Claims for Patent: 8,569,072

Summary for Patent: 8,569,072

Title:	Sample preparation container and method
Abstract:	A system and method for preparing and delivering samples for analyte testing. The system can include a sample preparation system and a sample delivery system coupled to the sample preparation system. The sample preparation system can include a deformable self-supporting receptacle comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent. The sample delivery system can include a valve positioned in fluid communication with the reservoir and adapted to control the removal of a sample from the sample preparation system. The method can include applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to remove a sample from the sample preparation system via the sample delivery system.
Inventor(s):	Halverson; Kurt J. (Lake Elmo, MN), Joseph; Stephen C. P. (Woodbury, MN), Rajagopal; Raj (Woodbury, MN), Reier; Matthew D. (St. Paul, MN), Velasquez; David J. (Cannon Falls, MN), Zook; Cynthia D. (Hudson, WI), Chandrapati; Sailaja (Woodbury, MN)
Assignee:	3M Innovative Properties Company (St. Paul, MN)
Application Number:	12/743,449
Patent Claims:	1. A system for preparing and delivering samples for analyte testing, the system comprising: a sample preparation system comprising: a freestanding container comprising a first reservoir, a deformable self-supporting receptacle dimensioned to be received in the first reservoir of the freestanding container and comprising a second reservoir, the second reservoir adapted to contain a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent, the freestanding container being more rigid than the deformable self-supporting receptacle, the freestanding container including a base comprising an aperture formed therein through which the deformable self-supporting receptacle can be accessed, wherein the deformable self-supporting receptacle is freestanding; and a sample delivery system coupled to the sample preparation system and comprising a valve, the valve positioned in fluid communication with the second reservoir and adapted to control the removal of a sample of the liquid composition from the sample preparation system. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyte includes at least one of a microorganism, a parasite, a biomolecule, a chemical, a metal ion, a metal-ion-containing complex, and combinations thereof. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyte comprises at least one of Salmonella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Vibrio spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, Norovirus, Norwalk virus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, and a combination thereof. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the diluent includes at least one of a surfactant, a rheological agent, an antimicrobial neutralizer, enrichment media, a pH buffering agent, an enzyme, an indicator molecule, sterile water, an organic solvent, and a combination thereof. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is pressure-activated. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is adapted to control the flow of the sample from the sample preparation system into a detection system. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an enrichment device coupled to the valve, the enrichment device including nutrient media adapted to enrich the analyte, the valve adapted to control the flow of the sample from the sample preparation system into the enrichment device. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve forms at least a portion of a volumetric metering device. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample delivery system further comprises a volumetric metering device. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a lid adapted to be coupled to at least one of the freestanding container and the deformable self-supported receptacle. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a plunger, at least a portion of the plunger dimensioned to be received in the first reservoir to compress the deformable self-supporting receptacle. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample preparation system further comprises: a lid adapted to be coupled to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to form a disposable portion of the sample preparation system; and a collar configured to couple the disposable portion to the freestanding container. 13. A method for preparing and delivering samples for analyte testing, the method comprising: providing a sample preparation system comprising: a deformable self-supporting receptacle dimensioned to be received in a freestanding container, the freestanding container being more rigid than the deformable self-supporting receptacle, the deformable self-supporting receptacle comprising a reservoir, the freestanding container including a base comprising an aperture formed therein through which the deformable self-supporting receptacle can be accessed, wherein the deformable self-supporting receptacle is freestanding; providing a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent; positioning the liquid composition in the reservoir of the deformable self-supporting receptacle; providing a sample delivery system adapted to be coupled to the sample preparation system, the sample delivery system comprising a valve, the valve positioned in fluid communication with the reservoir; and applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to remove a sample of the liquid composition from the sample preparation system via the sample delivery system. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the analyte includes at least one of a microorganism, a parasite, a biomolecule, a chemical, a metal ion, a metal-ion-containing complex, and combinations thereof. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the diluent includes at least one of a surfactant, a rheological agent, an antimicrobial neutralizer, a nutrient, a growth inhibitor, a pH buffering agent, an enzyme, an indicator molecule, sterile water, an organic solvent, and a combination thereof. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the sample delivery system comprises a volumetric metering device, and wherein applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle includes moving the sample through the volumetric metering device. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the valve is a check valve, and wherein applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle causes the check valve to exceed its cracking pressure to allow fluid to flow out of the sample preparation system. 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the deformable self-supporting receptacle in the freestanding container. 19. The method of claim 13, wherein applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle includes applying positive pressure to the exterior of the deformable self-supporting receptacle via the aperture. 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a lid, and wherein the sample delivery system is coupled to the lid, and further comprising coupling the lid to the deformable self-supporting receptacle. 21. The method of claim 13, further comprising analyzing the sample for the analyte, wherein analyzing the sample comprises analyzing using at least one of a microbiological assay, a biochemical assay, an immunoassay, a lateral flow assay, titration, a thermal analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, chromatography, an electrochemical analysis, a genetic technique, an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection assay, a cytotoxicity assay, a viral plaque assay, a cytopathic effect assay, a culture technique, and a combination thereof. 22. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the sample from the sample delivery system to a detection device. 23. The method of claim 13, further comprising: coupling an enrichment device to the sample delivery system, such that the reservoir of the sample preparation system and the enrichment device are in fluid communication, the enrichment device including nutrient media adapted to grow the analyte; and wherein applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle includes moving the sample into the enrichment device.

Details for Patent 8,569,072

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Emergent Biodefense Operations Lansing Llc	BIOTHRAX	anthrax vaccine adsorbed	Injection	103821	11/12/1998		2027-11-20
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2027-11-20