Density phase separation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9700886-B2
Application number	US-201615251616-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Jul 21, 2008
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases is disclosed. The mechanical separator includes a float having a passageway extending between first and second ends thereof with a pierceable head enclosing the first end of the float, a ballast longitudinally moveable with respect to the float, and a bellows extending between a portion of the float and a portion of the ballast. The bellows is adapted for deformation upon longitudinal movement of the float and the ballast, with the bellows isolated from the pierceable head. The float has a first density and the ballast has a second density greater than the first density. The bellows is structured for sealing engagement with a cylindrical wall of a tube, and the pierceable head is structured for application of a puncture tip therethrough. The separation device is suitable for use with a standard medical collection tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases within a tube, comprising:
a float comprising a passageway extending between first and second ends thereof with a pierceable head enclosing the first end of the float;
a ballast longitudinally movable with respect to the float; and
a bellows extending between a portion of the float and a portion of the ballast, the bellows adapted for deformation upon longitudinal movement of the float and the ballast, the bellows isolated from the pierceable head such that no portion of the bellows contacts any portion of the pierceable head.

2. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the float has a first density, and the ballast has a second density greater than the first density of the float.

3. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the pierceable head is structured to resist deformation upon application of a puncture tip therethrough.

4. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the pierceable head further comprises a rim portion for engagement with a closure.

5. The mechanical separator of claim 4 , wherein the rim portion of the pierceable head defines at least one notch.

6. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the pierceable head is received at least partially within an upper recess of the float.

7. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the bellows is circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the float.

8. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the pierceable head and the bellows are isolated by a portion of the float.

9. The mechanical separator of claim 8 , wherein the pierceable head and the bellows are isolated by a neck portion of the float.

10. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the bellows comprises an interior wall defining a restraining surface, and the float comprises a shoulder for engaging the restraining surface.

11. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the ballast defines an interlock recess for accommodating a portion of the bellows for attachment thereto.

12. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the ballast comprises an exterior surface and defines an annular shoulder circumferentially disposed within the exterior surface.

13. The mechanical separator of claim 1 , wherein the float comprises polypropylene, the pierceable head comprises thermoplastic elastomer, the bellows comprises thermoplastic elastomer, and the ballast comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

14. A separation assembly for enabling separation of a fluid sample into first and second phases, comprising:
a tube, having an open end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween;
a closure adapted for sealing engagement with the open end of the tube, the closure defining a recess; and
a mechanical separator releasably engaged within the recess, the mechanical separator comprising:
a float comprising a passageway extending between first and second ends thereof with a pierceable head enclosing the first end of the float;
a ballast longitudinally movable with respect to the float; and
a bellows extending between a portion of the float and a portion of the ballast, the bellows adapted for deformation upon longitudinal movement of the float and the ballast, the bellows isolated from the pierceable head such that no portion of the bellows contacts any portion of the piercable head.

15. The separation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the float has a first density, and the ballast has a second density greater than the first density of the float.

16. The separation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the pierceable head is structured to resist deformation upon application of a puncture tip therethrough.

17. The separation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the pierceable head and the bellows are isolated by a portion of the float.

18. The separation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the pierceable head and the bellows are isolated by a neck portion of the float.

19. The separation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bellows comprises an interior wall defining a restraining surface, and the float comprises a shoulder for engaging the restraining surface.

20. The separation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the ballast defines an interlock recess for accommodating a portion of the bellows for attachment thereto.

21. A separation assembly for enabling separation of a fluid sample into first and second phases, comprising:
a closure adapted for sealing engagement with a tube, the closure defining a recess; and
a mechanical separator, comprising:
a float defining a passageway extending between first and second ends thereof with a pierceable head enclosing the first end of the float,
the pierceable head releasably engaged within the recess;
a ballast longitudinally movable with respect to the float, the ballast having a second density greater than the first density of the float; and
a bellows extending between a portion of the float and a portion of the ballast, the bellows adapted for deformation upon longitudinal movement of the float and the ballast, the bellows isolated from the pierceable head such that no portion of the bellows contacts any portion of the piercable head.

22. The separation assembly of claim 21 , wherein the interface between the closure and the mechanical separator occurs only between the pierceable head and the recess.

23. The separation assembly of claim 21 , wherein the mechanical separator may be released from the closure without elongation of the deformable bellows.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Felix Shenika E
• Crawford Jamieson W
• Battles Christopher A
• Gram Jes Tougaard

Classifications

• B01L2200/0689

  Sealing · CPC title

• B01L2300/044

  pierceable, e.g. films, membranes · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B01L2300/048

  enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents · CPC title

• B04B7/08

  Rotary bowls (centrifugal casting machines B22D) · CPC title