Apparatus for detecting microbial pathogens employing a cushioning agent

Claim 2

An article used for the concentration of microbial pathogens from a sample fluid comprising: an enclosed centrifugation receptacle sealably closed with injectable closure means, the interior of said receptacle comprising an evacuated spaced maintained at a lower than atmospheric pressure, adjacent a high density, non-toxic to microbial organisms, water immiscible, hydrophobic liquid cushioning agent capable of collecting substantially all of the microbial pathogens which pass out of suspension from said sample fluid without a loss of said microbial pathogens to interstitial spaces present in said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the density of the liquid cushioning agent is sufficient so as not to be supported by a mixture of a sample fluid and a treating fluid therefore.

Claim 3

The article of claim 1 wherein said cushioning agent is present in an amount equal to from about 4.7% to about 28.6% by volume.

Claim 4

The article of claim 2 wherein said cushioning agent comprises an inert, liquid fluorinated hydrocarbon having a density of from about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter to about 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter.

Claim 5

The collecting agent of claim 3 wherein said liquid fluorinated hydrocarbon has a boiling point of from at least about 200 degrees F. to about 420 degrees F.

Claim 6

An article for the concentration of microbial pathogens contained in a blood sample comprising: (a) an enclosed centrifugation receptacle having a first end and a second end, said ends being sealably closed with injectable closure means; (b) an injectable plug adjacent the injectable closure means of said second end, said injectable plug comprising a surface disposed at an angle with respect to the interior of said centrifugation receptacle, said angle being the complement of the angle at which said article is to be centrifuged; (c) an effective amount of a high density, non-toxic to microbial organisms, water immiscible, hydrophobic liquid cushioning agent contained within said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the cushioning agent is capable of collecting substantially all of the microbial pathogens which pass out of the suspension from said sample fluid without loss of said microbial pathogens to interstitial spaces present in said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the density of the liquid cushioning agent is sufficient so as not to be supported by a mixture of a sample fluid and a treating fluid therefore; and (d) an effective amount of a non-toxic lysing agent contained within said centrifugation receptacle.

Claim 7

An article for the concentration of microbial pathogens contained in a blood sample comprising: (a) an enclosed centrifugation receptacle having a first end and a second end, said ends being sealably closed with injectable closure means; (b) an injectable plug adjacent the injectable closure means of said second end, said injectable plug comprising a surface disposed at an angle with respect to the interior of said centrifugation receptacle, said angle being the complement of the angle at which said article is to be centrifuged; (c) an effective amount of a high density, non-toxic to microbial organisms, water immiscible, hydrophobic liquid cushioning agent contained within said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the cushioning agent is capable of collecting substantially all of the microbial pathogens which pass out of the suspension from said sample fluid without loss of said microbial pathogens to interstitial spaces present in said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the density of the liquid cushioning agent is sufficient so as not to be supported by a mixture of a sample fluid and a treating fluid therefore; and (d) an effective amount of a non-toxic lysing agent contained within said centrifugation receptacle.

Claim 8

The article of claim 5, wherein said injectable plug is an extension of the injectable closure means of said second end of said centrifugation receptacle.

Claim 9

The article of claim 5 wherein said cushioning agent is present in an amount equal to from about 3.3% to about 30.0% by volume.

Claim 10

The article of claim 5 wherein the angle of the surface of said injectable plug with respect to the interior of said centrifugation receptacle is from about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees.

Claim 11

The article of claim 8 wherein said angle is 34 degrees.

Claim 12

The article of claim 5 wherein the angle of the surface of said injectable plug with respect to the interior of said centrifugation receptacle is about 90 degrees.

Claim 13

The article of claim 5 wherein said cushioning agent is an inert, liquid fluorinated hydrocarbon.

Claim 14

The cushioning agent of claim 11 wherein said fluorinated hydrocarbon has a density of at least 1.2 grams per cubic centimeter and a boiling point at least about 200 degrees F.

Claim 15

In an article for the concentration of microbial pathogens suspected to be present in a blood sample, comprising: an enclosed centrifugation vessel having a first end and a second end; a chamber containing an evacuated space maintained at a lower than atmospheric pressure; and a first injectable closure means sealably closing the first end of said centrifugation vessel, the improvement comprising: a second injectable closure means sealably closing said second end of said centrifugation vessel and comprising a surface disposed at an angle with respect to the interior of said elongated centrifugation receptacle, said angle being the complement of the angle at which said article is to be centrifuged; and an effective amount of an inert, non-toxic to microbial organisms, high density, water immiscible, hydrophobic liquid cushioning agent contained within said chamber and wherein the cushioning agent is capable of collecting substantially all of the microbial pathogens which pass out of the suspension from said sample fluid without loss of said microbial pathogens to interstitial spaces present in said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the density of the liquid cushioning agent is sufficient so as not to be supported by a mixture of a sample fluid and a treating fluid therefore.

Claim 16

In an article for the concentration of microbial pathogens suspected to be present in a blood sample, comprising: an enclosed centrifugation vessel having a first end and a second end; a chamber containing an evacuated space maintained at a lower than atmospheric pressure; and a first injectable closure means sealably closing the first end of said centrifugation vessel, the improvement comprising: a second injectable closure means sealably closing said second end of said centrifugation vessel and comprising a surface disposed at an angle with respect to the interior of said elongated centrifugation receptacle, said angle being the complement of the angle at which said article is to be centrifuged; and an effective amount of an inert, non-toxic to microbial organisms, high density, water immiscible, hydrophobic liquid cushioning agent contained within said chamber and wherein the cushioning agent is capable of collecting substantially all of the microbial pathogens which pass out of the suspension from said sample fluid without loss of said microbial pathogens to interstitial spaces present in said centrifugation receptacle and wherein the density of the liquid cushioning agent is sufficient so as not to be supported by a mixture of a sample fluid and a treating fluid therefore.

Claim 17

The improved article of claim 13 and further comprising an effective amount of blood treating agents selected from the group consistng of lysing agents, anticoagulants and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

The article of claim 14 wherein said treating agents are present in an amount equal to at least about 1% by volume based on the volume of the treating agents, blood sample and cushioning agent.

Claim 19

The article of claim 15 wherein said treating agents are presnt in an amount equal to from about 7.6% to about 17.5% by volume.

Claim 20

The article of claim 14 wherein said treating agent comprises a detoxified saponin.

Claim 21

The article of claim 14 wherein said treating agent comprises sodium polyanothal sulfonate.

Claim 22

The article of claim 13 wherein said angle of the surface of the injectable closure means sealably closing said second end of said centrifugation vessel is from about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees.

Claim 23

The article of claim 19 wherein said angle is 34 degrees.

Claim 24

The article of claim 13 wherein said cushioning agent is present in an amount equal to from about 3.3% to about 30.0% by volume.

Claim 25

The article of claim 21 wherein said cushioning agent comprises a liquid fluorinated hydrocarbon having a density of from about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter to about 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter, and a boiling point of at least about 200 degrees F.