US3779383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealed assembly for separation of blood components and method
Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
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Filing: 1972-04-25
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained fluid separator assembly is disclosed capable of separating blood into its component parts of plasma or serum, the light phase, and the cellular portion, the heavy phase. The assembly comprises a container having at least one open end for receiving blood for subsequent separation and a closure sealing the open end of the container, the closure being formed of a self sealing elastomeric material which is penetrable by a pointed hollow needle through which the blood to be separated is conducted into the container. A piston is slidably disposed in the container with its outer surfaces in sealing contact with the inner surfaces of the container. Pressure responsive valve means is provided on the piston which is normally closed when there is a minimum pressure differential on each side of the piston and the valve automatically opens in response to a substantial pressure differential so that when the container is subjected to centrifugal force the blood first separates into its light phase and heavy phase and the valve means automatically opens with the light phase passing through the valve means and the piston moves down through the light phase while retaining sealing engagement with the inner surfaces of the container. Positive stop means is provided on the container between its ends so that the piston as it moves through the light phase will contact the stop means and stop at a predetermined distance above the closure bottom of the tube means whereupon the pressure differential is terminated and the valve means automatically closes to provide an impervious barrier between the separated light and heavy phases of the blood.
Inventors
- 👤 W Ayres
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:32
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
The self-contained fluid separator of claim 1 wherein the piston includes a rigid tubular sleeve mounted in a generally tubular outer body portion formed of an elastomer and having at least one sealing ring on its outer portion for sealing engagement with the inner walls of the container and a diaphragm forming a wall across one end of the generally tubular elastomeric sleeve and having apertures formed therein which are normally closed but which automatically open when subjected to a substantial pressure differential on the opposite sides of the diaphragm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
The self-contained fluid separator of claim 1 wherein the stop means on the container is an annular groove interposed between the ends of the container forming an annular constriction of the inner surface of the container so that said piston is prevented from passing the stop means when subjected to centrifugal forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of spaced annular sealing rings are on the periphery of the piston and in sealing engagement with the interior of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve means is independent of the piston sealing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
193 words
A piston adapted for use for separating fluid into a light phase and a heavy phase in a self-contained fluid separating assembly comprising: a. a body portion having sealing means formed on its outer peripheral walls for maintaining sealing engagement with the inner walls of the fluid separator assembly; b. a rigid tubular sleeve mounted in the body portion of said piston and having an interference fit and pressure responsive valve means mounted on the piston which is normally closed when there is a minimum of pressure differential on the surfaces of the valve means and which opens automatically in response to a substantial pressure differential so that when the container is subjected to moderate centrifugal force the fluid separates into its light phase and heavy phase and when the container is subjected to increased centrifugal force the valve means automatically opens with the light phase passing through the valve means enabling the piston to move down through the light phase while retaining sealing engagement with the inner surfaces of the container, the rigid tubular sleeve in combination with the body portion having a specific gravity greater than the heavy phase of blood.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The piston of claim 6 wherein an axial recess is formed in the body portion, the closed end of the recess defining an end wall portion having the pressure responsive valve means formed therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The piston of claim 7 wherein the end wall portion is formed of an elastomeric material having at least one aperture formed therein, said aperture being normally closed where there is a minimum pressure differential on the two sides of the end wall and which automatically opens in response to a substantial pressure differential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The piston of claim 6 wherein tbe body portion of said piston is formed having a filter means associated therewith and in fluid communication with said pressure responsive valve means whereby said filter means is adapted to remove particulate material from the light phase as the piston moves downwardly therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4, wherein a plurality of spaced annular sealing rings are on the periphery of the piston and in sealing engagement with the interior of the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4, wherein the valve means is independent of the piston sealing means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for the sealed separation of blood into its light phase of serum or plasma and its heavy phase of cellular portion with a sealed container assembly comprising: a. introducing blood in said assembly through a self-sealing closure mounted in one end of the assembly remote from a piston slidably mounted in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the container and said piston having pressure responsive valve means mounted thereon with the piston having a greater specific gravity than the red cells of blood and being disposed above the blood to be separated; b. subjecting the assembly to differing amounts of centrifugal force whereby with moderate centrifugal force the pressure responsive valve means is normally closed and there is a minimum of pressure differential on the two sides of the valve means and with substantially increased centrifugal force the valve means automatically opens in response to substantial pressure differential which enables the piston to move downwardly through the light phase while the light phase passes up through the valve means; and c. stopping the piston by applying a restraining force by a stop interiorly of the container and at a point above the separated heavy phase and automatically shifting the pressure responsive valve means from an open condition to a closed condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
280 words
The method of separating blood into its light phase, consisting of serum or plasma, and its heavy phase, consisting of concentrated red cells, comprising the steps of: a. introducing the blood sample into a sealed and evacuated blood container comprising a double ended tube sealed at each end by an elastomeric closure and with a slidable piston adjacent the closure opposite the closure through which the blood is introduced; b. centrifuging the blood container first at a moderate speed and with the end of the blood container with the piston uppermost so that the piston does not slide downwardly but the blood does separate into its heavy phase at the bottom and the light phase at the top; c. then centrifuging the blood container at a substantially increased speed whereby the slidable piston, having a specific gravity substantially greater than either the serum or red cells, overcomes the sliding and sealing friction and moves downwardly thereby increasing the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid ahead of it, this increased pressure automatically opening a normally closed valve means which is associated with the piston, which allows the light phase to pass up through the valve means and permits the piston to descend to a mechanical stop means; d. stopping the descent of the piston by the stop means despite the continued action of centrifugal force, and after stopping the piston, the light phase liquid continues to flow upwardly through the valve means thereby diminishing the hydrostatic pressure ahead of the piston until the differential pressure is so diminished that the valve means automatically closes again, thereby providing a permanent sealed barrier between the light phase and the heavy phase of the blood.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
177 words
A fluid separator assembly capable of separating blood into its component parts of plasma or serum and cellular portion comprising: a. a container for receiving bloOd and having at least one open end which is adapted to receive a closure for sealing the open end of the container; b. a piston having a specific gravity relatively greater than the cellular portion of the blood and slidably mounted in the container and having means on an outer surface thereof for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the container; d. pressure responsive valve means associated with the piston, said valve means being normally closed and being adapted to automatically open when subjected to a predetermined pressure when the piston is slidably moving within the container and which automatically close when the piston ceases movement to isolate a substantial amount of the plasma or serum from the cellular portion; and e. stop means interiorally of the container for cooperating with the piston in assuring the isolation of the light phase of the plasma or serum from the cellular portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
316 words
A self-contained fluid separator assembly, capable of separating blood into its component parts of plasma or serum and cellular portion comprising: a. a tubular container having two open ends; b. resilient closure means adapted to close said ends, with at least one of said closure means capable of being penetrated by a cannula for filling with blood; c. a slidable piston having a specific gravity relatively greater than the cellular portion of blood and being in sealed relation with the inside surface of said container, said piston being located initially adjacent the closure opposite to that through which the cannula may penetrate, the space within the tube and between the penetrable closure and the piston forming a first chamber for receiving blood from the cannula; d. said slidable piston being adapted to remain in the upper part of the container while moderate centrifugal force is used to precipitate the cellular portion of the blood with the displaced plasma or serum flowing into the upper portion of the first chamber; e. the piston being further adapted, when subjected to increased centrifugal force, to slide downwardly through the plasma or serum thus forming a second chamber within the tubular container and between the piston and the closure opposite to the closure previously penetrated by the cannula, said second chamber being filled with plasma or serum only; f. the piston being further adapted to automatically stop and form a permanent sealed barrier in the plasma or serum slightly above the heavy phase, without any blood cellular material ever passing through the closure opposite the closure penetrated by the cannula, or through the second chamber, or through the piston, whereby any risk of contamination of plasma or serum by the cellular material of the blood is eliminate; and g. stop means for cooperating with the piston in assuring the isolation of the cellular portion of the blood from the liquid.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
273 words
A method for the sealed separation of blood into its light phase of plasma or serum and its heavy phase of cellular portion within a sealed container assembly comprising: a. introducing blood through a first closure at one end of a tubular container having a second closure at its opposite end, with a slidable sealing piston adjacent said second closure and having a specific gravity relatively greater than the cellular portion of blood, the inflowing blood filling a first chamber consisting of the space between the first closure, the interior surface of the container, and the piston; b. subjecting the container of blood to moderate centrifugal force whereby the heavy cellular portion of the blood is precipitated downwardly and the lighter plasma or serum is displaced upwardly within the first chamber, while the piston stays in the upper portion of the container; c. then subjecting the container to increased centrifugal force whereby the piston is caused to slide downwardly and the plasma or serum flows up into a second chamber created by the downward movement of the piston and comprising the spAce between the piston, the second closure, and the interior surface of the container; and d. then stopping the piston automatically by stop means interiorly of the container above the cellular portion of the blood and permanently sealing the piston, whereby the blood, lighter and heavier phases having been sealed in separate chambers, and the risk of contamination of the light phase in the second chamber has been eliminated by preventing any blood cellular material from ever having passed through the second closure, or through the second chamber, or through the piston.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
A self-contained fluid separator assembly, capable of separating blood into its component parts of plasma or serum and cellular portion, comprising: a. a container having at least one open end which is adapted to receive blood for subsequent separation into a light phase and a heavy phase; b. a piston having a specific gravity greater than the cellular portion of blood slidably mounted in the container so that when said container is subjected to centrifugal force the blood separates into its light phase and heavy phase, and the piston is adapted to slide in the container and eventually locate near the interface of the light and heavy phase; c. said piston having means on an outer surface in sealing engagement with an inner surface of the container; d. means associated with said piston for permitting passage of plasma or serum; and e. stop means within the container for stopping the piston near the interface and at a predetermined distance from one of the ends of the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |