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US5636640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid sampling and test apparatus
Assignee: Volunteers for Medical Engr
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Filing: 1995-02-06
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2015-02-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for sampling blood which includes a deformable housing defining a chamber that retains liquid. The housing has a pierceable membrane. The apparatus also includes a resilient piercer member that is adjacent the wall of a chamber and adapted to puncture the pierceable membrane. A removable layer that covers at least a portion of the pierceable membrane. Depression of the deformable housing proximate the piercer member urges the piercer member to puncture the pierceable membrane. The piercer member thereby forms an opening, allowing liquid to be drawn through the opening and into the chamber. Thereafter, the piercer member returns into the deformable housing.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Staehlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/15; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150374; A61B5/150381; A61B5/150442; A61B5/150458; A61B5/150015; A61B5/150022; A61B5/150053; A61B5/150061; A61B5/150099; A61B5/150206; A61B5/150229; A61B5/150343; A61B5/150389; A61B5/150412; A61B5/150419; A61B5/150503; A61B5/150511; A61B5/150534; A61B5/150694; A61B5/150717; A61B5/150969; A61B5/151; A61B5/15101; A61B5/15103; A61B5/15107; A61B5/15113; A61B5/15115; A61B5/15117; A61B5/15134; A61B5/15136; A61B5/15142; A61B5/15144; A61B5/157; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/4905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for sampling liquid from an object comprising: a deformable housing defining an evacuated chamber adapted to receive a liquid, said housing having a pierceable, air impermeable membrane; a resilient piercer member abutting along a wall of said chamber and adapted to puncture said membrane; whereby depression of said housing proximate said piercer member urges said piercer member to puncture said membrane, thereby forming an opening, so that liquid is drawn through said opening and into said chamber as said piercer member returns to said housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for sampling liquid from an object comprising: a deformable housing defining an evacuated chamber adapted to receive a liquid, said housing having a pierceable, air impermeable membrane; a resilient piercer member abutting along a wall of said chamber and adapted to puncture said membrane; whereby depression of said housing proximate said piercer member urges said piercer member to puncture said membrane, thereby forming an opening, so that liquid is drawn through said opening and into said chamber as said piercer member returns to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, also including a seal member disposed outside of said chamber and attached to said membrane portion for applying a seal between said housing and the object when said layer is removed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a dome-shaped head, and wherein said piercer member includes a first portion conforming substantially to said dome-shaped head and a second portion extending substantially orthogonally relative to said first portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said second portion includes a blade for piercing said pierceable membrane into a section having a shape corresponding to said blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said second portion includes a tab substantially adjacent said blade for urging said section toward said chamber when said piercer member returns to said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said blade has a v-shaped cross-section.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for sampling blood from an epidermis comprising: a deformable housing defining an evacuated chamber adapted to receive blood, said housing having a pierceable, air impermeable membrane; and a resilient piercer member adjacent a wall of said chamber and adapted to puncture said membrane; whereby depression of said housing proximate said piercer member causes said piercer member to puncture said membrane, thereby forming an opening along said membrane and urging said piercer member into engagement with the epidermis, so that blood is drawn from the epidermis, through said opening, and into said chamber, as said piercer returns to said housing.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for sampling blood from an epidermis comprising: a deformable housing defining an evacuated chamber adapted to receive blood, said housing having a pierceable, air impermeable membrane; and a resilient piercer member adjacent a wall of said chamber and adapted to puncture said membrane; whereby depression of said housing proximate said piercer member causes said piercer member to puncture said membrane, thereby forming an opening along said membrane and urging said piercer member into engagement with the epidermis, so that blood is drawn from the epidermis, through said opening, and into said chamber, as said piercer returns to said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7, also including a seal member disposed outside of said chamber and attached to said portion of said membrane for applying a seal between said housing and the epidermis when said layer is removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said housing includes a pair of spaced electrical contacts for detecting the presence of blood therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, also including an infrared sensor electrically connected to said contacts for measuring coagulation of the blood within said chambers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7, also including a frangible member containing a reagent, said frangible member being disposed within said chamber and aligned with said piercer member, whereby said piercer member is adapted to fracture said frangible member so that said reagent mixes with the blood within said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said removable layer is non-pierceable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said housing includes bellows for increasing the flow of blood into said chamber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for sampling liquid from an object comprising: a deformable housing defining an evacuated chamber adapted to receive a liquid, said housing having a pierceable, air impermeable membrane; and a piercer adapted so that actuating the piercer causes said piercer to puncture said membrane and penetrate the object, thereby forming an opening, so that liquid is drawn from the object through said opening and into said chamber, and said piercer is adapted to be de-actuated so that said membrane is no longer pierced and said object is no longer penetrated.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for sampling liquid from an object comprising: a deformable housing defining an evacuated chamber adapted to receive a liquid, said housing having a pierceable, air impermeable membrane; and a piercer adapted so that actuating the piercer causes said piercer to puncture said membrane and penetrate the object, thereby forming an opening, so that liquid is drawn from the object through said opening and into said chamber, and said piercer is adapted to be de-actuated so that said membrane is no longer pierced and said object is no longer penetrated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said piercer is a resiliently mounted blade abutting along a wall of said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a removable layer covering at least a portion of said membrane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a removable layer covering at least a portion of said membrane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |