Blood component pooling valve and kit

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the syringe is a 60 ml syringe.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein each hose comprises a polymerized vinyl compound.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein each hose is between about 20 cm and about 50 cm in length.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the syringe is a 60 ml syringe.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein each hose comprises a polymerized vinyl compound.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 wherein each hose is between about 20 cm and 50 cm in length.

Claim 11

A method of pooling blood components comprising the steps of: (a) providing a valve adapted for pooling blood components described in the method of claim 1; (b) connecting a syringe to the first port; (c) connecting a first hose to a second port, said first hose being connected at its second end to a terminal hypodermic needle; (d) connecting a second hose to a third port, said second hose being connectable at its second end to a blood component pooling bag; (e) connecting a third hose to a fourth port, said third hose being connected at its second end to a plastic bag needle; (f) inserting the hypodermic needle into a capped vial of sterile saline solution; (g) inserting the plastic bag needle into a blood component bag containing platelets or cryoprecipitates; (h) connecting the second end of the second hose to a blood component pooling bag; (i) rotating the valve plug so that a channel brings the first port into communication with the fourth port; (j) drawing the contents of the blood component bag into the syringe; (k) rotating the valve plug so that a channel brings the first port into communication with the third port; (1) injecting the contents of the syringe into the blood component pooling bag; (m) rotating the valve plug so that a channel brings the first port into communication with the second port; (n) drawing about 20 ml of saline solution into the syringe; (o) rotating the valve plug in the valve housing so that a channel brings the first port into communication with the fourth port; (p) injecting the contents of the syringe into the blood component bag; (q) rinsing the blood component bag with the saline solution; (r) drawing the contents of the blood component bag into the syringe; (s) rotating the valve plug so that a channel brings the first port into communication with the third port; (t) injecting the contents of the syringe into the blood component pooling bag; (u) replacing the blood component bag with a full blood component bag; and (v) repeating steps (i) through (u).

Claim 12

A kit for facilitating the pooling of the contents of blood component bags comprising: (a) a valve including: a valve housing having a bore extending partly therethrough that is bounded by a surface of revolution that is defined by the side wall of the housing, said housing having four ports opening into its bore through the side wall of the housing and a valve plug rotatably mounted in said housing; and having two non-intersecting channels extending therethrough, said channels being arranged so that by rotation of the valve plug a first port with a syringe fitting, may be brought into exclusive communication with each of the other ports so that fluids may flow only between the first port and the port in communication therewith; (b) a syringe with a capacity of at least about 20 ml and connectable to the first port of the valve; (c) a first, second, and third hose adapted respectively to connect to a second, third, and fourth port of the valve; (d) a second syringe fitting adapted to connect an end of the first hose to a hypodermic needle; (e) a hypodermic needle connectable to said second syringe fitting and adapted to withdraw fluid from a sealed vial of sterile solution; (f) a sealed vial containing at least about 20 ml of sterile saline solution; (g) a plastic bag needle adapted to connect an end of the third hose and contents of a blood component bag; (h) a sterile blood component pooling bag adapted to be connected to the second hose and to contain at least the contents of two standard blood component bags and about 20 ml of sterile saline solution; and (i) a sealed packet containing the items described in steps (a) to (h).

Claim 13

A kit for facilitating the pooling of the contents of blood component bags comprising: (a) a valve including: a valve housing having a bore extending partly therethrough that is bounded by a surface of revolution that is defined by the side wall of the housing, said housing having four ports opening into its bore through the side wall of the housing and a valve plug rotatably mounted in said housing; and having two non-intersecting channels extending therethrough, said channels being arranged so that by rotation of the valve plug a first port with a syringe fitting, may be brought into exclusive communication with each of the other ports so that fluids may flow only between the first port and the port in communication therewith; (b) a syringe with a capacity of at least about 20 ml and connectable to the first port of the valve; (c) a first, second, and third hose adapted respectively to connect to a second, third, and fourth port of the valve; (d) a second syringe fitting adapted to connect an end of the first hose to a hypodermic needle; (e) a hypodermic needle connectable to said second syringe fitting and adapted to withdraw fluid from a sealed vial of sterile solution; (f) a sealed vial containing at least about 20 ml of sterile saline solution; (g) a plastic bag needle adapted to connect an end of the third hose and contents of a blood component bag; (h) a sterile blood component pooling bag adapted to be connected to the second hose and to contain at least the contents of two standard blood component bags and about 20 ml of sterile saline solution; and (i) a sealed packet containing the items described in steps (a) to (h).

Claim 14

The kit of claim 11 wherein the valve housing and valve plug are acrylic resins.

Claim 15

The kit of claim 11 wherein the syringe fitting is a Luer-lock syringe fitting.

Claim 16

The kit of claim 11 wherein the syringe is a 60 ml syringe.

Claim 17

The kit of claim 11 wherein each hose comprises a polymerized vinyl compound.

Claim 18

The kit of claim 11 wherein each hose is between about 20 cm and about 50 cm in length.

Claim 19

The kit of claim 11 wherein the sealed vial contains about 60 ml of sterile saline solution.

Claim 20

The kit of claim 11 wherein the valve plug has an upper surface and the upper surface has directional indicators designating the ports in communication.

Claim 21

The kit of claim 11 wherein the kit is sterilized.

Claim 22

The kit of claim 11 wherein the kit is disposable.

Claim 23

The kit of claim 11 wherein the sealed packet is sterile.

Claim 24

The kit of claim 11 also comprising a blood component bag containing concentrated platelets.

Claim 25

The kit of claim 11 also comprising a blood component bag containing cryoprecipitates.