Closure and container assembly for biological sterility indicator

A closure and container assembly comprising a closure and container wherein the container is a transparent cylinder having an interior surface and an opening at one end and the closure has a top and depending sidewalls, and the depending sidewalls have

• a sealing segment comprised of a substantially cylindrical exterior surface of the sidewall adapted to snugly engage the interior surface of the container and seal the container when the closure is fully inserted, and
• a tortuous pathway segment depending from the sealing segment and having at least one tortuous recess along its exterior surface and
• at least one opening contiguous with at least one end of each such recess such that when the closure is partially inserted the tortuous pathway segment and the interior surface of the container define a tortuous pathway for fluids to enter and exit the container, said tortuous pathway constructed and arranged to cause at least two deflections of a fluid entering the container and to require that said fluid entering the conttainer flow in a direction which forms an angle of 90.degree. or less with an axis running through the center of said container, from said opening to the bottom of said container, to displace fluid in the container and is sized and shaped to accommodate a rapid rate of flow therethrough so that when tested to determine the flow resistance thereof, in a test wherein a hole is drilled in said bottom of said container and the hole is connected to a source of air, upon forcing air from the source of air through the container across the tortuous pathway, when the closure is partially inserted in said container and the assembly is placed in a tank of water at the bottom of a 20 cm column of water extending above the surface of the water in the tank, the air flowing across the tortuous pathway and into the column of water under 10 mm Hg pressure will displace a 90 ml, 14 cm column of water in a maximum time of 10 seconds.

A closure and container assembly comprising a closure and container wherein the container is a transparent cylinder having an interior surface and an opening at one end and the closure has a top and depending sidewalls, and the container has adjacent its opening and on its interior walls

• an engaging segment comprised of a substantially cylindrical interior surface of the container sized to include a major portion which is capable of snugly engaging the exterior surface of the sidewalls of the closure when the closure is partially inserted in the container, and
• a tortuous pathway segment cut within the engaging segment and having at least one tortuous recess along its interior surface,
• at least one opening contiguous with at least one end of said recess such that when the closure is partially inserted the tortuous pathway segment and the exterior surface of the sidewalls of the closure define a tortuous pathway for fluids to enter and exit the container, said tortuous pathway constructed and arranged to require that said fluid entering the container flow in a direction which forms an angle of 90.degree. or less with an axis running through the center of said container, from said opening to the bottom of said container, to displace fluid in the container and is sized and shaped to accommodate a rapid rate of flow therethrough so that when tested to determine the flow resistance thereof, in a test wherein a hole is drilled in the bottom of said container and the hole is connected to a source of air, upon forcing air from the source of air through the container across the tortuous pathway, when the closure is partially inserted in said container and the assembly is placed in a tank of water at the bottom of a 20 cm column of water extending above the surface of the water in the tank, the air flowing across the tortuous pathway and into the column of water under 10 mm Hg pressure will displace a 90 ml, 14 cm column of water in a maximum time of 10 seconds, and
• a covering portion on the closure which is adapted to cover at least one of the openings and seal the container when the closure is fully inserted therein.