Biological fluid sampling apparatus

Claim 2

A fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1 in which the said releasable means includes a releasable connection between said closure member and scraping member.

Claim 3

A fluid sampling assembly according to claim 3 in which said closure member and scraping member each include respective portions of identical material and said releasable connection consists of at least one connecting portion of the same material integrally connecting said respective portions, said connecting portion having a limited cross section providing a frangible connection between said respective portions.

Claim 4

A biological fluid sample tube assembly having a fluid sample collection tube in which a biological fluid may be centrifuged to separate solid from liquid portions of such fluid, a cannula-penetrable closure member sealing one end of the tube, at least a portion of the closure member being adapted for penetration by a cannula needle for delivery of a biological fluid sample from a body portion of a patient through the closure member into the tube, and a scraping member supported within the tube adjacent the closure member, said scraping member being movable within the tube away from the closure member in response to and during application of such centrifugal force applied externally of the tube as is required to separate said solid and liquid portions without the necessity of opening the tube, the tube having an interior wall surface of uniform cross-section, and the scraping member having a peripheral scraping edge portion of which the entire outer peripheral edge fits said interior wall surface uniform cross-section during relative sliding movement of the scraping member and edge portion axially along the tube, the scraping member also having a cap portion extending substantially across the uniform cross-section of the tube in at least one position of the scraping member along the tube, and said scraping member further including means providing a passage inside the scraping edge portion for relative movement of fluid axially from one side of the scraping member cap portion to the other side of said cap portion when the scraping member moves axially along the tube through a fluid sample therein.

Claim 5

A fluid sample tube assembly according to claim 5 in which the scraping member is initially positioned with its cap portion adjacent to and substantially covering the inner surface of the closure member for penetration of the cap portion by said cannula needle during delivery of a fluid sample into the tube through the closure member.

Claim 6

A biological fluid sample tube assembly having a fluid sample collection tube with an interior tubular wall surface of uniform circular cross section, a closure member sealing one end of the tube, at least a portion of the closure member being adapted for penetration by a cannula needle for delivery of a biological fluid sample from a body portion of a patient through the closure member into the tube, and a scraping member supported within the tube, said scraping member being movable within the tube in response to force applied externally of the tube without the necessity of opening the tube, said scraping member having an annular scraping edge portion slidably engaging the interior wall surface for relative movement of the scraping member and edge portion axially along the tube, said scraping member also having a cap portion extending substantially across the uniform cross section of the tube in at least one position of the scraping member along the tube, and said scraping member including means providing a passage for relative movement of fluid axially from one side of the scraping member cap portion to the other side of said cap portion when the scraping member moves axially along the tube through a liquid sample therein, and said scraping member consisting of a single tubular member of resiliently deformable material which normally has a uniform annular cross section throughout its length, one end of said tubular member constituting the annular scraping edge portion of the scraping member, said tubular member having cutaway portions at its opposite end providing a plurality of tapered segments projecting axially at said opposite end, said segments being deformable inwardly across the tubular member at said opposite end and thereby constituting the cap portion of said scraping member when the scraping member is in a position immediately adjacent said closure member with said segments engaging and substantially covering the inner surface of the closure member, and the segments at said opposite end being movable from their position constituting a cap portion covering the closure member back toward a normal axially projecting position, when the tubular member is moved away from the closure member by external application of force, said tubular member and said segments thereby constituting said means providing a passage for relative axial movement of fluid.

Claim 7

A biological fluid sample tube assembly having a fluid sample collection tube with an interior tubular wall surface of uniform cross section, a closure member sealing one end of the tube, at least a portion of the closure member being adapted for penetration by a cannula needle for delivery of a biological fluid sample from a body portion of a patient through the closure member into the tube, and a scraping member supported within the tube, said scraping member being movable within the tube in response to force applied externally of the tube without the necessity of opening the tube, said scraping member having an annular scraping edge portion slidably engaging the interior wall surface for relative movement of the scraping member and edge portion axially along the tube, said scraping member also having a cap portion extending substantially across the uniform cross section of the tube in at least one position of the scraping member along the tube, and said scraping member including means providing a passage for relative movement of fluid axially from one side of the scraping member cap portion to the other side of said cap portion when the scraping member moves axially along the tube through a liquid sample therein, and said annular scraping edge portion and said cap portion being formed as integral portions of a single piece of deformable material, said means providing a passage consisting of at least one movable flaP in said cap portion.

Claim 8

A biological fluid sample tube assembly having a fluid sample collection tube with an interior tubular wall surface of uniform cross section, a closure member sealing one end of the tube, at least a portion of the closure member being adapted for penetration by a cannula needle for delivery of a biological fluid sample from a body portion of a patient through the closure member into the tube, and a scraping member supported within the tube, said scraping member being movable within the tube in response to force applied externally of the tube without the necessity of opening the tube, said scraping member having an annular scraping edge portion slidably engaging the interior wall surface for relative movement of the scraping member and edge portion axially along the tube, said scraping member also having a cap portion extending substantially across the uniform cross section of the tube in at least one position of the scraping member along the tube, and said scraping member including means providing a passage for relative movement of fluid axially from one side of the scraping member cap portion to the other side of said cap portion when the scraping member moves axially along the tube through a liquid sample therein, and said means providing a passage for relative movement of fluid comprising a rupturable cap portion.