaining the cap means in a protective environment prior to use of the device and for permitting access to the cap means for capping the open end of the receptacle with its contents.

Claim 20

A biological specimen collection device comprising: a specimen receptacle having a closed first end and an open second end; removable conduit means for introducing a biological specimen into the receptacle connected to the second end of said receptacle; base means for removably receiving the first end of the receptacle for supporting same in a substantially vertical position; cap means removably connected to said base means, said cap means adapted to provide a liquid seal between the cap means and the open second end of said receptacle; and means associated with the base means for maintaining the cap means in a protective environment prior to use of the device and for permitting access to the cap means for capping the open end of the receptacle with its contents.

Claim 21

A sputum collection device comprising: an elongated, cylindrically shaped sputum receptacle having a conically shaped, closed bottom end and an open top end; a funnel having a relatively wide sputum receiving portion and a passage tube to which said receptacle is removably connected so that said tube communicates with the inside of said receptacle through its open end, said funnel including a hingedly connected cover to provide a sealing closure over the receiving portion of the funnel; a base having a bottom support surface, a top surface and side walls interconnecting said top and bottom surfaces, and including a bore having a circularly shaped cross-section sized to receive the receptacle therein and extending into the base from the top surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface so that said receptacle is supported therein in a substantially vertical position, said base further including a recess therein extending inwardly from the bottom support surface; a cap adapted to engage the open top end of the receptacle after the funnel is removed therefrom to provide a liquid seal between the cap and the receptacle, said cap being positioned within said recess; and a peelable, protective cover sealed over said recess to maintain said cap in a substantially contamination-free enviroment prior to use of the device, said protective cover being removable to permit access to the cap for capping the open end of the receptacle with its contents.

Claim 22

A sputum collection device comprising: an elongated, cylindrically shaped sputum receptacle having a conically shaped, closed bottom end and an open top end; a funnel having a relatively wide sputum receiving portion and a passage tube to which said receptacle is removably connected so that said tube communicates with the inside of said receptacle through its open end, said funnel including a hingedly connected cover to provide a sealing closure over the receiving portion of the funnel; a base having a bottom support surface, a top surface and side walls interconnecting said top and bottom surfaces, and including a bore having a circularly shaped cross-section sized to receive the receptacle therein and extending into the base from the top surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface so that said receptacle is supported therein in a substantially vertical position, said base further including a recess therein extending inwardly from the bottom support surface; a cap adapted to engage the open top end of the receptacle after the funnel is removed therefrom to provide a liquid seal between the cap and the receptacle, said cap being positioned within said recess; and a peelable, protective cover sealed over said recess to maintain said cap in a substantially contamination-free enviroment prior to use of the device, said protective cover being removable to permit access to the cap for capping the open end of the receptacle with its contents.

Claim 23

The device of claim 19 which further includes a removable, flexible outer package to provide a protective enclosure for the device until the device is ready for use.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said container is elongate.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said container is a tube.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 23 in which said tube includes graduated indicia thereon.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 23 in which said tube includes thread means proximate the open end thereof and said cap includes complementary thread means for engaging the thread means of said tube to cover said tube.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 21 further including an upper lid for selectively closing the mouth of said funnel.

Claim 31

The apparatus of Claim 26 in which hinge means interconnect said upper lid and said funnel.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 27 in which said funnel, hinge means and upper lid are integrally interconnected.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said means for holding includes means for gripping the periphery of said cap.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 29 in which said means for gripping includes a plurality of radial projections spaced about said chamber and extending inwardly from the wall of said chamber to provide a friction fit between the periphery of said cap and said projections.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said means for holding locates said cap centrally within said base.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said cap is translucent.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said cap is opaque.