Blood specimen dispenser

• US 20100041131A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley V. Brown
• Original Assignee: Bradley V. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Bradley V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,820,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/309.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0206 of the plunger pump type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A blood specimen dispenser is provided which dispenses a precise amount of collected blood from a blood specimen collector onto filter paper or the like for screening or evaluation.

Claims

1. A blood specimen dispenser, comprising:

a blood specimen collector including a generally L-shaped body having a generally horizontally disposed body portion, and a generally vertically disposed body portion extending generally upwardly from said horizontally disposed body portion;

said vertically disposed body portion having a lower end and an open upper end;

a hollow blood vial having a closed upper end and an open lower end;

said lower end of said blood vial being secured to said upper end of said vertically disposed body portion;

said vertically disposed body portion having a pick-up tube portion at its said lower end;

said pick-up tube having a first bore formed therein which extends therethrough;

said lower end of said blood vial being in fluid communication with said first bore in said pick-up tube portion;

said L-shaped body having a second bore formed therein which extends through said horizontally extending portion and a third bore extending through said vertically extending portion to said upper end of said vertically extending body portion;

said second bore having an air inlet opening;

said third bore having an air discharge opening which is in communication with the interior of said blood vial;

a first hydrophobic filter positioned in said air discharge opening of said third bore;

a generally T-shaped check valve assembly comprising;

a first elongated hollow body portion having an air inlet end and a second air discharge end;

a second hollow body portion extending transversely from said first body portion intermediate said air inlet end and said air discharge end and being in communication with the interior of said first body portion;

a first one-way check valve in said first body portion between said air inlet end and the juncture of said second body portion and said first body portion;

said first check valve permitting air to flow from said air inlet end of said check valve assembly towards said air discharge end while preventing air from passing therethrough towards said air inlet end of said check valve assembly;

a second one-way check valve in said first body portion between said air discharge end of said first body portion and the juncture of said second body portion and said first body portion;

said second check valve permitting air to flow therethrough towards said air discharge end of said first body portion while preventing air from passing therethrough from said air discharge end of said first body portion towards said air inlet end of said first body portion;

a volumetric pipetter connected to said second body portion whereby said volumetric pipetter may be operated to force a predetermined volume of air into said first body portion between said first and second check valves and out of said air discharge end of said first body portion;

a second hydrophobic filter positioned downstream of said air discharge end of said first body portion which permits air to flow therethrough while preventing blood to flow therethrough towards said second check valve;

said air inlet of said second bore of said blood specimen dispenser being in communication with the downstream side of said second hydrophobic filter;

the operation of said volumetric pipetter causing a predetermined volume of air to be discharged therefrom and passed through said second check valve, passed through said second hydrophobic filter, passed through said second bore in L-shaped body, passed through said third bore in said L-shaped body and passed through said first hydrophobic filter and into the lower end of said blood vial thereby causing a predetermined volume of blood in said blood vial to be discharged therefrom into said first bore of said pick-up tube.

2. A blood specimen dispenser, comprising:

a blood specimen collector including a generally L-shaped body having a generally horizontally disposed body portion, and a generally vertically disposed body portion extending generally upwardly from said horizontally disposed body portion;

said vertically disposed body portion having a lower end and an open upper end;

a hollow blood vial having a closed upper end and an open lower end;

said lower end of said blood vial being secured to said upper end of said vertically disposed body portion;

said vertically disposed body portion having a pick-up tube portion at its said lower end;

said pick-up tube having a first bore formed therein which extends therethrough;

said lower end of said blood vial being in fluid communication with said first bore in said pick-up tube portion;

said L-shaped body having a second bore formed therein which extends through said horizontally extending portion and a third bore extending through said vertically extending portion to said upper end of said vertically extending body portion;

said second bore having an air inlet opening;

said third bore having an air discharge opening which is in communication with the interior of said blood vial;

a first hydrophobic filter positioned in said air discharge opening of said third bore;

a generally T-shaped check valve assembly comprising;

a first elongated hollow body portion having an air inlet end and a second air discharge end;

a second hollow body portion extending transversely from said first body portion intermediate said air inlet end and said air discharge end and being in communication with the interior of said first body portion;

a first one-way check valve in said first body portion between said air inlet end and the juncture of said second body portion and said first body portion;

said first check valve permitting air to flow from said air inlet end of said check valve assembly towards said air discharge end while preventing air from passing therethrough towards said air inlet end of said check valve assembly;

a second one-way check valve in said first body portion between said air discharge end of said first body portion and the juncture of said second body portion and said first body portion;

said second check valve permitting air to flow therethrough towards said air discharge end of said first body portion while preventing air from passing therethrough from said air discharge end of said first body portion towards said air inlet end of said first body portion;

a repeating volumetric pipetter connected to said second body portion whereby said repeating volumetric pipetter may be operated to force a predetermined volume of air into said first body portion between said first and second check valves and out of said air discharge end of said first body portion;

the operation of said repeating volumetric pipetter causing a predetermined volume of air to be discharged therefrom and passed through said second check valve, passed through said second bore in L-shaped body, passed through said third bore in said L-shaped body and passed through said first hydrophobic filter and into the lower end of said blood vial thereby causing a predetermined volume of blood in said blood vial to be discharged therefrom into said first bore of said pick-up tube.