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US3932277A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for separating blood fractions

Assignee: Bio Logics Products Inc
•
Filing: 1974-03-29
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Granted: 1976-01-13
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Expires: 1994-03-29
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Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for filtering and permanently separating the serum fraction from the cell fraction of centrifuged blood and the like. A separator head is passed through the serum and is positioned at the interface of the serum and the heavier red cells. As the separator head is positioned serum passes through a self-sealing passage in the separator head and into a collection tube that positions the separator head. Upon withdrawal of the collection tube the passage in the separator head closes sufficiently to effectively block the passage and the serum can be poured from the collection tube. The collection tube can be reinserted to pour off measured volumes of the serum.

Inventors

  • 👤 Clifton Eugene McDermott
  • 👤 Franklin Dee Wareham

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 01:33
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/491; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
Apparatus for permanently separating the serum fraction from the cell fraction of a spun blood sample in a sample vessel comprising a collection tube having a small diameter orifice tube projecting from one end thereof; and a head releasably fitted on the one end of the collection tube and having at least one sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom to sealingly engage the wall of the sample vessel and to immobilize the head as the collection tube is withdrawn therefrom, a bore hole extending through said head and having diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the orifice tube but expanding when said orifice tube is inserted thereinto to effectively seal when said orifice tube is removed therefrom and said sealing flange is compressed within the sample vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 127 words
Apparatus for permanently separating the serum fraction from the cell fraction of a spun blood sample in a sample vessel comprising a collection tube having a small diameter orifice tube projecting from one end thereof; and a head releasably fitted on the one end of the collection tube and having at least one sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom to sealingly engage the wall of the sample vessel and to immobilize the head as the collection tube is withdrawn therefrom, a bore hole extending through said head and having diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the orifice tube but expanding when said orifice tube is inserted thereinto to effectively seal when said orifice tube is removed therefrom and said sealing flange is compressed within the sample vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further including means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the head has a central chamber at one end of the bore hole and a counterbore opening into the central chamber from one side of the head; and wherein the means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube comprises a filter in the counterbore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further including drain ports through the end of the collection tube from which the orifice tube projects and a flexible sealing flange projecting outwardly of the collection tube adjacent to the drain ports to sealingly engage the wall of the sample vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further including a spray guard within the collection tube and extending over the orifice tube to direct liquid entering the collection tube into the lower end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, further including means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 51 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the head has a central chamber at one end of the bore hole and a counterbore opening into the central chamber from one side of the head; and wherein the means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube comprises a filter in the counterbore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
Apparatus as in claim 7, further including drain ports through the end of the collection tube from which the orifice tube projects and a flexible sealing flange projecting outwardly of the collection tube adjacent to the drain ports to sealingly engage the wall of the sample vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 137 words
Apparatus for handling blood samples comprising a sample vessel comprising a tube having one closed end and one open end; a collection tube having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the sample vessel, one open end and a small diameter orifice tube projecting from the opposite end thereof; and a flexible head releasably fitted on the one end of the collection tube and having at least one sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom to sealingly engage the wall of said sample vessel and to immobilize the head as the collection tube is withdrawn therefrom, a bore hole extending through said head, said bore hole having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the orifice tube but expanding when said orifice tube is inserted thereinto and effectively sealing when said orifice tube is removed therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 137 words
Apparatus for handling blood samples comprising a sample vessel comprising a tube having one closed end and one open end; a collection tube having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the sample vessel, one open end and a small diameter orifice tube projecting from the opposite end thereof; and a flexible head releasably fitted on the one end of the collection tube and having at least one sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom to sealingly engage the wall of said sample vessel and to immobilize the head as the collection tube is withdrawn therefrom, a bore hole extending through said head, said bore hole having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the orifice tube but expanding when said orifice tube is inserted thereinto and effectively sealing when said orifice tube is removed therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as in claim 9, further including means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 51 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the head has a central chamber at one end of the bore hole and a counterbore opening into the central chamber from one side of the head; and wherein the means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube comprises a filter in the counterbore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 47 words
Apparatus as in claim 9, further including drain ports through the end of the collection tube from which the orifice tube projects and a flexible sealing flange projecting outwardly of the collection tube adjacent to the drain ports to sealingly engage the wall of the sample vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus as in claim 9, further including a spray guard within the collection tube and extending over the orifice tube to direct liquid entering the collection tube into the lower end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as in claim 13, further including means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 51 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the head has a central chamber at one end of the bore hole and a counterbore opening into the central chamber from one side of the head; and wherein the means to filter liquid passed through the orifice tube comprises a filter in the counterbore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 47 words
Apparatus as in claim 15, further including drain ports through the end of the collection tube from which the orifice tube projects and a flexible sealing flange projecting outwardly of the collection tube adjacent to the drain ports to sealingly engage the wall of the sample vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus as in claim 16, further including a collar near the outer end of the collection tube remote from the head; and a sample cup arranged to be telescopingly inverted over the open end of said collection tube to closely engage the collection tube and to abut against the collar, whereby fluids collected in the collection tube can be transferred to the sample cup by inverting the collection tube.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 122 words
A method of separating the serum fraction from the cell fraction of a spun blood sample in a sample vessel, comprising moving a barrier within the sample vessel to a position between the serum and cell fractions while moving the serum fraction through a filter and the barrier into a collection tube; removing the collection tube and blocking flow through the barrier, while leaving the barrier positioned in the sample vessel; sealing flow between the outer surface of the collection tube and the inner surface of the sample vessel during movement of the collection tube into and out of the sample vessel; and draining serum from the collection tube onto the barrier during removal of the collection tube from the sample vessel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 122 words
A method of separating the serum fraction from the cell fraction of a spun blood sample in a sample vessel, comprising moving a barrier within the sample vessel to a position between the serum and cell fractions while moving the serum fraction through a filter and the barrier into a collection tube; removing the collection tube and blocking flow through the barrier, while leaving the barrier positioned in the sample vessel; sealing flow between the outer surface of the collection tube and the inner surface of the sample vessel during movement of the collection tube into and out of the sample vessel; and draining serum from the collection tube onto the barrier during removal of the collection tube from the sample vessel.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3481477A Cited
US3508653A Cited
US3586064A Cited
US3693804A Cited
US3661265A Cited
US3799342A Cited
US3846077A Cited
US3832141A Cited
US3814258A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-01-12 1979-07-14 1980-01-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-01-12 1983-07-14 1984-01-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-01-12 1987-07-14 1988-01-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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