Prior Art: It has previously been proposed to package pharmaceuticals, such as aspirin or paracetamol tablets for example, in so-called"blister packs". The underside of one such previously proposed blister pack is shown in Figure 1.

As shown, the pack comprises a plastic substrate 1 in which a plurality of storage cavities 3 has been formed. The storage cavities, and typically the whole of the substrate, are covered with a piercable foil cover (not visible). Within each of the cavities there is provided a solid tablet (not visible). The plastics substrate 1 is typically thin enough, or of such suitable material-at least in the region of each cavity, to enable it to be deformed towards the cover to drive the tablet in a given cavity towards the cover to pierce the same so that the tablet may be removed from the pack for use.

In this previously proposed arrangement, the tablet acts as a tool for piercing the cover, and these previously proposed blister packs have become very popular for the supply and storage of pharmaceu- ticals.

However, as the tablet is used to pierce the cover in these previously proposed devices, they are typi- cally unsuitable for the supply or storage of fluids, such as liquids or powder, as deforming a fluid filled cavity towards it cannot easily pierce the cover.

One might think that a simple solution to this problem would be to pierce the cover from the outside (i. e. from the side opposite to the cavities) however this is not preferred as it is can then be difficult to remove all of the contents from the cavity. This is a particular disadvantage in applications where the cavity typically includes a specific dosage.

Another previously proposed storage device, particularly for fluids, comprises a cavity formed in a plas- tics body over which a cover is provided. Such storage devices have been used for a variety of differ- ent purposes, and one common use is for the storage of small quantities of milk that can be removed from the storage device to whiten tea or coffee, for example. To remove the milk or other fluid from the storage device, the user must first peal the cover from the body by pulling on a portion of the cover to break the seal between the cover and the body.

Unfortunately, due to the substantial force that must be applied to the cover to remove it from the body it is common for some of the liquid, in this case milk, to spill from the body when the device is opened.

Whilst this is not a serious problem when the device is used for the storage of milk, it is a serious problem when the device is used for the storage of chemical solutions as it is no longer possible to determine the exact dosage of chemical solutions in the device since an unknown quantity has been spilt therefrom and the chemical solution may be harmful.

Some problems concerning the removal of solid contents from blister packs have been alleviated by DE 4400083 A1, which describes a blister pack for finely dispersed solid contents, which blister pack comprises a container foil comprising at least one cavity and a cover foil. The described elements make it possible to easily remove solid contents to a large amount from a blister pack without impairing the finely dispersed form of the solid contents.

Description of Invention It is an object of an embodiment of the invention to alleviate at least some of these problems. In pursu- ance of this object, a first embodiment of the invention provides a storage device for fluids, the device comprising means defining a storage cavity; a cover for said cavity, and piercing means integral with said cavity defining means for piercing said cover. This embodiment of the invention alleviates the above described problems as the contents of the storage device are no longer responsible for piercing the cover-that being undertaken by the piercing means-with the effect that the storage device is now suitable for the storage of fluid (although it will be appreciated that the device may still be used for the storage of solids if desired).

As mentioned above, one advantage of a particular preferred aspect of this first embodiment is that it reduces the likelihood of fluid stored in the device becoming trapped in the cavity when the cover is pierced as the cover is pushed away from the device. In other words, one can be confident that when the cover is pierced substantially all of the fluid, for example, within the device may then be removed.

Because of this, the storage device according to the first embodiment of this invention also finds utility in the field of testing apparatus.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a storage device for fluids, the device comprising means defining a storage cavity; a cover for said cavity, and piercing means external to said cavity defining means and operable to drive the cavity defining means to reduce the volume of the cavity and to cause the cover to be pierced from within the cavity. This embodiment of the invention avoids the spillage problems identified above whilst still allowing fluid to flow from the device once the cover has been pierced.

One previously proposed testing apparatus is shown in Figure 3. As shown, the testing apparatus comprises a plastics body 10 in which a pair of reaction chambers 12 are formed. The chambers 12 are closable with a lid 14, and have provided therein freeze-dried reagents 16. This previously pro- posed testing apparatus further comprises a dropper bottle 18 for solvent such as buffer solution, for example.

In one illustrative example, the testing apparatus is operable to test for the presence of Helicobacter pylori and the freeze-dried reagents include urea. To conduct this illustrative test, a biopsy is taken from the patient's gut and placed in the reaction chambers. Buffer solution is added from the dropper bottle to reconstitute the freeze-dried reagents, and the test is left for half an hour or so to allow the reaction to take place. If the patient has Helicobacter pylori in their gut, then the reaction mixture will turn pink and if Helicobacter pylori are not present then the reaction mixture will remain a yellow/orange colour. Whilst this previously proposed testing apparatus has previously been operated with great suc- cess, various problems have been encountered.

A first problem associated with this apparatus is concerned with the fact that the reaction time (i. e. the time required for the reagents to indicate whether or not the patient sample contains Helicobacter py- lori) is heavily dependent upon the amount of solvent placed in the reaction chambers. With a few drops of solvent, the reaction time should be in the region of thirty minutes, however with more solvent the reaction time can increase to several hours. This is undesirable for a"while you wait"test.

Another problem is concerned with the fact that these previously proposed testing apparatus are not particularly environmentally friendly. All the tests are disposable, and this means that after a patient has been tested both the dropper bottle and plastics body are thrown away.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a testing apparatus which allowed a predetermined amount of solvent or fluid reagent to be inserted into the reaction chamber, and/or which decreased the amount of material that must be thrown away once the test has been completed.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided testing apparatus compris- ing one or more reaction chambers, means for sealing said reaction chambers, and means for dis- pensing a predetermined amount of fluid into said one or more reaction chambers.

This aspect of the invention alleviates the above mentioned reaction time problems by enabling a pre- determined amount of fluid (which may be a solvent, a liquid reagent or a powder) to be dispensed into the reaction chambers.

Preferably, the dispensing means comprises an integral component of said testing apparatus. More preferably, the dispensing means comprises an integral component of said sealing means. These pre- ferred aspects of the second embodiment reduce the environmental impact of the testing apparatus by reducing the amount of material required to manufacture the apparatus, and hence the amount of ma- terial that is thrown away after use.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the underside of a previously proposed blister pack; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a storage device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a previously proposed testing apparatus; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a testing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention that includes storage devices similar to those shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV--IV of Figure 4.

As mentioned above, Figure 1 shows a previously proposed blister pack, which comprises a plastics substrate 1 in which a plurality of storage cavities 3 have been formed. The storage cavities, and typi- cally the whole of the substrate, are covered with a piercable foil cover. Within each of the cavities there is provided a solid tablet. The plastics substrate 1 is typically thin enough, or of such suitable material (at least in the region of each cavity) to enable it to be deformed towards the cover. Deforming the substrate in this way drives the tablet in a given cavity towards the cover 5 to pierce the same so that the tablet may be removed from the pack for use. Whilst these blister packs are useful for the sup- ply of tablets, they are unsuitable for the storage of fluids as the cover cannot easily be pierced by de- forming a fluid filled cavity towards it.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a storage device 30 according to a first embodiment of the invention that is suitable for the storage of fluids (although it will be appreciated that it could also be used for the storage of solids). The fluid may be a solvent, a reagent or a solute (in liquid or powder form). In Figure 2, the illustrative storage device is shown storing a liquid 31 that may be a chemical reagent or a solvent, or both or a fluid, milk for example.

Whilst Figure 2 shows a single storage device, it will be appreciated that blister packs similar to those of Figure 1 may be formed that comprise a plurality of storage devices such as those shown in Fig- ure 2.

The storage device 30 comprises a support material 32 (preferably of plastics material with low mois- ture vapour transmission rate) in which a cavity 34 has been formed. The cavity 34 contains a prede- termined quantity of fluid 31 and is covered with a cover 36 that is preferably of foil or similar material so that it may easily be pierced and also have low moisture vapour transmission rate to give stability to the contents of the storage device over the storage lifetime. The substrate 32 is typically thin enough, or of such suitable material-at least in the region of the cavity 34, to enable it to be deformed towards the cover 36.

Within the cavity 34 there is provided piercing means 38 that in this embodiment comprises a spike.

Whilst it is preferred for manufacturing simplicity that the piercing means comprises a spike, it will be appreciated that many alternative arrangements may instead be provided. The piercing means is formed as an integral component of the substrate, and preferably as an integral component of the por- tion of the substrate that defines the cavity.

The substrate 32 in the region of the cavity may be deformed, by squeezing for example, towards the cover to drive the piercing means (i. e. the spike) to pierce the cover. Once the cover has been pierced fluid, for example, within the storage device may then be dispensed therefrom. Advantageously, by piercing the cover from inside the cavity the likelihood of fluid being trapped within the storage device is reduced as fractured cover portions will be driven away from the support material, and thus there will be less chance that they will interfere with fluid flow from the storage device.

In a further embodiment of the invention not illustrated in the drawings, the means for piercing the cav- ity may be external to the device and operable to drive the substrate towards the cover so that the pressure in the cavity is increased to the point at which the cover bursts. Alternatively, the external piercing means may simply pierce the substrate and cover without relying on an increase in pressure to cause cover fracture. This embodiment of the invention alleviates the spillage problems associated with pulling the cover from the substrate, and also avoids the problems associated with fluid being retained in the device once the cover has been pierced. The piercing means may simply comprise a spike.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a previously proposed testing apparatus. As shown, the test- ing apparatus comprises a plastics body 10 in which a pair of reaction chambers 12 are formed. The chambers 12 are closable with a lid 14, and have provided therein freeze-dried reagents 16. This pre- viously proposed testing apparatus further comprises a dropper bottle 18 for solvent such as buffer solution, for example. The plastics body is extended so that the bottle 18 may be stored in the region 19 of the body shown in ghost.

To use this previously proposed testing device, samples of tissue from a patient's body are placed in the reaction chambers and the freeze-dried reagents are then reconstituted by the addition of drops of buffer from the dropper bottle 18. The lid 14 is then closed and the apparatus is left until the test is completed.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a testing apparatus 40 according to a second embodiment of the invention that includes storage devices similar to those shown in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a cross- sectional view along the line V--V of Figure 4.

The testing apparatus 40 comprises a main body 42 in which a pair of reaction chambers 44 have been formed. The reaction chambers 44 can be sealed by a lid 46, which is pivotally attached to the main body 42. In this embodiment, the lid has a pair of storage devices 48 integrally formed therewith, one for each of the two reaction chambers 44. The storage devices 48 are similar to those shown in Fig- ure 2 and each comprise a cavity 50, which is covered by a cover 52 (preferably of foil). The base of each of the cavities include piercing means 54 (which in this embodiment are a spike) that are drive- able towards the cover to pierce the same, and thereby to release the fluid stored within.

The apparatus of Figure 4, in this illustrative example, is suitable for use as a"while you wait"test for Helicobacterpylori. It will be appreciated, however, that the testing apparatus may be used for a variety of different diagnostic tests. In this illustrative example, the storage devices store buffer solution as a solvent, and the reaction chambers each include a freeze-dried reagent 16 that includes urea.

To use the apparatus for a"while you wait"test for Helicobacter pylori, patient samples (in this case biopsies from the patient's gut) are inserted in each of the reaction chambers, and then the lid is closed to seal the chambers. The storage devices are then operated by pressing on the wall of each cavity to drive the spikes towards their respective covers. Once the spikes have pierced the covers, the fluid within the storage devices is then free to run into the reaction chambers to reconstitute the freeze-dried reagents so that the test can take place. If the patient does have Helicobacter pylori in their gut, then the reaction mixture will turn pink. On the other hand, if the patient does not have Helicobacter pylori, then the reaction mixture will remain yellow/orange.

It is apparent therefore that the second embodiment of the invention avoids problems associated with increased reaction times, as only a predetermined quantity of fluid is dispensed into the reaction cham- bers and is therefore simpler to use. In addition, as the size of the testing apparatus is greatly reduced in comparison to that of Figure 3 the apparatus of the second embodiment is more environmentally friendly than previously proposed devices.

In a further embodiment of the invention not illustrated in the drawings, the cover of the said storage device may have attached to the outside an absorbent pad, such as glass fibre or paper. Once the foil is pierced the fluid is absorbed into the absorbent pad which can be used for controlling the rate of fluid delivery for example if the storage device was coupled to a lateral flow immunoassay test strip or flow through immunoassay device.

As mentioned above, the storage device described herein may be used with the diagnostic testing apparatus, and in particular as a storage device for wash and/or reagent solution.

It will also be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For exam- ple, whilst the storage devices of one embodiment have been described as being integral components of the lid, it will be apparent that this need not be the case. The lid could simply comprise one or more holes through which a respective storage device (such as that shown in Figure 2) could be fitted. In addition, whilst the apparatus of the second embodiment is shown as having two reaction chambers, it should be noted that a greater or fewer number of chambers may instead be provided if desired. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the storage device may be employed in a variety of differ- ent tests. Accordingly, the present description should not be read as being limited to any one particular test.