Blood collection and testing device

• US 5,383,885 A
• Filed: 06/29/1993
• Issued: 01/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd A. Bland
• Original Assignee: Todd A. Bland
• Inventors: Bland, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US08/082,950
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 128/760, 128/763, 128/771, 606/181, 606/182
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150755 Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing

Abstract

Described is a blood collection and testing device including a hollow housing surrounding a vertical axis and having horizontally disposed: an upper annular end; a larger, lower annular end equipped with gauze adapted to receive a blood sample; a circular membrane located above the lower annular end and centrally provided with a puncturably rupturable bubble containing a chemical reagent reactable with human blood; and a centrally-perforate wall located in-between the circular membrane and the housing upper annular end. Slidably disposed within the housing upper annular end is a pushbutton provided with a needle extending along the vertical axis and adapted to puncturably rupture the circular membrane bubble as the slidable pushbutton moves along the vertical axis. A resiliently yieldable helical spring surrounds the needle and bears between the centrally-perforate wall and the pushbutton.

Claims

1. A blood collection and testing device comprising:

a hollow housing symmetrically disposed about a vertical axis, said housing having an upper annular end and a lower annular end wherein both ends lie in planes perpendicular to said vertical axis, said housing having an upper tubular portion extending from said upper end to a first intermediate location in-between said upper and lower ends and a lower conical portion extending from said first intermediate location to said lower end and wherein said lower annular end has a larger diameter than said upper annular end;

a circular fluid-pervious gauze attached peripherally to said housing lower annular end and extending across said lower end, said gauze being adapted to receive a sample of blood;

a circular membrane attached peripherally to said hollow housing at a second intermediate location in-between said first intermediate location and said lower end, said membrane including a centrally located and puncturably rupturable bubble portion containing a fluid reagent of a type that reacts with human blood;

a pushbutton slidable within said hollow housing and translatable along said vertical axis between an extended position and a retracted position, said pushbutton being dimensioned and configured to slidably engage the substantial entirety of the inner surface of the said hollow housing upper portion, said pushbutton including a top end located above the hollow housing upper end and a bottom end located at said first intermediate location when said pushbutton is in said retracted position and located between said first and second intermediate locations when said pushbutton is in said extended position;

a needle extending downwardly from the bottom end of said pushbutton and generally lying along said vertical axis, said needle being of a length such that it lies between said first and second intermediate locations in said pushbutton retracted position and such that it extends below said hollow housing lower end in said pushbutton extended position, whereby said puncturably rupturable bubble is puncturably rupturable by said needle as said pushbutton is moved from said retracted position to said extended position and whereby also said fluid reagent flows toward the gauze and chemically interacts with human blood at said gauze; and

means for biasing said pushbutton toward said retracted position.

2. The blood collection and testing device of claim 1 wherein the hollow housing in-between said circular membrane and said pushbutton bottom end is provided with a centrally-perforate wall that perpendicularly intersects and surrounds said vertical axis;

and wherein the means for biasing said pushbutton toward said retracted position comprises a helical spring surrounding said needle and resiliently bearing between said pushbutton bottom end and said centrally-perforate wall.