Valve for facilitating and maintaining fluid separation
First Claim
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1. A medical valve for insertion into a container, the valve comprising:
- a first component sized to fit into a generally cylindrical bore of a container and configured to contact an inner surface of the container, the first component having a central opening, a floor, and a substantially circular entrance port flap that is thinner than the floor;
a second component sized to fit inside the central opening, the second component configured to move with respect to the first component when the valve is inside a container during centrifugation such that a fluid passageway between the two components is open during centrifugation but closed after centrifugation when the second component generally fills the central opening and seats against the narrow portion of the second component.
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Abstract
Some embodiments include a valve positioned within a test tube to maintain a separation between components of liquid with different densities after centrifugation. The valve preferably includes a cylindrically shaped housing with a spherical plug configured to nest within the housing. The valve permits varying amounts of fluid flow depending upon the angular velocity of centrifugation applied to the test tube.
52 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A medical valve for insertion into a container, the valve comprising:
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a first component sized to fit into a generally cylindrical bore of a container and configured to contact an inner surface of the container, the first component having a central opening, a floor, and a substantially circular entrance port flap that is thinner than the floor;
a second component sized to fit inside the central opening, the second component configured to move with respect to the first component when the valve is inside a container during centrifugation such that a fluid passageway between the two components is open during centrifugation but closed after centrifugation when the second component generally fills the central opening and seats against the narrow portion of the second component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A medical valve comprising:
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a first portion comprising a plug, a resilient tether, and a suspension portion, the resilient tether connecting the plug and the suspension portion; and
a second portion comprising a valve housing having a central passage that generally encircles the tether such that the plug and suspension portions are generally located on either side of the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A medical valve system comprising:
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a sample container;
a suspension portion;
a plug;
a valve housing; and
a resilient tether that passes through the valve housing and connects the suspension portion to the plug. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification