Measuring and testing – Sampler – sample handling – etc. – Capture device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-12-04
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Sampler, sample handling, etc.
Capture device
C073S864740, C141S330000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324926
ABSTRACT:
The object of the invention is a method for taking a sample from a closed test tube without removing the stopper of the test tube, according to which method the stopper of the test tube is pierced with a needle, through which at least part of the sample is taken out of the test tube.
PRIOR ART
Today blood samples are taken with so-called vacuum specimen tubes, which are provided with a stopper on top that automatically closes the tube hygienically. However, many blood analyzers require the stopper to be removed when the sample is taken to the analyzer, which is an unhygienic and undesirable procedure. Removing the stopper also complicates further handling of the blood tube, such as transfer elsewhere, for example. Therefore, the stopper is often put back onto the tube. This in turn leads to the risk of the stoppers being mixed up.
To eliminate this problem, various methods have been developed for taking the amount of the sample required by the analyzer from the tube without having to remove its stopper. These methods have not, however, proved useful either due to their laboriousness or unreliability. Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to obtain a new method, which does not have the disadvantages of the known methods.
Method Relating to the Invention
It is characteristic of the method relating to the invention that the stopper of the test tube is pierced with a piercing needle, through which at least part of the sample is taken out of the test tube into a sample receptacle, from which the sample is dispensed with a dispenser needle or the like.
According to the invention, the user may pierce the stopper using different kinds of disposable needles used for piercing stoppers, and thereafter, by a simple pushing movement, take the amount of sample required by the analyzer by means of an automatic suction system relating to the invention. After this the specimen tube is immediately free for use for any other tests.
The invention presented here achieves the aim of not having to remove the stopper. In addition, it differs from the used solutions, among other things, as regards the following:
1. In it the stopper is not pierced with the spike used for the actual dispensing, in which case it is not subject to strong physical strain while penetrating through the stopper. In such case the spike can be thinner, coated to ensure the lowest possible carry-over, and shaped as required for accurate dispensing, i.e. flat-topped.
2. It makes use of disposable needles, which are used in any case for blood sampling, for example, in which case, without producing additional waste, a situation is obtained where the needle that has penetrated through the stopper and has been in close contact with blood is discarded after use and there is no risk that the next sample might be affected.
Embodiments of the Method
The sample receptacle relating to the invention can also be used as a dilution dish.
Device Relating to the Invention
Another object of the invention is a device for taking a sample from a closed specimen tube. It is characteristic of a device relating to the invention that the sampling device comprises
a dish inside which there is a cup-like sample receptacle for the sample in the test tube,
an adapting element for fitting the test tube to the sampling device, with the piercing needle first,
and a suction device for drawing the sample in the test tube into the sample receptacle.
In a device relating to the invention, when the user presses the specimen tube against the sealing ring, the required amount of the sample is drawn into the sample receptacle, after which the specimen tube is removed. The desired doses of the sample are taken from the sample receptacle with the sample dispenser, after which the sample receptacle and the spike of the sample dispenser are washed in a joint washing procedure.
Embodiment of the Device
Different kinds of adapters can be attached to the device relating to the invention, in which case the needles that are used can be almost any kind of needles.
Examples of Embodiments
In the following, the invention is described using examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
REFERENCES:
patent: 3159159 (1964-12-01), Cohen
patent: 3706305 (1972-12-01), Berger et al.
patent: 4758409 (1988-07-01), Uffenheimer
patent: 4928539 (1990-05-01), Champseix et al.
patent: 5151184 (1992-09-01), Ferkany
patent: 5934885 (1999-08-01), Farrell et al.
patent: 5935523 (1999-08-01), McCandless et al.
Lehtinen Kauko
Martinmäki Antero
Ojala Markku
Cygan Michael
Innotrac Diagnostisc Oy
Kubovcik & Kubovcik
Williams Hezron
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