# US 12,000,765 B2 · Assembly for storing and transporting tissue samples immersed in a fluid

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- Number: US 12,000,765 B2
- Document ID: US12000765B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/195,797
- Filed: 2021-03-09
- Published: 2021-06-24
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-20
- Assignees: Ventana Medic Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Nathan Crum; Michael Otter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000765B2

## CPC

- G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis}
- A61B 10/0096: {Casings for storing test samples (A61B10/0038, A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/10; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30)}
- B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures}
- B01L 3/545: {for laboratory containers}
- G01N 1/31: Apparatus therefor
- B01L 3/50825: {Closing or opening means, corks, bungs}
- B01L 2200/0689: Sealing
- B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes
- B01L 2300/047: Additional chamber, reservoir
- B01L 2300/049: Valves integrated in closure
- B01L 2300/0848: Specific forms of parts of containers
- B01L 2400/0478: pistons
- B01L 2400/0605: check valves
- B01L 2400/0611: duck bill valves
- B01L 2400/0616: Ball valves
- B01L 2400/0622: distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
- B01L 2400/0633: with moving parts
- B01L 2400/0644: rotary valves
- B01L 2400/0683: mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

A method and system for processing a sample in a fluid is provided. An assembly comprising a cap prefilled with a fixative solution, a valve, and a container for storing a tissue sample are provided. The valve is adapted to be situated between the cap and the container such that fluid can flow from the cap into the container when the assembly is upright, but the fluid cannot backflow from the container to the cap when the assembly is horizontal or inverted.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
(a) a first container comprising a first chamber;
(b) a second container comprising a second chamber;
(c) a valve disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the valve is movable between at least an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the valve is in the closed configuration when no first force is applied to the valve, and wherein the valve is in the open configuration when the first force is continuously applied to the valve; and
(d) an actuator moveable between at least a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein when in the engaged position (i) the actuator is in contact with at least a portion of the valve; and (ii) at least a portion of the actuator is disposed within the second chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is deformable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein first container and the second container are separated by a surface having at least one channel, and wherein the at least one channel is sealed when the valve is in the closed configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the valve comprises a valve stem, wherein the valve stem secures the valve to the surface separating the first and second containers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is an umbrella valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first container comprises a frangible seal disposed in the first chamber to sequester the predetermined volume of the fixative away from the valve, wherein movement of the actuator from the disengaged position to the engaged position breaks the frangible seal.

### Claim 7

A system comprising:
(a) a container comprising a first chamber and an integral second chamber;
(b) a valve assembly disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises (i) a seal, and (ii) a resilient mechanism, wherein the valve assembly is movable between at least an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the valve assembly is in the closed configuration when the resilient mechanism applies a first force against the seal, and wherein the valve assembly is in the open configuration when an actuator applies a second force against the seal which is greater than the first force; and
(c) an actuator moveable between at least a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein when in the engaged position the actuator exerts the second force onto at least a portion of the seal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the resilient mechanism comprises a spring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of coil springs, flat springs, machined springs, leaf springs, serpentine springs, gas springs, negator springs, cantilevered springs, V-springs, Belleville springs, wave spring, constant force springs, and progressive rate coil springs.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein when the spring is in an uncompressed state, the valve assembly is in the closed position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein when the spring is in a compressed state, the valve assembly is in the closed position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the seal comprises a ball.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the seal comprises a plunger.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the seal comprises a flapper.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the second chamber comprises a histology cassette.

### Claim 16 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the first chamber further comprises a frangible seal disposed in the first chamber to sequester the predetermined volume of the fixative away from the valve assembly, wherein movement of the actuator from the disengaged position to the engaged position breaks the frangible seal.

### Claim 17

A system comprising:
(a) a container comprising a first chamber and an integral second chamber;
(b) a duckbill valve disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the duckbill valve is movable between at least an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the duckbill valve is in the closed configuration when no first force is applied to the valve, and wherein the duckbill valve is in the open configuration when the first force is continuously applied to the valve; and
(c) an actuator moveable between at least a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein when in the engaged position the actuator exerts the first force onto at least a portion of the duckbill valve.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the first chamber further comprises a frangible seal disposed in the first chamber to sequester the predetermined volume of the fixative away from the valve, wherein movement of the actuator from the disengaged position to the engaged position breaks the frangible seal.