US3812707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hematocrit tube measuring apparatus
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1972-08-30
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Granted: 1974-05-28
•
Expires: 1992-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A central cylindrical member has axially extending grooves opening to its circumferential surface and means for frictionally holding hematocrit capillary tubes inserted into the grooves. A transparent coaxial cylindrical tubular member is telescoped over the central cylindrical member and has a scale with a reference area provided thereon so that the hematocrit tubes can be aligned with chosen locations circumferentially along the reference area. The reference area has indicia establishing a lower limit which substantially lies in a plane normal to the axis of the cylindrical members and an upper limit whose distance from the lower limit increases uniformly circumferentially around the cylindrical members in one revolution. The reference area is everywhere divided into the same number of equal divisions, the division dimensions varying as the distance between upper and lower limits of the reference area. The exterior cylindrical member is rotatable relative to the central cylindrical member so that the reference area may be moved relative to a spun down hematocrit tube at a point where the contents of the tube are subtended between the upper and lower limits of the reference area so that percentage packed cell volume may be read directly on the reference scale. A toroidal magnifier may be coaxially slidable on the exterior cylindrical member to aid in reading the scale.
Inventors
- 👤 O Proni
- 👤 B Bull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/14535; A61B5/15; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for reading hematocrit tubes comprising: A. a cylindrical body having at least one axial groove opening to its outer surface, B. resilient friction means for retaining a hematocrit tube within said groove at any position to which it is moved, C. a rotatable transparent cylindrical scale coaxial with said cylindrical body and having a percentage measuring reference area visible from the exterior thereof, said scale being rotatable to bring a portion of said reference area into alignment with said tube to measure the relative length of the parts of the contents of said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for reading hematocrit tubes comprising: A. a cylindrical body having at least one axial groove opening to its outer surface, B. resilient friction means for retaining a hematocrit tube within said groove at any position to which it is moved, C. a rotatable transparent cylindrical scale coaxial with said cylindrical body and having a percentage measuring reference area visible from the exterior thereof, said scale being rotatable to bring a portion of said reference area into alignment with said tube to measure the relative length of the parts of the contents of said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided for moving the scale axially with respect to the cylindrical body to adjust the position of the scale relative to said groove and to secure said scale in its adjusted position without interfering with its rotation relative to said cylindrical body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a plurality of said axial grooves circumferentially spaced around said cylindrical body for holding a plurality of hematocrit tubes therein in order to enable measurement of the relative lengths of the parts of the contents of all of the tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is an outer transparent tubular cylindrical member telescoped over said cylindrical body and the said scale is provided on the interior of said outer cylindrical member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which there is a plurality of said axial grooves circumferentially spaced around said cylindrical body for holding a plurality of hematocrit tubes therein in order to enable measurement of the relative lengths of the parts of the contents of all of the tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is an outer transparent tubular cylindrical member telescoped over said cylindrical body and said scale is comprised of a flexible member mounted on the interior of said outer cylindrical member interposed between said tubular outer member and the cylindrical body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which there is a plurality of said axial grooves circumfErentially spaced around said cylindrical body for holding a plurality of hematocrit tubes therein in order to enable measurement of the relative lengths of the parts of the contents of all of the tubes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said reference area has indicia establishing a lower limit lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis of said cylindrical body and an upper limit whose distance from the lower limit increases uniformly, said reference area being divided into the same number of equal divisions but the division dimensions varying as the distance between the said upper and lower limits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the entire reference area is traversed on one revolution of the cylindrical scale.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a base and means for releasably securing said central cylindrical body to said base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and torroidal magnifier means coaxially slidably mounted on the exterior of the outer cylindrical scale.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a plurality of said axial grooves circumferentially spaced around said cylindrical body for holding a plurality of hematocrit tubes therein in order to enable measurement of the relative lengths of the parts of the contents of all of the tubes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a plurality of said axial grooves circumferentially spaced around said cylindrical body for holding a plurality of hematocrit tubes therein in order to enable measurement of the relative lengths of the parts of the contents of all of the tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A hematocrit tube reading device comprising a central core and a plurality of axially extending grooves formed circumferentially about said core, said grooves opening to the exterior surface of said core for receiving hematocrit tubes therein, an outer transparent tubular member telescopically engaged with said core and rotatable relative thereto, means defining a scale disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface of said core and rotatable with said tubular member, resilient means within said grooves for frictionally maintaining the position of said hematocrit tubes therein, said scale having a percentage reference area and capable of being brought into alignment selectively with each of said hematocrit tubes on rotation of said tubular member to measure the relative length of the parts of the contents of said hematocrit tubes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
A hematocrit tube reading device comprising a central core and a plurality of axially extending grooves formed circumferentially about said core, said grooves opening to the exterior surface of said core for receiving hematocrit tubes therein, an outer transparent tubular member telescopically engaged with said core and rotatable relative thereto, means defining a scale disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface of said core and rotatable with said tubular member, resilient means within said grooves for frictionally maintaining the position of said hematocrit tubes therein, said scale having a percentage reference area and capable of being brought into alignment selectively with each of said hematocrit tubes on rotation of said tubular member to measure the relative length of the parts of the contents of said hematocrit tubes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 in which said core has an annular groove proximate said axial grooves and said resilient means are respectively anchored within said annular groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 in which said resilient means comprise a bowed leaf spring, said core has an annular groove proximate said axially extending grooves and one end of each of said leaf springs is engaged within said annular groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said resilient means comprise spring members, each engaged within one of said axially extending grooves, an annular groove formed in said core proximate the lower ends of said axially extending grooves and means at the lower ends of said spring members engaged within said annular groove for anchoring said spring ends thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 and a toroidal magnifier coaxially slidable frictionally on the exterior of said outer tubular member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 and means for moving the outer tubular member axially relative to the central core, said means including locking means fixing the axial location of said outer tubular member relative to the central core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for moving comprises an annular ring having a threaded inner wall and said central core includes a depending threaded portion engaged with said annular ring and means for connecting said annular Ring to said outer tubular member for conjoined movement whereby rotation of said ring causes said outer tubular member to be moved axially relative to said central core albeit permitting independent rotational movement of said tubular member relative to said central core thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 19 in which said moving means comprise an annular ring having a threaded inner wall in said central core includes a depending threaded portion engaged with said annular ring and means for connecting said annular ring to said outer tubular member for conjoined movement so that rotation of said ring causes said outer tubular member to be moved axially relative to said central core albeit permitting independent rotation of movement of said tubular member relative to said central core, and said locking means comprise a second ring threadably secured to said depending threaded portion immediately adjacent said annular ring and adapted for rotation to engage said annular ring locking same in any position to which same has been moved.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 21 in which at least one of said rings has a knurled outer surface to facilitate grasping thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 and means for moving the outer tubular member axially relative to the central core, said moving means comprise a pair of rings axially movable one relative to the other and to said central core, and said locking means comprise means on one of said rings for retaining said tubular member in a fixed position spaced therefrom for axial movement therewith and the other ring being movable into frictional engagement with said one ring to lock the same in any predisposed axial relationship with said central core.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 23 in which at least one of said rings has a knurled outer surface to facilitate grasping thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 23 in which said last mentioned means comprises a tongue fastened to one of said rings and tubular member and groove means formed in the other one of said rings and tubular member and adapted to receive said tongue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 23 in which said rings have interlocked flanges and a third ring member of lesser diameter than one of said flanges is releasably secured on one of said flanges locking said flanges together.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 in which there is a base member mounting said central core and said tubular member being coupled thereto and threaded pin and socket means on said base and central core to define a releasable coupling therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
71 words
The reading device as claimed in claim 14 in which said reference area has indicia establishing a lower limit lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis of said center core and an upper limit whose distance from the lower limit increases uniformly, said reference area being divided into the same number of equal divisions but the division dimensions varying as the distance between the said upper and lower limits.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for reading hematocrit tubes comprising a body having an outer surface and at least one groove opening to said surface and being of size and configuration to receive a hematocrit tube therein in predetermined position relative to said groove, a transparent scale arranged for frictional movement upon said surface along a path normal to said hematocrit tube, said scale having a percentage measuring reference area visible from the exterior thereof, said scale being movable relative to said surface to bring a portion of said reference area into alignment with said hematocrit tube to measure the relative lengths of parts of the contents of said tube.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for reading hematocrit tubes comprising a body having an outer surface and at least one groove opening to said surface and being of size and configuration to receive a hematocrit tube therein in predetermined position relative to said groove, a transparent scale arranged for frictional movement upon said surface along a path normal to said hematocrit tube, said scale having a percentage measuring reference area visible from the exterior thereof, said scale being movable relative to said surface to bring a portion of said reference area into alignment with said hematocrit tube to measure the relative lengths of parts of the contents of said tube.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the groove has friction means to maintain said predetermined position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 including means to move said scale axially relative to said hematocrit tube and means fixedly to loCate said scale at any selected position axially relative to said groove.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein said scale is slidable relative to said body surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the groove has friction means therein to maintain said predetermined position and means for axially moving said scale relative to said hematocrit tube and means to lock said scale at a selected location relative to said groove.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |