US3814248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for fluid collection and/or partitioning
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1972-02-23
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-02-23
Abstract
Abstract Spools or partitioning assemblies, utilized with rigid tubular containers (adapted to serve as fluid specimen collection or fluid-retaining tubes), for effecting either the physical or the complete physical and chemical partitioning of the heavier fluid phase from the lighter fluid phase of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen, wherein each spool has a central axial orifice and a resilient annular wiper portion, including a containercontacting surface, adapted to sealingly engage the inner surface of the container, as well as an integral annular skirt portion, with the tapering inner surface of the latter serving as a continuation of the spool central axial orifice. The spools, by having specific gravities that are intermediate of those of the separated fluid phases, are adapted to move downwardly in the tubular containers in response to centrifugal force, only to the vicinity of the fluid phase interface, with the lighter fluid phase flowing freely upwardly only through the central axial orifice. Physical partitioning may be effected by the combination of a spool or spool-diaphragm in conjunction with a natural plug of the heavy phase fluid, with this plug making at least a continuous network across the central orifice and thereby retaining the heavy fluid phase from passing through the orifice. Complete physical and chemical partitioning is effected by the combination of a spool and float member, with the latter, by also having a specific gravity intermediate those of the separated phases, being adapted to make at least a continuous line contact seal on the inner surface of the spool skirt portion. The partitioning assemblies may be utilized in closed-system (evacuated) fluid collection tubes or may be user-inserted into opened (atmospheric pressure) tubes after specimen collection. One method of effecting complete physical and chemical partitioning of the lighter and heavier fluid phases involves freely disposing a float member within the container; providing the container with a spool that is in continuous sealing contact with the inner surface of the container; moving the spool downwardly therein in response to a centrifugal force, thereby establishing an upward flow of the lighter fluid phase only through the spool central axial orifice; and establishing a continuous line contact seal between the float member and the spool central orifice when the spool reaches the fluid phase interface. Other methods include the physical partitioning of the heavier fluid phase from the lighter fluid phase.
Inventors
- 👤 C Lawhead
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:56
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021; B01L3/50215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
The spool of claim 1 wherein: a. said integral annular wiper and skirt portions have tapering inner surfaces that merge into said central axial orifice; and b. said spool main body portion has a plurality of spaced, raised, guide areas having a maximum collective outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, but greater than the outside diameter of said main body portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
The spool of claim 2 wherein said spool main body portion has a plurality of equally spaced raised contact areas having a collective outside diameter at least as large as the inside diameter of said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The spool of claim 2 wherein: a. said fluid specimen is whole human blood; and b. the specific gravity of said spool is in the range from about 1.04 to about 1.055.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The spool of claim 2 wherein the minimum diameter of said spool central axial orifice is at least as large as the inside diameter of a needle or cannula used for introducing said blood into said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A partitioning assembly for use in effecting complete physical and chemical partitioning of two centrifugally separated fluid phases of a fluid specimen, at a position not lower than the interface of said fluid phases, within a tubular container, said assembly comprising: a. a spool including a1. a generally cylindrical main body portion, having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, and a central axial orifice; a2. a resilient annular wiper portion, having a container-contacting surface adapted to continuously and sealingly engage the inner surface of said container, said wiper portion tapering outwardly away from the upper portion of said main body portion; and a3. an annular skirt portion, extending from the lower portion of said main body portion, having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; and b. a float member having a peripheral surface portion adapted to make at least a continuous line contact seal with an annular surface portion of said skirt inner surface, with the specific gravities of both said spool and float member being intermediate of those of said two separated phases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The partitioning assembly of claim 6 wherein: a. said fluid specimen is whole blood; b. said float member is a spherical plug; c. the specific gravities of both said spool and plug are in the range of about 1.04 to about 1.055; and d. said spool main body portion has a plurality of spaced, raised, guide areas having a maximum collective outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, but greater than the outside diameter of said main body portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The partitioning assembly of claim 7 wherein: a. said fluid heavier phase consists of blood cells and fibrin; and b. said partitioning assembly further includes a porous diaphragm or filter, secured within and across said spool central axial orifice above said float member line contact seal, said porous diaphragm or filter, having predetermined size openings that do not permit the passage of fibrin therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
419 words
A fluid collection and partitioning assembly, for use in initially collecting a fluid specimen and thereafter, upon centrifugation of said specimen into a lighter phase and a heavier phase, for effecting complete physical and chemical partitioning of said phases at a position not lower than the interface of said fluid phases, said assembly comprising: a. an elongated rigid tubular container, having an open end and a closed end; b. a self-sealing closure adapted to be placed over the open end of said container and together therewith, and upon evacuation thereof, defining a closed fluid collection chamber adapted to receive said fluid specimen; c. a spool, having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier phases, positioned within said fluid receiving chamber directly beneath said sealing closure and including; c1. a generally cylindrical main body portion, having a central axial orifice and a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, said main body portion also having a plurality of spaced, raised, guide areas having a maximum collective outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container but greater than the outside diameter of said main body portion; c2. a resilient annular wiper portion having a container-contacting surface, adapted to sealingly and continuously engage the inner surface of said container, said wiper portion flaring outwardly away from the upper portion of said main body portion; and c3. an annular skirt portion, extending from the lower portion of said spool main body portion, having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside Diameter of said container, and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; and d. a float member contained within said chamber below said spool and having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier phases; and e. said resilient spool, due to its specific gravity, being adapted to move downwardly in said fluid receiving chamber through said lighter phase fluid in response to said centrifugation, with said lighter phase fluid flowing freely upwardly only through said spool main body central orifice, said spool further being adapted to stop moving downwardly when it reaches the vicinity of said fluid phase interface, with at least a peripheral surface portion of said float member being adapted to make at least a continuous line contact seal with an annular surface portion of the inner surface of said spool annular skirt portion, thereby effecting a seal that physically and chemically partitions said lighter phase from said heavier phase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The fluid collection and partitioning assembly of claim 9 wherein: a. said fluid specimen is whole blood; b. said float member is adapted to be disposed in the vicinity of said fluid phase interface; and c. the specific gravities of both said spool and float member are in the range from about 1.04 to about 1.055.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fluid collection and partitioning assembly of claim 10 wherein: a. said float member is a spherical plug; and b. said rigid tubular container has an annular constriction in the vicinity of said open end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fluid collection and partitioning assembly of claim 11 wherein the maximum collective outside diameter of the guide areas of said spool is greater than the minimum inside diameter of the annular constriction of said tubular container.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of establishing complete physical and chemical partitioning of the heavier phase from the lighter phase of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen within a unitary tubular container, said method comprising: a. freely disposing within said container a float member having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier fluid phases; b. providing said container with a spool, said spool being in continuous sealing contact with the inner surface of said container at a position above said fluid specimen and having a central axial orifice as well as a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier fluid phases; c. moving said spool downwardly within said container through said fluid lighter phase, in response to an externally applied non-contacting centrifugal force, thereby establishing an upward flow of said fluid lighter phase within said container only through said spool central axial orifice; and d. establishing at least a continuous line contact seal between said float member and said spool central axial orifice when said spool reaches a position in the vicinity of said fluid phase interface, thereby effecting complete physical and chemical partitioning of said lighter and heavier fluid phases, and thereafter terminating said applied force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 13 including continuing the application of said externally applied non-contacting centrifugal force after establishing said seal between said float member and said spool central axial orifice thereby causing any material remaining in said lighter phase and having a specific gravity greater than that of said float member to move through said spool central axial orifice, push aside said float member and move therebelow, with said float member thereupon resealing itself against said spool after the passage of said material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 13 including maintaining continuous liquid sealing contact between said spool and the inner surface of said tubular container while moving said spool downwardly to a position in the vicinity of said fluid phase interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
228 words
A partitioning assembly for effecting the pHysical partitioning of the cell and fibrin phase from the serum phase of a centrifugally separated whole blood specimen at a position not lower than the interface between said phases within a tubular container, said assembly comprising: a. a spool having a specific gravity in the range of from about 1.04 to about 1.055 and including: a1. a generally cylindrical main body portion having an open central axial orifice extending axially therethrough, said main body portion having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container; a2. a resilient annular wiper portion having an outer container-contacting surface continuously and sealingly engaging the inner surface of said container and an inner conical surface forming a continuation of said central axial orifice, said wiper portion tapering outwardly away from the upper portion of said main body portion; and a3. an annular skirt portion extending from the lower portion of said main body portion having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; and b. natural plug means of coagulated cells and fibrin for forming at least a continuous network across said central axial orifice adjacent said tapering inner surface for restraining said cell and fibrin phase from passing through said orifice.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
221 words
A partitioning assembly for use in effecting the temporary physical partitioning of the heavier phase from the lighter phase of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen, at a position not lower than the interface of said fluid phases, within a tubular container, said assembly comprising: a. a spool having a specific gravity intermediate that of said heavier and lighter phases including: a1. a generally cylindrical main body portion, having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, and an open central axial orifice extending axially therethrough; a2. a resilient annular wiper portion, having an outer container-contacting surface continuously and sealingly engaging the inner surface of said container, said wiper portion tapering outwardly away from the upper portion of said main body portion; and a3. an annular skirt portion, extending from the lower portion of said main body portion, having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; and b. porous filter means secured within and across said spool central axial orifice for providing a temporary physical barrier within said container and between said phases to delay the immediate movement of the heavier phase into said lighter phase as said container is inclined for pour-off of said lighter phase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
374 words
A fluid-retaining and partitioning assembly for effecting the complete physical and chemical partitioning of the heavier phase from the lighter phase of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen at a position not lower than the interface of such phases, said assembly comprising: a. a tubular container having an open end and a closed end for retaining said fluid specimen; b. a float member having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier phases freely disposed for movement within said tubular container; c. spool means having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier phases positioned within said container above said float member and including; c1. a generally cylindrical main body portion having an open central axial orifice extending axially therethrough and a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said conduit, said main body portion also having a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly-raised, guide areas having a maximum collective outside diameter less than the insidE diameter of said container but greater than the outside diameter of said main body portion; c2. a resilient annular wiper portion having a container-contacting outer surface sealingly and continuously engaging the inner surface of said container and a conical inner surface forming a continuation of said central axial orifice, said wiper portion flaring outwardly away from the upper portion of said main body portion; and c3. an annular skirt portion extending from the lower portion of said spool main body portion having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; and d. said spool means being movable through said lighter phase within said container during centrifugation due to its specific gravity, with said lighter fluid phase flowing freely through the central axial orifice of said spool, said spool means terminating movement within said container when it reaches the vicinity of said fluid phase interface, and at least a peripheral surface portion of said float member forming at least a continuous line contact seal on an annular surface portion of said tapering inner surface of said spool annular skirt portion thereby effecting a seal that physically and chemically partitions said lighter phase from said heavier phase.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
343 words
A fluid-retaining and partitioning assembly for effecting the physical partitioning of the cell and fibrin phase from the serum phase of a centrifugally separated whole blood specimen at a position not lower than the interface of said phases, said assembly comprising: a. a tubular container having an open end and a closed end for retaining said fluid specimen; b. a spool having a specific gravity intermediate those of said phases positioned within said tubular container and including; b1. a generally cylindrical main body portion having a central axial orifice extending axially therethrough and having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, said main body portion also having a plurality of spaced-apart outwardly raised guide areas having a maximum collective outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container but greater than the outside diameter of said main body portion; b2. a resilient annular wiper portion having an outer container-contacting surface sealingly and continuously engaging the inner surface of said container and a conical inner surface forming a continuation of said central axial orifice, said wiper portion flaring outwardly away from an upper portion of said main body portion; and b3. an annular skirt portion extending outwardly from a lower portion of the main body portion of said spool having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; c. porous filter means secured within and across said spool central axial orifice for inhibiting the passage of fibrin therethrough; and d. said resilient spool being movable downwardly in said container due to its specific gravity through said serum phase during centrifugation with said open central axial orifice providing a sole passageway for the upward flow of said serum phase, and said spool further being formed to stop moving downwardly when it reaches the vicinity of said phase interface, and said porous filter means in conjunction with said fibrin trapped therebelow physically partitioning said cell phase from said serum phase.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
362 words
A blood collection and partitioning assembly, for use in initially collecting a whole blood specimen and thereafter, upon centrifugation of said specimen into a serum phase and a cell and fibrin phase, for effecting the physical partitioning of said phases at a position now lower than the interface of said phases, said assembly comprising: a. a tubular container having an open end and a closed end; b. a self-sealing closure over the open end of said container and together therewith defining a closed specimen collection chamber for receiving said whole blood specimen; c. a spool having a specific gravity intermediate those of said phases positioned within said specimen receiving chamber, said spool including; c1. a generally cylindrical main body portion having an open central axial orifice extending axially therethrough and a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, said main body portion also having a plurality of spaced-apart outwardlyraised guide areas having a maximum collective outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container but greater than the outside diameter of said main body portion; c2. a resilient annular wiper portion having an outer container-contacting surface and an inner conical surface forming a continuation of said central axial orifice sealingly and continuously engaging the inner surface of said container, said wiper portion flaring outwardly away from the upper portion of said main body portion; and an annular skirt portion extending outwardly from the lower portion of the main body portion of said spool having a maximum outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said container, and having a tapering inner surface that serves as a continuation of said central axial orifice; and d. said resilient spool being movable downwardly in said specimen receiving chamber during centrifugation due to its specific gravity with said serum phase flowing upwardly only through said open central axial orifice, said spool being formed to stop its downward movement upon reaching the vicinity of the interface between said phases; and e. natural plug means of coagulated cells and fibrin forming at least a continuous network across said central axial orifice and restraining said cell and fibrin phase from passing through said orifice.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of establishing physical partitioning of the cell and fibrin phase from the serum phase of a centrifugally separated whole blood specimen during centrifugation within a unitary tubular container, said method comprising: a. providing said container with a spool having a specific gravity intermediate those of said phases, and having a central axial orifice extending therethrough; b. applying centrifugal force to said container and moving said spool downwardly therewithin through said serum phase, maintaining a continuous sealing contact between said spool and the inner surface of said container during said downward movement, simultaneously flowing said serum phase within said container upwardly through said spool central axial orifice during the downward movement of said spool; c. stopping the downward movement of said spool upon reaching the vicinity of the interface between said cell and serum phases; and d. forming a natural plug of cells and fibrin across said central axial orifice and restraining said cell and fibrin phase from passing upwardly through said orifice.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of establishing physical partitioning of the cell and fibrin phase from the serum phase of a centrifugally separated whole blood specimen during centrifugation within a unitary tubular container, said method comprising: a. providing said container with a spool having a specific gravity intermediate those of said phases and a central orifice which extends axially therethrough; b. applying centrifugal force to said container and moving said spool downwardly therewithin through said serum phase, establishing an upward flow of said serum within said container only through said spool central axial orifice simultaneously with the downward movement of said spool, maintaining said spool in continuous sealing contact with the inner surface of said container; and c. terminating said applied force when said spool reaches a position in the vicinity of the interface between said phases and stopping the downward movement of said spool at such interface, and physically partitioning said cell phase from said serum phase by providing said spool, prior to positionment within said container, with a porous diaphragm in said central axial orifice which upon centrifugation forms a barrier between said phases.
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) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |