Density phase separation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9364828-B2
Application number	US-201313956661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2013
Priority date	May 15, 2009
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases within a collection container is disclosed. The mechanical separator may have a separator body having a through-hole defined therein, with the through-hole adapted for allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The separator body includes a float, having a first density, and a ballast, having a second density greater than the first density. A portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast. Optionally, the float may include a first extended tab adjacent a first opening of the through-hole and a second extended tab adjacent the second opening of the through-hole. In certain configurations, the separator body also includes an extended tab band disposed about an outer surface of the float. The separator body may also include an engagement band circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the separator body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for separating a liquid sample within a collection container, comprising:
a separator having an open through-hole defined therethrough, the through-hole defining a first open face at a first end of the separator and a second open face at a second end of the separator, the first end of the separator substantially opposite the second end of the separator, wherein the through-hole is adapted for liquid to pass therethrough, the separator comprising:
a float, having a first density; and
a ballast, having a second density different than the first density, wherein a portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast,

wherein the float defines a first exterior surface of the separator extending from a portion of the first open face to a portion of the second open face and the ballast defines a second exterior surface, the second exterior surface substantially opposite the first exterior surface and,
wherein in a plane bisecting the separator and extending from the first exterior surface to the second exterior surface and in a direction parallel to a through axis of the through-hole, the through-hole has a first portion where the first open face is a first distance from the second open face and a second portion where the first open face is a second distance from the second open face, the first distance being different from the second distance.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first open face and the second open face are defined within the float.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the device has a spheroid shape.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the float comprises the first exterior surface and a joining surface, and the ballast comprises a contact surface connected to the joining surface of the float and the second exterior surface, wherein the first exterior surface of the float and the second exterior surface of the ballast taken together form the spheroid shape.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the through-hole is defined in part by the float and in part by the ballast and is adapted for liquid to pass therethrough.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the through-hole has a circular cross-section.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the through-hole has an elliptical cross-section.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the through-hole is defined along a through-axis and the float is adapted for deformation in a direction perpendicular to the through-axis upon applied rotational force to the separator.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an initial engagement band circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the separator.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the initial engagement band is at least one of continuous and at least partially segmented.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the initial engagement band and the float are formed of the same material.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the initial engagement band bisects at least a portion of the ballast.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ballast comprises a base portion and a joining structure for engaging a portion of the float.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the joining structure provides flexure between the float and the ballast.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the float comprises a joining structure for engaging a portion of the ballast.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the joining structure provides flexure between the float and the ballast.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the float includes a pair of tabs extending outwardly from the separator and the first portion of the float encompasses the pair of tabs.

19. A separation assembly for enabling separation of a liquid sample into first and second phases, comprising:
a collection container having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the collection container defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end; and
a device comprising a separator having an open through-hole defined therethrough, the through-hole defining a first open face at a first end of the separator and a second open face at a second end of the separator, the first end of the separator substantially opposite the second end of the separator, wherein the through-hole is adapted for liquid to pass therethrough, the separator having a float, having a first density, and a ballast, having a second density different than the first density, wherein a portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast,
wherein the float defines a first exterior surface of the separator extending from a portion of the first open face to a portion of the second open face and the ballast defines a second exterior surface, the second exterior surface substantially opposite the first exterior surface, and
wherein in a plane bisecting the separator and extending from the first exterior surface to the second exterior surface and in a direction parallel to a through axis of the through-hole, the through-hole has a first portion where the first open face is a first distance from the second open face and a second portion where the first open face is a second distance from the second open face, the first distance being different from the second distance.

20. The separation assembly of claim 19 , wherein, upon applied force, the separator is adapted to transition from a first position in which the through-hole is in an open position that is not transverse to the longitudinal axis of the collection container for liquid to pass therethrough and into the collection container, to a second position in which the through-hole is in a closed position that is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the collection container for preventing liquid from being received therethrough.

21. The separation assembly of claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the through-hole is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of the collection container in the first position, and wherein at least a portion of the through-hole is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the collection container in the second position.

22. The separation assembly of claim 21 , wherein transition of the through-hole from the open position to the closed position coincides with rotation of the separator from the first position to the second position.

23. The separation assembly of claim 21 , wherein the device sealingly engages a portion of the sidewall of the collection container in the second position to prevent flow of liquid therethrough or therearound.

24. The separation assembly of claim 20 , wherein the ballast comprises a joining structure for engaging a portion of the float, and at least a portion of the float comprises a circular outer perimeter having a curved cross-section perpendicular to the through-hole, wherein the outer perimeter of the float forms a continuous seal with the sidewall of the collection container in the second position.

25. The separation assembly of claim 20 , wherein the float comprises a joining structure for engaging a portion of the ballast, and at least a portion of the float comprises a circular outer perimeter having a curved cross-section perpendicular to the through-hole, wherein the outer perimeter of the float forms a continuous seal with the sidewall of the collection container in the second position

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Crawford Jamieson W
• Attri Ravi
• Battles Christopher A
• Bartfeld Benjamin R
• Hires Gregory R

Classifications

• A61B5/157

  {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood · CPC title

• Y10T436/25375

  Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.] · CPC title

• B01D17/0217

  by centrifugal force · CPC title

• B01D21/262

  by using a centrifuge · CPC title

• G01N33/491

  by separating the blood components (G01N15/05 takes precedence) · CPC title