US3879295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacutainer with positive separation barrier
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1973-08-17
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-08-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus providing a physical barrier between the phases of a two-phase liquid, such as whole blood stratified into a serum phase and a cells phase, which includes a transparent tubular receptacle having a rigid wall capable of holding a vacuum. The receptacle has an internal constriction for receiving a resilient plug, which divides the receptacle into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. In the preferred embodiment, the plug has a lower portion, a neck portion and an upper portion. The end of the lower portion is shaped to provide an open pocket for holding a volume of air. A rod of suitable length is detachably mounted through the upper portion of the plug to enable one to urge the plug through the serum in the upper chamber and in sealing engagement with the constriction. The air entrapped in the pocket at the lower portion of the plug creates a slight increase in pressure in the lower chamber as the plug is deformably urged into sealing engagement with the constriction thereby sealingly urging the lower portion of the plug against the constriction. The rod is thereafter detached from the plug and the serum may be asperated out or decanted for analysis, or the open end of the receptacle may be sealed with a stopper thereby making the receptacle ready for use, storage or transportation.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde P Glover
- 👤 Michael P O'neill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J1/00; A61J1/14; A61J1/20; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/15; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150015; A61B5/15003; A61B5/150206; A61B5/150251; A61B5/150351; A61B5/150755; A61B5/153; A61B5/154; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/06; B01L2400/0633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for separating with a physical barrier one phase from the remainder of a liquid having at least two phases, comprising: a. a tubular unitary receptacle open at one end and closed at the opposite said one end, for containing such liquid, said receptacle having an internal constriction defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber for containing such one phase only and a second chamber for containing the remainder of such liquid, said aperture having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than the smallest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber; b. a resilient plug for sealingly engaging said constriction to form a physical barrier between said first chamber and said second chamber, said plug being symmetrical about a centerline and smaller in cross-section at its widest diameter than the largest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber, and having a first portion, a neck portion, and a second portion for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said aperture, and said second chamber; and c. rod means detachably mounted through said first portion of said plug in coincidence with said centerline for urging said plug into sealing engagement with said constriction, said rod means being thereafter removable from said plug.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for separating with a physical barrier one phase from the remainder of a liquid having at least two phases, comprising: a. a tubular unitary receptacle open at one end and closed at the opposite said one end, for containing such liquid, said receptacle having an internal constriction defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber for containing such one phase only and a second chamber for containing the remainder of such liquid, said aperture having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than the smallest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber; b. a resilient plug for sealingly engaging said constriction to form a physical barrier between said first chamber and said second chamber, said plug being symmetrical about a centerline and smaller in cross-section at its widest diameter than the largest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber, and having a first portion, a neck portion, and a second portion for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said aperture, and said second chamber; and c. rod means detachably mounted through said first portion of said plug in coincidence with said centerline for urging said plug into sealing engagement with said constriction, said rod means being thereafter removable from said plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for separating with a physical barrier one phase from the remainder of a liquid having at least two phases, comprising: a. a tubular unitary receptacle open at one end and closed at the opposite said one end, for containing such liquid, said receptacle having an internal constriction defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber for containing such one phase only and a second chamber for containing the remainder of such liquid, said aperture having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than the smallest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber; b. a resilient plug for sealingly engaging said constriction to form a physical barrier between said first chamber and said second chamber, said plug being symmetrical about a centerline and smaller in cross-section at its widest diameter than the largest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber, and having a first portion, a neck portion, and a second portion for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said aperture, and said second chamber; and c. rod means detachably mounted through said first portion of said plug in coincidence with said centerline for urging said plug into sealing engagement with said constriction, said rod means being thereafter removable from said plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for separating with a physical barrier one phase from the remainder of a liquid having at least two phases, comprising: a. a tubular unitary receptacle open at one end and closed at the opposite said one end, for containing such liquid, said receptacle having an internal constriction defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber for containing such one phase only and a second chamber for containing the remainder of such liquid, said aperture having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than the smallest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber; b. a resilient plug for sealingly engaging said constriction to form a physical barrier between said first chamber and said second chamber, said plug being symmetrical about a centerline and smaller in cross-section at its widest diameter than the largest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber, and having a first portion, a neck portion, and a second portion for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said aperture, and said second chamber; and c. rod means detachably mounted through said first portion of said plug in coincidence with said centerline for urging said plug into sealing engagement with said constriction, said rod means being thereafter removable from said plug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein: said second portion of said plug has an undeformed cross-section at its widest diameter larger than such cross-sectional dimension of said aperture, and a configuration operatively related to said constriction for guiding said second portion through said aperture and into said second chamber in response to a force applied through said rod means, said neck portion of said plug has an undeformed cross-section slightly larger than such cross-sectional dimension of said aperture and being compressable for sealing engagement with said constriction at said aperture as said second portion is urged into place in said second chamber, and said first portion of said plug has a larger cross-section than said neck portion for maintaining said neck portion in sealing engagement with said constriction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said second portion of said plug includes an open pocket at the end remote from said neck portion for receiving a volume of air and retaining said air as said plug is urged through such one phase of such liquid and as said second portion is deforminglY urged through said constriction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
In an apparatus for maintaining separation by a physical barrier of a stratified two-phase liquid, such as a blood specimen following stratification of the heavier cells from the lighter fluid, of the type having a tubular unitary receptacle open at one end and closed at the end opposite said one end, and a resilient plug forming said physical barrier, the improvement comprising: an internal constriction in said receptacle defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber and a second chamber, and which is of smaller cross-sectional dimension than the smallest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber, for receiving said resilient plug in sealing engagement therewith to form said physical barrier separating the lighter fluid in said first chamber from the remaining liquid, which includes said heavier cells, in said second chamber; said plug having a first portion, a second portion, and a neck portion between said first and second portions for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said second chamber, and said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
In an apparatus for maintaining separation by a physical barrier of a stratified two-phase liquid, such as a blood specimen following stratification of the heavier cells from the lighter fluid, of the type having a tubular unitary receptacle open at one end and closed at the end opposite said one end, and a resilient plug forming said physical barrier, the improvement comprising: an internal constriction in said receptacle defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber and a second chamber, and which is of smaller cross-sectional dimension than the smallest internal cross-sectional dimension of said first chamber, for receiving said resilient plug in sealing engagement therewith to form said physical barrier separating the lighter fluid in said first chamber from the remaining liquid, which includes said heavier cells, in said second chamber; said plug having a first portion, a second portion, and a neck portion between said first and second portions for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said second chamber, and said aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said second chamber comprises about 55 percent of the operatively usable volume of said tubular receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
In an apparatus for maintaining the separation by a physical barrier of a stratified two-phase liquid, such as a blood specimen following stratification of the heavier cells from the lighter fluid, of the type having a tubular receptacle, open at one end and closed at the end opposite said one end, with an internal constriction defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber and a second chamber, the improvement comprising: a. a resilient plug for sealingly engaging said constriction to form said physical barrier between said first chamber and said second chamber, said resilient plug being symmetrical about a centerline and having a first portion, a neck portion, and a second portion for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said aperture, and said second chamber; and b. rod means detachably mounted through said upper portion in coincidence with said centerline for urging said plug into sealing engagement with said constriction, said rod means being thereafter removable from said plug.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
In an apparatus for maintaining the separation by a physical barrier of a stratified two-phase liquid, such as a blood specimen following stratification of the heavier cells from the lighter fluid, of the type having a tubular receptacle, open at one end and closed at the end opposite said one end, with an internal constriction defining an aperture which divides said receptacle into a first chamber and a second chamber, the improvement comprising: a. a resilient plug for sealingly engaging said constriction to form said physical barrier between said first chamber and said second chamber, said resilient plug being symmetrical about a centerline and having a first portion, a neck portion, and a second portion for engaging said constriction at, respectively, said first chamber, said aperture, and said second chamber; and b. rod means detachably mounted through said upper portion in coincidence with said centerline for urging said plug into sealing engagement with said constriction, said rod means being thereafter removable from said plug.
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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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |