Specimen enclosure apparatus and containers and closure devices for the same

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a specimen enclosure apparatus. The specimen enclosure apparatus includes a container having a cavity configured to receive the specimen and an opening extending through a neck of the container to the cavity. An internal flange is positioned intermediate the neck of the container. The specimen enclosure apparatus further includes a closure device configured to be received in the opening. The closure device has a flange seal portion configured to contact the internal flange to form a flange seal proximate the cavity and further has a radial travel limiter integrally formed with the closure device that is configured to contact the container in the opening to limit radial movement of the flange seal portion relative to the internal flange. Containers and closure devices are also provided.

1 . A specimen enclosure apparatus, comprising: 
 a container having a cavity configured to receive the specimen and an opening extending through a neck of the container to the cavity;    an internal flange positioned intermediate the neck of the container; and    a closure device configured to be received in the opening, the closure device having a flange seal portion configured to contact the internal flange to form a flange seal proximate the cavity and having a radial travel limiter integrally formed with the closure device that is configured to contact the container in the opening to limit radial movement of the flange seal portion relative to the internal flange.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the neck further comprises a plug sealing cylindrical surface extending from proximate the internal flange away from the cavity and wherein the radial travel limiter comprises a mating plug sealing cylindrical surface configured to form a plug seal with the plug sealing cylindrical surface of the neck, the flange seal being positioned between the plug seal and the cavity.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flange seal comprises an internal flange seal and wherein the container further comprises an external flange positioned at an end of the neck away from the cavity and wherein the closure device further comprises an external flange seal portion configured to contact the external flange to form an external flange seal at the end of the neck with the plug seal being positioned between the external flange seal and the internal flange seal.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the closure device is positioned in the opening and wherein the apparatus further comprises a closure member extending over the closure device and coupled to the container that retains the closure device in the opening and compresses the flange seal.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the closure member comprises a crimp seal, a screw cap and/or a tear-off seal.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the closure device is positioned in the opening and wherein an edge of the flange seal adjacent the opening is positioned to be directly exposed to moist heat during sterilization.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the closure device is positioned in the opening and wherein the closure device further comprises a degassing extension member extending from the flange seal portion into the cavity that is configured to retain the closure device in a degassing position in the opening defining a passage from the cavity through the opening through which a gas may be moved into and out of the cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the degassing extension member includes a plurality of tabs extending from an exterior surface thereof configured to engage the neck in the opening to retain the closure device in the degassing position and to displace the exterior surface of the degassing extension member from the neck to define the passage from the cavity through the opening.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein an edge of the flange seal adjacent the opening is positioned to be directly exposed to moist heat during sterilization.  
   
   
       10 . A specimen enclosure apparatus, comprising: 
 a container having a cavity configured to receive the specimen and an opening extending through a neck of the container to the cavity; and    a closure device covering the opening, the closure device having a flange seal portion configured to contact an external flange seal portion on an end of the neck of the container displaced from the cavity to form a flange seal closing the opening and having a radial travel limiter integrally formed with the closure device that contacts an exterior surface of the neck to limit radial movement of the flange seal portion of the closure device relative to the external flange seal portion of the container.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a closure member coupled to the container that retains the closure device covering the opening and compresses the flange seal.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the closure member comprises a crimp seal, a screw cap and/or a tear-off seal.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein an edge of the flange seal adjacent the opening is positioned to be directly exposed to moist heat during sterilization.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the closure device further comprises a degassing extension member extending from the flange seal portion along an exterior surface of the neck that is configured to retain the closure device in a degassing position defining a passage from the cavity through the opening through which a gas may be moved into and out of the cavity.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the degassing extension member includes a tab extending from a surface thereof configured to engage the exterior surface of the neck to retain the closure device in the degassing position.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tab comprises a circumferentially extending ridge and wherein the degassing extension member further comprises a slot extending past the ridge to define the passage along the exterior surface of the neck.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the neck further comprises a plug sealing cylindrical surface defined by the exterior surface of the neck and wherein the radial travel limiter comprises a mating plug sealing cylindrical surface configured to form a radial seal with the plug sealing cylindrical surface of the neck, the flange seal being positioned between the radial seal and the cavity.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a closure member coupled to the container that retains the closure device covering the opening and compresses the flange seal.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the closure member further compresses the radial seal.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the neck further includes a narrowed portion and an intermediate portion extending from the narrowed portion to the plug sealing cylindrical surface and wherein the closure member engages the intermediate portion to retain the closure device.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a crimp seal, a screw cap and/or a tear-off seal.  
   
   
       22 . A container for a specimen enclosure apparatus, the container comprising: 
 a main portion including a cavity configured to receive the specimen;    a neck extending from the main portion;    an opening extending through the neck to the cavity;    an internal flange positioned intermediate the neck of the container that is configured to contact a flange seal portion of a closure device to form a flange seal proximate the cavity; and    a radial travel limiting contact surface in the opening that is configured to contact the closure device to limit radial movement of the flange seal.    
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the radial travel limiting contact surface comprises a plug sealing cylindrical surface extending from proximate to the internal flange away from the cavity that is configured to form a plug seal with the closure device.  
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising an external flange positioned at an end of the neck away from the cavity that is configured to contact the closure device to form an external flange seal, the plug seal being positioned between the flange seal formed by the internal flange and the external flange seal.  
   
   
       25 . A closure device for a specimen enclosure apparatus, the closure device comprising: 
 a flange seal portion configured to contact an internal flange positioned intermediate a neck of a container configured to receive the specimen to form a flange seal proximate the cavity; and    a radial travel limiter integrally formed with the flange seal portion that is configured to contact the container in an opening extending through the neck to the cavity to limit radial movement of the flange seal portion relative to the internal flange.    
   
   
       26 . The closure device of  claim 25 , wherein the radial travel limiter comprises a mating plug sealing cylindrical surface extending from the flange seal portion that is configured to form a plug seal with a plug sealing cylindrical surface extending from the internal flange of the container away from the cavity of the container.  
   
   
       27 . The closure device of  claim 26 , further comprising an external flange seal portion configured to form a further flange seal with an external flange of the container positioned at an end of the neck away from the cavity, the plug seal being positioned between the flange seal and the further flange seal.  
   
   
       28 . The closure device of  claim 26 , further comprising a degassing extension member extending from the flange seal portion and away from the radial travel limiter that is configured to retain the closure device in a degassing position in the opening defining a passage from the cavity through which a gas may be moved into and out of the cavity.  
   
   
       29 . The closure device of  claim 28 , wherein the degassing extension member includes a plurality of tabs extending from an exterior surface thereof configured to engage the neck in the opening to retain the closure device in the degassing position and to displace the exterior surface of the degassing extension member from the neck to define the passage.