Insertable blood collector with protruding scoop member

Abstract

A blood collection system (1) for home sampling comprising a blood collector (4) provided with a scoop member (40) for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway Pw to an inner cavity (200) of a fluid container (2). The blood collector (4) has a flange portion (41) to be placed onto an end face (211) of a circumferential wall (21) of the fluid container and an insert portion (42) which is insertable into a container opening (210). The scoop member (40) is supported by at least one of the flange portion (41) and insert portion (42). The scoop member (40) protrudes above the flange portion (41) to a limited distance to allow a mounting of a cap (3) to the fluid container (2) to close off the container opening (210) while leaving the blood collector 4 inserted in the container opening (210).

Description

[0001] Title: Insertable blood collector with protruding scoop member.

[0002] The invention relates to a blood collection system for home sampling. The blood collection system comprises a fluid container, a cap for closing the fluid container and a blood collector including a scoop member for collecting a droplet and for transferring the droplet along a passageway to an inner cavity of the fluid container.

[0003] EP0204891 B1 discloses a blood collector which is attachable to a micro collection container. The blood collector has a scoop-shaped distal front end portion. An entered blood droplet travels through a blood flow passageway to a rear end portion wherein the blood droplet passes over a semi-circular proximal edge provided with one or more discontinuities into the micro collection container. After taking a full sample, the collector is removed from the micro collection container, and then the sample may be covered with a cap and transported to the appropriate test area.

[0004] JP6790556 B2 discloses a blood collection kit to collect a blood sample at home. An inspection unit is disclosed with a collecting / sampling member on top of a fluid container. The container has a container body 31 which has a bottomed cylindrical shape. A container opening is arranged to be closed by a lid.

[0005] The collecting member has a flange portion 23 in between a narrow tube portion 21 forming a nozzle and a fitting portion 22. The tube portion has an inner passageway 21a to take a fluid by capillary action. The flange portion has a larger diameter than an outer periphery of the container opening. The fitting portion is arranged to fit by a plurality of ribs in the container opening of the fluid container.

[0006] After taking a full sample, the collecting member is removed from the fluid container, and then closed by the lid for transport to an appropriate test area.

[0007] A drawback of these home blood collection systems is that these are vulnerable for different kind of failures which may occur during home sampling.

[0008] Similar to EP0204891 B1 , W083 / 00281A1 discloses a device for collecting samples of blood out of three components. The device includes an open ended vial, a cap with a capillary tube for drawing samples into the vial and a closure element. The closure element is adapted to close off the capillary tube of the cap or in a reversed orientation to close of the vial to perform a sealing function.

[0009] WO2019 / 054862 discloses a collection tube for collecting a biological specimen. A collection member is releasably mounted to the collection tube. The collection member has a pickup section which protrudes from a flange. A specially configured cap is provided to cooperate with the collection member for sealing off the collection tube. The cap has a lower part fitting with a straight through section and a funnel through section of the collection member.

[0010] Further, WO2009 / 111622A2, EP1082998A2, WO2015189960A1 and WO202052243A1 disclose several embodiments of closures.

[0011] Regarding the above-mentioned prior art, it is remarked that any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like included in the present specification is for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention, and is not to be taken as an admission that any such matters form part of the prior art or were before the priority date of each claim of this application common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.

[0012] The general object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above mentioned drawback and / or to provide a usable alternative. More specific, it is an object of the invention to provide a blood collection system for home sampling which is less vulnerable to sampling failures.

[0013] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a blood collection system according to claim 1.

[0014] The blood collection system is configured to be used for home sampling. The blood collection system allows a user to collect a blood sample in a home situation. The blood collection system comprises a fluid container, a cap and a separate blood collector.

[0015] The fluid container has a circumferential wall which forms a container opening at a top region of the fluid container. An inner cavity is provided inside the fluid container for receiving a blood sample. A blood volume can be introduced via the container opening into the inner cavity.

[0016] The cap of the blood collection system is configured to close the container opening of the fluid container. The cap has a top wall and a downwardly depending skirt. The skirt has an exterior side, an interior side, and a lower edge remote from the top wall. Preferably for home sampling, the cap is a screw-on cap having an inner screw thread on the interior side of the skirt, and wherein the fluid container has a complimentary outer screw thread on the circumferential wall to allow the cap to be screwed onto the fluid container.

[0017] The blood collector of the blood collection system comprises a scoop member. The scoop member is arranged to receive and transfer a blood droplet to the inner cavity of the fluid container. The scoop member has a scoop tip for receiving a blood droplet, a scoop surface for transferring the received blood droplet and a scoop tail for dropping of the blood droplet to the inner cavity.

[0018] The blood collector has a flange portion which is configured to be placed onto an end face of the circumferential wall of the fluid container. The flange portion may have an outer diameter of at most an outer diameter of the circumferential wall at a top region of the fluid container. The blood collector has an insert portion which is insertable into the container opening. The scoop member is connected to the insert portion. The scoop member extends above the flange portion to a limited distance to allow a mounting of the cap to the fluid container to close off the container opening while leaving the blood collector in place. Thus, the blood collector remains in position when the cap is placed onto the fluid container.

[0019] The cap is mountable on the fluid container over the blood collector which may provide several benefits. The scoop member sufficiently protrudes out of the fluid container opening to allow a capturing of a blood droplet at the scoop tip in a convenient manner, but the scoop member protrudes to a limited distance to allow the cap to be screwed or snapped onto the blood collector remaining inserted in the fluid container opening. After collecting a blood droplet, this configuration of the scoop member allows the cap to be placed directly on the fluid container without a need of first removing the inserted blood collector. No removal of the blood collector is necessary to close the fluid container by placing the cap. This is especially beneficial for home sampling. A user may simply close the fluid container after collecting a sufficient volume by directly placing the cap onto the fluid container. No extra handling in first removing the blood collector is necessary to finish a blood collection. Thus, a spoiling of droplets or other failures may be prevented.

[0020] Advantageously, the configuration of the blood collector allows an embodiment of a blood collection system which includes a regular fluid container, also called a micro sample tube or micro collection container in the market, and which may include a regular cap. A common fluid container end cap may be used in combination with the blood collector according to the invention to provide the blood collection system. Another benefit of the blood collection system according to the invention is that the insert portion of the blood collector may form an effective barrier to prevent an outflow of a buffer medium or collected blood volume when the fluid container is held in a substantially horizontal orientation.

[0021] In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the scoop member extends at most 7 mm, in particular at most 5 mm away from the flange portion. Typically, this handsome length of the scoop member protruding outside the container opening allows a user a convenient collection of droplets and also allows the cap to be placed over the blood collector.

[0022] In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the blood collector is a separate item. In the blood collection system, the blood collector is releasably mounted to the fluid container. In an alternative embodiment, the blood collector may be glued or otherwise adhesively attached to the fluid container.

[0023] In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the scoop member is connected to the insert portion. The scoop member is positioned in a through opening of the insert portion. The through opening forms the passageway for transferring droplets from an exterior to the inner cavity. The insert portion may have a cylindrical portion adjacently positioned to the flange portion which cylindrical portion extends away from the flange portion to align the blood collector with the fluid container when inserted. An outer diameter of the cylindrical portion may equal an inner diameter of the container opening to fit the insert portion into the container opening.

[0024] The insert portion may have a funnel-shaped portion adjacent to the cylindrical portion which reduces a diameter of the through opening. Beneficially, the funnel-shaped portion contributes to an improved barrier to prevent an outflow of a fluid. At least one reinforcing rib, in particular three ribs, may be provided to connect the funnel-shaped portion to the cylindrical portion. In particular, the scoop member is connected to the funnel-shaped portion. The funnel-shaped portion supports the scoop member.

[0025] In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the scoop member has an arc-shaped cross-section. The arc-shaped cross-section may substantially equal a semicircle. Preferably, the scoop member is smaller than a semicircle. In particular, the arcshaped scoop member extends along a circular minor sector having an arc length which extends along an angle of at most 180°, in particular at most 160°. Typically, the scoop member has a chord length of at least 5 mm and is most 10 mm. In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the scoop member has a scoop body which has a scoop surface, an inner scoop surface, for guiding a collected droplet from the scoop tip to the scoop tail, wherein the scoop surface is provided with at least one elongated ridge, in particular at least one pair of elongated ridges. The at least one elongated ridge extends in an axial direction of the scoop member. The axial direction of the scoop member is defined in a direction from the scoop tip to the scoop tail. The at least one elongated ridge contributes to a smooth running of droplets along the scoop surface and thereby to a quicker collection of a volume in the inner cavity of the fluid container. The pair of elongated ridges is beneficial in guiding a droplet in between the ridges from the scoop tip to the scoop tail. The droplet is captured by the pair of ridges and smoothly transferred to the inner cavity.

[0026] In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the scoop member has a scoop tail which has a pointed end. The pointed end contributes to a quick loosening of a droplet from the scoop member to the inner cavity which contributes to a quicker collection of a volume in the inner cavity of the fluid container.

[0027] In an embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention, the cap has a needle passage at the top wall which needle passage is provided with a seal to allow a needle introduction for sucking up a sample at a test facility.

[0028] Further, the invention relates to a blood collector of a blood collection system for home sampling, which comprises a scoop member for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway to an inner cavity of a fluid container, which blood collector has a flange portion which is configured to be placed onto an end face of a circumferential wall of said fluid container and an insert portion which is insertable into a container opening, wherein the scoop member is supported by at least one of the flange portion and insert portion and wherein the scoop member protrudes above the flange portion to a limited distance to allow a cap to close off the container opening while leaving the blood collector inserted in the container opening.

[0029] According to an aspect, the invention relates to a particular configuration of a cap of a test tube, in particular of the blood collection system.

[0030] According to this aspect, the invention relates to a cap having a top wall and a downwardly depending skirt, which has an exterior side, an interior side and a lower edge remote from the top wall, wherein the cap has a sealed off needle passage at the top wall to allow a needle introduction for sucking up a sample at a test facility, wherein the cap has a seal formed by a seal insert being manufactured by injection moulding, in particular out of a silicon material, having a seal body including a central portion and a seal insert portion, wherein the central portion forms a puncturable member and wherein the seal insert portion is configured to fit into a interior cavity of the cap.

[0031] In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the seal insert portion is ring-shaped and the interior cavity of the cap is complementary annular-shaped to allow a fitment of the seal insert portion into the annular-shaped cavity. Preferably, the seal insert portion is formed by a doublewalled ring-body including a seal inner skirt and a seal outer skirt. Preferably, the seal outer skirt includes a seal flange. Preferably, the cap has an inner skirt extending away from an inner side of the top wall. The seal insert portion is preferably attachable to the inner skirt of the cap, in particular the seal insert portion is attachable by the seal flange to an end face of the inner skirt.

[0032] In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the central portion has a seal wall surrounding a needle pierceable body, also called a puncturable body. The seal wall is configured to be positioned in abutting engagement with an end face of the passage wall of the needle passage. Preferably, the puncturable body has a planar top face.

[0033] Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides a blood collection system comprising for home sampling comprising a blood collector provided with a scoop member for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway to an inner cavity of a fluid container which blood collector has a flange portion to be placed onto an end face of a circumferential wall of the fluid container and an insert portion which is insertable into a container opening, wherein the scoop member is supported by at least one of the flange portion and insert portion and is protruding above the flange portion to a limited distance to allow a mounting of a cap to the fluid container to close off the container opening while leaving the blood collector inserted in the container opening.

[0034] Thus, in a second aspect, the invention provides cap of a blood collection system for home sampling, wherein the cap has a top wall and a downwardly depending skirt, which has an exterior side, an interior side and a lower edge remote from the top wall, wherein the cap has a sealed off needle passage at the top wall to allow a needle introduction for sucking up a sample at a test facility, wherein the cap has a seal formed by a seal insert being manufactured by injection moulding, in particular out of a silicon material, having a seal body including a central portion and a seal insert portion, wherein the central portion comprises a puncturable member and wherein the seal insert portion is configured to fit into an interior cavity of the cap.

[0035] Embodiments according to an aspect of the invention are defined in the following clauses:

[0036] 1. Blood collection system (1) for home sampling, which blood collection system (1) comprises:

[0037] - a fluid container (2) having an inner cavity (200) for receiving a blood sample and a circumferential wall (21) forming a container opening (210) at a top region (TR) of the fluid container for introducing a blood volume into the inner cavity (200);

[0038] - a cap (3) for closing the container opening (210) of the fluid container; and

[0039] - a blood collector (4) provided with a scoop member (40) for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway (Pw) to the inner cavity (200) of the fluid container (2), which blood collector (4) has a flange portion (41) which is configured to be placed onto an end face (211) of the circumferential wall (21) of the fluid container (2) and an insert portion (42) which is insertable into the container opening (210), wherein the scoop member (40) is supported by at least one of the flange portion (41) and insert portion (42) and wherein the scoop member (40) protrudes outside the flange portion (41) to a limited distance to allow a mounting of the cap (3) to the fluid container (2) to close off the container opening (210) while leaving the blood collector (4) inserted in the container opening (210).

[0040] 2. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 1 , wherein the scoop member (40) extends at most 7mm, in particular at most 5mm away from the flange portion (41).

[0041] 3. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the scoop member (40) is connected to the insert portion (42), in particular in a through opening of a funnel-shaped portion of the insert portion.

[0042] 4. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the scoop member (40) has an arc shaped cross section which is in particular smaller than a semicircle.

[0043] 5. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 4, wherein the arc shaped scoop member (40) extends along a circular minor sector having an arc length which extends along an angle of at most 180°, in particular at most 160°.

[0044] 6. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 4 or 5, wherein the scoop member (40) has a chord length of at least 5mm and at most 10mm. 7. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the scoop member (40) has a scoop surface (403) which is provided with at least one elongated ridge (404), in particular at least one pair of elongated ridges (404) extending in an axial direction of the scoop member.

[0045] 8. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the scoop member (40) has a scoop tail (402) which has a pointed end.

[0046] 9. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the insert portion (42) has a cylindrical portion (420) adjacent and extending away from the flange portion (41) for aligning the insert portion (42) with the fluid container (2).

[0047] 10. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 9, wherein the insert portion (42) has a funnel-shaped portion extending away from the cylindrical portion (420) which funnel-shaped portion supports the scoop member.

[0048] 11. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 10, wherein the funnel-shaped portion is connected to the cylindrical portion by at least one rib (422), in particular three ribs (422).

[0049] 12. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cap (3) has a top wall (30) and a downwardly depending skirt (31), said skirt having an exterior side (311), an interior side (312) and a lower edge (310) remote from the top wall (30), wherein the cap (3) has a sealed off needle passage (34) at the top wall (30) to allow a needle introduction for sucking up a blood sample at a test facility, wherein in particular the needle passage (34) is provided with a puncturable seal.

[0050] 13. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cap (3) has an inner screw thread (32) on the interior side of the skirt and wherein the fluid container (2) has a complementary outer screw thread (22) on the circumferential wall (21) to allow the cap (3) to be screwed onto the fluid container (2).

[0051] 14. Blood collection system (1) according to clause 12 or 13, wherein the puncturable seal (342) is formed by a seal insert (5) having a cylindrically shaped seal body (50) having a central portion (51) and a surrounding seal insert portion (52) to attach the seal body to an inside of the cap (3), wherein, in particular, the seal insert portion (52) includes a seal inner skirt (521) and a seal outer skirt (522) forming together a double-walled ring-body to be fitted into an annular cavity at an inside of the cap (3). 15. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the fluid container (2) is a micro collection container, also called a micro test tube, wherein in particular the container is provided with an outer screw thread (22) at a top region of the circumferential wall (21).

[0052] 16. Blood collector (4) of a blood collection system (1) for home sampling, which blood collector (4) comprises a scoop member (40) for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway (Pw) to an inner cavity (200) of a fluid container (2), which blood collector (4) has a flange portion (41) which is configured to be placed onto an end face (211) of a circumferential wall (21) of said fluid container and an insert portion (42) which is insertable into a container opening (210), wherein the scoop member (40) is supported by at least one of the flange portion (41) and insert portion (42) and wherein the scoop member (40) protrudes outside the flange portion (41) to a limited distance to allow a mounting of a cap (3) to the fluid container (2) to close off the container opening (210) while leaving the blood collector (4) inserted in the container opening (210).

[0053] 17. Cap (3) of a blood collection system (1) for home sampling, wherein the cap has a top wall (30) and a downwardly depending skirt (31), which has an exterior side, an interior side and a lower edge (310) remote from the top wall (30), wherein the cap has a sealed off needle passage at the top wall (30) to allow a needle introduction for sucking up a sample at a test facility, wherein the cap (3) has a seal (342) formed by a seal insert (5) being manufactured by injection moulding, in particular out of a silicon material, having a seal body (50) including a central portion (51) and a seal insert portion (52) to attach the seal body to an inside of the cap (3), wherein the central portion (51) comprises a puncturable member and wherein the seal insert portion (52) is configured to fit into an interior cavity of the cap (3).

[0054] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show a practical embodiment according to the invention, which may not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Specific features may also be considered apart from the shown embodiment and may be taken into account in a broader context as a delimiting feature, not only for the shown embodiment but as a common feature for all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, in which:

[0055] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the blood collection system according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the blood collection system as shown in fig. 1 ;

[0056] Fig. 3 shows a fluid container of the blood collection system as shown in fig. 1 ;

[0057] Fig. 4 shows in an enlarged view a blood collector being inserted in a container opening of the fluid container as shown in fig. 2;

[0058] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of the blood collector having a flange portion and a funnel- shaped insert portion to be introduced into the container opening; and

[0059] Fig. 6-9 respectively show a top, left side, front and bottom view of the blood collector;

[0060] Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the blood collection system as shown in fig. 1 ; and

[0061] Fig. 11 -14 show several views of a cap according to an aspect of the invention.

[0062] In Figs. 1 and 2, a blood collection system according to the invention is denoted overall by reference numeral 1 and in fig. 3-9, several components are illustrated separately. Identical reference signs are used in the drawings to indicate identical or functionally similar components.

[0063] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the blood collection system 1 which extends along an axial axis 01. Fig. 2 shows an exploded view and Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the blood collection system 1 which is configured to receive a blood volume in an inner cavity 200 of a fluid container 2 by collecting blood droplets after a finger puncture. The fluid container 2 of the blood collection system 1 has a container opening 210 which is closable by a cap 3.

[0064] For collecting the blood volume into the fluid container, a person first removes the cap 3 from the fluid container 2, subsequently the person drips blood droplets via a scoop member 40 of a blood collector 4 into the fluid container 2 and then replaces the cap 3 again when sufficient blood volume is received in the inner cavity 200 of the fluid container 2. The capped blood collection system 1 is then ready for transport to a test facility.

[0065] Here, the cap 3 has a top wall 30 and a skirt 31 including a finger grip 33 at an exterior side 311. The cap 3 may be a snap-on type cap in which a snap-on member is provided on an interior side of the skirt. Here, the cap 3 is a screw-on cap . At an interior side 312 of the skirt 31 , the cap 3 is provided with an inner screw thread 32. An outer screw thread 22 is provided at a top region of a circumferential wall 21 of the fluid container.

[0066] Here, the cap 3 is configured for testing a captured blood sample at the test facility. It is not necessary to remove the cap 3 from the fluid container 2 at the test facility. The top wall 30 has a needle passage 34 which is provided with a seal (342, see fig.12), e.g. an aluminium foil or silicon part. The seal is configured to be stitched by a needle to withdraw a blood sample from a collected blood volume in the inner cavity 200 of the fluid container 2.

[0067] At the test facility, a needle is introduced into the needle passage 34 of the cap 3 and stitched through the seal to allow a suction of a blood sample from the inner cavity. The needle passage 34 is formed by a passage wall 341 which extends away from the top wall 30 inside the cap 3 and has a passage opening 340 at the top wall 30 of the cap 3. The passage opening 340 is configured to allow a needle to be introduced through the cap 3 into the inner cavity 200 of the fluid container. The passage wall 341 forms a guidance for an introduced needle to guide a needle tip into the inner cavity 200. A seal to close off the passage opening 340 is provided at an end face of the passage wall 341 to provide a sealing of the needle passage 34.

[0068] Fig. 3 shows the fluid container 2 in further detail. The fluid container 2 has a circumferential wall 21 which extends from a bottom region BR to a top region TR.

[0069] Here, at the bottom region BR, a bottom plug 23 is connected to the circumferential wall 21. The bottom plug 23 has a bottom side which is provided with an engagement member, in particular a protrusion, more in particular a square protrusion, to allow a non-rotational engagement of the fluid container 2 with a complementary engagement member of a test apparatus at the test facility. The bottom plug 23 preferably has an identification marking to identify the blood collection system in a rack container. The bottom plug 23 may for example have a laser marking or may be provided with a label or QR code which is preferably provided at the bottom side of the protrusion to enable a read out from beneath when the blood collection system is vertically placed in the rack container.

[0070] At the top region TR, the circumferential wall 21 forms a container opening 210. Here, a head portion of the fluid container 2 is a widened portion.

[0071] The fluid container 2 has an inner cavity 200 for collecting a fluid volume. The inner cavity 200 is formed by a circumferential cavity wall 201 and a bottom cavity wall 202. Typically for blood collection, the inner cavity 200 has an inner volume of 0.5mL indicated by at least one measure line 24. The fluid container is a micro collection container. Here, a first measure line 241 and a second measure line 242 are provided at the circumferential wall 21 to indicate respectively 0.3mL and 0.5mL. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the head portion of the fluid container 2, wherein a blood collector 4 is inserted in the container opening 210. The blood collector 4 is an insert piece. The blood collector 4 has a flange portion 41 which is in an assembly of the blood collection system 1 positioned against an end face 211 at the top region TR of the circumferential wall 21 of the fluid container. The blood collector 4 comprises a scoop member 40 being positioned in a passageway Pw for receiving and guiding a blood droplet from the exterior into the inner cavity 200 of the fluid container 2.

[0072] The scoop member 40 of the blood collector 4 protrudes out of the container opening 210. A person may puncture his finger and put his finger onto a scoop tip 401 of the scoop member 40 to allow a blood droplet to flow along a scoop surface 403 of a scoop body 400 to enter the fluid container 2.

[0073] Fig. 5-9 show the blood collector 4 in several views in further detail. The blood collector 4 is a one-piece item. The blood collector 4 is manufactured by injection moulding. The blood collector 4 has a flange portion 41 which is configured to be placed onto an end face of the circumferential wall of the fluid container. The flange portion 41 has an outer diameter of at most the outer diameter of the circumferential wall 201 at the top region TR of the fluid container.

[0074] The blood collector 4 has an insert portion 42 which is insertable into the container opening 210. The insert portion 42 is positioned adjacent to the flange portion 41. the insert portion 42 extends away from the flange portion 41.

[0075] The insert portion 42 has a cylindrical portion 420 which extends away from the flange portion for aligning the insert portion with the fluid container. Adjacent to the cylindrical portion 420, the insert portion 42 has a funnel-shaped portion, a conical section 421. The funnel-shaped portion extends away from the cylindrical portion 420. The funnel-shaped portion contributes to a smooth introduction of the insert portion 42 into the container opening 210.

[0076] At least one rib 422, in particular three ribs, are provided along an outer periphery of the funnel- shaped portion to provide rigidity to the insert portion 42. The at least one rib 422 connects the funnel-shaped portion 421 to the cylindrical portion 420.

[0077] As shown in fig. 6, the scoop body 400 is connected to the funnel-shaped portion 421. An annular-shaped clearance is provided in between the cylindrical portion 420 and the scoop body 400. The scoop body 400 has an outer scoop surface 405 facing to an inner surface of the cylindrical portion 420. The scoop body 400 has a scoop surface 403, an inner scoop surface, for guiding a collected droplet from a scoop tip 401 to a scoop tail 402.

[0078] At least one ridge 404 extends in an axial direction and is positioned at the scoop surface 403. In particular, a pair of ridges 404 is provided. Here, a first and second pair of ridges 404 are provided. The at least one ridge 404 contributes to a smooth running of droplets through the passageway Pw of the blood collector 4 into the fluid container. Through the passageway Pw, a droplet flows from the scoop tip 401 along a scoop surface 403 to a bottom scoop tail 402 into the inner cavity 200.

[0079] Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the blood collection system as shown in fig. 1 and 2 in an assembled condition. The cap 3 is connected to a fluid container 2 to close off the inner cavity 200. In the assembled condition the blood collector 4 is in position and inserted in the container opening 210. The assembled condition may represent a situation in which the blood collection system is received by a user to prepare for home sampling, or may represent a situation after home sampling in which the cap 3 is placed back on the head portion of the fluid container 2. As comprehensible from the cross sectional view, the insert portion 42 of the blood collector forms in a horizontal position of the fluid container an outflow barrier to prevent a captured liquid to flow out of the inner cavity 200.

[0080] Fig. 10 further illustrates the configuration of the cap 3. The cap 3 has a needle passage 34 including a passage opening 340 at a top wall 30. The passage opening by a passage wall 341. The passage wall 341 is a circumferential wall which has an end face being positioned away from the top wall 30. The seal 342, which is here a seal insert 5, is attached to the end face of the passage wall 341 .

[0081] Fig.11-14 show the cap 3 provided with the seal insert 5 in further detail. The seal insert 5 is an injection moulded item. The seal insert 5 is made of a silicon material. The cap 3 has an inner skirt 35. The inner skirt 35 extends away from the top wall 30 in parallel with the skirt 31 . The inner skirt 35 substantially levels with the end face of the passage wall 341 .

[0082] The seal insert 5 has a seal body 50. The seal body 50 has a cylindrical shape. The seal body 50 has a central portion 51 which forms a puncturable member. In operation at a test facility, a needle may puncture through the puncturable member to reach the inner cavity 200 of the fluid container 2. The central portion 51 has a circumferential seal wall 510 which surrounds a planar puncturable body 511. The central portion 51 is connected to a seal insert portion 52 which is configured to attach the seal insert 5 to the inside of the cap 3.

[0083] The seal insert portion 52 is formed by a seal inner skirt 521 and a seal outer skirt 522. The inner and outer skirt 521 , 522 extend in parallel and form a double-walled ring-body. The ringshaped seal insert portion 52 is insertable and fits into an annular cavity formed by the inner skirt 35 and the passage wall 341 of the cap 3. The outer skirt 522 is connected to the inner skirt 521 by a bridge portion which is oriented substantially in perpendicular to the outer skirt 522.

[0084] Further, the seal insert portion 52 has a seal flange 53 at an outer side to attach the seal insert portion 52 to the end face of the inner skirt 35 of the cap 3. Here, the seal flange 53 has a flange tip 531 forming an outer edge of the insert portion 52. As shown in fig. 10, the seal flange 53 has an outer diameter which substantially equals an outer diameter of the flange portion 41 of the blood collector 4. In the assembled condition, the seal flange 53 is stacked on the flange portion 41 of the blood collector. Herewith, by the attachment of the cap 3, the blood collector 4 is held in position.

[0085] Numerous variants are possible in addition to the embodiment shown in the figures. For example, in a variant of the illustrated embodiment of the blood collection system, an alternative embodiment of the blood collection system may comprise a cap including an aluminium foil for sealing of the needle passage. For example, instead of a funnel-shaped insert portion, the blood collector may have a fully cylindrical shaped insert portion.

[0086] Although the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. It is intended that all such changes and modifications be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure and claims.

[0087] Further, it is remarked that any feature of the system according to the invention which is described in the embodiments and / or mentioned in the dependent claims is in itself considered patentable without any dependency to another presented feature. In particular, any measure presented in a dependent claim is also considered patentable without dependency of the independent claim. Reference signs list:

[0088] TR top region 241 first measure line BR bottom region 20 242 second measure line

[0089] 1 blood collection system 01 axial axis 3 cap

[0090] 30 top wall

[0091] 2 fluid container 31 skirt

[0092] 200 inner cavity 310 lower edge

[0093] 201 cavity circumferential wall 311 exterior side

[0094] 202 cavity bottom wall 312 interior side

[0095] 21 circumferential wall 32 inner screw thread

[0096] 210 container opening 33 finger grip

[0097] 211 end face 34 needle passage

[0098] 22 outer screw thread 340 passage opening

[0099] 23 bottom plug 25 341 passage wall

[0100] 24 measure line 342 seal 35 inner skirt 420 cylindrical portion

[0101] 421 conical section

[0102] 4 blood collector 422 rib Pw passageway 45 423 bottom edge

[0103] 40 scoop member

[0104] 400 scoop body 5 seal insert semicircle 50 seal body

[0105] 401 scoop tip 51 central portion

[0106] 402 scoop tail 50 510 seal wall

[0107] 403 scoop surface 511 puncturable body

[0108] 404 ridge 52 seal insert portion

[0109] 405 outer scoop surface 521 seal inner skirt

[0110] 522 seal outer skirt

[0111] 41 flange portion 55 53 seal flange

[0112] 42 insert portion 531 seal flange tip

Claims

CLAIMS1. Blood collection system (1) for home sampling, which blood collection system (1) comprises:- a fluid container (2) having an inner cavity (200) for receiving a blood sample and a circumferential wall (21) forming a container opening (210) at a top region (TR) of the fluid container for introducing a blood volume into the inner cavity (200);- a cap (3) for closing the container opening (210) of the fluid container, wherein the cap (3) has a top wall (30) and a downwardly depending skirt (31), said skirt having an exterior side (311), an interior side (312) and a lower edge (310) remote from the top wall (30), wherein the cap (3) has an inner screw thread (32) on the interior side of the skirt and wherein the fluid container (2) has a complementary outer screw thread (22) on the circumferential wall (21) to allow the cap (3) to be screwed onto the fluid container (2); and- a blood collector (4) being a separate item provided with a scoop member (40) for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway (Pw) to the inner cavity (200) of the fluid container (2), which blood collector (4) has a flange portion (41) which is configured to be placed onto an end face (211) of the circumferential wall (21) of the fluid container (2) and an insert portion (42) which is insertable into the container opening (210), wherein the scoop member (40) is connected to the insert portion (42) and wherein the scoop member (40) protrudes outside the flange portion (41) to a limited distance to allow a mounting of the cap (3) to the fluid container (2) to close off the container opening (210) while leaving the blood collector (4) inserted in the container opening (210).

2. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the scoop member (40) extends at most 7mm, in particular at most 5mm away from the flange portion (41).

3. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scoop member (40) is connected to the insert portion (42) in a through opening of a funnel-shaped portion of the insert portion.

4. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the scoop member (40) has an arc shaped cross section which is in particular smaller than a semicircle.

5. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the arc shaped scoop member (40) extends along a circular minor sector having an arc length which extends along an angle of at most 180°, in particular at most 160°.

6. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the scoop member (40) has a chord length of at least 5mm and at most 10mm.

7. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the scoop member (40) has a scoop surface (403) which is provided with at least one elongated ridge (404), in particular at least one pair of elongated ridges (404) extending in an axial direction of the scoop member.

8. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the scoop member (40) has a scoop tail (402) which has a pointed end.

9. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the insert portion (42) has a cylindrical portion (420) adjacent and extending away from the flange portion (41) for aligning the insert portion (42) with the fluid container (2).

10. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the insert portion (42) has a funnel-shaped portion extending away from the cylindrical portion (420) which funnel-shaped portion supports the scoop member.

11. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the funnel-shaped portion is connected to the cylindrical portion by at least one rib (422), in particular three ribs (422).

12. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (3) has a sealed off needle passage (34) at the top wall (30) to allow a needle introduction for sucking up a blood sample at a test facility.

13. Blood collection system (1) according to claim 12, wherein the needle passage (34) is provided with a puncturable seal, wherein in particular the puncturable seal (342) is formed by a seal insert (5) having a cylindrically shaped seal body (50) having a central portion (51) and a surrounding seal insert portion (52) to attach the seal body to an inside of the cap (3), wherein, in particular, the seal insert portion (52) includes a seal inner skirt (521) and a seal outer skirt (522) forming together a double-walled ring-body to be fitted into an annular cavity at an inside of the cap (3).

14. Blood collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid container (2) is a micro collection container, also called a micro test tube, wherein in particular the container is provided with an outer screw thread (22) at a top region of the circumferential wall (21).

15. Blood collector (4) of a blood collection system (1) for home sampling according to any of the preceding claims, which blood collector (4) comprises a scoop member (40) for collecting and transferring a blood droplet along a passageway (Pw) to an inner cavity (200) of a fluid container (2), which blood collector (4) has a flange portion (41) which is configured to be placed onto an end face (211) of a circumferential wall (21) of said fluid container and an insert portion (42) which is insertable into a container opening (210), wherein the scoop member (40) is connected to the insert portion (42) in a through opening of a funnel-shaped portion of the insert portion and wherein the scoop member (40) protrudes outside the flange portion (41) to a limited distance to allow a mounting of a cap (3) to the fluid container (2) to close off the container opening (210) while leaving the blood collector (4) inserted in the container opening (210).

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