Method and apparatus for blood sampling

• US 7,824,343 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Bischof, Daniel F., Haldiman, Stephanie, Servi, Larry Jr., Blickhan, Bryan, Mathias, Jean-Marie, Bernes, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOEKSTRA, JEFFREY GERBEN
• Application Number:
  US10/956,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/578, 600/580, 604/6.15, 604/403, 604/408, 604/409, 604/410, 604/319
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15 Devices for taking samples of blood hypodermic syringes A61M5/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• 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 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150717 manually removed
• 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 5/150992 Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings, valves tubing connectors and couplings A61M39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1545 comprising means for indicating vein or arterial entry
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/12 with means for holding samples of contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0209 Multiple bag systems for separating or storing blood components
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0236 with sampling means, e.g. sample bag or sampling port

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for collecting blood samples in vacuum sample tubes are disclosed. The samples, including the initial blood sample, are substantially free of excess air.

Claims

1. A biological fluid sampling system comprising:

a flexible plastic container comprised of two flat sheets melt sealed together substantially along their peripheries and defining an interior chamber;

a sample access site external to and spaced from said container;

an internal flow path providing the only path for biological fluid flow into and from said interior chamber, said internal flow path communicating with said access site;

said internal flow path extending substantially into and substantially across the entire distance of the interior chamber to allow for substantially complete drainage of the container.

2. The sampling system of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate tube defining a flow path with one end of said tube directly communicating with said sample access site and the other end directly communicating with said internal flow path.

3. The sampling system of claim 1 wherein said interior chamber has a generally circular profile.

4. The sampling system of claim 1 wherein said interior chamber includes a fluid receiving well.

5. The sampling system of claim 4 wherein the distal end of said internal flow path extends substantially into said interior chamber, said internal flow path having a distal open end terminating within said well.

6. The sampling system of claim 1 wherein, at least one of said flat sheets is generally translucent and includes indicia thereon for indicating the volume of fluid within said chamber.

7. The sampling system of claim 1 wherein said internal flow path is defined by a plastic tube that extends substantially into said chamber interior.

8. The sampling system of claim 1 wherein said internal flow path is defined by an interior seal in said plastic bag.

9. The sampling system of claim 1 wherein said access site is adapted to receive a holder for a vacuum tube.

10. The sampling system of claim 9 further comprising a holder for receiving a vacuum tube.