US3782548A - Serum skimmer - Google Patents

Serum skimmer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3782548A
US3782548A US00312817A US3782548DA US3782548A US 3782548 A US3782548 A US 3782548A US 00312817 A US00312817 A US 00312817A US 3782548D A US3782548D A US 3782548DA US 3782548 A US3782548 A US 3782548A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
receptacle
plug
serum
instrument
label
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00312817A
Inventor
J Bowen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BV HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3782548A publication Critical patent/US3782548A/en
Assigned to B.V. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT reassignment B.V. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BOWEN, JOHN G.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5021—Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D33/00—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation
    • B01D33/01—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation with translationally moving filtering elements, e.g. pistons
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/487—Physical analysis of biological material of liquid biological material
    • G01N33/49—Blood
    • G01N33/491—Blood by separating the blood components

Definitions

  • An instrument for skimming serum from the cellular material, such as the red blood cells, of a blood sample; the cells having been dispersed, for example, by centrifugal action, to the bottom of the tubular receptacle containing the sample.
  • the instrument of the invention includes a resilient plug member which is inserted down into the receptacle, and which has an opening therein that permits the serum to pass through the plug member as it is moved down through the serum in the receptacle.
  • the plug preferably has a filter across the opening which permits the serum, but not the cellular material, to pass through the opening as the plug is pushed down into the tubular receptacle.
  • a hollow rigid rod extends upwardly from the plug, and the rod is removably attached to the plug to serve as a conduit for the serum flowing through the opening in the plug.
  • the rod also serves as a handle to permit the plug to be pushed down into the serum in the tubular receptacle and subsequently to be pulled up towards the mouth of the receptacle.
  • a label may be attached to the instrument which remains in the tubular receptacle for labeling purposes after the instrument has been removed. The label may be coded for machine reading.
  • the present invention is intended to be an improvement over the unit described in the aforesaid patent, in that it accomplishes the purpose of the Farr unit without the need for a separate plastic tube, as is required in the unit described in the Farr patent. It is usual to make such a tube out of butyrate, since butyrate is not susceptible to breakage, and is inexpensive. However, butyrate interferes with the serum in time and it also transpires moisture.
  • the instrument of the present invention is advantageous as compared with the unit described in the patent, since it does not require a separate tube, and since it is adapted to be fitted directly into the test tube in which the blood sample is contained.
  • This feature not only provides for a less expensive instrument, as compared with the unit of the patent, but also one which does not require butyrate tubing, or the like, and which has otherinherent improvements which will become evident as the present description proceeds.
  • the instrument of the invention is primarily concerned with the separation of serum or plasma from centrifuged clotted, or whole blood specimens, contained, for example, in a usual glass test tube; the device has general utility in the separation of any liquid from any particulatematter dispersed in the bottom of the receptacle containing thev liquid and particulate matter.
  • the invention provides in general therefore, an instrument for separating a liquid from dispersed solids suspended therein.
  • the invention provides an instrument for separating blood serum from cellular bodies which have been dispersed to the bottom of the receptacle containing the mixture.
  • a label is attached to the instrument which remains in the receptacle after the separation has been effectuated for labelling purposes.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevation of a test tube containing serum and cellular material, in which the cellular material has been dispersed to the bottom of the test tube, for example, by centrifuging; and showing an instrument representing one embodiment of the present invention inserted into the test tube;
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the components of the instrument of the invention shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows the instrument of the invention in a test tube, and used for a slightly different purposes from that of FIG. 1, and in which the serum is actually transposed into a second receptacle;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a second component of the instrument of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the instrument of the invention may be used in a multiplicity of test tubes, so as to cause the serum in the test tubes to be established at a constant level, for automatic machinery, or the like;
  • FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment in which a plastic cap is attached to the instrument to serve as a label
  • FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show different manners in which the label of FIG. 6 may be used to identify different serum samples.
  • a blood sample is contained in a tubular receptacle, such as a test tube 10, and has been subjected to a centrifuge action so that its red cells are dispersed to the bottom of the tube, and the serum appears as a clear liquid disposed over the red cells.
  • the device of the invention in the embodiment of FIG. 1, includes a plug member 12 which is formed of rubber, or equivalent resilient material.
  • the plug member 12 has an opening extending through it, and a filter I4 is mounted at the mouth of the opening.
  • the filter 14 1 serves to pass the serum, but to prevent the passage of the red cells, or other cellular material, through the plug 12.
  • the filter 14 may be composed, for example, of polypropylene felt, which has openings of the order of 3 microns, and which is effective to impede the ins sage of the red blood cells which have a particle size of the order of 7 microns.
  • other appropriate filters may be used, composed, for example, of nylon, stainless steel screen, Teflon, paper of the like.
  • the device of the invention in the illustrated embodiment also includes a hollow elongated rigid member 16 which may be composed, for example, of aluminum, or any other suitable material.
  • the elongated member 16 as shown in FIG. 2, has an end portion 16a which is adapted to be threaded into the plug 12
  • the member 16 serves as a handle and as a conduit for the liquid passed through the filter l4 and through the opening in the plug 12.
  • the liquid emerges from the elongated member 16 through a flexible tubular member 18 affixed to the upper end 16b of the: rigid member.
  • the rigid elongated member 16 is also used as a handle to push the plug 12 down into the test tube 10, and to pull the plug up and out of the test tube.
  • the serum passes through the filter 14 in the plug and up through the ho]- low interior of the rod 16.
  • the flexible tube 18 may be inserted into the mouth of the tube 10, so that as the plug 12 is pushed by the handle 16 down into the se rum, the serum is passed through. the tube 18 into the upper part of the test tube.
  • the tube 18 may be inserted into a second test tube 30, so that the serum may be transferred directly from the test tube 10 into the second test tube.
  • the handle 16 may be removed by unscrewing it from the plug 12. Then, the top of the test tube 10 may be plugged by an appropriate stopper, and the test tube may be sent through the mail, or byany other means, to an appropriate receiving station.
  • the test tube may be placed in an automatic machine, so that the serum at the top of the plug 12 may be sampled for test purposes. In this respect, most present day automatic machines require the levels of the specimens to be essentially at the same height. This may be achieved by the device of the invention, and by setting the plugs 12 at different levels in different test tubes, such as designated A, B and C in FIG. 5, so that the actual level of the serum will be the same in each of the tubes.
  • a label in the form, for example, of a plastic cup is mounted on the skimmer adjacent, for example, the upper end of the plug 12.
  • the label may have identifying numbers formed on it; or coded indicia, for example, of the magnetic type, may be provided on the label, for machine reading of the sample.
  • the label 20 may be formed with an external periph eral lip 21, so that when the skimmer is inserted into the tubular receptacle 10, the lip engages the upper edge of the receptacle, and the label becomes detached, as designated 20a in FIG. 7.
  • the label is now positioned inside the tubular receptacle 10, so that its surface is protected. However, its indications may be observed through the transparent tubular receptacle, and/or its magnetic code may be sensed by an appropriate machine sensor through the wall of the receptacle.
  • the label 20 may be provided with an inwardly extending lip.
  • a lip 22 as shown in FIG. 8, may have a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular receptacle 10.
  • the latter embodiment, as represented 20b, provides for the label to be supported externally of the tubular member 10. This may be desirable in some instances where the label may be susceptible to causing contamination of the serum within the receptacle.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 are advantageous for machine reading, since the labels are automatically detached from the skimmer instrument when it is inserted into the tubular receptacle. When detached, the labels are automatically detached from the skimmer instrument when it is inserted into the tubular receptacle. When detached, the
  • labels are all supported at the same level on the receptacle for convenient machine reading. However, if desired, the labels may be permanently attached to the plug 12, as designated 20c in FIG. 9, to remain with the plug within the receptacle after the handle 16 has been removed.
  • the invention provides, therefore, a simple and inexpensive instrument that may be used to skim serum from a first cellular matter in the bloodstream, and which performs the operation efficiently and simply.
  • An instrument for separating a liquid in an elongated tubular shaped receptacle, or the like, from solids dispersed to the bottom of the receptacle including: a resilient plug member having an outer periphery configured to fit snugly with the inner surface of the receptacle and having an opening therein; a rigid tubular member affixed to said plug member and extending axially therefrom to provide a conduit for liquid passing through said opening in said plug member, and also to provide a handle for moving said plug member up and down within said receptacle, a detachable label member attached to said plug member, in which said label member includes a peripheral lip for engaging the end of the tubular shaped receptacle when the plug member is inserted down into the receptacle to cause the label member to be detached from said plug member and to be mounted at the upper end of said tubular shaped receptacle.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Ecology (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)

Abstract

An instrument is provided for skimming serum from the cellular material, such as the red blood cells, of a blood sample; the cells having been dispersed, for example, by centrifugal action, to the bottom of the tubular receptacle containing the sample. The instrument of the invention includes a resilient plug member which is inserted down into the receptacle, and which has an opening therein that permits the serum to pass through the plug member as it is moved down through the serum in the receptacle. The plug preferably has a filter across the opening which permits the serum, but not the cellular material, to pass through the opening as the plug is pushed down into the tubular receptacle. A hollow rigid rod extends upwardly from the plug, and the rod is removably attached to the plug to serve as a conduit for the serum flowing through the opening in the plug. The rod also serves as a handle to permit the plug to be pushed down into the serum in the tubular receptacle and subsequently to be pulled up towards the mouth of the receptacle. A label may be attached to the instrument which remains in the tubular receptacle for labeling purposes after the instrument has been removed. The label may be coded for machine reading.

Description

United States Patent [191 Bowen 1 1 SERUM SKIMMER [76] Inventor: John G. Bowen, 1150 Oak St.,
South Pasadena, Calif. 91030 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 312,817
Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation'in-part of Ser. No. 161,696, July 12,
1971 abandoned.
[521 11.. Cl 210/94, 210/518, 210/D1G. 23 [51] Int. Cl B01d21/24 [58] Field of Search 210/85, 94, 406,
210/5l6 5l8, DIG. 23, 359
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,481,477 12/1969 Faar 2l0/D1G. 23
3,512,940 5/1970 Shapiro 2lO/DIG. 23 3,586,064 6/1971 Brown 2l0/D1G. 23
2,879,207 3/1959 Poitras 210/406 X 3,360,128 12/1967 Federline 210/94 Primary Examiner-John Adee Attorney-Keith D. Beecher [5 7 ABSTRACT An instrument is provided for skimming serum from the cellular material, such as the red blood cells, of a blood sample; the cells having been dispersed, for example, by centrifugal action, to the bottom of the tubular receptacle containing the sample. The instrument of the invention includes a resilient plug member which is inserted down into the receptacle, and which has an opening therein that permits the serum to pass through the plug member as it is moved down through the serum in the receptacle. The plug preferably has a filter across the opening which permits the serum, but not the cellular material, to pass through the opening as the plug is pushed down into the tubular receptacle. A hollow rigid rod extends upwardly from the plug, and the rod is removably attached to the plug to serve as a conduit for the serum flowing through the opening in the plug. The rod also serves as a handle to permit the plug to be pushed down into the serum in the tubular receptacle and subsequently to be pulled up towards the mouth of the receptacle. A label may be attached to the instrument which remains in the tubular receptacle for labeling purposes after the instrument has been removed. The label may be coded for machine reading.
3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 1mm sum 1 or 2 1 SERUM S'KIMMER This application is a continuation-in-part of Copending Application Ser. No. 161,696, filed July 12, 1971, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The examination of blood samples in a clinical laboratory usually requires the blood serum to be separated from the cellular material which is suspended in whole blood. For that reason, it is customary to place the whole blood samples in test tubes, or similar elongated receptacles, and to subject the samples to a centrifugal force to cause the cells to be dispersed to the bottom of the tubular receptacle. Then, it is usual in the prior art to provide a skimmer for separating the serum in the test tube from the cellular material.
For example, such an instrument is described in U. S.
1 Pat. No. 3,355,098; Farr. The present invention is intended to be an improvement over the unit described in the aforesaid patent, in that it accomplishes the purpose of the Farr unit without the need for a separate plastic tube, as is required in the unit described in the Farr patent. It is usual to make such a tube out of butyrate, since butyrate is not susceptible to breakage, and is inexpensive. However, butyrate interferes with the serum in time and it also transpires moisture.
The instrument of the present invention is advantageous as compared with the unit described in the patent, since it does not require a separate tube, and since it is adapted to be fitted directly into the test tube in which the blood sample is contained. This feature not only provides for a less expensive instrument, as compared with the unit of the patent, but also one which does not require butyrate tubing, or the like, and which has otherinherent improvements which will become evident as the present description proceeds.
Although the instrument of the invention is primarily concerned with the separation of serum or plasma from centrifuged clotted, or whole blood specimens, contained, for example, in a usual glass test tube; the device has general utility in the separation of any liquid from any particulatematter dispersed in the bottom of the receptacle containing thev liquid and particulate matter.
The invention provides in general therefore, an instrument for separating a liquid from dispersed solids suspended therein. In particular, the invention provides an instrument for separating blood serum from cellular bodies which have been dispersed to the bottom of the receptacle containing the mixture.
' In a second embodiment, a label is attached to the instrument which remains in the receptacle after the separation has been effectuated for labelling purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of a test tube containing serum and cellular material, in which the cellular material has been dispersed to the bottom of the test tube, for example, by centrifuging; and showing an instrument representing one embodiment of the present invention inserted into the test tube;
FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the components of the instrument of the invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows the instrument of the invention in a test tube, and used for a slightly different purposes from that of FIG. 1, and in which the serum is actually transposed into a second receptacle;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a second component of the instrument of the invention;
FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the instrument of the invention may be used in a multiplicity of test tubes, so as to cause the serum in the test tubes to be established at a constant level, for automatic machinery, or the like;
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment in which a plastic cap is attached to the instrument to serve as a label; and
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show different manners in which the label of FIG. 6 may be used to identify different serum samples.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a blood sample is contained in a tubular receptacle, such as a test tube 10, and has been subjected to a centrifuge action so that its red cells are dispersed to the bottom of the tube, and the serum appears as a clear liquid disposed over the red cells. The device of the invention in the embodiment of FIG. 1, includes a plug member 12 which is formed of rubber, or equivalent resilient material.
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the plug member 12 has an opening extending through it, and a filter I4 is mounted at the mouth of the opening. The filter 14 1 serves to pass the serum, but to prevent the passage of the red cells, or other cellular material, through the plug 12. The filter 14 may be composed, for example, of polypropylene felt, which has openings of the order of 3 microns, and which is effective to impede the ins sage of the red blood cells which have a particle size of the order of 7 microns. However, other appropriate filters may be used, composed, for example, of nylon, stainless steel screen, Teflon, paper of the like.
The device of the invention in the illustrated embodiment also includes a hollow elongated rigid member 16 which may be composed, for example, of aluminum, or any other suitable material. The elongated member 16, as shown in FIG. 2, has an end portion 16a which is adapted to be threaded into the plug 12 The member 16 serves as a handle and as a conduit for the liquid passed through the filter l4 and through the opening in the plug 12. The liquid emerges from the elongated member 16 through a flexible tubular member 18 affixed to the upper end 16b of the: rigid member.
The rigid elongated member 16 is also used as a handle to push the plug 12 down into the test tube 10, and to pull the plug up and out of the test tube. As the plug 12 is moved down into the test tube, the serum passes through the filter 14 in the plug and up through the ho]- low interior of the rod 16. The flexible tube 18 may be inserted into the mouth of the tube 10, so that as the plug 12 is pushed by the handle 16 down into the se rum, the serum is passed through. the tube 18 into the upper part of the test tube. Alternately, and as shown in FIG. I, the tube 18 may be inserted into a second test tube 30, so that the serum may be transferred directly from the test tube 10 into the second test tube.
After the plug 12 has been pushed down to the position shown in FIG. 1 so that it is in the vicinity of the red cells, with the serum disposed above it, the handle 16 may be removed by unscrewing it from the plug 12. Then, the top of the test tube 10 may be plugged by an appropriate stopper, and the test tube may be sent through the mail, or byany other means, to an appropriate receiving station. Alternatively, the test tube may be placed in an automatic machine, so that the serum at the top of the plug 12 may be sampled for test purposes. In this respect, most present day automatic machines require the levels of the specimens to be essentially at the same height. This may be achieved by the device of the invention, and by setting the plugs 12 at different levels in different test tubes, such as designated A, B and C in FIG. 5, so that the actual level of the serum will be the same in each of the tubes.
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a label in the form, for example, of a plastic cup is mounted on the skimmer adjacent, for example, the upper end of the plug 12. The label may have identifying numbers formed on it; or coded indicia, for example, of the magnetic type, may be provided on the label, for machine reading of the sample.
The label 20 may be formed with an external periph eral lip 21, so that when the skimmer is inserted into the tubular receptacle 10, the lip engages the upper edge of the receptacle, and the label becomes detached, as designated 20a in FIG. 7. The label is now positioned inside the tubular receptacle 10, so that its surface is protected. However, its indications may be observed through the transparent tubular receptacle, and/or its magnetic code may be sensed by an appropriate machine sensor through the wall of the receptacle.
As an alternative, the label 20 may be provided with an inwardly extending lip. Such a lip 22, as shown in FIG. 8, may have a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular receptacle 10. The latter embodiment, as represented 20b, provides for the label to be supported externally of the tubular member 10. This may be desirable in some instances where the label may be susceptible to causing contamination of the serum within the receptacle.
The embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 are advantageous for machine reading, since the labels are automatically detached from the skimmer instrument when it is inserted into the tubular receptacle. When detached, the
labels are all supported at the same level on the receptacle for convenient machine reading. However, if desired, the labels may be permanently attached to the plug 12, as designated 20c in FIG. 9, to remain with the plug within the receptacle after the handle 16 has been removed.
The invention provides, therefore, a simple and inexpensive instrument that may be used to skim serum from a first cellular matter in the bloodstream, and which performs the operation efficiently and simply.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the following claims to cover all such modifications which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.
What is claimed is:
1. An instrument for separating a liquid in an elongated tubular shaped receptacle, or the like, from solids dispersed to the bottom of the receptacle, including: a resilient plug member having an outer periphery configured to fit snugly with the inner surface of the receptacle and having an opening therein; a rigid tubular member affixed to said plug member and extending axially therefrom to provide a conduit for liquid passing through said opening in said plug member, and also to provide a handle for moving said plug member up and down within said receptacle, a detachable label member attached to said plug member, in which said label member includes a peripheral lip for engaging the end of the tubular shaped receptacle when the plug member is inserted down into the receptacle to cause the label member to be detached from said plug member and to be mounted at the upper end of said tubular shaped receptacle.
2. The instrument defined in claim 1, in which said label is mounted externally of said tubular shaped receptacle.
3. The instrument defined in claim 1, in which said label is mounted internally of said tubular shaped receptacle.

Claims (3)

1. An instrument for separating a liquid in an elongated tubular shaped receptacle, or the like, from solids dispersed to the bottom of the receptacle, including: a resilient plug member having an outer periphery configured to fit snugly with the inner surface of the receptacle and having an opening therein; a rigid tubular member affixed to said plug member and extending axially therefrom to provide a conduit for liquid passing through said opening in said plug member, and also to provide a handle for moving said plug member up and down within said receptacle, a detachable label member attached to said plug member, in which said laBel member includes a peripheral lip for engaging the end of the tubular shaped receptacle when the plug member is inserted down into the receptacle to cause the label member to be detached from said plug member and to be mounted at the upper end of said tubular shaped receptacle.
2. The instrument defined in claim 1, in which said label is mounted externally of said tubular shaped receptacle.
3. The instrument defined in claim 1, in which said label is mounted internally of said tubular shaped receptacle.
US00312817A 1972-12-07 1972-12-07 Serum skimmer Expired - Lifetime US3782548A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US31281772A 1972-12-07 1972-12-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3782548A true US3782548A (en) 1974-01-01

Family

ID=23213140

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00312817A Expired - Lifetime US3782548A (en) 1972-12-07 1972-12-07 Serum skimmer

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3782548A (en)

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3852194A (en) * 1972-12-11 1974-12-03 Corning Glass Works Apparatus and method for fluid collection and partitioning
US3879295A (en) * 1973-08-17 1975-04-22 Eastman Kodak Co Vacutainer with positive separation barrier
US3891553A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-06-24 Becton Dickinson Co Serum and plasma separator {13 {0 constrictionless type
US3894951A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-15 Becton Dickinson Co Serum/plasma separator; interface seeking piston; resilient apertures in lower diaphragm type
US3894952A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-15 Becton Dickinson Co Serum/plasma separator assembly having interface-seeking piston
US3897340A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-29 Becton Dickinson Co Serum/plasma separator assembly with interface-seeking piston having coarse and fine band filters
US3897337A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-29 Becton Dickinson Co Plasma separator assembly having interface-seeking piston with centrifugal valve
FR2276590A1 (en) * 1974-06-24 1976-01-23 Mediplast Ab DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING BLOOD OR SIMILAR FLUID INTO A PIPETTE
US3960727A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-06-01 Hochstrasser Harry T Apparatus and method for isolating soluble blood components
JPS51105890A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-09-20 Becton Dickinson Co
US4003834A (en) * 1975-03-31 1977-01-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Department Of Health, Education And Welfare Density gradient fractionation by piston displacement
US4021352A (en) * 1974-03-30 1977-05-03 Walter Sarstedt Kunststoff-Spritzgusswerk Filter device for separating blood fractions
US4136036A (en) * 1976-04-07 1979-01-23 Eastman Kodak Company Collection and dispensing device for non-pressurized liquids
US4279863A (en) * 1979-09-12 1981-07-21 Sherwood Medical Industries, Inc. Reagent separator for a blood collection tube
EP0192361A2 (en) * 1985-02-21 1986-08-27 Dionex Corporation Fluid sample delivery apparatus
EP0285076A2 (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-10-05 Dupont Canada Inc. Apparatus and method for separating phases of blood
US4832851A (en) * 1987-02-02 1989-05-23 W. R. Grace & Co. Centrifugal force-enhanced filtration of fluids
EP0339429A2 (en) * 1988-04-25 1989-11-02 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Filter and dispenser vial and use thereof
EP0403905A1 (en) * 1989-06-19 1990-12-27 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Apparatus for liquid sample aliquot distribution
US5030341A (en) * 1987-04-03 1991-07-09 Andronic Technologies, Inc. Apparatus for separating phases of blood
US5211310A (en) * 1991-04-30 1993-05-18 Andronic Devices Ltd. Apparatus and method for dispensing phases of blood
US5322192A (en) * 1992-07-28 1994-06-21 Automed Corporation Pipetting apparatus
US5555920A (en) * 1991-04-30 1996-09-17 Automed Corporation Method and apparatus for aliquotting blood serum or blood plasma
US20050226785A1 (en) * 2004-04-05 2005-10-13 Bio/Data Corporation Clot retainer

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2879207A (en) * 1954-11-22 1959-03-24 Millipore Filter Corp Filtration and incubation unit
US3360128A (en) * 1964-10-13 1967-12-26 Federline Charles Donald Connection and filter
US3481477A (en) * 1965-03-02 1969-12-02 Andrew F Farr Apparatus for filtering out clear liquid from suspended solids
US3512940A (en) * 1968-12-30 1970-05-19 Justin J Shapiro Test tube filter device
US3586064A (en) * 1969-09-03 1971-06-22 Metropolitan Pathology Lab Inc Blood serum collection tube and method of collection

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2879207A (en) * 1954-11-22 1959-03-24 Millipore Filter Corp Filtration and incubation unit
US3360128A (en) * 1964-10-13 1967-12-26 Federline Charles Donald Connection and filter
US3481477A (en) * 1965-03-02 1969-12-02 Andrew F Farr Apparatus for filtering out clear liquid from suspended solids
US3512940A (en) * 1968-12-30 1970-05-19 Justin J Shapiro Test tube filter device
US3586064A (en) * 1969-09-03 1971-06-22 Metropolitan Pathology Lab Inc Blood serum collection tube and method of collection

Cited By (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3852194A (en) * 1972-12-11 1974-12-03 Corning Glass Works Apparatus and method for fluid collection and partitioning
US3879295A (en) * 1973-08-17 1975-04-22 Eastman Kodak Co Vacutainer with positive separation barrier
US3891553A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-06-24 Becton Dickinson Co Serum and plasma separator {13 {0 constrictionless type
US3894951A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-15 Becton Dickinson Co Serum/plasma separator; interface seeking piston; resilient apertures in lower diaphragm type
US3894952A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-15 Becton Dickinson Co Serum/plasma separator assembly having interface-seeking piston
US3897340A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-29 Becton Dickinson Co Serum/plasma separator assembly with interface-seeking piston having coarse and fine band filters
US3897337A (en) * 1974-02-27 1975-07-29 Becton Dickinson Co Plasma separator assembly having interface-seeking piston with centrifugal valve
US4021352A (en) * 1974-03-30 1977-05-03 Walter Sarstedt Kunststoff-Spritzgusswerk Filter device for separating blood fractions
JPS5149088A (en) * 1974-06-24 1976-04-27 Medeipurasuto Ab Ketsueki moshikuha koreto doyonaekitaiopipetsutonaiheutsususochi
FR2276590A1 (en) * 1974-06-24 1976-01-23 Mediplast Ab DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING BLOOD OR SIMILAR FLUID INTO A PIPETTE
JPS5932732B2 (en) * 1974-06-24 1984-08-10 メデイプラスト アクテイ−ボラゲツト Blood cell sedimentation rate measuring device
US3960727A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-06-01 Hochstrasser Harry T Apparatus and method for isolating soluble blood components
JPS51105890A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-09-20 Becton Dickinson Co
US4003834A (en) * 1975-03-31 1977-01-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Department Of Health, Education And Welfare Density gradient fractionation by piston displacement
US4136036A (en) * 1976-04-07 1979-01-23 Eastman Kodak Company Collection and dispensing device for non-pressurized liquids
US4279863A (en) * 1979-09-12 1981-07-21 Sherwood Medical Industries, Inc. Reagent separator for a blood collection tube
EP0192361A2 (en) * 1985-02-21 1986-08-27 Dionex Corporation Fluid sample delivery apparatus
EP0192361A3 (en) * 1985-02-21 1989-05-24 Dionex Corporation Fluid sample delivery apparatus
US4832851A (en) * 1987-02-02 1989-05-23 W. R. Grace & Co. Centrifugal force-enhanced filtration of fluids
EP0285076A3 (en) * 1987-04-03 1990-05-16 Andronic Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and method for separating phases of blood
US5308506A (en) * 1987-04-03 1994-05-03 Mcewen James A Apparatus and method for separating a sample of blood
EP0285076A2 (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-10-05 Dupont Canada Inc. Apparatus and method for separating phases of blood
US5030341A (en) * 1987-04-03 1991-07-09 Andronic Technologies, Inc. Apparatus for separating phases of blood
JPH01318959A (en) * 1988-04-25 1989-12-25 F Hoffmann La Roche Ag Piston type filter and dispenser vial
EP0339429A3 (en) * 1988-04-25 1990-03-28 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Filter and dispenser vial and use thereof
EP0339429A2 (en) * 1988-04-25 1989-11-02 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Filter and dispenser vial and use thereof
JPH076978B2 (en) 1988-04-25 1995-01-30 エフ．ホフマン ― ラ ロシュ アーゲー Piston type filter, dispenser vial
EP0403905A1 (en) * 1989-06-19 1990-12-27 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Apparatus for liquid sample aliquot distribution
US5211310A (en) * 1991-04-30 1993-05-18 Andronic Devices Ltd. Apparatus and method for dispensing phases of blood
US5413246A (en) * 1991-04-30 1995-05-09 Automed Corporation Apparatus and method for aliquotting phases of blood
US5555920A (en) * 1991-04-30 1996-09-17 Automed Corporation Method and apparatus for aliquotting blood serum or blood plasma
US5322192A (en) * 1992-07-28 1994-06-21 Automed Corporation Pipetting apparatus
US20050226785A1 (en) * 2004-04-05 2005-10-13 Bio/Data Corporation Clot retainer
WO2005096779A3 (en) * 2004-04-05 2006-09-28 Bio Data Corp Clot retainer
US7294311B2 (en) * 2004-04-05 2007-11-13 Bio/Data Corporation Clot retainer

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3782548A (en) Serum skimmer
US3661265A (en) Serum separator type container
US3955423A (en) Liquid sampling method
US3701434A (en) Test tube system for separating blood into serum and red cells
US7578975B2 (en) Device and method for separating components of a fluid sample
US3879295A (en) Vacutainer with positive separation barrier
US3680967A (en) Self-locating sample receptacle having integral identification label
US4066414A (en) One piece tube and microscope slide manipulative laboratory device
US3780935A (en) Serum separating method
US3781120A (en) Self-locating sample receptacle having integral identification label
US3741400A (en) Blood sample container
US4083788A (en) Blood serum-isolation device
JP4391608B2 (en) Collection container assembly
US3799342A (en) Method of using a serum separator
US4210623A (en) Fluid collection apparatus
US4022576A (en) Method and apparatus for preparation of liquids containing suspended material for examination
GB1115297A (en) Sediment container and cap
US3761408A (en) Method and apparatus for separating blood constituent components
US5132232A (en) Method and apparatus for preparation of liquids for examination
US4119125A (en) Method and apparatus for handling liquid samples
US3865731A (en) Filter skimming device
US4290300A (en) Sucrose density gradient system
CA1325386C (en) Inverted separation and transfer device, and process for using same
KR100354341B1 (en) Top and bottom open centrifuge tube
US4563332A (en) Liquid sampling apparatus with retention means

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: B.V. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT,NETHERLANDS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BOWEN, JOHN G.;REEL/FRAME:004912/0793

Effective date: 19880616

Owner name: B.V. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, SCHEEPMARKERSSTRAAT 17,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:BOWEN, JOHN G.;REEL/FRAME:004912/0793

Effective date: 19880616