U.S. patent number 3,612,321 [Application Number 04/857,975] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-12 for container for biological fluids.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bio-Logics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Roger V. Larson.
United States Patent |
3,612,321 |
Larson |
October 12, 1971 |
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.
Inventors: |
Larson; Roger V. (Murray,
UT) |
Assignee: |
Bio-Logics, Inc. (Salt Lake
City, UT)
|
Family
ID: |
25327152 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/857,975 |
Filed: |
September 15, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/365; 422/561;
422/67; 604/189; 40/310; 604/403; 215/386; 600/573 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
1/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
1/00 (20060101); B65d 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/7,8,9,1R
;40/2.2,21B,306,310,324 ;206/DIG.29 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Norton; Donald F.
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.
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:
* * * * *