US 11,420,208 B2Granted

Cap and induction seal designed to be opened by piercing in a diagnostic analyzer

AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.

InventorsJames W. Kegelman, Joseph E. Brennan, William E. Hudson

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Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a removable cap with a top hole and a seal with a heat induction closure for sealing an opening of a container. Advantageously, the cap and the seal do not need to be removed for a probe to access contents of the container, when used in a diagnostic analyzer, thereby eliminating operator steps of cap removal and seal peeling/perforation. Automated opening of the cap and seal combination is provided by puncturing the seal. The seal retains its opened shape required for unobstructed, non-contact probe access to contents of the container. The seal is comprised of three layers: a first polymer sealing layer capable of being heat-sealed to a container; an aluminum foil layer on top of the first polymer sealing layer, configured to heat seal the first layer by inductive heating; and a second polymer layer on top of the aluminum foil layer for protection.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus to cover a reagent container used in a diagnostic analyzer in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment, the apparatus comprising:

a cap comprising a sidewall and a top wall with an open access hole on and through the top wall, the cap configured to be attached to a throat of the reagent container, the throat comprising an opening;
and
an induction seal for sealing the opening of the throat of the reagent container, the induction seal comprising:
a first polymer sealing layer configured to be heat-sealed to an outer surface of the opening of the throat of the reagent container;
an aluminum foil layer arranged on top of the first polymer sealing layer and configured to heat seal the first polymer sealing layer by inductive heating to the outer surface of the opening of the throat of the reagent container;
and
a second polymer layer arranged on top of the aluminum foil layer and configured to protect the aluminum foil layer and the first polymer layer, and
wherein a thermal-induced adhesion power of the first polymer sealing layer to the reagent container is greater than that of a peel force between that of the first polymer sealing layer to the aluminum foil layer and the aluminum foil layer to the second polymer layer;
and
wherein the induction seal is accessible through the open access hole of the cap and is configured to be opened by a perforation device traveling through the open access hole of the cap and hold an opened shape when perforated, while remaining adhered to the outer surface of the opening of the throat of the reagent container.

7 more elements

An apparatus for storing one or more fluids in a diagnostic analyzer in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment, the apparatus comprising:

a container comprising one or more storage portions, each storage portion comprising a throat with a throat sidewall, an opening, and an outer surface of the opening;
one or more caps, each cap comprising a sidewall and a top wall with an open access hole on and through the top wall, the cap configured to be attached to the throat of the storage portion of the container;
and
one or more induction seals, each of the one or more induction seals corresponding to a respective pair of one of the one or more caps and one of the one or more storage portions, for sealing the opening of the throat of the storage portion of the container, each induction seal comprising:
a first polymer sealing layer configured to be heat-sealed to an outer surface of the opening of the throat of the storage portion;
an aluminum foil layer arranged on top of the first polymer sealing layer and configured to heat seal the first polymer sealing layer by inductive heating to the outer surface of the opening of the throat of the storage portion;
and
a second polymer layer arranged on top of the aluminum foil layer and configured to protect the aluminum foil layer and the first polymer layer, and
wherein a thermal-induced adhesion power of the first polymer sealing layer to the container is greater than that of a peel force between that of the first polymer sealing layer to the aluminum foil layer and the aluminum foil layer to the second polymer layer;
and
wherein the induction seal is accessible through the open access hole of the cap and is configured to be opened by a perforation device traveling through the open access hole of the cap and hold an opened shape when perforated, while remaining adhered to the outer surface of the opening of the throat of the storage portion.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/308,794Filed 22 Jun 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 1 Jul 2016
Published: US 2019/0308193 A110 Oct 2019
Granted: 23 Aug 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification46 codes

B01L 3/523
Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent: with means for closing or opening
B29C 65/3656
Characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint: being a layer of a multilayer part to be joined, e.g. for…
B29C 65/368
Being metallic: with a polymer coating
B29C 66/53461
Said single elements being substantially flat: joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies