초록 ▼

The invention is a device and a method for preparing serum from blood. The invention is used in conjunction with the centrifugal separation of serum from blood for filtering fibrin and other particulates from the separated serum and for partitioning the serum filtrate from unfiltered blood. During t

The invention is a device and a method for preparing serum from blood. The invention is used in conjunction with the centrifugal separation of serum from blood for filtering fibrin and other particulates from the separated serum and for partitioning the serum filtrate from unfiltered blood. During the first phase of centrifugation, a detent holds the serum preparator in check within the centripedal end of a tube containing the blood while the components of blood separate by sedimentation and backflow. Once all cellular components have sedimented to the pellet, the second phase of centrifugation begins and the sedimentation of the serum preparator is initiated by a triggering centrifugal force. During sedimentation, the serum preparator forces displaced serum to pass across a filter spanning an aperture through the serum preparator. The sedimentation velocity of the device and the rate of filtration are controlled by a brake on the serum preparator. The serum preparator is a density device which is approximately isopycnic with normal whole blood. The density of the serum preparator causes it to seek an isopycnic equilibrium stop position near the interface of the separated serous and cellular components. At the isopycnic stop position, the serum preparator forms an impermeable barrier to protect the serum filtrate from contamination by the cellular component during storage and decanting.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for separating serum from blood, for filtering the separated serum, and for partitioning the serum filtrate from unfiltered blood, the method using a tube for containing the blood and a serum preparator for filtering and partitioning the blood, the serum preparator having a density approxim

A method for separating serum from blood, for filtering the separated serum, and for partitioning the serum filtrate from unfiltered blood, the method using a tube for containing the blood and a serum preparator for filtering and partitioning the blood, the serum preparator having a density approximately isopycnic with blood and having, a piston adapted to insert into the tube and to sediment within the tube and defining an aperture for the passage of serum, an annular seal betweem the piston and the tube for preventing blow-by of serum around the piston during sedimentation and for forcing displaced serum to pass through the aperture, a filter covering the aperture for filtering particulates from serum passing through the aperture, the filter sealed to the piston for preventing serum blow-by around the filter, and a means for restraining the sedimentation of the piston, the restraining means attached to the piston, and including a detent attached to the piston and contacting the tube for positioning and holding the piston above the serum in the tube above the blood and for releasing the piston for travel down the bore of the tube, the piston, annular seal, and filter acting in combination to obstruct the passage of particulates across the serum preparator, the method comprising steps for, inserting the serum preparator into the tube containing the blood, for loading the assembled tube and serum preparator into a centrifuge rotor, for first spinning the loaded assembly in the rotor at a first speed sufficient to separate the serum and cellular components of blood and less than sufficient to overpower the restraining means so as to restrain the sedimentation of the serum preparator and to enable the cellular components of blood to sediment sooner to the cellular pellet than the serum preparator, and for second spinning the loaded assembly in the rotor at a second speed sufficient to overcome the restraining means so as to enable the serum preparator to sediment within the tube and to cause displaced serum to pass through the aperture and across the filter, thereby filtering the separated serum, said second spinning continued until the serum preparator has reached a stop position and established a partition thereat, said inserting of the serum preparator into the tube establishing a contact between the restraining means and the tube, thereby causing the serum preparator to be held at a catch position within the tube, said second spinning continuing until the sedimentation of the serum preparator effectively reaches the stop position at isopycnic equilibrium near the interface between the separated serum and the cellular pellet and establishes a partition thereat for preventing contamination of the serum filtrate by the cellular pellet during storage and decanting.