Container For Biological Fluids

Abstract

A one-piece container for a biological fluid having a fluid-receiving receptacle and an identification device presenting selectively encodable sites to uniquely identify the source of the biological fluid and tests to be performed therewith. The method of forming the container includes either one-shot molding of the receptacle and identification device, or the identification device is inseparably molded upon an existing receptacle.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to receptacles for biological fluids and more particularly to receptacles having identification devices integral therewith.

2. The prior Art

It is very common to place labels or other identification media upon the surface of biological containers, such as blood collection tubes. The identification media is extremely important in insuring that the proper chemical analysis is performed on a blood sample and reported with proper identification so that the analysis of the blood sample is accurately linked with the identity of the donor of the blood sample.

Historically, the identification devices attached to blood collection tubes and the like have been easily removable so that the identification of each blood sample may be deliberately or inadvertently removed. The risk of confusing blood samples with the identity of the true donor is apparent. Since it is common practice to collect blood samples in evacuated tubes and the like, it is presently preferred in the industry that glass tubes be used. Plastic and other resinous materials are too porous to sustain vacuum.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a unitary container for biological fluids, the container having a receptacle for the fluid and an identification device inseparably united with the receptacle.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel unitary receptacle and identification device for biological fluids.

It is another primary object of the present invention to provide an improved container for biological material.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent form the following description an and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The Embodiment of FIGS. 1-3

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a container generally designated 10 is illustrated in the form of a transparent test tube including an elongated cylindrical vessel 12 having a rounded closed bottom 14. The tube 12 may be formed of any suitable biologically inert material such as glass or plastic and is open at the upper end 16 and is interiorly hollow to receive biological fluid and the like.

If desired, a rubber stopper (not shown) may be inserted into the tube at the open end 16 and the tube may be evacuated in a conventional manner. When the tube 12 is thus prepared, a needle, or the like, in communication with a blood supply or other biological fluid may be caused to penetrate through the rubber stopper to allow the vacuum in the tube 12 to draw the blood or other biological fluid into the tube, as is conventional. When tube 12 is evacuated, it is presently preferred that the tube be formed of glass.

Significantly, the tube 12 has an identification device 18 mounted thereupon in one-piece fashion. The identification device 18 is generally rectangular in configuration and has notches 20 and 22 oppositely disposed in the top and bottom surfaces of the device 18. The notches 20 and 22 accommodate proper positioning of the device 18 in a code reader.

The identification device 18 is preferably frangible in nature and has a plurality of recesses 24 best shown in FIG. 3. The recesses 24 are encodable sites and are normally filled with a disc or button 26. When desired, the button 26 may be fractured at the weakened peripheral edges 28 and forced out of the site 24 so that an aperture exists in the device 18. The selected locations of apertures in the device 18 determine the code carried by the device. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, a column of apertures 25 is shown.

Although the device 18 may be disposed at any desired location on tube 12, in the illustrated embodiment, the device 18 is tangentially joined to the tube 12 adjacent the open upper end 16. The tube 12 and device 18 are united at 30 so that a unitary structure is formed. As can be appreciated by reference to the Figures, the device 18 cannot be removed from the tube 12 either deliberately or inadvertently.

In the method of forming the container 10, a mold is provided into which molten glass, liquified plastic or other resinous material or the like is introduced. When the glass or other material has cured, the mold is opened and the unitary container 10 is removed from the mold in a one-piece configuration. Significantly, it is presently preferred that glass be used where the tube 12 is to be evacuated prior to the delivery of biological fluid into the tube.

The Embodiment of FIG. 4

Referring now to FIG. 4, the container generally designated 31 is illustrated. Container 31 has an identification device 32 which is similar to the identification device 18 described in connection with FIG. 1, above, in that the identification device comprises notches 20 and 22 and a plurality of arranged recesses 24 comprising encodable sites. A row of apertures 25 is also provided.

The encodable device 32 differs from the device 18 in that the device 32 is joined by a connector 34 to an annular collar 36. The axis of the annular collar is parallel to the longest axis of the device 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device 32 is mounted upon a receptacle or test tube 38, which may be a conventional blood-collection tube. Although the blood-collection tube 38 may be formed of plastic or other material, it is presently preferred that the tube be formed of glass where it is desired that the tube be evacuated as above described.

Tube 38 is provided with an annular recess 40 having side edges 42 which are directed angularly inward. The collar 36 is molded within the recess 40 so that the material forming the collar 36 essentially completely fills the recess 40. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the collar 40 is, subsequent to curing, inseparably united with the tube 38.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is particularly advantageous where it is desired to unite a plastic identification device 32 with a glass tube 38. In the method of forming the container embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, a preformed tube 38, having the recess 40 formed adjacent the upper edge 44 of the tube, is inserted into a mold having an interior configuration complementing the device 32 and collar 36 so that the recess 40 is in communication with the interior of the mold. Thereafter, plastic or other resinous material is placed in the mold in the configuration of the identification device 32, tab 34 and collar 36. When the plastic or resinous material is cured, the tube 38 and identification device 32 may be removed from the mold as a unitary one-piece device.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein:

Claims

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece container for biological fluids comprising a fluid-receiving tube, an inseparable identification device projecting radially from the tube and comprising a plurality of encodable sites for uniquely identifying the tube and a connector integral with said device and molded into integral relation with said tube.

2. A container for biological fluids comprising a glass fluid receptacle comprising an annular channel opening exterior of the receptacle and a plastic identification device having a plurality of encodable sites thereon, the identification device having a collar molded inseparably into the annular channel to permanently unite the receptacle and the identification device.

3. A container for biological fluid formed of biologically inert material, the container comprising a liquid-receiving vessel and a rigid identification device molded into a unitary inseparable relation with the vessel, said rigid identification device extending eccentrically parallel to the axis of the vessel and having a generally flat surface with a plurality of encodable sites disposed over the surface.