Patent US1945666A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3799342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of using a serum separator
Assignee: U S Medical Res and Dev Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-23
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-06-23
Abstract
Abstract The method of isolating serum or plasma from the formed elements of blood comprising steps of effecting precipitation of the formed blood elements to the bottom of a container, inserting a plug into the container, said plug having normally closed valve means which are openable when pressure within the container is greater than atmospheric pressure. A handle for manipulating the plug functions as a container to collect and remove serum or plasma. In a second embodiment, the handle is removably attached to the plug so that the plug can be left in place in the container to maintain isolation between the serum or plasma and the formed blood elements. In a third embodiment, the plug is provided with a container for collecting and storing the serum or plasma. A similar plug inside the container is used to effect an additional filtration step.
Inventors
- 👤 D Greenspan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:59
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021; B01D; B01D33/00; B01D33/01; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0681; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0475; B01L2400/0478
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of placing a second plug in the open end of the collection tube to close the said open end and to seal the plasma or serum in the collection tube in the space deFined between the first plug and the second plug.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first resilient plug is pushed into said collection tube with an elongated handle engaging said other side of said plug radially outwardly of the area of communication of said passageway with said other side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 3 and the additional step of removing the handle from the first plug after the first plug is pushed to the a position wherein it approaches the formed elements of the blood.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of filtering said serum or plasma while forcing said constriction open.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 and the additional step of flowing the serum or plasma through said passageway into a separator tube sealed to said other side of said plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 and the additional step of employing the separator tube to push the first plug into the collection tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7 and the additional step of placing a second plug in the open end of the separator tube and to seal the plasma or serum in the separator tube in the space defined between the first plug and the second plug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 8 including the additional step of removing the separator tube with the plasma or serum therein while permitting air between the collection tube and the separator tube to pass from said other side to said one side of said first plug without allowing plasma or serum or air to flow through said passageway and employing the collection tube with the first and second plugs as a shipping contianer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
364 words
A method of isolating serum or plasma from formed elements of blood stored in a collection tube comprising the steps of: precipitating the formed elements of the blood to separate serum or plasma therefrom; causing the precipitated formed elements to be positioned closer to the closed end of the collection tube with the serum or plasma positioned closer to the open end of the collection tube; inserting into the open end of the collection tube a separator tube having a resilient plug forming a closed end thereof; creating a seal between the walls of the collection tube and a flange extending radially outwardly from the resilient plug and forming an air space between the walls of the collection tube and the separator tube above the resilient plug when the separator tube is inserted into the collection tube; pushing the separator tube into the collection tube such that the plug moves through the serum or plasma toward the closed end of the collection tube while maintaining a seal between the walls of the collection tube and the flange of the plug; forcing open a constriction in a serum passageway extending through the plug open so as to permit a substantial flow of serum or plasma through the serum passageway into the separator tube in response to movement of the plugs through the serum or plasma while said seal between the flange and the walls of the collection tube prevent a substantial flow of fluid into the space between the walls of the collection tube and the separator tube; resiliently biasing the constriction in the passageway closed when the separator tube is stationary within the collection tube; moving the separator tube toward the open end of the collection tube; and maintaining the constriction in the passageway substantially closed so as to prevent a substantial flow of serum or plasma through the passageway from the separator tube into the collection tube during withdrawal of the separator tube from the collection tube while permitting a substantial flow of air from the space between the walls of the collection tube and the separator tube into the space beneath the resilient plug and above the formed elements of the blood.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of opening a constriction in an air passageway leading from the space between the walls of the collection tube and the separator tube to the space beneath the resilient plug and above The formed elements of the blood in response to withdrawal of the separator tube from the collection tube so as to permit the flow of air through the air passageway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the constriction in the air passageway remains substantially closed during the insertion of the separator tube into the collection tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of breaking the seal between the flange and the walls of the collection tube in response to withdrawal of the separator tube from the collection tube to permit the flow of air between the flange and the walls of the collection tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of deflecting the serum or plasma flowing through the constriction from an axial flow path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of filtering serum or plasma flowing through the passageway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
274 words
Apparatus for isolating serum or plasma from formed elements of blood comprising: a collection tube for storing a sample of blood wherein the formed elements have been precipitated toward the closed end of the tube and the serum or plasma is located closer to the open end of the tube; and a separator tube having a hollow interior and a closed end for storing serum or plasma, said separator tube being inserted into said collection tube so as to leave an air space between the walls of said collection tube and said separator tube, said closed end comprising serum valve means between the interior of the separator tube and the space between the closed end of the collection tube and the closed end of the separator tube, said serum valve means opening when said separator tube is moved through said serum to allow serum to flow into said interior of said separator tube and closing when said separator tube is withdrawn from said collection tube, said closed end of said separator tube further comprising air valve means between said air space and the space between the said closed end of separator tube and said closed end of said collection tube, said air valve means remaining closed when said separator tube means is inserted into said collection tube so as to substantially prevent the flow of serum or plasma to said air space, said air valve means opening when said separator tube is withdrawn from said collection tube so as to permit the flow of air into the space between said closed end of said separator tube and said closed end of said collection tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said separator tube comprises a hollow tubular member and said closed end comprises a resilient plug attached to one end of said closed member, said serum valve comprising a serum passageway communicating between the interior of said hollow member and the space between said resilient plug and said closed end of said collection tube and a constriction in said serum passageway opening in response to insertion of said resilient plug into said collection tube, said constriction being resiliently biased closed when said resilient plug is stationary within or withdrawn from said collection tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said resilient plug comprises a substantially cylindrical surface of substantial length resiliently engaging the interior of the walls of said hollow tubular member, said serum passageway comprising a first portion substantially coaxial with said cylindrical portion and having an overall length substantially equal to a substantial portion of the overall length of said cylindrical portion, said passageway further comprising another portion of lesser cross-sectional area, said constriction being located at the end of said portion of lesser cross-sectional area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 18 including means associated with said constriction for at least partially radially deflecting the flow of serum passing through said constriction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for at least partially radially deflecting the flow of fluid through said constriction comprises a seaLing surface of said constriction which extends axially and radially outwardly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 including filter means in the path of flow of said serum through said passageway.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said filter means is of smaller diameter than said collection tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said resilient plug comprises a radially outwardly extending flange for sealingly engaging the walls of said collection tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said air valve means comprises a flange extending radially outwardly from said hollow tubular member, said flange forming a seal with the walls of said collection tube when said separator tube is inserted into said collection tube so as to prevent flow of plasma or serum between said flange and said walls of said collection tube, said seal being broken when said separator tube is removed from said collection tube so as to permit the flow of air into the space between the resilient plug and the closed end of the collection tube when said separator tube is moved toward the open end of said collection tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said flange adjacent said walls of said collection tube comprises a surface tapering radially inwardly away from the area of sealing engagement between said flange and the walls of the collection tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said resilient plug includes a flange extending radially outwardly toward said collection tube so as to engage the walls of said collection tube, said air valve means including an air valve passageway spaced radially inwardly from the area of sealing engagement between said flange and the walls of said collection tube, said air valve passageway being closed when said separator tube is inserted into said collection tube and being opened when said separator tube is withdrawn from said collection tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
169 words
A tube for separating serum of plasma from formed elements of the blood comprising a hollow tubular member and a resilient plug closing the lower end of said tubular member, said resilient plug comprising a flange extending radially outwardly from the tubular member, said resilient plug comprising a passageway therethrough having a one-way serum valve permitting the flow of serum from the lower side of the plug to the upper side of the plug in direct communication with the interior of the hollow tubular member in automatic response to a pressure differential through said passageway wherein the pressure at the end of the passageway in the hollow tubular member is less than the pressure at the opposite end of the passageway, said resilient plug further comprising one-way air valve means permitting the flow of air from the upper side of the flange to the lower side of said plug while preventing the flow of serum from said lower side of said plug to said upper side of said flange.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tube of claim 27 wherein said one-way air valve opens in response to the deformation of said flange.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tube of claim 28 wherein said one-way air valve comprises a passageway through said flange.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tube of claim 28 wherein said one-way air valve comprises a radially inwardly tapering surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |