Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for containing a blood specimen in vitro comprising the steps of: providing an interior surface of a blood specimen extracting and receiving container assembly with a layer of an ionic radiographic contrast agent; and while said agent is provided on said interior surface of said specimen extracting and receiving container assembly, withdrawing a blood specimen from a patient and depositing said specimen into said specimen extracting and receiving container assembly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for containing a blood specimen in vitro comprising the steps of: providing an interior surface of a blood specimen extracting and receiving container assembly with a layer of an ionic radiographic contrast agent; and while said agent is provided on said interior surface of said specimen extracting and receiving container assembly, withdrawing a blood specimen from a patient and depositing said specimen into said specimen extracting and receiving container assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein: said providing step is accomplished by coating an interior surface of said blood specimen extracting and receiving container assembly with said agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 2 wherein: said agent has a greater density and viscosity than blood.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined in claim 3 wherein: after said withdrawing step, exposing said blood specimen to an activating means to initiate blood clotting, and during said exposing step, mixing said blood specimen with said coating agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 4 wherein: after said exposing step and said mixing step, quantitatively measuring clotted blood in said specimen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 2, and the additional step of: after said withdrawing step, exposing the blood specimen to an activating means in a controlled manner to initiate blood clotting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 6, and the additional step of: after said exposing step, correlating a clotting parameter with a disease condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 6 wherein: said exposing step is accomplished by introducing a blood clot inducing means into said chamber of said blood extracting and receiving assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 6 wherein: after said exposing step, measuring the amount of clotting during the clotting process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 9 wherein: said measuring step is accomplished while the clotted blood remains within said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method as defined in claim 6 wherein: said exposing step is accomplished by periodically displacing a chamber of said specimen extracting and receiving container assembly until motion of the blood specimen in said chamber removes a portion of said coating agent from said interior surface of said chamber and said blood specimen contacts an uncoated area of said interior surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein: said specimen receiving chamber is an elongated tube; and said displacing step is accomplished by mounting said elongated tube in a horizontal orientation and rotating said elongated tube about a longitudinal axis of said elongated tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein: said elongated tube is rotated by rolling said elongated tube along a horizontal plane by a distance so that any point on said elongated tube travels through an arc length subtended by an angle up to about 45°.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 13 wherein: said elongated tube is rolled in one direction and then rolled in an opposite direction over a roll cycle of approximately 25 seconds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein: said elongated tube is rotated by tilting said tube about a tilt axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 15 wherein, said tilting step is accomplished by oscillatory tube supporting means carrying said tube about mid tilt axis by about 45° above and about 45° below a horizontal plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly for maintaining blood in vitro in essentially the same rate as occurs in vivo comprising: a chamber for receiving a blood specimen; an ionic radiographic contrast agent provided as a coating on an interior surface of said chamber to prevent contact between the blood specimen and thrombotic initiating surface; and a blood specimen contained in a volume of said chamber interiorly of said coating of said ionic radiographic contrast agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly for maintaining blood in vitro in essentially the same rate as occurs in vivo comprising: a chamber for receiving a blood specimen; an ionic radiographic contrast agent provided as a coating on an interior surface of said chamber to prevent contact between the blood specimen and thrombotic initiating surface; and a blood specimen contained in a volume of said chamber interiorly of said coating of said ionic radiographic contrast agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein: said agent is a liquid having a density and viscosity greater than blood.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein: said agent is a liquid having a viscosity greater than blood and a density less than blood.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly as defined in claim 17, and extracting means communicating with said chamber for the passage of blood into said chamber, said ionic radiographic contrast agent being provided as a coating on an interior surface of said extracting means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for containing a blood specimen in vitro comprising the steps of: coating an interior surface of at least a portion of a container assembly with an ionic radiographic contrast agent to prevent contact of said interior surface in said portion of said container assembly by said blood specimen; and while said agent is coated on said interior surface, withdrawing a blood specimen from a patient into said portion of said container assembly.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for containing a blood specimen in vitro comprising the steps of: coating an interior surface of at least a portion of a container assembly with an ionic radiographic contrast agent to prevent contact of said interior surface in said portion of said container assembly by said blood specimen; and while said agent is coated on said interior surface, withdrawing a blood specimen from a patient into said portion of said container assembly.