Blood collection system and coupling

• US 5,762,646 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duxbury Scientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Duxbury Scientific, Inc.
• Inventors: Cotter, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/722,975
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 604/403, 604/410, 604/411, 604/414, 604/415, 604/905, 285/303, 285/360, 285/361, 285/376, 285/396, 285/401, 285/402
• US Class Current: 604/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1412 Containers with closing means, e.g. caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1462 Containers with provisions for hanging, e.g. integral adaptations of the container accessories for hanging the container A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1468 Containers characterised by specific material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1487 with friction fit, e.g. connecting tubes directly to a protruding port
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2031 having openings brought into alignment
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2037 having valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/631 Emptying the suction container without interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A coupling and system for collecting blood or other biological fluids are described. The system includes first and second containers and a coupling for joining the containers. The coupling holds the containers together in two different longitudinal positions both positions preventing contamination. In a first position, the containers are held so that there is no flow between the containers. In a second position, the containers are held so that flow of blood is permitted between the containers.

Claims

1. A blood collection system comprising a first container for collecting blood, a second container for receiving blood from said first container, a coupling device comprising first and second coupling members, each coupling member having a normally closed valve in a passageway connecting the members,

the first coupling member having a groove pattern comprising a longitudinal groove and two grooves perpendicular to the longitudinal groove and connected therewith to provide longitudinal positioning stops for the two coupling members,

the second coupling member having a cam, which can be positioned in the groove pattern and which cooperates with the groove pattern,

said coupling device holding said first and second containers together in a first longitudinal position at a first longitudinal positioning stop with the valves thereof closed preventing flow of blood between the containers while preventing contamination of the blood passageway between the containers and, when the containers are moved relatively closer together to a second longitudinal position at a second longitudinal positioning stop, causing the opening of the valves in both coupling members to permit the flow of blood between the containers.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said coupling device includes a female coupling member and a male coupling member, the groove pattern being on the male coupling member and the cam on the female coupling member.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the groove pattern has a longitudinal groove in two sections, the first section ending at the first longitudinal positioning groove, and the second section connecting the first and the second longitudinal positioning grooves.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein one or more protrusions are formed in the grooves to resist passage of the cam in the groove to prevent casual movement between the coupling members.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said coupling device includes a female coupling member and a male coupling member, the groove pattern being on the female coupling member and the cam on the male coupling member.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the groove pattern has a longitudinal groove in two sections, the first section ending at the first longitudinal positioning groove, and the second section connecting the first and the second longitudinal positioning grooves.

7. A coupling providing a contamination free liquid flow pathway between opposite ends thereof, said coupling comprising:

a female member having a passageway containing a valve assembly with a valve in a normally closed position; and

a male member having a passageway containing a valve assembly with a valve in a normally closed position;

said male member having a groove pattern comprising a longitudinal groove and two grooves perpendicular to the longitudinal groove and connected therewith to provide longitudinal positioning stops for the two coupling members,

the female member having a cam, which can be positioned in the groove pattern and which cooperates with the groove pattern,

a first longitudinal positioning groove of the male member cooperating with the female member to join the male member and the female member together in a first longitudinal position wherein both valves remain closed to seal the passageway;

a second longitudinal positioning groove of the male member cooperating with the female member to join the male member and the female member together in a second longitudinal position wherein the opposing ends of the coupling are closer together and both valves are open and the passageway is open between opposing ends of the coupling.

8. The coupling of claim 7, wherein the groove pattern has a longitudinal groove in two sections, the first section ending at the first longitudinal positioning groove, and the second section connecting the first and the second longitudinal positioning grooves.

9. The coupling of claim 7, wherein one or more protrusions are formed in the grooves to resist passage of the cam in the groove to prevent casual movement between the coupling members.

10. A container for collecting samples, said container comprising an integrally connected female coupling member having a passageway containing a valve assembly with a valve in a normally closed position;

said female coupling member adapted to receive a male coupling member having a passageway containing a valve assembly with a valve in a normally closed position, wherein the female coupling member and the male coupling member provide a contamination free pathway between opposing ends of a coupling formed thereby;

the male member having a groove pattern comprising a longitudinal groove and two grooves perpendicular to the longitudinal groove and connected therewith to provide longitudinal positioning stops for the two coupling members,

the female member having a cam, which can be positioned in the groove pattern and which cooperates with the groove pattern,

a first longitudinal positioning groove of the male member cooperating with the female member to join the male member and the female member together in a first longitudinal position wherein both valves remain closed to seal the passageway;

a second longitudinal positioning groove of the male member cooperating with the female member to join the male member and the female member together in a second longitudinal position wherein the opposing ends of the coupling are closer together and both valves are open and the passageway is open between opposing ends of the coupling.

11. A container for collecting samples, said container comprising an integrally connected male coupling member having a passageway containing a valve assembly with a valve in a normally closed position;

said male coupling member adapted to be received in a female coupling member having a passageway containing a valve assembly with a valve in a normally closed position, wherein the female coupling member and the male coupling member provide a contamination free pathway between opposing ends of a coupling formed thereby;

the male member having a groove pattern comprising a longitudinal groove and two grooves perpendicular to the longitudinal groove and connected therewith to provide longitudinal positioning stops for the two coupling members,

the female member having a cam, which can be positioned in the groove pattern and which cooperates with the groove pattern,

first longitudinal positioning groove of the male member cooperating with the female member to join the male member and the female member together in a first longitudinal position wherein both valves remain closed to seal the passageway;

a second longitudinal positioning groove of the male member cooperating with the female member to join the male member and the female member together in a second longitudinal position wherein the opposing ends of the coupling are closer together and both valves are open and the passageway is open between opposing ends of the coupling.