US3814522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Specimen tube for microscopic examination
Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-28
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A tube and method particularly useful in urinalysis and other analytical procedures in which the sediment in a sample of body fluid is subjected to microscopic examination. The tube is transparent, open at its upper end, and suitable for use in a centrifuge. The closed lower end of the tube is flattened to define a reduced chamber portion for retaining only a thin layer of sample, thereby permitting microscopic examination of the sediment within the flattened portion. The main body portion of the tube is provided with a flat surface extending along a plane parallel with the tube''s flattened lower end portion.
Inventors
- 👤 J Clark
- 👤 W Wells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:41
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A specimen tube having an upper body portion and an integral lower end portion, said lower end portion being flattened along a plane generally parallel with the axis of said tube to provide a pair of substantially parallel transparent walls spaced slightly apart to define a thin flat terminal chamber therebetween, said body portion defining a main chamber communicating directly with said terminal chamber and having an enlarged flat outer surface portion substantially parallel with the plane of said flattened lower end portion, said flat outer surface portion being spaced from the axis of said tube a distance substantially greater than the distance between said axis and each of said parallel transparent walls of said terminal chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A specimen tube having an upper body portion and an integral lower end portion, said lower end portion being flattened along a plane generally parallel with the axis of said tube to provide a pair of substantially parallel transparent walls spaced slightly apart to define a thin flat terminal chamber therebetween, said body portion defining a main chamber communicating directly with said terminal chamber and having an enlarged flat outer surface portion substantially parallel with the plane of said flattened lower end portion, said flat outer surface portion being spaced from the axis of said tube a distance substantially greater than the distance between said axis and each of said parallel transparent walls of said terminal chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said terminal chamber is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its entire extent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 2 in which said thickness falls within the range of about 0.2 to 2.0 millimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 3 in which said thickness falls within the range of about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said tube is open at its upper end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said upper body portion is of substantially uniform cross section throughout its entire longitudinal extent, said upper body portion constituting a major part of the length of said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 6 in which said upper body portion is of generally cylindrical configuration except for said flat outer surface portion, said terminal portion having a width substantially the same as the maximum internal cross sectional dimension of said upper body portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said flat surface is roughened.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for analyzing the sediment in a body of fluid, comprising the steps of placing a quantity of said fluid into a tube closed at its lower end, said tube having a lower end portion with transparent and substantially parallel side walls spaced slightly apart to define a thin flat terminal chamber therebetween and having an enlarged upper end portion with a flat outer surface parallel with said side walls and spaced farther from the axis of said tube than said side walls, centrifuging said tube and its contents to direct said sediment into said terminal chamber, then removing the supernatant fluid from said tube, then turning said tube so that its axis extends horizontally and resting the flat surface thereof upon a microscope stage so that the line of sight of the microscope passes throUgh said flat terminal chamber and is substantially normal to the plane of said chamber, and thereafter microscopically examining said sediment through the transparent side walls of said end portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for analyzing the sediment in a body of fluid, comprising the steps of placing a quantity of said fluid into a tube closed at its lower end, said tube having a lower end portion with transparent and substantially parallel side walls spaced slightly apart to define a thin flat terminal chamber therebetween and having an enlarged upper end portion with a flat outer surface parallel with said side walls and spaced farther from the axis of said tube than said side walls, centrifuging said tube and its contents to direct said sediment into said terminal chamber, then removing the supernatant fluid from said tube, then turning said tube so that its axis extends horizontally and resting the flat surface thereof upon a microscope stage so that the line of sight of the microscope passes throUgh said flat terminal chamber and is substantially normal to the plane of said chamber, and thereafter microscopically examining said sediment through the transparent side walls of said end portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |