Umbilical cord holder

• US 5,575,795 A
• Filed: 09/07/1994
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minneapolis Children'S Medical Center
• Original Assignee: Minneapolis Children'S Medical Center
• Inventors: Anderson, Sanford J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US08/301,808
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 606/120, 606/151, 606/157, 606/142, 251/4, 251/5, 251/6, 251/7, 251/8
• US Class Current: 606/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150038 for blood from umbilical cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150366 Blood collection bags, e.g. connected to the patient by a catheter comprising means for removing a small sample of collected blood from the bag collection bags as such A61J1/05, A61M1/0209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150526 Curved or bent needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15074 Needle sets comprising wings, e.g. butterfly type, for ease of handling
• 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 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/02 Blood transfusion apparatus blood infusion by syringes A61M5/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1466 Umbilical cord

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the withdrawal of placental blood from an umbilical cord vein. More specifically, the apparatus has an umbilical cord holder for use while withdrawing placental blood. The umbilical cord holder has a curved trough with a first end, a second end, an open top, and a bottom surface. The trough is needle resistant and sized to hold an umbilical cord. A step that has first and second ends is operatively connected to the bottom surface of the trough. The stem allows a user to hold and maneuver the umbilical cord holder during use.

Claims

1. An umbilical cord holder for use while withdrawing placental blood, the umbilical cord holder comprising:

(a) a trough having a first end, a second end, an open top, and a bottom surface, the trough being resistant to puncture by a needle and sized to hold an umbilical cord;

(b) a stem having first and second ends, the first end operatively connected to the bottom surface, wherein the stem allows a user to hold and maneuver the umbilical cord holder during use; and

(c) a first clamp operably connected to the first end of the trough, the first clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that the fluid cannot pass through the constricted region.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second clamp operably connected to the second end of the curved trough, the second clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region.

3. A combination umbilical cord holder and hollow needle for use while withdrawing placental blood, the umbilical cord holder comprising:

(a) a trough having a first end, a second end, an open top, and a bottom surface, the trough being resistant to puncture by a needle and sized to hold an umbilical cord;

(b) a stem having first and second ends, the first end operatively connected to the bottom surface, wherein the stem allows a user to hold and maneuver the umbilical cord holder during use;

(c) a first clamp operably connected to the first end of the trough, the first clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region;

(d) a second clamp operably connected to the second end of the trough, the second clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region;

(e) a hollow needle through which blood can flow; and

(f) a flange operably connected to the hollow needle, the flange for resting against the trough whereby the hollow needle is stabilized relative to the umbilical cord.

4. An umbilical cord holder for use while withdrawing placental blood, the umbilical cord holder comprising:

(a) a trough having a first end, a second end, an open top, and a bottom surface, the trough being resistant to puncture by a needle and sized to hold an umbilical cord;

(b) a stem having first and second ends, the first end operatively connected to the bottom surface, wherein the stem allows a user to hold and maneuver the umbilical cord holder during use;

(c) a first clamp operably connected to the first end of the trough, the first clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region; and

(d) a second clamp operably connected to the second end of the trough, the second clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region.

5. An umbilical cord holder for use while withdrawing placental blood, the umbilical cord holder comprising:

(a) a trough having a first end, middle section, a second end, an open top, and a bottom surface, the trough being resistant to puncture by a needle and sized to hold an umbilical cord;

(b) the middle section of the trough being raised higher than the first and second ends, thereby the trough being arcuate from its first end to its second end; and

(c) a stem having first and second ends, the first end operatively connected to the bottom surface, wherein the stem allows a user to hold and maneuver the umbilical cord holder during use.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a first clamp operably connected to the first end of the trough, the first clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a second clamp operably connected to the second end of the trough, the second clamp capable of constricting a region of the umbilical cord so that fluid cannot pass through the constricted region.