Calibrated inoculation assembly and method of preserving sterility

An inoculation assembly comprising:

• an inoculation device including an elongated member having an inoculation end and an opposed gripping end having a perimeter wall and a transversely extending backwall defining a socket;
• handling tool means including a protruding end formed and dimensioned for sliding receipt in said socket for relative telescopic engagement along a longitudinal axis of said elongated member with said gripping end of said inoculation device;
• retaining means for releasably sustaining relative telescopic frictional engagement between said protruding end and said socket including an annular rib portion protruding radially inward from said perimeter wall into said socket, and a radially protruding rib extending from said protruding end formed to matingly cooperate with said annular rib portion to cause said frictional engagement;
• and
• said handling tool means includes an extendable tip movably mounted to said protruding end, said tip being mounted for movement relative to said protruding end between a normally retracted position and an extended position, said tip in said extended position engaging said backwall and producing sufficient displacement of said socket relative to said protruding end to release said socket of said inoculation device from frictional engagement with said protruding end of handling tool means.

A method of removing a sterile inoculation device from a sterile storage container while maintaining an inoculation end of said inoculation device in a sterile condition, comprising the steps of:

• puncturing a wall of said storage container proximate a gripping end of said inoculation device with a handling tool by displacing portions of said wall inwardly toward said container through contact with said handling tool to form an access opening to said container;
• coupling said inoculation device to said handling tool through said access opening by urging said handling tool toward said inoculation device until said inoculation device is releasably coupled to said handling tool;
• and
• withdrawing said handling tool and said inoculation device out of said container through said access opening without contacting said inoculation end with unsterile portions of said container by redirecting the inwardly displaced portions of said wall outwardly and away from said container.

A sterile inoculation assembly comprising:

• a plurality of individual elongated inoculation devices each having an inoculation end and an opposed gripping end;
• a first container member defining a first set of separate side-by-side cavities aligned in an array of similarly spaced rows and columns in staggered relation to one another, each said cavity including an opening therein and dimensioned to receive one inoculation device of said plurality of devices in a manner disposing said gripping end for grasping through said opening, and each said cavity having an annular shoulder positioned relative respective individual inoculation devices to support the inoculation device in said cavity by the respective gripping end;
• a second container member defining a second set of separate side-by-side cavities aligned in an array of similarly spaced rows and columns in staggered relation to one another, each said cavity dimensioned substantially similar to said first set of cavities, and said first container member and said second container member being oriented in back-to-back opposed nested relation with the openings of the first set of cavities and the openings of the second set of cavities facing outwardly on opposites sides thereof;
• sheet cover means positioned across and sealing each said opening in said first set of cavities and said second set of cavities to retain said respective inoculation devices in said cavities;
• and
• locking means coupled between said first container member and said second container member for removably locking said first and said second container members in said nested back-to-back relation;
• said cavities, said inoculation devices and an inner central surface of said cover means each being sterile, and said cover means being formed of a material capable of being punctured for grasping of respective gripping ends and removal of said inoculation device through said opening while maintaining said inoculation device out of contact with unsterile portions of said container means and said cover means.

An inoculation assembly comprising:

• an inoculation device including an elongated member having an inoculation end and an opposed gripping end having a socket;
• handling tool means including a protruding end formed for sliding receipt in said socket for telescopic engagement with said gripping end of said inoculation device along a longitudinal axis of said elongated member, said protruding end being sufficiently pointed to enable puncturing of a sheet of metallic foil mounted across an opening to a container;
• and
• retaining means provided on at least one of said gripping end and said handling tool means for releasably sustaining relative telescopic frictional engagement between said gripping end and said handling tool means.

An inoculation kit assembly comprising:

• an inoculation device including an elongated member having an inoculation end and an opposed gripping end defining a socket;
• container means including a cavity with an opening into said cavity, said cavity being dimensioned to receive said inoculation device, said inoculation device being positioned in said cavity for grasping of said gripping end through said opening;
• sheet cover means positioned across and sealing said opening and retaining said inoculation device in said cavity, said cavity, said inoculation device and an inner surface of said cover means facing said cavity all being sterile, and said cover means being formed of a material capable of being punctured for grasping of said gripping end and removal of said inoculation device through said opening while maintaining said inoculation device out of contact with unsterile portions of said container means;
• handling tool means including a protruding end formed for sliding receipt in said socket for telescopic engagement with said gripping end of said inoculation device, said protruding end including a tip member reciprocally mounted with respect to said protruding end and capable of puncturing said material;
• and
• retaining means provided on at least one of said gripping end and said handling tool means for releasably sustaining relative telescopic frictional engagement between said gripping end and said handling tool means.