Closure for container for holding biological samples

Abstract

A closure for a container, e.g., a tube, for a sample, e.g., a biological sample. The closure comprises a seal and an adapter to mount the seal onto the container. In one embodiment, the adapter is a cap that is inserted over the mouth of the container. The adapter is typically cylindrical in shape and is characterized by having a circular top with a cylindrical side wall projecting from the top. The top of the adapter has an opening formed therein. The opening generally surrounds the axis of the cylindrically-shaped adapter. The opening has dimensions sufficient to accommodate a sampling device for obtaining access to the contents of the container. The seal depends from the surface of the top of the cap that faces the interior of the container. The seal has a peripheral portion enclosing an interior portion. The peripheral portion has a side wall and a bottom wall. The seal is preferably frusto-conical in shape, with the larger end of the seal adjacent to the top of the adapter and the smaller end of the seal facing the interior of the container. In this preferred embodiment, the seal is attached to the adapter by means of a flange that surrounds the larger end of the seal. An opening for allowing a sampling device to gain access to the contents of the container is formed either in the bottom wall of the seal or in the side wall of the seal at a position close to the bottom wall of the seal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A closure for a container, said closure comprising an adapter and a seal, said seal comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an interior portion, said peripheral portion comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, wherein one of said side wall or said bottom wall has an opening formed therein, said opening allowing insertion of a sampling device therethrough and retraction of said sampling device therefrom.  
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said adapter comprises a top having an opening formed through said top and a wall projecting from said top, said adapter having another opening at the end of said adapter distal from said top of said adapter.  
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein said adapter is a structure having a cylindrical shape comprising a circular top having a cylindrically shaped wall projecting from the periphery of said circular top, said adapter having an opening formed through said circular top thereof and another opening at the end of said adapter distal from said circular top of said adapter.  
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein said adapter has a cover attached thereto, said cover being a rupturable membrane covering said opening in said top of said adapter.  
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the cover is placed between said top of said adapter and said peripheral portion of said seal.  
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said side wall of said seal is adjacent to said adapter.  
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said opening formed in said bottom wall or in said side wall of said seal is an elongated slit.  
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein said elongated slit has a length at least 0.6 times the diameter of said sampling device.  
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein a lubricant is applied over said opening in said bottom wall or in said side wall of said seal.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly comprising a container and the closure of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A seal comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an interior portion, said peripheral portion comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, wherein one of said side wall or said bottom wall has an opening formed therein, said opening allowing insertion of a sampling device therethrough and retraction of said sampling device therefrom.  
     
     
         12 . The seal of  claim 11 , wherein said opening is an elongated slit.  
     
     
         13 . The seal of  claim 12 , wherein said elongated slit has a length at least 0.6 times the diameter of said sampling device.  
     
     
         14 . The seal of  claim 11 , wherein a lubricant is applied over said opening of said seal.