Method And Apparatus For The Provision Of Fluid Interface Barriers

Abstract

New and improved method and apparatus for the provision of a satisfactory physical and chemical barrier at a fluid interface in the nature of that which occurs at the interface of the separated plasma and packed cells layers in centrifuged blood samples are provided, and are embodied by barrier means which are of greater specific gravity than said blood plasma layer but lesser specific gravity than said blood cells layer and are operable, upon insertion into a centrifuged blood sample container, to sink through said blood plasma layer substantially to said interface and to be wetted and expanded by said blood plasma to expand into firm contact with each other and with the walls of said container to automatically form said barrier at said interface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to new and improved method and apparatus for the provision of a satisfactory physical and chemical barrier at a fluid interface in the nature of that which occurs at the interface of the separated plasma or serum and packed cells layers in centrifuged blood samples.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the automatic analysis of blood samples through the use of improved versions of automated analysis apparatus in the nature of those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,432, issued Mar. 22, 1966, to Dr. Leonard P. Skeggs, et al. and assigned to the assignee hereof, and marketed for example as the "SMA 12/60 Auto-Analyzer" by said assignee, it may be understood that a not insubstantial period of time may elapse between the removal of the blood sample to be analyzed from the patient in question and the automated processing and analysis of said blood sample by said analysis apparatus. As a result, it may be understood to be standard laboratory procedure, following the suitable centrifugation of each of said blood samples to separate the blood sample plasma or serum and blood sample cells into contiguous layers (it being the plasma or serum which is to be analyzed), to manually decant or otherwise remove the plasma or serum from the packed cells portion of a centrifuged blood sample prior to the analysis thereof to prevent unwanted changes in some of the blood sample constituents of said plasma or serum for which said automated analysis is to be effected. More specifically, it may be understood that such constituents may, for example, include serum potassium, glucose, and certain blood enzymes, and that said unwanted changes therein would occur as a result of ionic or other contaminant diffusion from said cells to said plasma or serum layer at the interface thereof.

The significant disadvantages of this manual plasma/cells separation technique insofar as the tediousness and time consuming nature thereof are believed readily apparent. Of even more significant disadvantage, however, is the fact that the same gives rise to the basically unacceptable risk of the loss of blood sample identification that can occur as a result of the transfer of a portion (here the separated plasma or serum) of a blood sample from the original container bearing the blood sample identification information to another container, and the necessity for accurate transcription of the blood sample identification information along to said other container. Thus, and although barrier devices are known in the prior art which may be inserted or added to the container of a blood sample which has been separated by centrifugation into a plasma or serum layer and a packed cells layer, it may be understood that such devices will not, in general, be found to provide both the requisite satisfactory physical and chemical separation that is required in order to enable the respective plasma and packed cells layers to remain in the same container, to render loss of identification of the former impossible, while substantially preventing adverse effects upon the subsequent automated quantitative analysis of said separated plasma.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide new and improved method and apparatus for the satisfactory physical and chemical separation between separated fluid layers of differing densities within the same container.

Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus as above which are automatically and accurately operable upon the insertion thereof into said separated fluid layers within said container.

Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus as above which are of particularly low cost.

Another object of this invention is the provision of method and apparatus as above which are particularly adapted for use in conjunction with automated fluid processing and testing equipment.

A further object of this invention is the provision of method and apparatus as above which are particularly adapted for use in providing for the satisfactory physical and chemical separation in the same container between the respective plasma or serum and packed cells layers of centrifuged blood samples.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

As disclosed herein, the new and improved method and apparatus of the invention comprise the addition of barrier means to the tubelike container of a centrifuged blood sample which has been separated into a plasma or serum layer and a more dense packed cells layer. Said barrier means may, for example take granular, ellipsoidal, disclike or spherical form, and may be made from a readily wettable and expandable material in the nature of a nonionic hydrophilic polymer, or a synthetic sponge. The specific gravity of said barrier means is predetermined to be greater than that of said plasma and less than that of said packed cells. Upon addition to the centrifuged blood sample, said barrier means will sink through said plasma layer for suspension in the same at the plasma/packed cells interface, will be wetted by said plasma and expanded for adhesive and cohesive formation of a barrier at said interface in said container to physically and chemically separate said plasma and packed cells layers and prevent cellular diffusion from the latter to the former. In other disclosed forms, said barrier means comprise sleeve and stopper means which are operatively associated with said centrifuged blood container and are automatically operable upon appropriate insertion thereinto to form the desired physical and chemical barrier between said plasma and packed cells layers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and significant advantages of this invention are believed made clear by the following detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of barrier means constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the application of the barrier means of FIG. 1 to a centrifuged blood sample;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second form of barrier means constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the application of the barrier means of FIG. 4 to a centrifuged blood sample;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another form of barrier device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of still another form of barrier means constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of automatic, barrier means dispensing means;

FIG. 10 illustrates the barrier means dispensing means of FIG. 9 in operative relationship with blood sample processing equipment;

FIGS. 11 through 14 illustrate another form of the barrier means of the invention; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a modification of the form of the barrier means of the invention of FIGS. 11 through 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a form of the new and improved plasma/cells barrier means of the invention is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a plurality of granules 12 of a suitable material in the nature of a nonionic, hydrophylic polymer, or other material, that would function in a similar manner in the presence of a plasma liquid. More specifically, the granules 12 may, for example, be formed from the nonionic, hydrophylic polymers identified as polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, or polyacrylamide hydrogel, and, as such, would of course have a substantial affinity for water and would be expandable in all directions upon the wetting thereof by a plasma or serum liquid.

For use in accordance with the teachings of this invention in providing for a satisfactory barrier between the separated plasma or serum and packed cells portions of a blood sample as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be understood that the specific gravity of the granules 12 is controlled in the formation thereof to insure that the same will be denser than blood plasma or serum, but less dense than the packed blood cells so that said granules will float substantially at the interface of separated plasma and cells.

More specifically, and as best seen in FIG. 2 wherein a suitable blood sample container or tube which may, for example, take the form of a Vacutainer, is indicated at 14 and includes therein a blood sample which has been separated by appropriate centrifugation into a packed cell layer 18 and a plasma or serum layer 16 having an interface 20, the introduction as illustrated of a plurality of the granules 12 into the centrifuged blood sample container 14 will result in the said granules sinking through the less dense plasma layer 16 to float at or assume the depicted position thereof in said plasma layer substantially at the interface 20 of the same and the more dense packed cells layer 18. As this occurs, it may be understood that the wetting of the granules 12 by the plasma liquid will, of course, soon commence the expansion of the former substantially in all directions with the result that the said granules will expand into firm cohesive and adhesive contact with each other and with the inner wall surface of the tube 14 to ultimately form a substantially integral plug 22 as depicted in FIG. 3 at the plasma/cells interface 20. The length of time required for the information of plug 22 will be dependent, in part, upon the compacting pressure utilized in the formation of the granules 12 and may, for example, be arranged to occur within three to ten minutes as desired.

The extent of this expansion of the granules 12 will be sufficient to actually give rise to an outwardly directed physical pressure on said inner wall surface of the tube 14, whereby may be understood that the thusly formed plug or barrier 22 will provide a firm and not readily displaceable physical barrier between the plasma layer 16 and packed cells 18, which barrier will be capable of withstanding substantial vibration without fracture, and will be of sufficient strength to enable the turning over of the tube 14 without packed cells spillage or runoff into said plasma layer.

In addition to providing for an excellent physical barrier between the plasma layer 16 and the packed cells layer 18, it may be understood that the plug 22 will be effective to prevent ionic and/or other cellular contaminant diffusion between the packed cells layer 18 and the plasma or serum layer 16 to thus prevent changes that might otherwise occur in some of the blood constituents, such as serum potassium, glucose and certain enzymes, for which subsequent quantitative analyses may be performed on said plasma or serum layer. Accordingly is believed made clear that the actual physical and chemical separation provided by the plug 22 between the plasma or serum layer 16 and the packed cells layer 18 will, under normal use and environmental conditions, be the substantial equivalent of that which would be provided by independent tubes or containers therefor.

Referring now to the form of the plasma/cell barrier means of the invention as depicted in FIG. 4, the same may be seen to take the shape of a disc 24 which may, for example, be made from the same nonionic, hydrophilic polymeric materials referred to hereinabove with regard to the granules 12 of FIG. 1. The specific gravity of the disc 24 is again controlled in the formation thereof as through variation in the amount of compacting pressure utilized in disc formation to provide a disc which is more dense than the plasma or serum and less dense than the packed cells. In this regard, it may be understood that something in the range, for example, of 500 to 10,000 p.s.i. compacting pressure has proven particularly suitable in providing a disc 24 of lesser density than the packed cells layer 18 but of greater density than the plasma or serum layer 16.

For use in accordance with the teachings of this invention in providing for a satisfactory chemical and physical barrier between the respective separated plasma or serum and packed cells layers 16 and 18 of a Vacutainer or like tube 14 containing an appropriately centrifuged blood sample as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, it may be understood that the disc 24 would initially be dimensioned so that the same would fit with suitable clearance as indicated at 26 within the tube 14, whereby is believed made clear that insertion of said disc thereinto will, of course, result in said disc sinking through the plasma layer 16 and coming to rest substantially in the latter at the plasma/cells interface 20 substantially as depicted in FIG. 5.

Following this, it may be understood that the wetting of the disc 24 by the plasma liquid will result in the expansion of the disc polymer as described into firm cohesion, and into firm adhesive contact with the inner wall surface of the tube 14, to the relative size and position of the disc 24 as depicted in FIG. 6 to form the desired physical and chemical plasma/cells barrier. Again, as discussed hereinabove with regard to the granules 12, it may be understood that the plug or barrier formed by the expanded disc 24 will actually exert physical pressure against the inner wall surface of the blood sample container 14 and will be effective to maintain the desired plasma/cells separation despite reasonable container vibration and/or turning over of the latter.

Another form of the plasma/cells barrier means of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7 and may be seen to take the form of an elipsodial member 28 which may again, for example, be made from the nonionic, hydrophilic polymeric materials discussed hereinabove and will, of course, function in the nature of the disc 24 of FIG. 4 to provide the desired physical and chemical barrier between the plasma or serum layer 16 and the packed cells layer 18. More specifically, it is believed clear that the elipsoid 28 would be so dimensioned that the diameter D (FIG. 7) thereof would be somewhat less than the internal diameter of the blood sample container or tube 14 whereby the elipsoid 28 may be oriented as depicted in FIG. 7 and inserted with clearance into the tube 14, in the manner of the disc 24 as depicted in FIG. 5, sink through the plasma layer 16 substantially to the plasma/cell interface 20, and expand through the wetting thereof by the plasma liquid into firm surface contact with the inner wall surface of the tube 14 to form the desired physical and chemical plasma/cells barrier.

Another form of the plasma/cell barrier means of the invention is indicated at 30 in FIG. 8 and, as depicted therein, may be seen to again take the shape of a disc which, in this instance, is preferably made from a compressed synthetic sponge material in the nature of an insoluble cellulose sponge material which is compacted under suitable pressure to provide for the desired density thereof relative to the respective plasma or serum and cells layers as discussed hereinabove, and which may, in addition, be coated with one or more layers of a solution of the nonionic, hydrophilic polymeric materials referred to hereinabove to delay the wetting thereof by the plasma liquid. More specifically, it may be understood that the use of a number of coatings of such polymeric materials of the disc 30 as may be applied, for example, by the dipping of the said disc in a solution of said polymeric materials, will function to provide for a time delay to delay the wetting and attendant expansion of the synthetic sponge material until the disc 30 has assumed the proper level in the blood sample container 14 just above the plasma/cells interface 20 in the manner clearly illustrated for the disc 24 in FIGS. 5 and 6. The function of the synthetic sponge material disc 30 is, of course, quite analogous to that of the nonionic, hydrophillic polymeric material disc 24 of FIG. 2 in that the wetting of the former by the plasma liquid will, of course, effect the expansion thereof against the inner wall surfaces of the tube 14 to thus provide the desired physical and chemical plasma/cells separation.

Automatic dispensing apparatus for the automatic dispensing of discs in the nature of 24 or 30 into Vacutainers or other containers 14 which contain centrifuged blood samples including a plasma or serum layer 16 and a packed cells layer 18, are indicated generally at 31 in FIG. 9 and, as depicted therein, may be seen to comprise a generally elongated, cylindrical container 32 having a base plate 34 and within which are stacked as shown a plurality of said discs as here indicated at 36. A disc dispensing slot is indicated at 37 and is formed as shown at the lower extremity of the disc container 32.

A leafspring is indicated at 38 and is affixed as indicated to the disc container 32 by attachment means 40. A slot 42 is provided in the container 32 adjacent the lower extremity thereof and the adjacent end 44 of the leafspring 38 is extendable therethrough as shown. A cam is indicated at 46 and is drivingly rotatable about an axis 48. The cam 46 and leafspring 38 are cooperatively associated as depicted in such manner that each rotation of the former will be effective to move the latter from the position thereof depicted in solid lines to the position thereof depicted in dashed lines within the container and enable the return thereof to the former position. A cap 50 is provided for the container 32, and a coilspring 52 is operatively associated therewith and with plunger means 54 to maintain a substantial downward pressure of the stack of discs 36.

With the respective components of the plasma/cells barrier means dispenser 31 arranged and operative as described, and a container 14 of a centrifuged blood sample arranged relative thereto as shown, it is believed clear that each complete, driven rotation of the cam 46 will be effective to dispense one of the discs 36 from the container 42, under the action of the end 44 of leafspring 38 thereon, into the adjacent container 14 of a centrifuged blood sample in the manner and along the general trajectory as indicated by the just-dispensed barrier disc 36a and the dashed lines drawn therewith. For purposes of preventing entrapment of air by the said disc as the same enters the plasma layer 16 in the tube 14, it may be understood that the disc dispenser 31 and tube 14 are preferably arranged in such manner that the disc 36a will enter the said plasma layer substantially edge-first to thus substantially prevent or inhibit such entrapment of air.

Following such dispensing of the disc 36a in the manner described, it is believed clear that the same will, of course, sink through the plasma layer 16 to the desired position thereof just at the plasma/packed cells interface 20 and, after the expiration of the predetermined period of wetting time, will expand into firm contact with the inner surface wall of the tube 14 to thus provide the desired physical and chemical barrier as described in detail hereinabove.

An application of the automatic disc dispenser 31 to the insertion of a barrier disc in each of a plurality of tubes 14 as are supported in a generally circular array thereof on the blood sample tray of a sample tray centrifuge is depicted in FIG. 10, and as seen therein, comprises said sample tray as indicated at 56 which is rotatable at high speed from drive motor 58 through drive shaft 60. For centrifugation of the respective blood samples which are contained in the tubes 14, it may be understood that the sample tray 56 would be rotated by drive motor 58 at high speed while the respective blood sample containers 14 would be allowed to pivot radially outwardly from the respective upper portions thereof as well known to those skilled in this art to effect the centrifuging of the respective blood samples contained therein.

Following this, and after the sample tray 56 has come to a halt, the disc dispenser means 31 would be operatively positioned relative thereto as shown and operated, through rotation of cam 46 in synchronism with the indexing of the sample tray 56 through each individual blood sample tube position thereof, to automatically dispense a barrier disc as again illustrated by disc 36a into each of said blood sample tubes to effect the provision of a satisfactory physical and chemical barrier between the respective, separated plasma or serum and packed cells layers as are now contained in each of said tubes. Subsequently, the sample tray 56 may, if desired, be readily and conveniently operatively positioned on automated blood sample supply, treatment and analysis means of the nature disclosed, for example, in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,432, for the subsequent, automated quantitative analysis of the separated plasma or serum portion of each of said blood samples with regard to a plurality of constituents thereof.

Of particularly significant advantage here, however, is the fact that the new and improved plasma/cells barrier means of the invention provides a satisfactory physical and chemical barrier between the respective separated plasma and packed cells layers of each of said blood samples to thus prevent changes in the former as might otherwise occur to inhibit the accurate quantitative analysis thereof while, at the same time, rendering substantially impossible any loss of identification of a said blood sample by insuring that the respective separated plasma and packed cells layers thereof are maintained in the same tube. Thus, loss or mixup in blood sample identification insofar as confusion of the separated plasma and packed cells from the same blood sample is concerned, are rendered substantially impossible.

A further form of the new and improved plasma/cells barrier means of the invention is indicated generally at 62 in FIGS. 11 through 14 and, as best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, comprises a container assembly 63 including a Vacutainer or like tube 64 having a sleeve 66 insertable thereinto as shown in generally fluidtight manner as provided by annual stop 68 and generally wedge-shaped soft plastic sealing ring 70.

The sleeve 66 terminates as shown in a generally truncated cone-shaped end portion 72 having an opening 74 formed centrally thereof and screw threads 76 formed on the exterior surface thereof. A sample sleeve cap 78 (FIG. 11) is provided, as is a sleeve cap 80 (FIG. 12) which includes a glass or plastic rod 82 extending therefrom as shown and terminating in a plug or stopper 84 which is effective to substantially plug the opening 72 as illustrated in FIG. 42. An end portion cap 86, which is screw threaded as indicated at 88, is also provided and is effective to screw over the sleeve end portion 72 to seal the same as illustrated in FIG. 13.

In use, the container assembly 63 which may, for example, contain a suitable anticoagulant, is filled with a whole blood sample and mixed, following which the cap 78 is removed. The said container assembly is then centrifuged to result in the separation of said blood sample into a plasma or serum layer 90 and a packed cells layer 92 having an interface 94, and it may be understood that the distance between the upper end of sleeve opening 74 and the bottom of container 64 is predetermined, in accordance with the largest anticipated volume of the packed cells after configuration, to insure that said interface 94 falls as shown below the upper end of the opening 74. Knowledge that the volume of packed cells will rarely, if ever, exceed 60 percent of the total blood sample volume will, of course, be a principal factor in such distance determination.

Following this blood sample centrifugation, cap 80 containing rod 82 and stopper 84 is inserted as shown into sleeve 66 with resultant substantial sealing of the opening 74 by stopper 84 and attendant containment of plasma or serum, only, from plasma or serum layer 90 in the now completed sleeve assembly. Subsequently, said plasma-containing completed sleeve assembly is removed from the tube 64 in obvious manner and the threaded cover 86 is attached as illustrated in FIG. 13 to the sleeve end portion 72 to insure a leakproof blood plasma or serum container for plasma shipment if desired. Removal of the cap 80 from the covered sleeve 66 will, at this point, of course render the latter suitable for direct use as the blood plasma container on the sample tray of automated blood analysis apparatus as discussed above. If desired, the now distinct packed cells layer 92 remaining as shown in FIG. 14 may be stored through the simple utilization of the cap 17 as illustrated in said FIG.

Of particular significance with regard to the sleeve 66 and tube 64 is the face that the same originate as the same container assembly 63 and would be so marked by appropriate blood sample identification information formed on each prior to separation thereof, whereby loss of identification, for example, of the separated plasma or serum layer removed therefrom as described is, of course, rendered impossible.

Referring now to FIG. 15, it may be seen that cap 80 including rod 82 and stopper 84 may be eliminated and far simpler sleeve-opening closure means substituted therefor. More specifically, such sleeve-opening closure means may be seen to take the form of a simple metal or plastic ball 94 of suitable density which, when dropped into the plasma or serum layer 90, will sink therethrough to occupy and close the sleeve opening 74 and substantially prevent the flow of said plasma or serum layer therefrom upon removal as described of the sleeve 66 from the tube 64. More sturdy closure of the opening 74 may, of course, be readily effected by attachment as described of the threaded cover 86 to the lower end of the sleeve 66.

Although disclosed hereinabove by way of illustration as directed to the provision of a satisfactory physical and chemical barrier between the respective separated plasma or serum and packed cells layers of centrifuged blood samples as an adjunct to the automated analysis of the latter, it is believed clear that the method and apparatus of the invention would be equally applicable to the provision of such barrier in a wide variety of fluids having one or more relative sharp density gradients.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a method of effecting the substantial physical and chemical separation of the respective blood plasma and blood cell layers of a blood sample, which resulted from the centrifugation thereof, by the formation of a physical and chemical barrier in the blood sample container substantially at the interface of said blood plasma and blood cell layer, comprising the steps of, inserting barrier means into said blood sample container and through said blood plasma layer, so as to be located substantially at said interface, structuring said barrier means to pass freely through said blood plasma layer and to be ineffective to form said barrier when initially positioned at said interface, and forming said barrier means of a material having a greater specific gravity than said blood plasma layer but a lesser specific gravity than said blood cell layer, so as to sink through said blood plasma layer to said interface, said material forming said barrier means characterized as being expandable when wetted, so as to expand into firm contact with the walls of said container to define said barrier at said interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of, forming said barrier means of granules of said expandable material, which upon being wetted expand into firm contact with each other and said walls of said container to define said barrier at said interface.

3. In an apparatus for effecting the substantial physical and chemical separation of the respective blood plasma and blood cell layers of a blood sample, which result from the centrifugation thereof, by the formation of a physical and chemical barrier in the blood sample container substantially at the interface of said blood plasma and blood cell layers, comprising barrier means for insertion into said blood sample container, said barrier means being structured to pass freely through said blood plasma layer, so as to be located substantially at said interface and to be ineffective to define a barrier when initially located at said interface, said barrier means comprising a material having a greater specific gravity than said blood plasma layer and a lesser specific gravity than said blood cell layer, so as to sink through said blood plasma layer to said interface, said material characterized as being expandable when wetted, so as to expand into firm contact with the walls of said container to define said barrier at said interface.

4. In apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, said barrier means comprises granules of said expandable material, said granules, when wetted, expanding into firm contact with each other and with the walls of said container to define said barrier at said interface.

5. In apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said barrier means is formed of a single body of said material, said body, when wetted, expanding into firm contact the walls of said container to define said barrier at said interface.

6. In an apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, said material is an nonionic, hydrophylic polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate and polyacrylamide hydrogel.

7. In apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said material is an insoluble cellulose spongelike material having one or more coatings of a nonionic, hydrophylic polymeric material applied thereto to delay the wetting and separation thereof until said body is located substantially at said interface.