Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An article for drawing a blood specimen, comprising: a specimen-receiving tube having a closed end and an open end, a resilient expandable plug receivable in said tube, said plug being in normally unexpanded light sealing contact with the side wall structure of said tube, a cannula, an elongated cannula holder having a through longitudinal passageway for communication with the interior of the cannula, said plug and said holder having coacting means releasably coupling said plug and said holder with said passageway in communication with said closed end portion of said tube, said holder expanding said plug into firm sealing contact with the side wall of the tube, and inwardly extending lower and upper members adjacent said lower and upper ends, respectively, of said tube for contacting the lower and upper surfaces of said plug during the coupling and decoupling, respectively, of said plug and said holder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An article for drawing a blood specimen, comprising: a specimen-receiving tube having a closed end and an open end, a resilient expandable plug receivable in said tube, said plug being in normally unexpanded light sealing contact with the side wall structure of said tube, a cannula, an elongated cannula holder having a through longitudinal passageway for communication with the interior of the cannula, said plug and said holder having coacting means releasably coupling said plug and said holder with said passageway in communication with said closed end portion of said tube, said holder expanding said plug into firm sealing contact with the side wall of the tube, and inwardly extending lower and upper members adjacent said lower and upper ends, respectively, of said tube for contacting the lower and upper surfaces of said plug during the coupling and decoupling, respectively, of said plug and said holder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said plug has a normally closed opening therethrough which is opened by receipt therein of said holder when said holder is coupled to said plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said plug has a specific density intermediate plasma and cell phases of said specimen, said plug being displaceable to a barrier position intermediate said phases on the application to said specimen in said tube of centrifugal force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said menas releasably coupling said holder and said plug comprises an internal thread on said plug and external thread on said holder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said holder comprises a wedge-shaped portion received internally of said plug and expanding said plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said plug has a portion intermediate ends thereof which portion is of reduced cross section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said plug has an annular bead and a relatively thin circumferential flange spaced axially from said bead.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said plug has a vent opening therethrough which is normally closed when said holder and said plug are uncoupled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article as defined in claim 1, wherein: said tube and said plug have coacting means preventing said plug from bottoming in said closed tube end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
An article as defined in claim 9, wherein: said plug has a specific density intermediate plasma and cell phases of said specimen, and further including a semi-liquid sealant disposed intermediate said closed tube end and said plug and normally spaced from said plug, said sealant having a specific density intermediate said plasma and cell phases, said plug and said sealant being displaceable to a barrier position intermediate said phases on the application to said specimen in said tube of centrifugal force.