Patent US3738369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3852194A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3852194A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for fluid collection and partitioning
Assignee: Sherwood Medical Co
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Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Partitioning assemblies and partitioning or seal members, utilized with containers (adapted to serve as fluid specimen collection or fluid-retaining tubes) for effecting partitioning of two differing-density fluid phases of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen, at a position not lower than the fluid phase interface, wherein the partitioning members include a separating amount of a gel-like material. This gel-like material, by having a specific gravity intermediate those of the separated fluid phases, is adapted to move within the container in response to centrifugal force, only to the vicinity of the fluid phase interface. The gel-like material thereupon is further adapted to make a transversely continuous semi-rigid contact seal with an annular portion of the container inner surface to thereby effect a seal that partitions the fluid phases. The gel-like material may also be used in combination with a spool member having a container-contacting outer surface and a central axial orifice, with the gel-like material making a transversely-continuous contact seal within the spool central axial orifice. Three-phase partitioning may also be accomplished by using first and second gel-like materials having specific gravities intermediate those of the first-second and second-third differing-density phases, respectively. The partitioning or seal members may also be utilized in closed system (evacuated) fluid collection tubes or may be hand inserted into opened (atmospheric pressure) tubes after specimen collection. Also set forth is a method for effecting partitioning of centrifugally separated fluid phases within a container.
Inventors
- 👤 A Zine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/491; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/10; Y10T436/107497
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A FLUID COLLECTION AND PARTITIONING ASSEMBLY FOR COLLECTING A SPECIMEN OF BLOOD WITHIN A SEALED FLUID COLLECTION CHAMBER, CENTRIFICALLY SEPARATING THE HEAVIER AND LIGHTER FLUID PHASES OF SAID BLOOD SPECIMEN, AND PHYSICALLY AND CHEMICALLY PARTITIONING THE SEPARATED PHASES, COMPRISING: A. A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END; B. GEL-LIKE MEANS INITIALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER ADJACENT SAID CLOSED END FOR FORMING A TRANSVERSELY CONTINUOUS CONTACT SEAL WITH AN ANNULAR SURFACE PORTION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AT A SUBSEQUENTLY FORMED INTERFACE BETWEEN SAID HEAVIER AND LIGHTER PHASES; C. CLOSURE MEANS FOR VACUUM-SEALING SAID OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER AND FOR DEFINING A CLOSED FLUID COLLECTION CHAMBER CONTAINING SAID GEL-LIKE MEANS THEREWITHIN, SAID CLOSURE MEANS BEING PIERCEABLE BY A NEEDLE FOR SUPPLYING BLOOD TO SAID CLOSED FLUID COLLECTION CHAMBER WHICH IS ADAPTED TO DRAW THE BLOOD SPECIMEN THEREWITHIN; D. SAID GEL-LIKE MEANS BEING A THIXOTROPIC MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A MIXTURE OF A FLUID WHICH IS GENERALLY INERT TO BODY FLUIDS AND A POWDERED INORGANIC FILLER; AND E. SAID GEL-LIKE MEANS HAVING A SPECIFIC GRAVITY INTERMEDIATE THOSE OF SAID LIGHTER AND HEAVIER PHASES AND BEING OF SUCH A THIXOTROPIC COMPOSITION SUCH THAT DURING THE CENTRIFUGATION OF SAID BLOOD SPECIMEN INTO ITS COMPONENT PHASES, SAID GEL-LIKE MATERIAL IS FLOWABLE FROM ITS INITIAL POSITION ADJACENT SAID CLOSED END TOWARD SAID SEALED OPEN END AND EFFECTS A SEMI-RIGID SEAL AT THE INTERFACE OF SAID SEPARATED FLUID PHASES WHICH PHYSICALLY AND CHEMICALLY PARTITIONS SAID PHASES WITHIN SAID CONTAINER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A FLUID COLLECTION AND PARTITIONING ASSEMBLY FOR COLLECTING A SPECIMEN OF BLOOD WITHIN A SEALED FLUID COLLECTION CHAMBER, CENTRIFICALLY SEPARATING THE HEAVIER AND LIGHTER FLUID PHASES OF SAID BLOOD SPECIMEN, AND PHYSICALLY AND CHEMICALLY PARTITIONING THE SEPARATED PHASES, COMPRISING: A. A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END; B. GEL-LIKE MEANS INITIALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER ADJACENT SAID CLOSED END FOR FORMING A TRANSVERSELY CONTINUOUS CONTACT SEAL WITH AN ANNULAR SURFACE PORTION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AT A SUBSEQUENTLY FORMED INTERFACE BETWEEN SAID HEAVIER AND LIGHTER PHASES; C. CLOSURE MEANS FOR VACUUM-SEALING SAID OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER AND FOR DEFINING A CLOSED FLUID COLLECTION CHAMBER CONTAINING SAID GEL-LIKE MEANS THEREWITHIN, SAID CLOSURE MEANS BEING PIERCEABLE BY A NEEDLE FOR SUPPLYING BLOOD TO SAID CLOSED FLUID COLLECTION CHAMBER WHICH IS ADAPTED TO DRAW THE BLOOD SPECIMEN THEREWITHIN; D. SAID GEL-LIKE MEANS BEING A THIXOTROPIC MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A MIXTURE OF A FLUID WHICH IS GENERALLY INERT TO BODY FLUIDS AND A POWDERED INORGANIC FILLER; AND E. SAID GEL-LIKE MEANS HAVING A SPECIFIC GRAVITY INTERMEDIATE THOSE OF SAID LIGHTER AND HEAVIER PHASES AND BEING OF SUCH A THIXOTROPIC COMPOSITION SUCH THAT DURING THE CENTRIFUGATION OF SAID BLOOD SPECIMEN INTO ITS COMPONENT PHASES, SAID GEL-LIKE MATERIAL IS FLOWABLE FROM ITS INITIAL POSITION ADJACENT SAID CLOSED END TOWARD SAID SEALED OPEN END AND EFFECTS A SEMI-RIGID SEAL AT THE INTERFACE OF SAID SEPARATED FLUID PHASES WHICH PHYSICALLY AND CHEMICALLY PARTITIONS SAID PHASES WITHIN SAID CONTAINER.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of partitioning a heavier phase from a lighter phase of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen within a container which comprises: a. providing a container having a closed end and an open end; b. initially positioning thixotropic gel-like means having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier fluid phases within said container in spaced relation from said open end; c. evacuating and sealing said container to provide a closed fluid collection chamber therewithin; d. supplying a fluid specimen to said closed chamber; e. subjecting said specimen and gel-like means to a centrifugal force to separate said fluid specimen into a heavier phase and a lighter phase and simultaneously move said gel-like means toward the interface of said phases; and f. establishing a contiNuous semi-rigid gel-like seal across the interior of said container between said heavier phase and said lighter phase within said container.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of partitioning a heavier phase from a lighter phase of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen within a container which comprises: a. providing a container having a closed end and an open end; b. initially positioning thixotropic gel-like means having a specific gravity intermediate those of said lighter and heavier fluid phases within said container in spaced relation from said open end; c. evacuating and sealing said container to provide a closed fluid collection chamber therewithin; d. supplying a fluid specimen to said closed chamber; e. subjecting said specimen and gel-like means to a centrifugal force to separate said fluid specimen into a heavier phase and a lighter phase and simultaneously move said gel-like means toward the interface of said phases; and f. establishing a contiNuous semi-rigid gel-like seal across the interior of said container between said heavier phase and said lighter phase within said container.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of collecting a multiphase fluid specimen, separating said specimen into at least two differing-density phases, and partitioning said phases comprising: a. providing an open-ended container with thixotropic gel-like material having a specific gravity intermediate those of the two phases of a fluid specimen to be collected and separated; b. vacuum-sealing the open end of said container, containing said gel-like material, with a needle-pierceable closure; c. drawing a specimen through said closure; d. applying centrifugal force to said specimen and gel-like material and simultaneously forcibly moving the phases of said specimen and said gel-like material toward relative positions within said container corresponding to their respective specific gravities; e. terminating said centrifugal force after said specimen has separated into differing-density phases and a substantial portion of said gel-like material has reached a position intermediate said phases, and f. at such position, utilizing said gel-like material to partition said separated differing-density phases.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of collecting a multiphase fluid specimen, separating said specimen into at least two differing-density phases, and partitioning said phases comprising: a. providing an open-ended container with thixotropic gel-like material having a specific gravity intermediate those of the two phases of a fluid specimen to be collected and separated; b. vacuum-sealing the open end of said container, containing said gel-like material, with a needle-pierceable closure; c. drawing a specimen through said closure; d. applying centrifugal force to said specimen and gel-like material and simultaneously forcibly moving the phases of said specimen and said gel-like material toward relative positions within said container corresponding to their respective specific gravities; e. terminating said centrifugal force after said specimen has separated into differing-density phases and a substantial portion of said gel-like material has reached a position intermediate said phases, and f. at such position, utilizing said gel-like material to partition said separated differing-density 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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |