Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A piston assembly for use in separating the liquid phase from the cellular phase of a blood sample in a blood collection tube of the type which is closed at one end and open at the other end which comprises: a central body member provided with a portion which permits the passage of the liquid phase and with a peripheral projecting flexible flange of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the collection tube and having a smooth lower surface and a radially grooved upper surface so that when the piston assembly is shifted inwardly into the collection tube the lower surface of the flange has sealing wiping engagement with the inner wall of the tube and the liquid phase will be forced through the central body portion to be isolated on the other side of the piston assembly and so that when the piston assembly is shifted outwardly the upper grooved surface of the flange engages the inner wall of the tube whereby air can bypass through the grooves to the inner portion of the collection tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A piston assembly for use in separating the liquid phase from the cellular phase of a blood sample in a blood collection tube of the type which is closed at one end and open at the other end which comprises: a central body member provided with a portion which permits the passage of the liquid phase and with a peripheral projecting flexible flange of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the collection tube and having a smooth lower surface and a radially grooved upper surface so that when the piston assembly is shifted inwardly into the collection tube the lower surface of the flange has sealing wiping engagement with the inner wall of the tube and the liquid phase will be forced through the central body portion to be isolated on the other side of the piston assembly and so that when the piston assembly is shifted outwardly the upper grooved surface of the flange engages the inner wall of the tube whereby air can bypass through the grooves to the inner portion of the collection tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A piston assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the portion of the central body which permits the passage of the liquid phase comprises a one-way valve which opens when the piston assembly is shifted inwardly into the collection container through the liquid phase and closes when the inward shifting stops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A piston assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which the piston assembly also includes a filter in tandem relationship with the one-way valve so that liquid passing through the valve must also pass through the filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
A piston assembly for use in separating the liquid phase from the cellular phase of a blood sample in a blood collection tube of the type which is closed at one end and open at the other end which comprises: a body provided with a cup shaped housing with a closed rear portion having a one-way valve extending therethrough and formed with an open forward portion surrounded by a peripheral flexible flange of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the collection container, said flange having a smooth lower surface and a radially grooved upper surface; and a filter disposed in and protected by said housing and in engagement with the interior wall of the housing so that liquid passing through the valve must pass through said filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A piston assembly for use in separating the liquid phase from the cellular phase of a blood sample in a blood collection tube of the type which is closed at one end and open at the other end which comprises: a body provided with a cup shaped housing with a closed rear portion having a one-way valve extending therethrough and formed with an open forward portion surrounded by a peripheral flexible flange of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the collection container, said flange having a smooth lower surface and a radially grooved upper surface; and a filter disposed in and protected by said housing and in engagement with the interior wall of the housing so that liquid passing through the valve must pass through said filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A piston assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which the peripheral flange is provided with a smooth lower surface so as to form sealing wiping engagement with the interior wall of of the collection container as the piston assembly is shifted inwardly and with an upper surface provided with radial grooves so that when the piston assembly is shifted outwardly the upper surface will be in contact with the interior wall of the collection container and air can bypass through said grooves.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
304 words
An apparatus for the separation of the liquid phase from the cellular phase of a blood sample comprising: a blood collection tube open at one end and closed at the other end for collecting a sample of blood and for holding the blood while it is separated into liquid and cellular phases; a separating tube open at both ends for receiving the separated liquid phase of smaller diameter than the collection tube so that it can be telescopically shifted therein; a piston assembly for use in separating the liquid phase from the cellular phase comprising an inverted cup shaped body portion disposed in the end of the separating tube which is inserted in the collection tube in sealing engagement with the interior walls thereof and formed with a one-way valve extending through the inner portion thereof and with a peripheral flexible sealing flange extending around the outer portion thereof and projecting outwardly beyond the wall of the separator tube; said flange being of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the collection tube and having a smooth lower surface so as to have wiping engagement with the inner walls of said collection tube when the piston assembly is shifted inwardly in the collection tube, and having a radially grooved upper surface so as to provide air channels between said flange and the inner walls of the collection tube when the piston assembly is shifted outwardly from said collection tube; said valve being arranged to open when the separator tube and piston assembly are shifted inwardly through the liquid phase in the collection tube and to close when the shifting stops; and a filter disposed in said cup shaped housing and encased and protected thereby and arranged in engagement with the wall thereof so that liquid passing through said valve must pass through the filter.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
304 words
An apparatus for the separation of the liquid phase from the cellular phase of a blood sample comprising: a blood collection tube open at one end and closed at the other end for collecting a sample of blood and for holding the blood while it is separated into liquid and cellular phases; a separating tube open at both ends for receiving the separated liquid phase of smaller diameter than the collection tube so that it can be telescopically shifted therein; a piston assembly for use in separating the liquid phase from the cellular phase comprising an inverted cup shaped body portion disposed in the end of the separating tube which is inserted in the collection tube in sealing engagement with the interior walls thereof and formed with a one-way valve extending through the inner portion thereof and with a peripheral flexible sealing flange extending around the outer portion thereof and projecting outwardly beyond the wall of the separator tube; said flange being of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the collection tube and having a smooth lower surface so as to have wiping engagement with the inner walls of said collection tube when the piston assembly is shifted inwardly in the collection tube, and having a radially grooved upper surface so as to provide air channels between said flange and the inner walls of the collection tube when the piston assembly is shifted outwardly from said collection tube; said valve being arranged to open when the separator tube and piston assembly are shifted inwardly through the liquid phase in the collection tube and to close when the shifting stops; and a filter disposed in said cup shaped housing and encased and protected thereby and arranged in engagement with the wall thereof so that liquid passing through said valve must pass through the filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for the separation and collection of the liquid phase of a blood sample as set forth in claim 6 in which the peripheral flange has a smooth lower surface so that when the separating tube and piston assembly are shifted inwardly into the collection tube the lower surface forms sealing engagement with the inner wall of the collection tube and has an upper surface formed with radial grooves so that when the separator tube and piston assembly are shifted outwardly the upper surface is in engagement with the interior wall of the collection tube so that air can bypass through the grooves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A piston assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which the closed rear portion of the housing is of concavo-concave dome shape and the valve comprises a slit formed therethrough.