GB2544964A - Swab cap - Google Patents

Abstract

A cap 347 for detachable engagement with an open ended swab container receptacle (339, Fig 6E) comprises one or more recesses 359 formed on an inner surface of the cap which define a plurality of swab receiving locations. A guiding member 357 disposed on the inner surface guides a swab 345 laterally outward with respect to the inner surface of the cap and into one of the recesses when a swab is received into the cap. The one or more recesses may be shaped to retain the swab by means of an interference fit therewith and the guiding member may be a projecting member with a sloped outer surface (331, Fig 5), located centrally on the inner surface (15 Fig 5) of the cap. A kits of parts for preparing a swab container assembly comprising the cap and a receptacle, and the use of such a swab cap are also claimed.

Description

Swab Cap

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a swab container assembly comprising a receptacle and a swab cap. In particular, the swab cap is suitable for simultaneously receiving a plurality of swabs, such as medical swabs. The present invention also relates to swab caps, kits of parts for preparing swab container assemblies, and the use of swab caps of the invention.

Background of the Invention

The swabbing of individuals or locations is undertaken for a variety of purposes including, amongst others, the identification of infectious organisms, the identification of DNA from a bodily fluid and screening for drugs or other specimens at a location.

Medical swabs are used in a variety of medical applications, and, in particular, in the identification of infective organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or the like. Since the discovery of multidrug-resistant infective organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (commonly known as MRSA), it is common practise to screen all patients who are admitted to hospital for a planned procedure. Such screening aims to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant infective organisms in hospitals. Screening can also be used to determine whether an organism is present on a surface (such as a bed or work surface) within a hospital.

Medical screening usually involves swabbing a target site (such as an individual or surface) using a medical swab consisting of a handle and a sample portion. The sample collected on the sample portion of the medical swab is then tested in a laboratory for the organism of interest. In the case of screening individuals, swabs are usually taken from different locations on the body, such as from the nose, throat, armpit and/or groin. The samples are then analysed in a laboratory by incubating the samples collected in nutrient medium (to grow any organisms present to an appreciable level) and subsequently examining the colonies grown (by microscopy, for example).

Having swabbed a target site, contamination of the swab must be prevented to avoid inaccuracies in the corresponding testing results. As such, swabs are placed within a swab container for transfer to the laboratory. Such swab containers often comprise a receptacle for receiving the swab, and a cap engageable with the receptacle to prevent the swabs falling out of the receptacle. The cap may also suitably seal the receptacle to prevent further contamination of samples held within.

In addition to conventional swab receptacle caps, which merely provide a swab containment function, caps have been developed that engage the swab within the receptacle to allow it be removed with the cap. Such caps include those wherein the swab and cap are integrally connected (i.e. integral swab caps), e.g. wherein the cap itself acts as the swab handle, and “retaining” swab caps that act by engaging and retaining the swab. Each cap type allows the swab to be removed with the cap when the cap is separated from the receptacle, e.g. at the lab.

Current “retaining” medical swab container caps available on the market are designed so that the handle (e.g. stem) of a swab placed into a swab receptacle after sampling is captured and retained within the cap when the cap is engaged with the receptacle. In such cases, a circular pit / recess is typically provided at the centre of the underside of the cap, the circular pit / recess having a diameter that closely corresponds to the diameter of the swab handle (e.g. stem tip). A sloping surface on the cap underside typically forces the swab handle laterally toward the central recess as the cap is forced down against the swab handle as the cap is engaged to the receptacle. The result is that the tip of the swab handle (e.g. stem) is then retained within the central recess. This functionality allows the swab to be removed from (i.e. pulled out of) the receptacle simply by removing (i.e. disengaging) the cap from the receptacle. By using this system, handling of the swab itself is reduced, which thereby reduces the opportunity for contamination of the sample.

As mentioned above, swab samples are, however, often taken from a number of locations. In the case of an individual, samples are usually from multiple bodily locations such as the nose, throat, armpit and/or groin. Generally, all of the swabs from an individual may be placed in a single swab receptacle for ease of storage and transfer to the laboratory. Indeed, pooling of multiple swabs simultaneously in a receptacle in this way is an efficient way of transporting samples whenever crosscontamination of each swab sample in the container is not a concern.

Where multiple swabs are pooled in a single receptacle this way, the swabs must typically be removed from the receptacle for testing individually by a practitioner, which can be fiddly and time consuming, resulting in increased risk of contamination compared to where only a single swab is placed in the receptacle. It would therefore be desirable to provide a convenient and practical solution for removal of multiple swabs from within a receptacle that avoids fiddly, time consuming procedures and reduces contamination risk.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages and/or to provide an improved or alternative swab container assembly, cap or kit of parts.

Summary of the Invention

The present inventors have developed a swab cap comprising one or more recesses on its inner surface that define a plurality of swab stem receiving locations, allowing multiple swabs to be engaged and subsequently removed from a swab receptacle simultaneously when the cap is removed (i.e. disengaged) from the receptacle. The use of such a cap avoids the fiddly procedure of manually removing each swab individually, e.g. by use of tweezers, thus reducing the necessity for handling of the swabs and thereby reducing the risk of contamination of the samples.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a swab container assembly comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs, the swab container assembly further comprising a cap detachably engaged with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises: one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being configured to guide a swab laterally outward (for example radially outward) with respect to the inner surface of the cap into one of the swab receiving locations when a swab is received within the cap.

Swabs

It will be appreciated that the swab container assembly of the present invention is useful for receiving swabs. Such swabs may, for instance, be medical swabs. The present invention is not limited solely to medical swabs and the benefits of the invention will apply analogously to other swab types, such as food swabs (e.g. hygiene swabs, such as ATP monitoring swabs), industrial swabs, and analytical swabs, e.g. forensic swabs.

Suitably, the swabs may be of the type having a swab handle (e.g. stem / shaft) and a swab sample portion, such as a swab stick. Where it is referred herein to the cap receiving a swab, this may in preferred embodiments refer to the receiving of a swab handle (e.g. the handle of a swab stick). In such embodiments, the one or more recesses typically define a plurality of swab handle receiving locations. Thus, the guiding member may then be configured to guide (e.g. deflect) a swab handle outward (for example radially outward) with respect to the inner surface of the cap into one of the swab handle receiving locations when a swab handle is received within the cap. In preferred embodiments, the swabs are medical swab sticks (i.e. having a handle (e.g. shaft) portion and a sample portion).

Thus, in an aspect of the invention is provided a swab container assembly comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs, the swabs having a swab handle (e.g. stem / shaft) and a swab sample portion, the swab container assembly further comprising a cap detachably engaged with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab handle receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being configured to guide (e.g. deflect) a swab handle laterally outward (for example radially outward) with respect to the inner surface of the cap into one of the swab handle receiving locations when a swab handle is received within the cap.

It will be appreciated that in the swab container assembly described herein, the cap is suitably configured to receive multiple swabs simultaneously. That is, each swab receiving location is configured to receive a single swab (e.g. swab handle (e.g. swab shaft / stem)) at any one time.

In further embodiments of the invention, the swab container assembly may further comprise one or more swabs, such as two or more swabs, and preferably no more than 3. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the swabs may be of any suitable size provided they can fit within the swab container assembly in a way that allows them to engage with the swab cap when the cap is detachably engaged to the open end of the receptacle. As mentioned above, in preferred embodiments the swabs have a swab handle and a swab sample portion, and optionally may be medical swabs.

The swab handle may be an elongate stem, optionally having a substantially cylindrical cross section. The stem may, of course, have any suitable cross section, provided that the swab handle can be received in a recess of the cap. The diameter of the swab handle should be of such a size that it can be received within a recess of the cap. For instance, the recess may be around 2-3 mm wide, in which case, the swab handle may have a diameter of up to around 3 mm, e.g. around 2-3 mm. In cases where the swab handle and / or recess walls of the cap are resiliently deformable, the swab handle may have a diameter slightly larger than the width of the recess (in the example above, up to 3.1 mm, for example), such that the swab handle deforms when inserted into the recess. The restorative force of the deformation may result in the swab handle being retained within the recess until removed by an individual.

The length of the swab, i.e. including any sample and handle portions, should be such that it can be received within the receptacle when the cap is detachably engaged with the open end of the receptacle. For instance, the receptacle may have an inner length of around 75-85 mm, such as 76-82 mm, e.g. 77-79 mm. The swab may thus be around the same length of the receptacle and is preferably long enough to span the distance between a base surface of the receptacle (e.g. at the closed end of the receptacle) and a position within the swab receiving location of the cap when the cap is detachably engaged with the receptacle (which in embodiments may be a length substantially equal to the distance between the inner cap surface and the closed end of the receptacle when the cap is detachably engaged to the receptacle). This ensures that, when the cap is engaged with the receptacle with the swabs in place in the receptacle, the swabs (e.g. the handles) are trapped between the inner cap surface and the closed end of the receptacle, forcing each swab to engage a swab receiving location directly, or to be guided by the guiding member towards and into a swab receiving location (e.g. by a sloped surface of the guiding member providing a surface that outwardly (e.g. radially) deflects the swab towards a recess).

In embodiments, the length of the swab (including handle and sample portions) may thus be around the same length as the receptacle cavity, or up to around 1-5 mm longer than the length of the receptacle cavity. The swab length may thus, in embodiments, be up to around 85 mm, 81mm, 79mm, optionally around 75-82 mm, such as 77-79, and is preferably around 80-82 mm, e.g. 81 mm.

Recesses

As described herein, one or more recesses are formed on an inner surface of the cap, thus defining a plurality of swab (e.g. swab handle) receiving locations. In embodiments, the one or more recesses are shaped to retain the swabs (e.g. swab handle(s)). For example, the recesses may be in the form of pits or grooves in the inner cap surface. The recesses may be substantially cylindrical in shape (i.e. the surface profile of the opening and side walls forming the recess may form a cylinder), to receive and retain a cylindrical swab handle. The skilled person would readily be able to determine appropriate shapes for such recesses based on the size and shape of the swab handle(s) to be retained. The internal cavity shape of the recess need not exactly match the cross-sectional shape of the swab portion configured to engage the cavity, but should preferably be a close enough match so as to allow surface contact between the walls of the recess and the surface of the swab in at least two locations (preferably more) simultaneously. In embodiments, one or more side walls of the recess may be sloped to provide a recess having a varying width/length dimension along its depth. Sloping of the side walls in this regard may assist in the guidance of the swabs into the recesses when the swabs are engaged with the inner surface of the cap, e.g. when the swabs are placed in the receptacle and the cap is engaged with the receptacle so as to engage the swabs.

The term “retain” is used herein to describe the holding of the swab handle(s) in the cap of the present invention such that the release of the swab from the recess under its own weight is resisted by the frictional force of the cap recess walls against the swab surface (e.g. the handle (e.g. stem / shaft) surface). This retaining force may allow swab(s) to be quickly and easily removed from a swab receptacle described herein with reduced handling time, thereby simultaneously increasing efficiency and reducing the opportunity for contamination of the swabs by handling. For instance, the caps of the invention may allow multiple swabs to be removed from the receptacle simultaneously, i.e. simply by removing the cap from the receptacle, thus avoiding tricky manual procedures.

The one or more recesses may be shaped to retain the swabs (e.g. swab handle(s)) via an interference fit therewith. For example, the recess may define a dimension (typically a width of at least a portion of the recess) in a swab receiving location which is smaller than a dimension of the swab (e.g. swab handle) for which the receptacle is designed such that when the swab (e.g. swab handle) is inserted into the swab receiving location, the swab (e.g. swab handle) and/or recess walls are deformed, and the restorative force from that deformation urges surfaces of the swab handle and recess walls towards one another to provide a frictional engagement. For instance, the recess might have a recess width (e.g. the width at its surface, or an internal recess width) smaller in width/diameter than the width/diameter of a swab handle, or may have a lug which defines a clearance between it and an opposing surface of the recess, that clearance being smaller than the swab handle in question.

It will be understood that the recess(es) will have length and width dimensions that in part define the dimensions of the recess surface opening as well as the dimensions of the internal profile of the recess, and a depth dimension that is provided by the length of the side walls of the recess between the recess floor and opening. It will be appreciated that recess(es) may have different width and length dimensions at different depths of the recess. For instance, the length of the floor of a recess may be shorter than the length of the surface opening of the recess in instances where the side walls are tapered toward the recess floor. The side walls may in exemplary embodiments contain steps or lugs defining narrower internal width and / or length dimensions. Such steps or lugs may in embodiments provide improved engagement / retaining functions. References herein to width and length dimensions of recesses typically refer to the length and width at the surface opening, unless indicated otherwise. Having read the present application, the skilled person would be able to provide suitable cap recess dimensions for any given swab type that allow for engagement / retaining of a given swab.

In embodiments, the one or more recesses is a single recess defining a plurality of swab (e.g. swab handle) receiving locations. When only a single recess is provided defining a plurality of swab receiving locations, the recess is preferably substantially elongate along its length. It has been observed by the present inventors that such elongate recesses provide an increased reliability with respect to engagement of the swabs as they allow for a larger variety of swab-recess engagement angles. In embodiments, the single recess is curved, preferably so as to provide a curvature that is substantially complementary to the curvature of the cap and / or receptacle wall(s). In embodiments, the one or more recesses is a single elongate recess that is substantially annular in shape. Such an annular shape would thus provide a continuous recess around the internal surface of the cap that allows for an increased variety of engagement angles and thus improved reliability of engagement / retaining of multiple swabs simultaneously. Figures 1 and 5 provide examples of such annular configurations. Preferably, the recess forms a smooth annular curve, i.e. it is substantially or entirely circular (such as in figure 1). It has been found that this provides improved reliability of engagement of swabs and cap.

Alternatively, the one or more recesses may be a plurality of recesses. Such an arrangement may allow the swabs (e.g. swab handles) to be spaced apart from one another when engaged with the inner surface of the cap. The plurality of recesses may be provided in any suitable configuration, but are preferably arranged in a substantially annular configuration, preferably wherein the recesses are substantially equidistant from each other. In even more preferred embodiments, each of the plurality of recesses has roughly, e.g. exactly, the same dimensions.

Annular configurations have the advantage that they provide for increased space between receiving locations and thus may decrease the likelihood of failure of the cap to engage / retain multiple swabs simultaneously. Where a plurality of recesses is provided, each recess may preferably provide a single swab receiving location. Alternatively, each recess may provide a plurality of swab receiving locations. For instance, each recess opening may be substantially elongate along its length, thus benefiting from an increased reliability with respect to engagement of the swabs mentioned above. In embodiments, each of the plurality of recesses is an elongate curve, preferably having a curvature that is substantially complementary to the curvature of the cap and / or receptacle walls. In embodiments, the plurality of recesses, taken together, form a substantially annular shape, e.g. an annulus that is interrupted by one or more walls. Such an annular shape would thus benefit from having an almost continuous recess profile that allows for a large variety of engagement angles and thus improved reliability of engagement / retaining of multiple swabs simultaneously, as discussed above.

Guiding member

In the swab caps of the present invention, a guiding member is disposed on the inner surface of the cap. In embodiments of the invention, the guiding member is disposed substantially centrally in the inner surface of the cap. The guiding member is configured to guide (i.e. force) swabs (e.g. swab handles) laterally outward with respect to the inner surface of the cap and into one of the swab receiving locations when the swabs are received within the cap. Put another way, when a swab is forced to engage the guiding member of the cap in use (e.g. by hand or typically when a swab are located within the receptacle and the cap is forced onto the receptacle to engage the swab) the shape (i.e. outer surface profile) of the guiding member may be such that the swab is deflected laterally outward with respect to the inner cap surface to follow a path into a recess. Thus, in embodiments, the guiding member is in the form of an element projecting from the inner surface of the cap comprising an outer surface wherein at least a part of the outer surface is sloped (i.e. downwards) towards the one or more swab receiving locations / recesses. This feature is readily observable in the figures, e.g. figures 1 and 2. By providing a sloped surface disposed to engage the swabs, and when swabs are forcefully engaged with the inner surface of the cap, the swabs may be deflected toward the one or more recesses. Where the guiding member is substantially centrally located on the inner cap surface, the swabs may thus be guided laterally (e.g. radially) outward, away from the centre of the cap, towards the one or more recesses.

In an aspect of the invention is thus provided a swab container assembly comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs, the swab container assembly further comprising a cap detachably engaged with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab (e.g. swab handle) receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being an element projecting from the inner surface of the cap and having an outer surface wherein at least a part of the outer surface is sloped in a direction laterally outwards with respect to the inner surface of the cap towards the one or more swab receiving locations. Thus, embodiments of the above aspects and embodiments described herein above in relation to other swab cap definitions may also thus apply to this aspect analogously.

In suitable embodiments where the recess is a single substantially annular recess, the guiding member may be surrounded by the single substantially annular recess. In embodiments where the one or more recesses are a plurality of recesses provided in a substantially annular configuration, the guiding member may be surrounded by the substantially annular configuration of recesses.

In embodiments, the guiding member may be, for instance, tapered, domed, or substantially conical. Configuration of the guiding member in this way may improve the directional guiding of the swab handles towards the recesses when the swab handle is received within the cap. It will be understood that the entire surface profile of the guiding member / projecting element in such embodiments may, but need not be, entirely sloped and thus may comprise side walls that are not sloped (e.g. vertical), provided the surface disposed to contact the swabs in use is sloped, e.g. tapered, domed or substantially conical.

In embodiments, the guiding member may comprise faces arranged to guide the swab handles into a particular swab handle receiving location. The faces may guide the swab handle substantially radially outward into a particular swab handle receiving location. In embodiments, the faces may guide the swab handle substantially circumferentially or radially into a particular swab handle receiving location. The faces of the guiding member may, in embodiments, be provided on protrusions which project radially outward from the guiding member (see, e.g. figure 4).

General features of the cap

In embodiments of the invention, the cap is detachably engaged to the receptacle. The cap may, for instance, be detachably engaged to the receptacle by way of mutually complementary engagement features. The mutually complementary engagement features may comprise screw threads, for example an internally threaded bore of the cap for engagement with an externally threaded neck of the receptacle. Alternative mutually complementary engagement features will be apparent to the skilled person but could include, for example, a snap-fit engagement, a ratchet system or a lug receivable in a guide-way, e.g. a helical guide-way.

In embodiments, the cap has an outer wall, and an inner wall positioned between the outer wall and the one or more recesses. In embodiments where the cap and receptacle have mutually complementary engagement features, the engagement features of the cap may be present between the inner and outer walls. In embodiments where the engagement features of the cap are present on the outer wall, the presence of an inner wall between the recesses of the cap and the mutually complementary engagement features may prevent any interference of the engagement features with the recesses and/or guiding member.

The swab cap may be composed of any suitable material that provides the necessary mechanical properties required for engagement of the cap, e.g. plastic and / metals. Plastics are preferred due to their ease of processing and moulding, and low cost.

Receptacle

In a preferred embodiment, the swab container receptacle may be sterilised. Sterilisation may be achieved by any suitable means. For example, by treatment with UV irradiation, gamma irradiation, chemical treatment, or by another suitable method.

The receptacle of the present invention can be of any configuration (i.e. size and shape) suitable for receiving swabs (e.g. medical swabs) and engaging with the cap of the present invention. In embodiments, the receptacle is substantially cylindrical. It will be appreciated that the receptacle will typically have a closed end and an open end (providing a closed container once the open end is covered by a swab cap). The receptacle may be of any suitable length for containing swabs. The receptacle may suitably be longer than the swabs. The skilled person will understand that, where it is desired for swabs placed in the receptacle to be engaged by the cap on detachable engagement of the cap to the receptacle, best results will be achieved when the length of the interior walls of the receptacle complement the swab length so as to allow for the swabs (e.g. swab handles) to physically engage the recesses on the inner surface of the cap when the cap is detachably engaged with the receptacle.

In the swab container assembly of the present invention, the receptacle has an open end detachably engaged with a swab cap. It will be appreciated that the term “open end” in this sense is used to define the end of the receptacle in which the swabs may be introduced into the receptacle and which engages with the swab cap. In this arrangement, the swab cap, when engaged with the receptacle, will thus act to cover at least part, and preferably, the entire open end, of the receptacle. Thus, the term “open end” in this context thus refers to the nature of the receptacle itself, and not to the resulting assembly that is formed when the cap is actually engaged to the open receptacle end, which may in fact be such that the receptacle open end is effectively closed by the placement of the cap. Indeed, preferably the cap may be detachably engaged with the receptacle so as to effectively seal the open end of the receptacle, i.e. to provide a liquid-tight, and optionally air-tight, seal to contain a swab within the receptacle. This thus has the benefit of avoiding contamination of the swab sample(s) placed within the receptacle, or unwanted leakage of the sample contents, from within the receptacle, out of the receptacle.

In embodiments, an outer surface of the cap of the present invention may be provided with a textured surface. Such a surface may aid manual or automated handling of the cap. In embodiments, the textured surface may be ribbed or knurled, for example. Preferably, the outer side walls of the cap are textured, so as to assist with manual or automated handling of the caps.

In embodiments, the inner surface of the cap has an outer wall, and further comprises an inner wall positioned between the outer wall and the one or more recesses.

The swab cap and swab cap assembly of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with present industry standard swab receptacles and may thus be retrofitted to such systems with ease.

Further aspects

Swab cap

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a swab cap as defined in any of the above aspects or embodiments of the invention (e.g. those described above for the swab container assembly) for engagement with a swab and / or receptacle as described herein.

It will be appreciated that this aspect thus refers to a swab cap as such. Accordingly, in such embodiments, the swab cap may or may not be provided in detachable engagement with a receptacle as described for the swab container assembly of aspects and embodiments above, or in engagement with a swab as described above. Such swab caps per se thus have utility in engaging swabs, and preparing swab container assemblies of the invention. The advantages associated with the various cap features are described in detail above in respect of the swab container assemblies. Thus, the descriptions and embodiments of the various cap features, such as the recesses, guiding member, etc. apply analogously to caps of this aspect. Where features and characteristics of the swab caps of the swab container assemblies are described above in the context of the cap being engaged with the receptacle, the skilled person will appreciate in this aspect that the receptacle or swab is not itself required in this aspect. Thus, where embodiments are described above as performing an active function relative to a receptacle or swab (e.g. covering, or engaging), or having a size or dimension relative to such receptacles or swabs, it is intended for the purpose of this aspect that the respective physical features are suitably configured for such use (e.g. configured so as to be useable to engage a swab, or configured so as to be useable to engage a receptacle), i.e. disposed so as to be useable as stated (e.g. disposed so as to be useable to engage a receptacle, or disposed so as to be useable to engage a swab), but not necessarily provided in use, i.e. in a form engaged to a swab and / or a receptacle.

In embodiments, the cap of this aspect further comprises one or more swabs engaged within a recess of the inner cap surface, e.g. one swab, or two or more swabs, preferably no more than 3 swabs.

Preferred caps of the invention are described in the figures, such as in figure 1.

Kit of parts

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for preparing a swab container assembly (i.e. an assembly according to any aspect or embodiment of the invention above), the kit comprising a receptacle as defined according to any aspect or embodiment above and a cap as defined according to any aspect or embodiment herein, said cap being detachably engageable with the open end of the receptacle. Optionally the kit further comprises one or more swabs, e.g. two or more swabs, preferably swabs that are engageable with one or more recesses defining swab receiving locations on the inner cap surface.

In embodiments, the receptacle in the kits of parts is thus suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs (typically swabs having a swab handle and a swab sample portion), the kit further comprising a cap that is detachably engageable with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab (e.g. swab handle) receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being configured to guide a swab (e.g. swab handle) laterally outward with respect to the inner surface of the cap into one of the swab receiving locations when a swab (e.g. swab handle) is received within the cap.

In an aspect of the invention is thus provided a kit of parts for preparing a swab container assembly comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs (e.g. medical swabs), the swab container assembly further comprising a cap detachably engageable with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being an element projecting from the inner surface of the cap and having an outer surface that is sloped in a direction laterally outwards with respect to the inner surface of the cap towards the one or more swab receiving locations.

Uses

In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a cap (i.e. a swab cap) according to any preceding aspect of the invention for engaging one or more swabs (e.g. medical swabs). Suitably, the engagement is between the swab (preferably the swab handle, e.g. stem / shaft) and the one or more recesses on the inner surface of the cap.

In embodiments, the use is wherein the engaging comprises engaging more than one swab simultaneously. In that event, the swabs may be sequentially or simultaneously introduced to (e.g. brought into contact with) the inner surface of the swab, i.e. into the recess(es), provided that the result is that multiple swabs are thus caused to be engaged with the cap at any one time.

Thus, the cap suitably comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being configured to guide a swab laterally outward (for example radially outward) with respect to the inner surface of the cap into one of the swab receiving locations when a swab handle is received within the cap.

Suitably the cap comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being an element projecting from the inner surface and having an outer surface that is sloped (e.g. sloped downwards) in a direction laterally outwards with respect to the inner surface of the cap towards the one or more swab receiving locations.

Typically, swab caps as described herein may also include engagement members on the inner surface of the cap, e.g. on the inner surface of the side walls of the cap, that allow the cap to be detachably engaged with a suitable receptacle, such as with mutually complementary engagement members on the receptacle (i.e. complementary screw threads). Inner side walls may also be provided on the inner cap surface that are disposed inward of the outer side walls, but outward of the guiding member and recess(es). Such an inner side wall may in embodiments be configured (e.g. the wall may be provided with a sloped surface, e.g. sloped toward a recess) so as to guide a swab away from the side wall of the receptacle into the recess(es) when the cap is detachably engaged with the receptacle, and may also aid with sealing of the receptacle open end.

In embodiments, said use comprises engaging only one swab. In alternative embodiments, said use comprises engaging more than one swab (e.g. more than one swab handle) simultaneously, i.e. two or more, preferably no more than 3, e.g. 3. Said engagement may be performed manually or automatically, i.e. by machine. The engagement in this respect may be performed independently of a swab receptacle, e.g. by hand, or may alternatively involve use of the receptacle to facilitate engaging the swab(s) to the cap, e.g. by trapping the swab between the inner cap surface and the closed end of the receptacle, as described herein above. In embodiments where the engagement is performed without use of a receptacle, the use may further comprise detachably engaging the receptacle and cap such that the swabs engaged with the cap are located within the receptacle (e.g. to prevent contamination of the swab samples). Suitably, the use includes locating swabs within a receptacle (such as a receptacle described in any aspect or embodiment herein) and detachably engaging the cap to the open end of the receptacle so as to force the swabs (e.g. swab handles) to engage with the recesses on the inner surface of the cap. In suitable embodiments, the use further includes the subsequent step of disengaging (e.g. unscrewing) the cap from the receptacle, thereby removing the swab(s) from the receptacle (i.e. by virtue of their engagement with the one or more recesses in the inner cap surface.

In embodiments, the use may comprise inserting one or more swabs into a receptacle, for instance a receptacle according to any preceding aspect or embodiment of the invention, screwing the cap onto the receptacle such that the swab(s) are engaged into the recesses of the inner cap surface and unscrewing the cap from the receptacle, thereby removing the swab(s) from the receptacle (i.e. by virtue of their engagement with the one or more recesses in the inner cap surface).

In embodiments, the use comprises swabbing a patient with the one or more swabs to take one or more biological samples from a patient before the step of engagement of the one or more swabs with the swab cap.

Thus, in line with the above, the present invention provides a method of preparing a swab container assembly of the present invention comprising detachably engaging a cap as described herein to the open end of a receptacle as described herein. Optionally the method further comprises providing one or more swabs within the receptacle before the cap is detachably engaged with the receptacle open end such that the swab(s) are caused to engage the one or more recesses on the inner surface of the cap.

In preferred embodiments, the engagement of the cap with the swab causes the cap to retain the one or more swab handles.

As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the cap may be removed from the receptacle while the receptacle is held upside down (with the open receptacle end facing downwards), so that gravity assists the removal of the swab(s) from the receptacle. Alternatively, where the one or more swabs are retained in the recess(es), e.g. via an interference fit, the orientation of the receptacle is not critical and, for example, the cap may be removed from the receptacle while the receptacle is held “right way up” (i.e. with the open end facing upwards) because the cap will thus retain the swab(s) in its recess(es) against their own weight.

In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a swab container assembly comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of medical swabs that have a swab handle and a swab sample portion, the swab container assembly further comprising a cap detachably engaged with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap; and a guiding element projecting from the inner surface of the cap, the guiding element having an outer surface wherein at least part of the surface is sloped (e.g. generally tapered, domed or conical) downwards in the direction of the one or more recesses. Embodiments of the various features are described herein above.

The generally tapered projection may function as a guiding member as described above.

Features described in relation to one aspect of the invention may be present in other aspects of the invention, where appropriate.

The skilled person will appreciate that conventional cap materials may be used, e.g. plastics, metals, or combinations thereof, etc. to form the swab caps of the present invention. Plastic is preferred. Receptacles may also be made of suitable conventional materials, e.g. metals, plastics, glass, or combinations thereof, etc.

Preparation of caps of the invention

The caps of the present invention may suitably be manufactured according to conventional manufacturing methods. The following method may be used: 1. A production tool (die) is generated for injection moulding manufacturing; 2. The tool is secured on a suitable injection moulding machine; 3. A suitable plastics polymer is chosen for fabrication of the cap; 4. The plastics polymer is added to the hopper of the machine; 5. Machine parameters are selected, altered where required, and logged; 6. Injection moulding commences; 7. Following approval of the product, settings are logged and stored for future use.

Machine parameters include injection pressures, injection speeds, melt temperatures, screw speeds, back pressure, tool temperature, ejection speeds, opening/closing positions etc. may be suitably selected by the skilled person based on cost efficiency and requirements of the resultant product.

Suitable receptacles and swabs are readily available and may be prepared using conventional methods.

Description of the figures

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting examples and figures, which show:

Figure 1: A perspective view of a cap according to a first embodiment of the invention showing its inner surface.

Figure 2: A cross-sectional view of the cap of Figure 1.

Figure 3: A perspective view of a cap according to a second embodiment of the invention showing its inner surface.

Figure 4: A perspective view of a cap according to a third embodiment of the invention showing its inner surface.

Figure 5: A perspective view of a cap according to a fourth embodiment of the invention showing its inner surface.

Figure 6: A perspective view of a swab being inserted and removed from a swab container assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. A. A cap according to the present invention is removed from a swab receptacle. B. One or more swabs are inserted into the swab receptacle. C and D. The cap is engaged with the swab receptacle and rotated to secure the cap to the receptacle. E. The cap is removed from the receptacle with the swab(s) handle(s) held in the swab handle receiving locations. Three swabs are depicted in this illustration.

Figure 7: A section view of a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention with a swab handle being inserted into a swab handle receiving location. A. A swab handle is inserted into the cap and contacts a guiding member; B. The swab handle is directed into a swab handle receiving location; and C. The swab handle is held in the swab handle receiving location.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figure 1, there is depicted a cap 1, for engagement with a receptacle for receiving a medical swab (not shown) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cap 1 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has an outer wall 3, an inner wall 5 and a cap top 7. Located on an inner surface 9 of the outer wall 3 is a screw thread 11 for engagement with a screw thread of the corresponding swab receptacle (not shown). A tapered guiding member 13 is located substantially centrally on the inner surface 15 of the cap top 7. Circumferentially surrounding the guiding member 13 is a single annular recess 17 which is configured to receive multiple swab handles at different locations in the recess 17 (i.e. the recess comprises a plurality of swab handle receiving locations). The single annular recess 17 is defined by the inner-facing surface of wall 5 and the outer surface of the guiding member 13, on the inner surface 15 of the cap top 7. An outer surface 19 of the outer wall 3 is provided with a surface textured to aid handling of the cap 1, in this example ribbing.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a sectional view of the cap 1 of Figure 1. As can be seen more clearly, a screw thread 11 for engagement with a screw thread of the corresponding swab receptacle (not shown) is located on the inside of the outer wall 3. The screw thread 11 is unlikely to interfere with the recess 17 and guiding member 13 due to the presence of inner wall 5. A guiding member 13 is, in this embodiment, positioned substantially centrally within the cap 1. The recess 17 is appropriately sized such that on insertion of a conventional medical swab handle into the recess 17, the swab handle is retained in the recess 17 against its own weight, via an interference fit (described more fully below).

During screening of an individual before admission to hospital, for example, swab samples are taken from different locations on the body, such as from the nose, throat, armpit and/or groin. These swabs may then be placed inside a single swab receptacle for transfer to a laboratory for testing. In use, the swab length and receptacle length may be suitably matched such that when cap 1 is engaged to the receptacle (e.g. by screw thread 11), thereby engaging the cap 1 and the receptacle, the swabs contained within the receptacle contact the inner cap surface, whereby swabs may a) be forced by sloping sides of the inner wall 5 disposed on the inner cap surface into a recess 17, b) directly enter a recess 17, or c) contact the outer sloping surface of the guiding member 13, which thus guides the swab handles laterally outward with respect to the guiding member 13 and into swab receiving locations 17. In this case, the guiding member 13 defines a longitudinal axis (which is the same, in this case, as the axis of the cap 1). In this example, the swabs would therefore be guided substantially radially outward with respect to that longitudinal axis (i.e. the longitudinal axis of the guiding member 13 and/or cap 1) by the sloping surface of the guiding member 13. In an alternative use, the swabs may be positioned (e.g. manually) into recesses 17 in the cap 1 before the cap (with swabs engaged) is then engaged to the receptacle (e.g. by screw thread 11) to contain the swabs in the receptacle.

The space between the inner wall 5 and guiding member 13 is such that the recess 17 has a dimension “A”, which in embodiments may be marginally smaller than a dimension of the corresponding swab handle(s) to be engaged with the recess. The swab handle(s) in that event would therefore be deformed when inserted into the swab handle receiving locations and / or the recess walls may be deformed; the restorative force from that deformation urges surfaces of the swab handle(s) and the recess 17 (formed by the surfaces of the inner wall 5 and the guiding member 13) towards one another to provide improved frictional engagement.

When it is required to remove the swabs from the receptacle, the cap 1 is unscrewed from the receptacle. Due to the interference fit between the swab handles and the recess 17, when the cap 1 is disengaged from the receptacle, the swab handles remain within the recess 17 (against their own weight). Therefore, the handling required to remove the swabs from the receptacle is minimal and need not involved any physical contact with the swabs.

Referring to Figure 3, there is depicted a cap 101 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the cap 1 of Figures 1 and 2, the cap 101 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has an outer wall 3, an inner wall 5 and a cap top 7. Positioned on an inner surface 9 of the outer wall 3 is a screw thread 11 for engagement with a screw thread of the corresponding swab receptacle (not shown).

Unlike the cap 1 of Figure 1, the cap 101 has three individual cylindrical recesses 119, each recess 119 defining a single swab handle receiving location. The three recesses 119 are circumferentially spaced (in this case substantially evenly in a triangular formation) within the inner wall 5 of the cap 101. The three recesses 119 surround a guiding member 121 having surface that slopes downward towards the recesses and which may thus guide any swab handles forced against the inner cap surface radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the guiding member 121 (and, in this case, the cap 101) towards a swab handle receiving location. The guiding member 121 also comprises faces 123 which guide the swab handles substantially circumferentially towards a swab handle receiving location provided by a recess 119. In other words, in this embodiment the faces 123 direct swab handles so as to prevent a swab handle from becoming caught circumferentially between adjacent recesses 119.

Referring to Figure 4, there is depicted a cap 201, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the cap 1 and 101 of Figures 1-3, the cap 201 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has an outer wall 3, an inner wall 5 and a cap top 7. Positioned on an inner surface 9 of the outer wall 3 is a screw thread 11 for engagement with a screw thread of the corresponding swab receptacle (not shown).

Unlike the caps of Figures 1-3, the cap 201 of Figure 4 has eight individual cylindrical recesses 225, each recess 225 defining a single swab handle receiving location. The eight recesses 225 are circumferentially positioned within the inner wall 5 of the cap 201. The eight recesses 225 surround a guiding member 227 which has a sloping outer surface so as to be able to guide swab handles forced against the inner cap surface radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the guiding member 227 (and, in this case, the cap 201) towards a swab handle receiving location. The guiding member 227 comprises faces 229 provided on protrusions which project radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the guiding member 227 and which guide the swab handles substantially circumferentially towards a swab handle receiving location provided by a recess 225 in the same manner as described in relation to the cap of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 5, there is depicted schematically a cap 301, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the caps 1, 101 and 201 of Figures 1-4, the cap 301 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has an outer wall 3, an inner wall 5 and a cap top 7. Positioned on an inner surface 9 of the outer wall 3 is a screw thread 11 for engagement with a screw thread of the corresponding swab receptacle (not shown).

The cap 301 of Figure 5 comprises a tapered guiding member 331 located substantially centrally on the inner surface 15 of the cap top 7. Circumferentially surrounding the guiding member 331 is a single substantially annular recess 333 which is configured to receive multiple swab handles at different locations in the recess 333 (i.e. the recess comprises a plurality of swab handle receiving locations). The single annular recess 333 is defined between the inner wall 5 and the guiding member 331. The recess 333 comprises a plurality of enlarged portions 335 which define individual swab handle receiving locations. Alternatively, the single annular recess 333 could be considered as a plurality of circumferentially arranged individual recesses, each defining a single swab handle receiving location, which have been joined together by a narrower annular groove.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is depicted schematically a plurality of swabs 337 (having swab handles and swab sample portions) being inserted and removed from a swab receptacle 339 by a user 341. In a first step (A), the user 341 provides a cap 343 and swab receptacle 339, which may be previously provided in detachable engagement. Next (see Figure 6B), swabs 337 are inserted into the receptacle 339 by the user 341 with the swab sample portions of the swabs (not shown) being inserted into the receptacle 339 first. The receptacle 339 is sized so that it can receive a plurality of swabs 337, in this example, three swabs 337. As shown in (B), the swab handles in this example protrude slightly from the receptacle to allow engagement with recess(es) in the cap when the cap is subsequently engaged (or re-engaged) with the receptacle. The user 341 then screws the cap 343 to the receptacle 339 to secure the swabs 337 in the receptacle 339, thus reducing the risk of contamination of the swabs 337 (Figure 6C and D). The screwing of the cap 343 onto the receptacle 339 results in the protruding handles of the swabs 337 contacting the inner surface of the cap, such as the guiding member (not shown) of the cap 343. The force applied by the placement of the cap causes the swab handles to be trapped between the cap and receptacle closed end, thus entering the recess(es) in the inner cap surface, either directly, or by being guided, e.g. guided laterally outward by the guiding member (e.g. a sloped surface of the guiding member), in this case generally radially outward, with respect to the guiding member and into a swab handle receiving location (not shown). In embodiments, the space between an inner wall (not shown) of the cap 343 and the guiding member is such that a recess is formed, wherein the recess may have a dimension which is smaller than a dimension of the corresponding swab handles to provide a frictional engagement between the swab handles and recess walls, e.g. an interference fit..

When it is required to remove the swabs 337 from the receptacle 339, the cap 343 may be unscrewed from the receptacle 339 (Figure 6E) by the user 341. Due to the interference fit between the swab handles and the recess, when the cap 343 is disengaged from the receptacle 339, the swab handles remain within the swab handle receiving locations (against their own weight), i.e. they are retained within the recess(es). Therefore, the handling required to remove the swabs 337 from the receptacle 339 is minimal and need not involve any direct contact between the user and swabs whatsoever, thus avoiding the otherwise tricky and potentially contaminating extraction of individual swabs by hand.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is depicted schematically a swab handle 345 being inserted into a cap 347 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the caps shown in Figures 1-5, the cap 347 of Figure 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has an outer wall 349, an inner wall 351 and a cap top 353. Positioned on an inner surface of the outer wall 349 is a screw thread 355 for engagement with a screw thread of a corresponding swab receptacle (not shown). In this embodiment, a tapered guiding member 357 is located substantially centrally on the inner surface of the cap top 353. Circumferentially surrounding the guiding member 357 is a single annular recess 359 which is configured to receive multiple swab handles at different locations in the recess 359 (i.e. the recess comprises a plurality of swab handle receiving locations). The single annular recess 359 is defined between the inner wall 351 and the guiding member 357.

When a swab handle 345 is inserted into the cap 347 (either by way of the cap 357 being screwed onto a corresponding swab receptacle in which swabs are located (not shown) or by the swab handle 345 being manually inserted into the cap 347 by a user) the swab handle 345 contacts guiding member 357 (Figure 7A). This contact guides the swab handle 345 laterally outward with respect to the guiding member 357 and into a swab handle receiving location formed by the recess 359 (Figure 7B). The recess 359 has a width dimension which is complementary, and preferably slightly smaller than a width dimension of the corresponding swab handle 345. The swab handle 345 and / or recess wall(s) may therefore be deformed when the swab handle is inserted into the swab handle receiving location. The restorative force from the deformation urges surfaces of the swab handle 345 and recess 359 towards one another to provide frictional engagement, e.g. interference fit (Figure 7C). An interference fit between the swab handle 345 and the recess 359 means that, when the cap 347 is disengaged from a receptacle (not shown), the swab handle 345 remains within the recess 359 (against its own weight). Therefore, the handling required to remove the swab 345 from the receptacle is minimal and no direct contact between the swabs and user is required to remove the swabs from the receptacle for sampling.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described swab container assembly, cap, kit of parts and use may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, for instance, the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Moreover, any one or more of the above described embodiments could be combined with one or more features of the other embodiments and all such combinations are intended within the present disclosure.

Optional and/or preferred features may be used in other combinations beyond those explicitly described herein and optional and/or preferred features described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be present in another aspect of the invention, where appropriate.

The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as “preferable”, “preferably”, “preferred” or “more preferred” in the description suggest that a feature so described may be desirable, it may nevertheless not be necessary and embodiments lacking such a feature may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” or “at least one,” are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limit the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS:

1. A swab container assembly comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs, the swab container assembly further comprising a cap detachably engaged with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises: one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being configured to guide a swab laterally outward with respect to the inner surface of the cap and into one of the swab receiving locations when a swab is received within the cap.

2. The swab container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the one or more recesses are shaped to retain the swabs.

3. The swab container assembly according to claim 2 wherein the one or more recesses are shaped to retain the swabs by interference fit therewith.

4. The swab container assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more recesses is a single recess defining a plurality of swab receiving locations.

5. The swab container assembly according to claim 4 wherein the recess has an opening that is substantially elongate along its length.

6. The swab container assembly according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the single recess is substantially annular in shape along its length.

7. The swab container assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the guiding member is located substantially centrally on the inner surface of the cap.

8. The swab container assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the guiding member is an element projecting from the inner surface of the cap and comprising an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is at least in part sloped in a direction laterally outwards with respect to the inner surface of the cap towards the one or more swab receiving locations.

9. The swab container assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the guiding member is an element projecting from the inner surface of the cap comprising an outer surface that that is tapered, domed, or substantially conical.

10. The swab container assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner surface of the cap has an outer wall, and further comprises an inner wall positioned between the outer wall and the one or more recesses.

11. A swab container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to figure 6.

12. A cap as defined in any previous claim for engagement with a receptacle according to any preceding claim.

13. A cap according to claim 12 substantially as herein described with reference to any one of figures 1-5 and 7.

14. A kit of parts for preparing a swab container assembly, the kit comprising a receptacle having an open end, the receptacle being suitable for receiving a plurality of swabs, the kit further comprising a cap that is detachably engageable with the open end of the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises: one or more recesses formed on an inner surface of the cap, the one or more recesses defining a plurality of swab receiving locations; and a guiding member disposed on the inner surface of the cap, said guiding member being configured to guide a swab laterally outward with respect to the inner surface of the cap into one of the swab receiving locations when a swab is received within the cap.

15. Use of a cap as defined in any preceding claim for engaging one or more swabs.

16. The use according to claim 15 wherein said engaging comprises engaging more than one swab simultaneously.

17. The use according to claim 15 or 16 wherein said engaging is performed manually.

18. The use according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein said engaging is performed without use of a swab receptacle, optionally by hand.

19. The use according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the engagement of the cap with the swab causes the cap to retain the one or more swabs.