Apparatus and method for collecting blood samples
First Claim
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1. A blood sample collection apparatus comprising:
- an elongated capillary tube having an open proximal end and an open distal end;
a first end cap including a base portion having an inner end and an outer end and a passage extending between said inner end and said outer end, a plug configured to selectively close said passage and a Luer surface defined on an outer portion thereof, said inner end of said base portion being coupled to said proximal end of said capillary tube; and
a second end cap coupled to said distal end of said capillary tube.
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Abstract
A small volume blood collection apparatus and method. A capillary tube has an end cap on each end thereof. Each end cap has a passage formed therethrough, a plug for selectively closing the passage and a flexible arm extending between the plug and a base portion of the end cap. A Luer surface is defined on each end cap.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A blood sample collection apparatus comprising:
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an elongated capillary tube having an open proximal end and an open distal end; a first end cap including a base portion having an inner end and an outer end and a passage extending between said inner end and said outer end, a plug configured to selectively close said passage and a Luer surface defined on an outer portion thereof, said inner end of said base portion being coupled to said proximal end of said capillary tube; and a second end cap coupled to said distal end of said capillary tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A blood sample collection method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a needle assembly having a needle to a first end cap on an open proximal end of an elongated capillary tube, the first end cap including a base portion having an inner end and an outer end and a passage extending between the inner end and the outer end, a first plug configured to selectively close the passage, and a Luer surface defined thereon, the inner end being coupled to the proximal end of the capillary tube, said coupling step including disposing a hub of the needle assembly over the Luer surface with the plug not closing the passage of the base portion of the first end cap; placing an end of the needle in communication with a blood supply; drawing blood through the needle and the passage into the capillary tube; closing the distal end of the capillary tube with a second end cap; removing the needle assembly from the capillary tube; and closing the passage of the first end cap with the plug. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A blood sample collection method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a needle assembly having a needle to a first end cap on an open proximal end of an elongated capillary tube, the first end cap including a base portion having an inner end and an outer end and a passage extending between the inner end and the outer end, a first plug configured to selectively close the passage, and a Luer surface defined thereon, the inner end being coupled to the proximal end of the capillary tube, said coupling step including disposing a hub of the needle assembly over the Luer surface with the plug not closing the passage of the base portion of the first end cap; placing an end of the needle in communication with a blood supply; drawing blood through the needle and the passage into the capillary tube; removing the needle assembly from the capillary tube; and closing the passage of the first end cap with the plug and the distal end of the capillary tube with a second end cap. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An end cap for closing an end of a capillary tube configured to retain a blood sample, said end cap comprising:
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a base portion adapted to receive the end of the capillary tube, said base portion having a passage defined therethrough; a plug configured to selectively close said passage; and a Luer surface defined on an outer portion of said base portion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An end cap for closing an end of a capillary tube configured to retain a blood sample, said end cap comprising:
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a base portion having a passage defined therethrough; a plug configured to selectively close said passage; and a Luer surface defined on an outer portion of said base portion; wherein said plug comprises a stopper, said end cap further comprising a flexible arm extending between said stopper and said base portion.
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26. An end cap for closing an end of a capillary tube configured to retain a blood sample, said end cap comprising:
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a base portion having a passage defined therethrough; a plug configured to selectively close said passage; and a Luer surface defined on an outer portion of said base portion; wherein said plug comprises a hydrophobic filter disposed in said passage.
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Specification