GB648522A - Improvements in or relating to a container - Google Patents

Abstract

648,522. Stoppers. STEVENS, A. H. (Baxter Laboratories, Inc.). Nov. 16, 1948, No. 29771. [Class 125(iii)] A closure for a container for use, more particularly, in the withdrawal and dispensing of blood and blood portions, consists of a rubber or like plug B with three passages 11, 12, 25, the two former being blocked by thin diaphragms 13, 16 and the latter by a thick upper wall 25a. The plug B is placed loosely in the neck of the container which is then evacuated, the plug being finally seated by a sudden change to atmospheric pressure or by being pressed into the container neck. The plug is then protected by a resilient sealing disc 22 and cap 23. When the container is to be filled with blood, a hypodermic needle 26 is thrust through the thick part 25a and blood is drawn by the vacuum through the tube 28 in the container. The wall separating the passage 25 and one, or each, of the passages 11, 12 is thin and resilient, so that when the needle 26 presses down the part 25a, the wall of the passage 25 flexes into the adjacent passage or passages. This ensures that, when the needle 26 is withdrawn, the punctured part of the plug is self-sealing. When the blood is to be dispensed, the cap 23 and disc 22 are removed, the head 20a of a fitting 19 is pressed through the thin diaphragm 13, and a hypodermic needle 17 is inserted through the diaphragm 16 to act as an air inlet. The punctured diaphragm grips the tapered part of the fitting 19 and tends to move the fitting outwardly so that the head 20a seals against the shoulder 13a. The positions of the passages 11, 12 are indicated by depressions 14, 15 in the top of the plug, and the axis of the passage 25 is indicated by a mark on the top of the plug.