GB2052948A

GB2052948A - Apparatus for conserving blood or plasma

Info

Publication number: GB2052948A
Application number: GB8020018A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Biotest Serum Institut GmbH
Current assignee: Biotest Serum Institut GmbH
Priority date: 1979-06-22
Filing date: 1980-06-19
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: FR2459662B3; FR2459662A1; DE7917942U1; BE883618A

Abstract

A blood or plasma bag apparatus, comprises a bag (2), a first outlet nozzle (1), an integrated microfilter (3) and a second outlet nozzle (7) located on the microfilter. The microfilter (3) may be arranged partially inside the outline of the bag, or it may be arranged wholly inside the outline of the bag. The second outlet nozzle (7) may be communicate with another bag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Blood or plasma bag apparatus This invention relates to a blood or plasma bag apparatus.

Blood bags are used in medicine for the removal, storage, conservation, fractionation and transfusion of blood and blood constituents. According to the German Standard DIN 58 361, (draft of February 1974) these bags generally contain a vein cannula, an extraction tube as well as two insertion nozzles for connecting injection needles from transfusion instruments. The blood bags can contain various blood stabilising solutions.

Plasma bags are bags which are used for the removal, storage, deep-freezing and transfusion of blood plasma. Plasma bags are generally empty and contain no blood stabilising solution. Just as with the blood bag, however, the bag interior must be sterile. If plasma bags are connected directly to the blood bag in the sterile manner, a double bag exists.

Blood microaggregates which are composed of various blood cells or cell fragments, in particular thrombocytes, fibrinogen as well as other blood plasma constituents, are formed during the storage of blood, depending on the stabiliser solution, blood removal technique, storage conditions and individual blood quality involved.

In recent years, microfiltration instruments have been used in addition to the formerly known instruments for the simultaneous filtration and transfusion of blood and blood constituents.

According to German Standard DIN 58 360, transfusion instruments contain sieve filters with mesh widths of up to 3101l. Microfilters contain meshes or deep filters which filter blood aggregates of up to 1 0y or 40,u.

GM 76 05.700 is mentioned as an example.

It is normal nowadays to transfuse stored blood or plasma to the patient in such a way that the transfusion or microfiltration instruments are coupled to the filled blood or plasma bags before insertion.

This has the advantage that any doctor can insert the transfusion or microfiltration instruments which appear suitable to him in addition to the blood and plasma conserve. However, there is a disadvantage in that a separate coupling is necessary prior to use. This cupling necessitates an additional operation for transfusion directly before application.

Moreover there is a danger of contamination.

In addition, the connection between the blood bag and transfusion instrument may become loose, in particular during pressure transfusions.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination of blood or plasma bag and filtration and transfusion instrument which can be inserted rapidly and in which the danger of contamination and loosening of the transfusion instrument during pressure transfusions is eliminated as far as possible.

According to the invention there is provided a blood or plasma bag apparatus, comprising a bag, a first outlet nozzle, an integrated microfilter and a second outlet nozzle located on the microfilter.

The invention has the advantage that separate coupling of the blood bag and microfiltration instrument is no longer necessary. This is important in emergencies as, in the case of massive transfusions in an intensive care unit, there is frequently little time for additional manipulations and measures.

As this system is a closed system there is no danger of contamination of the blood during filtration or transfusion. There is no danger during pressure transfusions either of loosening of the connection between the blood bag and transfusion instrument.

The term "integrated" or "integral system" is generally understood in the present context as a closed coherent unit, i.e. a unit with a direct and sterile connection between the bag and filter.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows part of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows part of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, comprising two bags; and Figure 5 shows part of a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a blood bag with a microfilter 3 lying partially inside the outline of the bag.

The bag has a first outlet nozzle 1 located directly on the bag 2 and a second outlet nozzle 7 communicating with the interior of the bag via a microfilter 3 and a closure 6. In this way, transfusion can be effected both via a microfilter and via a normal outlet nozzle.

The outlet nozzle 7 can be a closure as well as a complete transfusion tube with adapter or vein cannula.

Fig. 2 shows an instrument in which the filter 3 and outlet nozzle 7 lie inside the bag outline. The selective use of the filter is also possible here. For centrifuging, storage and other purposes the instrument is preferably inserted after folding on a fold line 4 due to the longer dimension, so that the filter and outlet portion lie on the rear of the bag.

Fig. 3 shows a filter 3 which lies the outline of the bag but which is connected to the bag in a sterile manner. The filter can be connected directly to the bag and can also be joined via a tube.

If the system described in Fig. 3 is connected to another bag, a double bag exists which communicates with a filter (Fig. 4). It is possible here to press the stored blood from the stabiliser bag 2 via the filter 3 into an empty bag 5 before transfusion of the conserve so as to provide blood for the user which no longer has to be (micro)-filtered for transfusion purposes. In this case, the blood bag as well as the empty bag can both have an outlet nozzle and an insertion nozzle.

The design of a bag with an outlet nozzle and insertion nozzle 1 a and 1 b and a microfilter connected by means of the tube is also shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows a system comprising an empty bag with an integrated microfilter, i.e. this is a system which corresponds to the designs in Figs. 1 to 3 but the blood is not removed directly into the present system. The bag therefore contains no blood stabilising solution. Instead, this bag is used for removing blood from a blood bag via the microfilter, whence it can be supplied for further use in transfusion. The coupling can be made, for example, by means of an injection needle 8 in this case.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A blood or plasma bag apparatus, comprising a bag, a first outlet nozzle, an integrated microfilter and a second outlet nozzle located on the microfilter.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second outlet nozzle is in the form of a closure.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second outlet nozzle is in the form of a length of tube leading into another bag.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the microfilter is arranged partially inside the outline of the bag.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microfilter is arranged wholly inside the outline of the bag.

6. A blood or plasma bag apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.