Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A stationary partition means for rendering a container capable of separating lymphocytes and monocytes from the heavier phases of whole blood utilizing centrifugation with a liquid gradient density medium, said means having an aperture therethrough of a diameter and depth to essentially eliminate mixing of a blood sample with said density gradient medium during introduction of said blood sample into said container, but which allows red blood cells and said density gradient medium to pass therethrough during centrifugation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A stationary partition means for rendering a container capable of separating lymphocytes and monocytes from the heavier phases of whole blood utilizing centrifugation with a liquid gradient density medium, said means having an aperture therethrough of a diameter and depth to essentially eliminate mixing of a blood sample with said density gradient medium during introduction of said blood sample into said container, but which allows red blood cells and said density gradient medium to pass therethrough during centrifugation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A stationary partition means according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a raised ring projecting inwardly from the inner walls of said container or a constriction in said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A stationary partition means according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a plug insertable into said container, said plug having a bore therethrough and sealably engaging the inner walls of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stationary partition means according to claim 3 wherein after said plug is inserted into said container, said aperture is sealed with a hydrophobic gel having a specific gravity greater than said liquid gradient density medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A stationary partition means according to claim 3 wherein said plug has a top surface which slopes inwardly toward said bore to facilitate movement of blood cells toward said bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A stationary partition means according to claim 3,4 or 5 wherein said plug is prepared from an inert elastomeric or plastic material and sealably engages said inner walls of said container through compression ring seal(s) or chevron-type seals around its periphery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A stationary partition means for rendering a container capable of separating lymphocytes and monocytes from the heavier phases of whole blood utilizing centrifugation with a liquid gradient density medium, said means comprising a plug composed of an integral porous foam material having a diameter greater than that of said container such that, upon insertion into said container, it sealably engages the inner walls of said container through compression.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A stationary partition means for rendering a container capable of separating lymphocytes and monocytes from the heavier phases of whole blood utilizing centrifugation with a liquid gradient density medium, said means comprising a plug composed of an integral porous foam material having a diameter greater than that of said container such that, upon insertion into said container, it sealably engages the inner walls of said container through compression.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A stationary partition means according to claim 7 wherein said plug is of such length and of such volume of porcsity to contain the entire amount of said liquid gradient density medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A movable partition means for rendering a container capable of separating lymphocytes and monocytes from the heavier phases of whole blood, utilizing centrifugation with a liquid gradient density medium, said means essentially eliminating mixing of a blood sample with said density gradient medium during introduction of said blood sample into said container, but which, upon centrifugation, will move to the bottom of said container, thereby displacing said density gradient medium and permitting it to come into contact with said blood samples.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A movable partition means for rendering a container capable of separating lymphocytes and monocytes from the heavier phases of whole blood, utilizing centrifugation with a liquid gradient density medium, said means essentially eliminating mixing of a blood sample with said density gradient medium during introduction of said blood sample into said container, but which, upon centrifugation, will move to the bottom of said container, thereby displacing said density gradient medium and permitting it to come into contact with said blood samples.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
1 0 . A movable partition means according to claim 9 wherein said means comprises a mass of a hydrophobic gel having a specific gravity greater than that of said liquid gradient density medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A moveable partition means according to claim 9 wherein said means comprises a plug composed of an integral porous foam material having a diameter slightly smaller than said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
An assembly for centrifugally separating lymphocytes and monocytes from heavier phases of a sample of whole blood or a pretreated cell fraction thereof which comprises: (a) a container having an open end and a closed end; (b) a liquid density gradient medium initially positioned adjacent said closed end; (c) a partition means positioned above the surface of said medium which seals said medium therebeneath; and (d) a free space initially adjacent said partition means of sufficient volume to contain said sample and an added reagent where desired.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
An assembly for centrifugally separating lymphocytes and monocytes from heavier phases of a sample of whole blood or a pretreated cell fraction thereof which comprises: (a) a container having an open end and a closed end; (b) a liquid density gradient medium initially positioned adjacent said closed end; (c) a partition means positioned above the surface of said medium which seals said medium therebeneath; and (d) a free space initially adjacent said partition means of sufficient volume to contain said sample and an added reagent where desired.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly according to claim 12 having a closure means or vacuum closure means for sealing said open end of said container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly accordina to claim 13 wherein said closure means is pierceable by a needle for supplying a blood sample to said container which is adapted to draw said sample.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said reagent consists of a diluent, an anticoagulant, or a mixture of diluent and anticoagulant, initially placed on top of said partition means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said partition means comprises a plug insertable into said container, said plug being stationary after insertion into said container, having a provision for air to pass through or around during insertion into said container, and hydrophobic gel means having a specific gravity greater than that of said liquid density gradient medium for subsequently sealing said medium therebeneath upon proper placement of said plug.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said plug is so inserted that a space is left between said plug and said liquid density gradient medium approximately equivalent to the volume of said aperture sealing gel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said assembly contains very fine particles of high density which are inert to blood constituents and said liquid density gradient medium, said particles being positioned dry or in suspension above the position plug.