U.S. patent number 3,890,101 [Application Number 05/443,078] was granted by the patent office on 1975-06-17 for collection ring for use in multiple-sample blood fractionation centrifugal rotors.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy. Invention is credited to Wayne F. Johnson, Thomas O. Tiffany, William A. Walker.
United States Patent |
3,890,101 |
Tiffany , et al. |
June 17, 1975 |
Collection ring for use in multiple-sample blood fractionation
centrifugal rotors
Abstract
An improved sample collection ring which comprises a removable
annular vial holder ring defining passageways for receiving
multiple blood fractions discharged from a central blood
fractionation rotor and passing them to respective collection
vials. The collection vials sealably and detachably engage
respective nipples defined by and integral with the vial holder
ring. O-ring seals prevent leakage from the collection vials and
assist in the vial-nipple engagement.
Inventors: |
Tiffany; Thomas O. (Oak Ridge,
TN), Walker; William A. (Knoxville, TN), Johnson; Wayne
F. (Loudon, TN) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the United States Energy (Washington,
DC)
|
Family
ID: |
23759335 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/443,078 |
Filed: |
February 15, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/50; 356/246;
422/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N
21/07 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01N
21/03 (20060101); G01N 21/07 (20060101); B01l
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;23/253R,259
;250/564,576 ;356/246 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wolk; Morris O.
Assistant Examiner: Hagan; Timothy W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Horan; John A. Zachry; David S.
Hamel; Stephen D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An improved sample collection ring for use in multiple-sample
blood fractionation centrifugal rotors characterized by a central
rotor portion for preparing blood fractions having a multiplicity
of circumferential discharge ports; said collection ring
comprising:
i. a removable annular vial holder ring having a top surface and a
bottom surface nested concentrically about said central rotor
portion, said vial holder ring defining:
a. first and second nipples positioned alternatively in a circular
array, said nipples depending from the bottom side of said vial
holder ring;
b. a first array of passageways having centripetal ends opening in
register with said circumferential discharge ports and centrifugal
ends opening in the bottom ends of said first nipples;
c. a second array of passageways communicating between and opening
in the bottom ends of pairs of said first and second nipples;
and
d. a third array of passageways having centrifugal ends opening in
the bottom ends of said second nipples and centripetal ends opening
in said top surface of said vial holder ring;
ii. primary and secondary sample collection vials removably
attached to said first and second nipples, respectively; and
iii. means for sealing said sample collection vials to said
nipples.
2. The improved sample collection ring of claim 1 wherein the
centripetal ends of passageways in said first array of passageways
have enlarged ends.
3. The improved sample collection ring of claim 1 wherein said
means for sealing said sample collection vials to said nipples
comprises O-rings extending circumferentially about said
nipples.
4. An improved sample collection ring for use in multiple-sample
blood fractionation centrifugal rotors characterized by a central
rotor portion for preparing blood fractions having a multiplicity
of circumferential discharge ports; said collection ring
comprising:
i. a removable annular vial holder ring having a top surface and a
bottom surface nested concentrically about said central rotor
portion, said vial holder ring defining:
a. a circular array of nipples equal in number to said discharge
ports, said nipples depending from the bottom side of said vial
holder ring;
b. a first array of passageways having centripetal ends opening in
register with said discharge ports and centrifugal ends opening in
the bottom ends of said nipples; and
c. a second array of passageways having centrifugal ends opening in
the bottom ends of said nipples and centripetal ends opening in
said top surface of said vial holder ring;
ii. sample collection vials removably attached to each of said
nipples; and
iii. means for sealing said sample collection vials to said
nipples.
5. The improved sample collection ring of claim 4 wherein said
means for sealing said sample collection vials to said nipples
comprises O-rings extending circumferentially about said nipples.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein relates generally to blood fraction
preparation systems and more particularly to an improved collection
ring for use in multiple-sample blood fractionation centrifugal
rotors. It was made in the course of, or under, a contract with the
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
In clinical blood work, it is necessary to separate stabilized
blood samples into plasma and washed cell fractions before many
biochemical tests of interest can be performed. For example,
photometric analysis may be performed on the plasma fraction only
since the presence of red blood cells interferes with the desired
absorption measurement.
Genetic monitoring programs to determine mutations in man caused by
environmental conditions such as the presence of ionizing
radiation, chemical pollutants, etc., as well as other natural
causes require the taking, preparation, and analysis of very large
numbers of blood samples due to low mutation rates presently
postulated. A multiple-sample rotor assembly for blood fraction
preparation has been designed to prepare blood fractions without
the tedious and time-consuming operations associated with
conventional blood fraction preparation techniques. That rotor
assembly, which is described in copending application Ser. No.
423,381 of common assignee, uses a removable outer rotor portion
defining a plurality of collection chambers for receiving blood
fractions discharged from an inner rotor portion. Although the
fractionation of blood samples and transfer of fractions to the
respective collection chambers are easily achieved using the rotor
assembly of the aforementioned patent application, the collected
fractions must be individually transferred to separate holders
using conventional techniques which are time consuming, laborious,
and a potential source of sample contamination.
It is, accordingly, a general object of the invention to provide an
improved sample collection ring for use in multiple-sample blood
fractionation centrifugal rotor assemblies.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sample
collection ring for use in multiple-sample blood fractionation
centrifugal rotor assemblies wherein the collected fractions may be
removed individually from the collection ring without being
transferred to separate holders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, an improved collection ring is
provided for use in multiple-sample blood fractionation centrifugal
rotors. The collection ring comprises an annular vial holder ring
defining passageways for receiving multiple blood fractions from a
central blood fractionation rotor and passing them to respective
collection vials. The collection vials sealably and detachably
engage respective nipples defined by and integral with the vial
holder ring. O-ring seals prevent leakage from the collection vials
and assist in the vial-nipple engagement. Blood fractions collected
in the vials may be individually stored or removed for further
processing or testing by simply disengaging the vials from the vial
holder ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, vertically sectioned, showing a
multiple-sample blood fractionation rotor incorporating a sample
collection ring made in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view, vertically sectioned, of the sample
collection ring shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a section view of the sample collection ring of FIG. 2
showing a secondary collection vial and associated passageways.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, initially to FIG. 1, a
multiple-sample blood fractionation centrifugal rotor assembly is
shown nested within a motor-driven turntable 1. As shown, turntable
1 is provided with passageways 2 extending from the turntable axis
to several points about its periphery. Passageways 2 communicate
with a suitable vacuum source for reasons explained below in
connection with operation of the rotor assembly.
The rotor assembly includes an inner disk-shaped rotor portion 3
defining a circular array (only one shown) of whole blood sample
receiving chambers 4. Static loading ports 5, extending through the
top surface of disk-shaped rotor portion 3, facilitate the direct
loading of individual whole blood samples into respective
sample-receiving chambers 4 under static conditions. Ports 5 are
disposed near the centripetal ends of chambers 4 to avoid overflow
of chamber contents through the ports during rotation. Other
liquids such as washing or hemolyzing liquids may be dynamically
distributed to the entire array of chambers 4 by means of a central
dynamic distribution port 6 and a multiplicity of distribution
passageways 7 communicating between that port and the centrifugal
ends of respective chambers 4. Distribution passageways 7 intersect
at the periphery of dynamic distribution port 6 to create a
saw-tooth or serrated-edge effect which provides a substantially
equal distribution of liquid into passageways 7 when the rotor
assembly is rotating and liquid is injected into port 6. Transfer
passageways 8 extend from a radially intermediate point along the
bottom of each chamber 4, radially inward, upward, and then
radially outward to the periphery of rotor portion 3 where they act
as discharge ports. FIG. 1 is cut away to better illustrate a
passageway 8.
Nested concentrically about inner rotor portion 3 is a removable
sample collection ring 9 made in accordance with the invention.
Collection ring 9 is further illustrated in the perspective and
section views of FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown, the collection ring
comprises an annular vial holder ring 10 defining a multiplicity of
nipples 11 extending from its bottom side. In the preferred
embodiment illustrated, pairs of primary and secondary collection
vials 12 and 13 are attached in a side-by-side manner to adjacent
nipples with one pair of vials being provided for collecting blood
fractions from each chamber 4. Conventional rubber O-ring seals 14
prevent leakage of vial contents when they are attached to the
nipples as well as assisting in the vial-nipple engagement.
Annular vial holder ring 10 defines a series of liquid entry
passageways 15 having enlarged centripetal ends which open in
register with the radial extremities of respective transfer
passageways 8. Ring 10 is suitably keyed to turntable 1 and/or
inner rotor portion 3 to ensure proper alignment of passageways 8
and 15. At its centrifugal end, each passageway 15 extends
downwardly through a nipple 11 engaged by a primary collection vial
12. Pairs of primary and secondary collection vials are joined by
means of connecting passageways 16 which are also formed in vial
holder ring 10. As shown, passageways 16 extend between adjacent
nipples engaged by a pair of primary and secondary collection
vials, thereby providing liquid communication between those vials.
Liquid blood fractions discharging from transfer passageways 8 fill
the respective primary collection vials 12 and then overflow
through passageways 16 into secondary collection vials 13. A third
series of passageways 17 extend between those nipples engaged by
the secondary collection vials to the top surface of ring 10 near
its inner periphery. Passageways 17 provide an escape route for air
displaced from vials 12 and 13 and vacuum application means for
activating liquid transfer from rotor portion 3 to the collection
ring.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vacuum annulus 18 is formed above collection
ring 9 and the adjoining inner rotor portion 3 by means of an
annular sealing disk 19 positioned between upstanding rim 20 of
turntable 1 and a raised flange 21 formed on the top surface of
inner rotor portion 3. O-rings 22 provide the necessary vacuum seal
while permitting removal of the entire rotor assembly from the
turntable. Evacuation of vacuum annulus 18 is accomplished by means
of passageways 2 which extend from the axis of turntable 1 to
several points about its periphery in communication with the
annulus.
OPERATION
Using a rotor, collection ring, and turntable substantially as
previously described in reference to the drawings, stabilized whole
blood samples are first loaded through ports 5 into respective
sample-receiving chambers 4 with the rotor at rest. Following
loading, the turntable is rotated at high speed until the blood
cells and plasma within the rotor are separated. At this point the
rotor is slowed and vacuum applied through passageways 2 to provide
a reduced pressure in annulus 18. This causes a reduced pressure to
be developed in passageways 8, 15, 16, and 17 and in vials 12 and
13 since they are all in communication. The higher pressure
(atmospheric) present in chambers 4 relative to that in passageways
8 forces the plasma in those chambers to pass through passageways 8
to respective passageways 15 and primary collection vials 12.
Depending upon the amount of plasma initially present in chambers
4, primary collection vials 12 may be filled and overflow through
passageways 16 into secondary collection vials 13. The rotor
assembly is then stopped, sample collection ring 9 removed from the
turntable-rotor assembly, and individual sample collection vials
removed from the collection ring for testing or storage of their
contents. Recovery of cell hemolysate may be accomplished in a
second collection ring using techniques taught in copending
application Ser. No. 452,164 of common assignee.
The above description of one embodiment of the invention should not
be interpreted in a strictly limiting sense. For example, although
the sample collection vials are shown grouped in pairs, a single
vial could be used for receiving liquid discharged from each
passageway 8. A larger number of interconnected vials could also be
used. It is intended, rather, that the invention be limited only by
the scope of the appended claims.
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