Phase separation device

Claim 2

A fluid collection device for receiving a sample of liquid centrifugally separable into relatively light and heavy phases comprising a closed container, and centrifugally actuated phase partitioning means movable in said container and having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the phases, said partitioning means including a first member of resilient elastomeric material having a normal generally conical configuration when in said container and a specific gravity greater than that of the light phase, and a second member connected to said first member and having a specific gravity less than that of said first member so that during centrifugation of the collection device the difference between the specific gravities of said members causes partial collapse of said first member to allow liquid to flow past said partitioning means, said partitioning means being movable during centrifugation of the collection device due to the specific gravity thereof such that said first member is movable substantially to the interface of the two phases to provide a liquid impervious partition therebetween after centrifugation.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said first member has a vertex at the longitudinal axis of said partitioning means, and said second member is connected to said first member at said vertex so that during centrifugation the outer periphery of said first member moves toward said axis, and after centrifugation, sealingly engages the inner wall of said container substantially at the interface of the separated phases.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said second member includes means extending generally radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said partitioning means to maintain said partitioning means in a desired orientation relative to said container.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 wherein said first member normally has an inverted umbrella configuration with walls inclined radially outwardly toward one end of said container and changes during centrifugation to a second umbrella configuration wherein said walls are inclined radially outwardly toward the opposite end of said container.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein the walls of said first member are movable, while said first member is in said second umbrella configuration, into sealing engagement with the inner walls of said container.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4 wherein said second member includes means extending generally radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said partitioning means to maintain said device in a desired orientation in said container.

Claim 8

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of generally conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outwardly relative to said vertex, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material and having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter phase, and a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said skirt to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between the radially outermost surface thereof and the inner wall of said tube, said skirt after centrifugation sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases.

Claim 9

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of generally conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outwardly relative to said vertex, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material and having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter phase, and a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said skirt to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between the radially outermost surface thereof and the inner wall of said tube, said skirt after centrifugation sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 wherein said second member includes stabilizing means for maintaining said device predeterminately oriented during centrifugation.

Claim 11

The device of claim 7 wherein said skirt, in its normal unstressed state, has walls inclined radially outwardly toward said one end.

Claim 12

The device of claim 7 wherein said skirt in its normal unstressed configuration extends radially outwardly toward said stopper.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10 wherein said skirt is capable during centrifugation of everting itself so that it extends radially outwardly toward said one end of said tube.

Claim 14

The device of claim 7 wherein said phase partitioning means has a specific gravity such that after complete phase separation said partitioning device is disposed slightly above the interface of the lighter and heavier phases with portions of the lighter phase on each of the axially opposed sides of said skirt.

Claim 15

A fluid collection device for receiving a sample of liquid centrifugally separable into relatively light and heavy phases comprising a closed container, and centrifugally actuated phase partitioning means in said container having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the phases, said partitioning means including a first member of elastomeric material having a normal conical configuration with a vertex at the longitudinal axis of said partitioning means and a specific gravity greater than that of the light phase, a second member connected to said first member at said vertex and having a specific gravity less than that of said first member, and a holding member at least partially encircling said first member to maintain it in a predetermined conical configuration in which it is partially collapsed with the outer periphery thereof spaced from the inner wall of the container so that during centrifugation the liquid is allowed to flow past said partitioning device, said holding member having a specific gravity greater than that of said first and second members together and movable off of said first member in response to centrifugal forces during centrifugation, said partitioning device being movable to a position adjacent the interface of the two phases with said first member resiliently sealingly engaging the inner wall of said container adjacent the interface of the separated phases to provide a partition between the phases after centrifugation.

Claim 16

A fluid collection device for receiving a sample of liquid centrifugally separable into relatively light and heavy phases comprising a closed container, and centrifugally actuated phase partitioning means in said container having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the phases, said partitioning means including a first member of elastomeric material having a normal conical configuration with a vertex at the longitudinal axis of said partitioning means and a specific gravity greater than that of the light phase, a second member connected to said first member at said vertex and having a specific gravity less than that of said first member, and a holding member at least partially encircling said first member to maintain it in a predetermined conical configuration in which it is partially collapsed with the outer periphery thereof spaced from the inner wall of the container so that during centrifugation the liquid is allowed to flow past said partitioning device, said holding member having a specific gravity greater than that of said first and second members together and movable off of said first member in response to centrifugal forces during centrifugation, said partitioning device being movable to a position adjacent the interface of the two phases with said first member resiliently sealingly engaging the inner wall of said container adjacent the interface of the separated phases to provide a partition between the phases after centrifugation.

Claim 17

The device of claim 13 wherein said second member has radially outwardly extending means thereon axially spaced from said first member, and said holding means is moveable into a position on said radially outwardly extending means between said first member and said radially outwardly extending means subsequent to movement thereof off of said first member.

Claim 18

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tubing having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device within said tube including a first member of conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outwardly from said vertex, said skirt, in its normal unstressed state, having walls inclined radially outwardly toward said one end, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material, a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, and a ring surrounding said skirt to hold said skirt in a partially collapsed condition, said ring having a specific gravity greater than the average of the specific gravities of said first and second members and movable off of said skirt during centrifugation to allow said skirt to move radially outwardly toward engagement with the inner walls of said tube, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member.

Claim 19

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tubing having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device within said tube including a first member of conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outwardly from said vertex, said skirt, in its normal unstressed state, having walls inclined radially outwardly toward said one end, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material, a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, and a ring surrounding said skirt to hold said skirt in a partially collapsed condition, said ring having a specific gravity greater than the average of the specific gravities of said first and second members and movable off of said skirt during centrifugation to allow said skirt to move radially outwardly toward engagement with the inner walls of said tube, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member.

Claim 20

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the blood into its relatively lighter phase and its relatively heavier cellular phase comprising an elongate container, means closing one end of said container, a stopper closing the opposite end of said container, and movable phase partitioning means in said container having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravity of the separated lighter and heavier phases so that during centrifugation of the device and separation of the phases said partitioning means moves relative to said container and reaches a location adjacent the interface between the separated lighter and heavier phases, said partitioning means including a first resilient member having a radially outer periphery sealingly engageable with the inner wall of said container and having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter phase, and a second member connected to said first member and disposed between said first member and said one container end, said second member having a specific gravity less than that of said first member so that during centrifugation of the device in a manner such that the blood cells move toward said one container end, said first member changes its configuration due to its connection with said second member and the differences in specific gravities of said members so as to allow the flow of fluid from one side to the other side of said partitioning device during separation of the phases, said first member being in sealing engagement with the inner wall of said container and providing a liquid impervious separating partition between the separated phases subsequent to centrifugation of the device.

Claim 21

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the blood into its relatively lighter phase and its relatively heavier cellular phase comprising an elongate container, means closing one end of said container, a stopper closing the opposite end of said container, and movable phase partitioning means in said container having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravity of the separated lighter and heavier phases so that during centrifugation of the device and separation of the phases said partitioning means moves relative to said container and reaches a location adjacent the interface between the separated lighter and heavier phases, said partitioning means including a first resilient member having a radially outer periphery sealingly engageable with the inner wall of said container and having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter phase, and a second member connected to said first member and disposed between said first member and said one container end, said second member having a specific gravity less than that of said first member so that during centrifugation of the device in a manner such that the blood cells move toward said one container end, said first member changes its configuration due to its connection with said second member and the differences in specific gravities of said members so as to allow the flow of fluid from one side to the other side of said partitioning device during separation of the phases, said first member being in sealing engagement with the inner wall of said container and providing a liquid impervious separating partition between the separated phases subsequent to centrifugation of the device.

Claim 22

The device of claim 16 wherein second member is connected to said first member such that at least a portion of the radially outer periphery of said first member moves radially inwardly from the inner wall of the container to allow fluid to move past said partitioning means between the radially outer periphery of said first member and the inner wall of said container during centrifugation of the device, said radially outer periphery of said first member being in resiliently urged sealing contact with the inner wall of said container to provide a partition between the lighter and heavier phases subsequent to the centrifugation of the device.

Claim 23

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the blood into its lighter and heavier phases comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of resilient, elastomeric material having a radially outer periphery resiliently engageable with the inner wall of said tube to prevent the flow of liquid past said partitioning device, and a second member connected to said first member, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and the lighter phase, and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said first member to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between said radially outer periphery of said first member and the inner wall of said tube, said radially outer periphery of said first member being movable into sealing engagement with the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases after centrifugation of the collection device.

Claim 24

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the blood into its lighter and heavier phases comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of resilient, elastomeric material having a radially outer periphery resiliently engageable with the inner wall of said tube to prevent the flow of liquid past said partitioning device, and a second member connected to said first member, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and the lighter phase, and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said first member to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between said radially outer periphery of said first member and the inner wall of said tube, said radially outer periphery of said first member being movable into sealing engagement with the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases after centrifugation of the collection device.

Claim 25

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of generally conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outward relative to said vertex, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material and having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter phase, a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said skirt to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between the radially outermost surface thereof and the inner wall of said tube, said skirt after centrifugation sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases, and centrifugally actuated holding means holding said skirt in a partially collapsed configuration so that fluid can pass said partitioning device during phase separation, said holding means being moveable and having a specific gravity relative to that of said first and second members together such that said holding means moves to free said skirt during centrifugation of the collection device to allow said skirt to subsequently sealingly engage the inner wall of said container.

Claim 26

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of generally conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outward relative to said vertex, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material and having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter phase, a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said skirt to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between the radially outermost surface thereof and the inner wall of said tube, said skirt after centrifugation sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases, and centrifugally actuated holding means holding said skirt in a partially collapsed configuration so that fluid can pass said partitioning device during phase separation, said holding means being moveable and having a specific gravity relative to that of said first and second members together such that said holding means moves to free said skirt during centrifugation of the collection device to allow said skirt to subsequently sealingly engage the inner wall of said container.

Claim 27

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of generally conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outward relative to said vertex, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material, a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said second member including radially outwardly extending stabilizing means for maintaining said first member predeterminately oriented during said centrifugation, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said skirt to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between the radially outermost surface thereof and the inner wall of said tube, said skirt after centrifugation sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases, and centrifugally actuated holding means holding said skirt in a partially collapsed configuration so that fluid can pass said partitioning device during phase separation, said holding means being moveable and having a specific gravity relative to that of said first and second members together such that said holding means moves to free said skirt during centrifugation of the collection device to allow said skirt to subsequently sealingly engage the inner wall of said container, said holding means being moveable to a position on said second member between said first member and said stabilizing means after moving to free said skirt.

Claim 28

A blood collection device for receiving whole blood and adapted to be centrifuged to separate the lighter phase from the heavier cellular phase comprising a tube, means closing one end of said tube, a pierceable stopper closing the opposite end of said tube, said tube having a negative pressure therein for drawing blood into the tube by means of a cannula piercing said stopper, and a phase partitioning device movable within said tube including a first member of generally conical configuration having a vertex at the longitudinal axis and a skirt having walls tapering radially outward relative to said vertex, said first member being formed of a resilient elastomeric material, a second member of substantially rigid material connected to said first member at said vertex, said partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated lighter and heavier phases of the blood so that it moves during centrifugation of the collection device to a position adjacent the interface of the separated blood phases, said second member including radially outwardly extending stabilizing means for maintaining said first member predeterminately oriented during said centrifugation, said first member having a specific gravity greater than that of said second member and being predeterminately oriented with said first member disposed between said stopper and said second member so that during centrifugation the difference in specific gravities of said members causes at least a partial collapse of said skirt to permit liquid to flow past said partitioning device between the radially outermost surface thereof and the inner wall of said tube, said skirt after centrifugation sealingly engaging the inner wall of said tube to form a liquid impervious partition between the separated heavier and lighter phases, and centrifugally actuated holding means holding said skirt in a partially collapsed configuration so that fluid can pass said partitioning device during phase separation, said holding means being moveable and having a specific gravity relative to that of said first and second members together such that said holding means moves to free said skirt during centrifugation of the collection device to allow said skirt to subsequently sealingly engage the inner wall of said container, said holding means being moveable to a position on said second member between said first member and said stabilizing means after moving to free said skirt.