Closures for fluid sample cups

A multilayer cap for use in connection with blood sample cups used in a blood analyzer including a pipette which enters the blood sample cups through the open end of the sample cup and extends past the rim of the cup into the interior of the cup to thereby remove a sample of the blood from the cup, comprising, in combination:

• a first layer;
• a second, rigidifying layer adhered to the first layer;
• and a third, adhesive layer adhered to the second layer having exposed adhesive allowing the multilayer cap to be adhesively adhered to the rim of the open end of the blood sample cup, with the second and third layers each having a removed portion for allowing the pipette to pass therethrough, with the first layer including slits allowing the pipette of the blood analyzer to forgivingly extend through the slit layer without piercing it and pass through the removed portions of the second and third layers and into the interior of the sample cup to thereby remove a sample of blood, with the first layer being formed of material having elastic characteristics allowing sealing of the first layer between the slits before and after entry and withdrawal of the pipette and between the pipette and the slits during and while entry and withdrawal of the pipette, with the dimensions of the cap allowing placement of the cap on the rim of the blood sample cup to thereby effectively seal the blood sample cup against evaporation from within the cup and against contamination from without the cup, and wherein the spacing between the slits is in the range of 20 mills.

Closure for a fluid sample cup, with the sample cup including an interior and an open end having a dimension, and with the sample cup being used in an analyzer including a pipette which enters the sample cup through the open end of the sample cup and extends into the interior of the sample cup, comprising, in combination:

• a first layer having a thickness and having a dimension larger than the dimension of the open end of the sample cup;
• means formed in the first layer for allowing the pipette of the analyzer to forgivingly extend through the first layer without piercing it and also allowing wiping of fluid residue from the pipette as it is being removed from the first layer and for insuring the automatic operation of the analyzer even though the location where the pipette of the analyzer extends into the sample cup varies and the placement of the closure on the sample cup may vary between the sample cups of the analyzer, with the forgivingly extend allowing and automatic operation insuring means comprising an area of slits, with the slit area being substantially equal to but being smaller than the dimension of the open end of the sample cup to insure that the pipette of the analyzer extends into the slit area and not the remaining area of the first layer located outside the slit area;
• means for attaching and sealing the first layer to the open end of the fluid sample cup allowing the insertion and removal of the pipette through the slits of the first layer without the unsealing or separation of the first layer from the open end of the sample cups, with the first layer having elastic characteristics allowing sealing between the slits of the first layer before the pipette extends through the slits of the first layer, allowing sealing between the slits and the pipette when the pipette extends through the slits of the first layer, and allowing resealing between the slits of the first layer after the pipette is removed from the slits of the first layer.