Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
  • G01N35/1079—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• • 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
  • B01L3/02—Burettes; Pipettes
  • B01L3/0289—Apparatus for withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid
  • B01L3/0293—Apparatus for withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid for liquids

Definitions

• This invention relates to personal safety in the medical laboratory, especially to the releasing of blood products from blood sample segments more efficiently, and in a way to minimize employee exposure to blood borne pathogens and disease.
• a patient When a patient is deficient in a blood product, such as red blood cells, platelets, or blood clotting factors, the doctor may order the patient to receive a transfusion from a donor source.
• a blood product such as red blood cells, platelets, or blood clotting factors
• the doctor may order the patient to receive a transfusion from a donor source.
• tests In the laboratory, tests must be performed to ensure the donor blood products are compatible with the patient's blood type, preventing the possibility of a transfusion reaction.
• the compatibility testing requires that a sample of the red blood cells found in the donor unit of blood be removed without compromising the units integrity. This is accomplished with the use of blood sample segments. Blood sample segments are produced by heat sealing the inch plastic tubing that attaches the needle in the donors arm to the donor bag, in about two and a half inch segments. Each segment is full of blood, just like the blood to be given to the patient. The segments are folded together and bound with a rubber band, while still attached to the donor bag. This allows a blood sample to be removed for testing, one at a time, as needed.
• the blood products were removed from the blood sample segments by cutting off one end with scissors, inserting the cut end into a clean test tube then cutting off the remaining end, allowing the blood to drain out by the force of gravity.
• the segment As the segment is pushed down into the device it is sliced by the blade, allowing the blood to drain out over the blade and bottom plate into the test tube.
• the device does by-pass the use of scissors, but still allows undue exposure to blood borne pathogens in that the bottom plate and some of the sharp edges of the cut steel are covered with blood when the device is removed for disposal.
• the present invention using a prototype in a real blood bank setting, has proven time and again to be faster, safer and easier to use than scissors. In addition, advantageously it can be mass produced at a reasonable cost, thereby giving the laboratory a much needed product at a very reasonable price.
• One object of the present invention is to provide an improved blood sample segment evacuation tool.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing blood from a blood sample in segment characterized in that the device comprises: an elongated cylindrical tube having an open end for receiving the blood sample segment and having a closed end, an elongated hollow shaft housed within the cylindrical tube and secured thereto near the closed end, the shaft having an inside bore forming a passageway from within the cylindrical tube, through the closed end, the elongated hollow shaft having a shank with a diameter and an angled upper edge formed to pierce a wall of the blood sample segment as the cylindrical tube guides the blood sample segment onto the shaft, the passageway delivering blood from within the blood sample segment, through the closed end of the elongated cylinder.
• This invention also allows a faster and more efficient means of retrieving blood samples from blood sample segments, cutting the release time by one third over scissors and in a way that virtually eliminates any accidental exposure to blood or sharp edges.
• Fig. 1 shows a perspective elevational view of a one-piece tool according to one embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a top view of such tool taken along the line 2—2 of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 shows a level side view of such tool positioned to be inserted into a clean test tube with a blood sample segment positioned to be inserted into such tool.
• Fig. 1 shows a single-piece tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• the tool is comprised of a hollow needle 14 approximately 5/8 inch long which is sharpened at the free end by a single angled cut across the shank producing a bevelled edge 18.
• the needle 14 is connected to the well 32, extending through the bottom, with the blunt end of the needle 19 stopping flush with the outside edge of the well 32.
• the protective outer portion of the tool is a single tubular piece of formed plastic with a needle attachment 16 which is located in the center of the well 32.
• the attachment of the needle 14 to the base of the well 32 can be accomplished by: a) forced plastic injection molding of the outer shell around the needle base 18 with the needle 14 in place within the mold prior to injection or, b) by the use of an adhesive to hold needle 14 into a pre ⁇ formed hole at the base of well 32.
• the walls of the well 32 are parallel with the needle 14 and become the tube guide 12 measuring approximately 5/18 of an inch wide and approximately 1 inch long.
• the tube guide 12 tapers out to make the funnelled edge 10 which joins with the lip 8 at the top.
• the single-piece tool of Fig. 1 is designed to facilitate a safer and more efficient means to release the contents of blood sample tubing for testing within a blood bank laboratory including quality control and compatibility testing.
• Fig. 3 shows a perspective elevational view of the invention in use, where the user sets the tool in the opening of a clean test tube 28 so that the tube guide 12 is inside the test tube 26 with the funnel edge 10 resting in the opening of the test tube 28.
• the funnel edge 10 is tapered in a way to accommodate a variety of the test tube sizes.
• the blood sample segment 20 is inserted past the funnel edge 10 and directed by the tube guide 12 so that the needle 14 pierces the bottom edge of the blood sample segment 20 in the center.
• the blood sample segment 20 is pushed all the way down until its end is sitting at the bottom of the well 32, ensuring the bevel of the needle 18 has completely entered into the blood sample segment 20.
• the blood inside the blood sample segment 20 usually separates with the clear yellowish plasma 22 on top and the red blood cells 24 on the bottom. Because the user needs a sample of the donor red blood cells to check for compatibility with the recipient blood, it is necessary to insert the blood sample segment 20 with the plasma end 22 sticking up out of the tool, giving the user a concentrated sample of red blood cells when the tool is activated. If the plasma 22 and the red blood cells 24 are mixed or if the blood sample segment holds only one product, such as fresh frozen plasma, then either end may be inserted.
• the user applies gentle pressure to the portion of the blood sample segment 20 protruding out of the top of the tool. Under gentle pressure, the blood product at the bevel edge of the needle 18 will be forced through the needle 14, exiting a drop at a time from the blunt end of the needle 19 into the bottom of the test tube 24.
• the tool and the blood sample segment 20 can be disposed of as one unit without fear of continued draining of blood products or exposure to sharp edges.
• the tools design no blood can escape out of the needle 14 if pressure is not being applied, because of the vacuum that forms inside the blood sample segment 20 once the user releases pressure.
• the funnelled opening could be stair shaped for the different test tube sizes, or omitted completely so the guide section joins directly with an over-sized lip at the top.
• the tube guide section could be made longer or shorter, and could be made oval shaped or even square.
• the hollow needle could be made of different lengths, or have a variety of bore sizes. It may be possible to make the needle out of plastic as one unit with the outer casing. Accordingly, the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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Citations (10)

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• 1994
  • 1994-03-02 AU AU63577/94A patent/AU6357794A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-03-02 EP EP94910815A patent/EP0687203A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-03-02 WO PCT/US1994/002277 patent/WO1994020216A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (10)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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