Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Phosphorus or phosphorus compound
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2002-07-23
Pak, John (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Phosphorus or phosphorus compound
C424S601000, C424S602000, C424S603000, C424S605000, C424S688000, C424S690000, C424S692000, C424S693000, C424S722000, C514S557000, C514S566000, C514S574000, C514S822000, C436S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06423348
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of anticoagulant compositions, generally, and to anticoagulant compounds adapted for use in slaughterhouses, more particularly. A method of making improved anticoagulant compositions is disclosed. In addition, a method of using anticoagulant compositions is described. Most specifically, the present disclosure teaches an improved method by which a selected mixture of chelating agents, or sequestering agents, may be used in a slaughterhouse as an animal blood anticoagulant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Anticoagulant compositions are used in slaughterhouse operations to permit the recovery of blood from the work area. In particular, the area where animals are killed and bled must be cleaned frequently to prevent the rapid accumulation of coagulated blood which could be removed only with great difficulty.
Blood from slaughter animals was traditionally viewed as a low value component that is sometimes discarded or used for fertilizer. There is, however, an improving market for various whole blood constituents. Dried animal plasma proteins may be purified and used as a protein additive in many products, including confectionary and other food products for human consumption. In addition, dried animal red blood cells (RBC) are routinely added to dark breads in some European countries.
Edible blood products can be produced for commercial use can be prepared from materials produced by meat-packing slaughter operations and other facilities such as poultry kill plants that are suitably inspected and monitored for food safety. Spray-dried whole blood, powdered red blood cells, spray-dried plasma, and serum protein can be incorporated into calf milk replacer products. Spray-dried plasma is a tan-colored, free-flowing powder that is approximately 78% (seventy-eight percent) protein.
In the absence of preventive measures, blood from slaughtered animals will coagulate quickly after being exposed to air. The accumulation of coagulated blood may be avoided by washing the area with large quantities of water, but doing so greatly diminishes the value of the product by greatly increasing the volume of liquid that must be processed. It is readily appreciated that separation of the desirable constituents of slaughterhouse blood from the undesirable ones (the most voluminous of which is water) may be carried out more efficiently if the concentration of desired constituents is high.
Techniques analogous to those of the milk processing industry can be used in collecting the blood of slaughter animals, storing it safely until it can be processed, and then processing it into desired fractions or products. For example, slaughter animals can be positioned so that the blood flows from the animal directly into stainless steel troughs, basins, channels, and conduits. An anticoagulant composition can be applied immediately, usually by spraying continuously onto the surface of a receiving trough situated below the animals. The anticoagulant keeps the blood in liquid form until the desired separation, purification, concentration, or other processing steps are performed. The treated blood can flow by gravity to a suitable collection or storage receptacle from which it may be pumped or hauled to a different location for processing.
Effective anticoagulant application broadens the selection of processing methods that may be selected to prepare desired products. Among other commonly used processing techniques, the treated blood may be separated using filtration or centrifugation; dried by a variety of processes including spray drying, drum drying, and freeze drying; or concentrated and purified using reverse osmosis. Products intended for human consumption, pharmaceutical, or laboratory applications are frequently processed with reverse osmosis. Dried RBC, liquid or dried plasma protein are prepared in substantial volume, particularly for use as protein supplements in animal feeds, often mixed with proteins or selected amino acids from other sources. Blood protein may also be mixed with other proteins and formed into feeds or feed supplements.
Offsetting the benefit of the higher concentration of blood solids in the collected material is the expense of purchasing the anticoagulant composition. Anticoagulant cost is an important consideration in determining which, if any, product to use. A single, modestly sized, meat packing facility might use 3,500 or 4,000 gallons of anticoagulant a week. The anticoagulant consumption rate is substantial and represents a significant portion of the cost of the products that are ultimately marketed.
Previously known anticoagulant preparations that have relatively low potency or anticoagulation activity can have higher handling costs as a direct result. Storing, conditioning, shipping, handling, pumping, and administering anticoagulant preparations comprise significant costs. When lower activity anticoagulant preparations result in the necessity of using greater volumes of those materials, handling costs can be expected to increase. The fact that blood is a low value product makes it necessary to consider and control the costs of converting that product into marketable products. Anticoagulant application, handling, properties, and efficacy directly affect many of the steps required in the processing of animal blood.
Another consideration is the effect of the anticoagulant upon other components of the blood handling system. Blood products must be filtered regardless of which anticoagulant is used. Accumulations of coagulated blood particles tend to build up in system filtration media at rates that depend, at least in part, on the anticoagulant used. Once the filtration media has become fouled with coagulated blood, it must be cleaned to resume operation. Similarly, the performance of centrifuges that are used to separate cellular particles from liquids containing dissolved solids is adversely affected by the accumulation of residue that adheres to the separating surfaces of the centrifuges. Much of the residue that accumulates on filters, in centrifuges, and on other blood handling system surfaces is coagulated blood that must be periodically removed in order to keep the system operating. Cleaning the blood handling system components is laborious and time-consuming. System component materials, anticoagulant preparations, and other additives, that have the likelihood of reducing the amount of time required for cleaning centrifuges, pre-filters, bag filters, and other system elements are sought to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of obtaining the desired blood fractions and other products.
Several anticoagulant compositions have been developed for various applications that include preservation of diagnostic samples, among others. Heparin, Alsevers Solution, sodium citrate, and EDTA are commonly available anticoagulant laboratory reagents.
Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been successfully used as a chelating agent for a variety of purposes, and as an anticoagulation agent in laboratory settings, primarily in connection with diagnostic blood testing ordered in conjunction with medical and surgical procedures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,977 issued to Dubin May 23, 1978 for his Osmotically Balanced Anticoagulant. Dubin made a preservative for whole blood comprised of an admixture of the free acid form of EDTA and an alkali metal salt of EDTA to obtain desired hematocrit values.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,614 to Burns issued Jul. 16, 1985 for a One Step Anticoagulant Coating. The coating described by Burns contains silicone and EDTA; it is designed to be applied to the inner surfaces of plastic and glass blood test vessels to make the treated surfaces hydrophobic and also to prevent coagulation.
Ryan received U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,139 Nov. 29, 1988 for his Platelet Aggregation Reagent, Reagent Container and Method of Determining Platelet Aggregation in EDTA-Anticoagulated Blood. His reagent overcomes the anticoagulation properties of EDTA in a blood sample and allows platelet aggregation of the sample to be evalu
Jennings, P.A. Larry M.
Pak John
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