DISPOSABLE DILUTION SYSTEM

• US 3,811,326 A
• Filed: 02/10/1972
• Issued: 05/21/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vincent G. Sokol
• Original Assignee: Vincent G. Sokol
• Inventors: Sokol, Vincent G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/225,246
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2F,2R,2G,275,275.1,304,314 73/425.4P,425.4R,425.6 23/23B,259,292 215/6
• US Class Current: 356/246
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above

Abstract

A disposable dilution system particularly suited for blood testing. A container for containing a diluent includes a capillary tubing assembly holder therein that is sealed from the diluent. The holder terminates in an upper portion thereof that is adapted to engage the upper portion of a capillary tubing assembly which is stored within the holder. An access opening to the container is provided adjacent to the holder. The access opening is closed by a penetrable membrane which may be pierced by an end of the capillary tubing assembly when the latter is withdrawn from the holder. The capillary tubing assembly includes a neck portion that engages the upper portion of the holder prior to usage of the device. A collar is positioned below the neck portion and provides the sole means for containing one or more capillary tubes. The tubes may be separately formed, in which case they are detachably held by the collar, or the tubes may be formed integrally within the collar. The upper ends of the capillary tubes are spaced below the neck portion of the capillary tubing assembly. The neck portion includes a passage therethrough and also an inspection port for colorimeter testing. A volume-occupying plug may be employed at the lower end of the container, the plug including a cut-out portion to permit it to be positioned about the lower part of the capillary tubing assembly holder and the lower portion of the capillary tubing assembly when the latter is positioned in the diluent upon its removal from the holder.

Claims

1. An assembly for holding capillary tubing in a blood analysis device or the like, comprising a neck portion having a fluid passage therethrough and an outer surface for sealingly engaging an opening portion of a diluent container that is normally closed by a penetrable membrane, detachable means sealing one end of said passage, a capillary tubing support member joined to said neck portion at the other end of said passage for holdiNg one or more capillary tubes, said capillary tubing support member including means a terminal part thereof for piercing the penetrable membrane.

2. A device according to claim 1, including one or more capillary tubes integrally formed within said capillary tubing support member.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which each of said capillary tubes has an open end for receiving liquid in the tube, and said terminal part of said capillary tubing support member extends beyond said open ends of said one or more capillary tubes.

4. A device according to claim 1, including one or more capillary tubes detachably held by said capillary tubing support member.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which said capillary tubing support member is grooved in an outer surface thereof with one or more grooves semi-circular in cross-section to provide for the detachable holding of said one or more capillary tubes.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which said capillary tubing support member is semi-ring shaped in cross-section.

7. A device according to claim 6, including an intermediate support member that joins together said neck portion and said capillary tubing support member, said intermediate support member being semi-ring shaped in cross-section.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the thickness of said intermediate support member is less than that of said capillary tubing support member.

9. A device according to claim 1, in which said neck portion includes a sealed inspection port for colorimeter testing.

10. A device according to claim 9, in which said inspection port comprises a transparent plate member that closes off an opening in said neck portion that communicates with said passage in said neck portion.

11. A device according to claim 1, in combination with a container having a chamber therein for containing a diluent, said container having a holder therein sealed from said diluent chamber and holding said capillary tubing assembly.

12. A device according to claim 11, including an opening portion of said container providing access to said diluent chamber and sealed by a membrane penetrable by said piercing means.

13. A device according to claim 11, including a plug within said diluent chamber and having a cut-out portion thereof positioned about said terminal portion of said capillary tubing assembly when the latter is positioned in said diluent chamber upon removal of the latter from said holder and repositioning of same in said container opening portion.

14. A device according to claim 1, in which said detachable sealing means comprises by a breakable closure which is broken to unseal said passage.

15. A device according to claim 14, in which said breakable closure includes a pointed end which may be inserted into said passage to reseal said passage.

16. A capillary tubing holder and colorimeter testing assembly for a blood analysis device or the like, comprising a neck portion having a fluid passage therethrough and an outer surface for sealingly engaging an opening portion of a diluent container detachable means sealing one end of said passage, a capillary tubing support member joined to said neck portion at the other end of said passage for holding one or more capillary tubes, and means joined to said neck portion and defining an inspection port for colorimeter testing and comprising a chamber communicating with said fluid passage and closed by a transparent window.

17. An assembly for holding capillary tubing in a blood analysis device or the like, comprising a neck portion having a fluid passage therethrough and an outer surface for sealingly engaging an opening portion of a diluent container that is normally closed by a penetrable membrane, detachable means sealing one end of said passage, a capillary tubing support member for holding one or more capillary tubes and being semi-ring shaped in cross-section, and an intermediate support member at the other end of said passage joining together said neck portion and sAid capillary tubing support member, said intermediate support member being semi-ring shaped in cross-section, and said capillary tubing support member including means on a terminal part thereof for piercing the penetrable membrane.

18. A device according to claim 17, in which the thickness of said intermediate support member is less than that of said capillary tubing support member.