Cassette and applicator for biological and chemical sample collection

Abstract

A biological sample collection unit for a centrifugal analyzer disk is disclosed. This unit consists of a flat cassette and an applicator that holds and controls the cassette during sample collection and during placement of the cassette into the analyzer disk.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 139,213 for "Cassette and Applicator for Biological and Chemical Sample Collection" filed on Aug. 24, 1998 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,979 on Mar. 6, 2001 which application hereby incorporated herein by reference.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates to a liquid biological sample collection unit that is suitable for using with a centrifugal analyzer disk. More particularly, the sample collection unit consists of a relatively flat cassette and optionally an applicator that holds and controls the cassette during sample collection and is used to place the cassette into the analyzer.[0004] 2. General Background and State of the Art[0005] Biological samples are primarily taken into evacuated glass or plastic tubes, such as Vacutainer.TM. tubes (Becton Dickinson) from a subject. Normally, a double ended needle is first inserted into a subject's vein, and the other end of the needle is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] FIG. 3 represents an exemplary conduit means that allows a biological sample to travel from a subject into a sample cassette. There is provided a means for obtaining a biological sample such as a needle 1. Instead of a needle, any of the pricking means provided by the prior art might be provided in conjunction with means for passing the biological sample from the subject into the cavity 4 of the cassette. FIG. 3A depicts a needle 1 having an optional stopper 5 spaced around or in relation to the needle 1 so as to prevent penetration of the needle to an undesirable depth inside the subject. Also present is a septum 7 designed to integrate the needle 1 with the wall of the cassette and to provide a fit sufficiently tight to prevent the needle 1 from disengaging from the cassette wall. FIG. 3B depicts a cassette comprising a needle 1 engaging a subject to obtain a biological sample. The cassette is optionally encased or surrounded by an applicator having a wall 16 or external surface. The needle 1 is optionally surrounded by a stopper 5 to prevent penetration beyond the blood vessel 13 of the subject. FIG. 3C depicts the cassette in operable position with respect to the subject for obtaining a suitable blood sample from the same. FIG. 3D depicts blood from a subject passing through the needle 1 into the cavity 4 of the cassette.

[0031] In preferred embodiments of the cassette and applicator, a means is provided to insure that the cassette is not reused once it has been contaminated with a biological sample. In order to prevent reuse of the contaminated cassette, it may be locked into the analyzer disk so that it cannot be easily removed. A means for locking the sample cassette in the analyzer disk preferably features a mechanical rectifier. Such a mechanical rectifier is demonstrated in FIG. 5 as surfaces 15 and 16 that are corrugated. Surfaces corrugated in such a manner glide easily in one direction but not at all in the other direction.

Problems solved by technology

This represents additional work, may lead to contamination or mixup of the samples, and may present health hazards for laboratory staff.

This device lacks a means to transfer blood to a more sophisticated analyzer for additional testing.

Such a blood sampling apparatus for collecting and transferring blood is not specifically adapted for using with a disk suitable for engagement with a centrifugal analyzer such as a CD or DVD player.

Moreover, it is not adapted to be used in conjunction with an applicator for easy blood collection.

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