Method and apparatus for dispensing separator gel in a blood collection tube

Abstract

A method of dispensing gel for separation of the serum and coagulum portions of a blood sample in a blood collection tube is provided. The present disclosure of dispensing the gel comprises utilizing a gel dispensing apparatus with a nozzle head having a plurality of openings. The gel dispensing apparatus dispenses either a continuous band of gel around the central portion of the collection tube or a plurality of discrete stripes that form a circumferential pattern thereto. Once the gel is dispensed, the tube is ready for accepting a blood sample for eventual separation in a centrifuge where the dispensed gel will form a barrier that exhibits strong adhesive properties after separation of the blood sample has occurred.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A blood collection apparatus comprising: 
 a blood collection tube defining an inner surface; and    a gel being selectively disposed along the inner surface.    
     
     
         2 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 1   , wherein the gel is configured as a barrier.  
     
     
         3 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 1   , wherein the gel is selectively disposed along a central portion of the inner surface.  
     
     
         4 . A blood collection apparatus comprising: 
 a blood collection tube defining a central inner surface; and    a gel disposed along a portion of the central inner surface, the portion of the central inner surface defining a predetermined first limit and a predetermined second limit.    
     
     
         5 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , further comprising a dispensing apparatus configured to dispense the gel along the portion of the central inner surface.  
     
     
         6 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 5   , wherein the dispensing apparatus includes a positive displacement meter configured for dispensing the gel.  
     
     
         7 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 5   , wherein the dispensing apparatus includes a nozzle configured for dispensing the gel.  
     
     
         8 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 7   , wherein the nozzle defines at least one opening configured to dispense the gel.  
     
     
         9 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 8   , wherein the at least one opening is disposed about at least a portion of a circumference defined by the nozzle.  
     
     
         10 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 8   , wherein the nozzle defines a plurality of openings.  
     
     
         11 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , wherein the blood collection tube includes a non-stick coating selectively disposed on the central inner surface.  
     
     
         12 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , wherein the predetermined first limit is based on at least one dimension of the blood collection tube.  
     
     
         13 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , wherein the predetermined second limit is based on at least one dimension of the blood collection tube.  
     
     
         14 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , wherein the predetermined first limit is based on the following formula: predetermined first limit=X·C LL , where X is a linear dimension of the blood collection tube and C LL  is a constant based on at least one factor of the blood collection apparatus.  
     
     
         15 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 14   , wherein the constant C LL  is equal to a numerical value in a range of numerical values between 0.30 and 0.70.  
     
     
         16 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , wherein the predetermined second limit is based on the following formula: predetermined second limit=X·C UL , where X is a linear dimension of the blood collection tube and C UL  is a constant based on at least one factor of the blood collection apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 16   , wherein the constant C UL  is equal to a numerical value in a range of numerical values between 0.30 and 0.70.  
     
     
         18 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 4   , wherein the gel is disposed along the portion of the central inner surface to prevent migration of the gel relative thereto during centrifuging of the blood collection tube.  
     
     
         19 . A blood collection apparatus comprising: 
 means for collecting a sample of blood defining a central inner surface; and    a gel disposed along a predetermined portion of the central inner surface.    
     
     
         20 . A blood collection apparatus as recited in    claim 19   , further comprising dispensing means configured to dispense the gel along the predetermined portion of the central inner surface.  
     
     
         21 . A method for separating a sample of blood into portions including a light serum portion and a heavy cellular portion, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a blood collection tube defining a central inner surface;    providing a dispensing apparatus configured to dispense gel along a portion of the central inner surface, the portion of the central inner surface defining a predetermined first limit and a predetermined second limit;    dispensing the gel via the dispensing apparatus along the portion of the central inner surface;    providing a sample of blood within the blood collection tube; and    manipulating the blood collection tube to separate the light serum portion of the blood sample from the heavy cellular portion of the blood sample.    
     
     
         22 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 21   , wherein the step of manipulating includes centrifuging the blood collection tube.  
     
     
         23 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 22   , wherein the step of dispensing includes the gel being dispensed along the portion of the central inner surface to prevent migration of the gel relative thereto.  
     
     
         24 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 21   , wherein prior to the step of dispensing, the method further comprises the step of determining the predetermined first limit.  
     
     
         25 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 21   , wherein the step of providing the dispensing apparatus includes the predetermined first limit being determined based on the following formula: predetermined first limit=X·C LL , where X is a linear dimension of the blood collection tube and C LL  is a constant based on at least one factor of the method.  
     
     
         26 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 25   , wherein the step of providing the dispensing apparatus includes the constant C LL  being equal to a numerical value in a range of numerical values between 0.30 and 0.70.  
     
     
         27 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 21   , wherein prior to the step of dispensing, the method further comprises the step of determining the predetermined second limit.  
     
     
         28 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 21   , wherein the step of providing the dispensing apparatus includes the predetermined second limit being determined based on the following formula: predetermined second limit=X·C UL , where X is a linear dimension of the blood collection tube and C UL  is a constant based on at least one factor of the method.  
     
     
         29 . A method for separating a sample of blood as recited in    claim 28   , wherein the step of providing the dispensing apparatus includes the constant C UL  being equal to a numerical value in a range of numerical values between 0.30 and 0.70.  
     
     
         30 . A blood collection apparatus for separating a sample of blood into portions including a light serum portion and a heavy cellular portion, the blood collection apparatus comprising: 
 a blood collection tube having an open end, a closed end and defining a central inner surface therebetween, at least a portion of the central inner surface having a non-stick coating, the blood collection tube being configured for receipt of a volume of a blood sample; and    a dispensing apparatus having a nozzle disposed at a distal end thereof, the nozzle including a plurality of openings disposed about a circumference defined by the nozzle, said plurality of openings configured to dispense gel along a portion of the central inner surface, the portion of the central inner surface defining a predetermined first limit and a predetermined second limit;    wherein the predetermined first limit is based on the following formula: predetermined first limit=X·C LL , where X is a linear dimension of the blood collection tube and C LL  is a constant based on at least one factor of the blood collection apparatus, and the predetermined second limit is based on the following formula: predetermined second limit=X·C UL , where C LL  is a constant based on at least one factor of the blood collection apparatus.