Container system for releasably storing a substance

Abstract

The present invention provides a container system for releasably storing a substance. The container system includes a vial having a sample storage chamber and a piercing member for piercing a membrane in the lid, which membrane seals a substance within a reservoir in the lid until the membrane is pierced by the piercing member. The container system optionally includes a funnel. There is also provided a method and kit for use of such a container system.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A collection device for receiving and storing a saliva sample, comprising:
 a tube comprising a first end configured to receive the saliva sample, a closed second end, and a sample storage chamber;   a funnel comprising a first cylindrical end, a second cylindrical end, and a channel extending from the first cylindrical end to the second cylindrical end, wherein
 the first cylindrical end is configured to receive the saliva sample, wherein 
 the second cylindrical end has a diameter less than the diameter of the first cylindrical end and is configured to twist onto the tube at the tube's first end, wherein 
 the funnel comprises three piercing members, and wherein 
 the three piercing members are arranged on an interior surface of the funnel between the first cylindrical end and the second cylindrical end; 
   a lid comprising an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall, wherein the inner cylindrical wall forms a reservoir of stabilizing liquid sealed by a pierceable membrane, wherein
 the lid is configured to twist onto the funnel at the funnel's first cylindrical end, wherein 
 the piercing members pierce and disrupt the pierceable membrane, thereby releasing the liquid from the reservoir into the tube; and 
   a tube cap configured to seal the tube's first end.   
     
     
         3 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel consists of three piercing members. 
     
     
         4 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid is configured to fully twist onto the funnel in about one quarter turn. 
     
     
         5 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the piercing members is at least partially separated from the lid's inner cylindrical wall when the lid is fully twisted onto the funnel. 
     
     
         6 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the piercing members is fully separated from the lid's inner cylindrical wall when the lid is fully twisted onto the funnel. 
     
     
         7 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the chamber is sealed against leakage to the outside of the collection device when the lid is fully twisted onto the funnel. 
     
     
         8 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the piercing members are arranged in a semi-circular fashion. 
     
     
         9 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the piercing members extend perpendicularly from the funnel's interior surface toward the funnel's first cylindrical end. 
     
     
         10 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid comprises helical threads arranged on an inner surface of the lid's outer cylindrical wall and configured to engage the funnel. 
     
     
         11 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel comprises helical threads arranged on an inner surface of the funnel's second cylindrical end and configured to engage the tube. 
     
     
         12 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid and funnel are configured so that the piercing members pierce the pierceable membrane as the lid twists onto the funnel. 
     
     
         13 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid comprises outwardly extending ribs that can be gripped to twist the lid onto the funnel. 
     
     
         14 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the tube cap comprises outwardly extending ribs that can be gripped to twist the tube cap onto the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid and funnel are configured to be placed in a first position prior to piercing, then be placed in a piercing position, and then be twisted. 
     
     
         16 . The collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel's first cylindrical end is configured to fit between the lid's outer cylindrical wall and the lid's inner cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         17 . A method of receiving and storing a saliva sample, comprising:
 providing, through a funnel, a saliva sample to a sample storage chamber in a tube;   attaching a lid to a wide end of the funnel, wherein attaching the lid to the funnel's wide end comprises twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end, and wherein attaching the lid to the funnel's wide end comprises disrupting a pierceable membrane of the lid with three piercing members positioned in the funnel, thereby releasing a stabilizing liquid from a reservoir sealed by the pierceable membrane;   removing the funnel from the tube; and   twisting a tube cap onto an open end of the tube.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end comprises disrupting the lid's pierceable membrane with the three piercing members. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lid comprises an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall, wherein the inner cylindrical wall forms the reservoir of stabilizing liquid sealed by the pierceable membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each of the piercing members is at least partially separated from the lid's inner cylindrical wall when twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each of the piercing members is fully separated from the lid's inner cylindrical wall when twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising attaching or twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end by helical threads arranged on an inner surface of the lid's outer cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein attaching the lid to the funnel's wide end comprises fitting the funnel's wide end between the lid's outer cylindrical wall and the lid's inner cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the saliva sample comprises providing the saliva sample until the saliva reaches a fill line. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid is a nucleic acid preserving substance. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end comprises fully twisting the lid about one quarter turn. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein fully twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end comprises sealing the chamber against leakage. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end comprises releasing all liquid in about one quarter turn. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each of the piercing members is the same distance from a center of the piercing membrane. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least two of the piercing members are arranged in a semi-circular fashion. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the piercing members extend perpendicularly from an interior surface of the funnel toward the funnel's wide end. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end comprises gripping outwardly extending ribs on the lid. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein twisting the tube cap onto the tube's open end comprises gripping outwardly extending ribs on the tube cap. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disrupting the lid's pierceable membrane with three piercing members positioned in the funnel comprises placing the lid and funnel in a first position prior to piercing, then placing the lid and funnel in a piercing position, then twisting the lid onto the funnel's wide end.