Spinal fluid collection system

Abstract

A cerebrospinal fluid collection system and method for conveniently and safely holding in a test tube rack, during a spinal tap and collection procedure, sterile test tubes and spinal needles, needle sleeves and stylettes. A test tube rack has four holes for holding four sterile test tubes, two needle holes for holding a spinal needle, stylette or needle sleeve, and a handle for the physician to hold when moving the test tube rack during the CSF procedure. The handle can be held on the left side by a left hand, on the right side by a right hand, or in the front by either hand. The test tube rack also allows the physician to see when the appropriate amount of cerebrospinal fluid has been collected in each test tube, while such test tube is being held in the test tube rack. The test tube rack may be prepackaged with the other needed items in a sterile package.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A holder for apparatus for the collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), for stably holding in a substantially upright position CSF collection containers, said holder comprising: 
 a horizontally disposed top shelf member having a plurality of first openings;    a horizontally disposed inside shelf member having a plurality of second openings, wherein the second openings are substantially aligned with the first openings in the top shelf member;    a substantially horizontally disposed handle shelf member;    a horizontally disposed bottom shelf member against which the bottoms of the containers rest; and    substantially vertically disposed side panels connected to the top shelf member, the inside shelf member, the handle shelf member, and the bottom shelf member.    
   
   
       24 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein said holder is comprised of transparent material.  
   
   
       25 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein said holder is further comprised of sterilizable material.  
   
   
       26 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein said holder comprises openings for four CSF collection containers.  
   
   
       27 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second openings each are linearly arranged.  
   
   
       28 . The holder of  claim 23 , comprising two vertically disposed side panels disposed opposite each other whereby the holder has two open sides.  
   
   
       29 . The holder of  claim 28 , wherein the handle shelf wraps around one of the two open sides.  
   
   
       30 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein said holder further comprises means for holding an element selected from the group consisting of: 
 a spinal needle,    a spinal needle sleeve,    a spinal needle stylette,    a spinal needle sleeve holding a spinal needle, and    a spinal needle sleeve holding a spinal needle and a stylette.    
   
   
       31 . The holder of  claim 30 , wherein said holder further comprises means for holding two or more elements selected from the group consisting of: 
 a spinal needle,    a spinal needle sleeve,    a spinal needle stylette,    a spinal needle sleeve holding a spinal needle, and    a spinal needle sleeve holding a spinal needle and a stylette.    
   
   
       32 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein said handle shelf has a plurality of openings for permitting the CSF collection containers to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       33 . The holder of  claim 23 , wherein said bottom shelf contains indentations for receiving bottoms of the CSF collection containers.  
   
   
       34 . The holder of  claim 30 , wherein said means for holding an element comprises openings in the top shelf member and the inside shelf member.  
   
   
       35 . A holder for apparatus for the collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), for stably holding in a substantially upright position CSF collection containers, said holder comprising: 
 a horizontally disposed top shelf member having a plurality of first openings;    a horizontally disposed inside shelf member having a plurality of second openings, wherein the second openings are substantially aligned with the first openings in the top shelf member;    a substantially horizontally disposed handle shelf member;    a horizontally disposed bottom shelf member against which the bottoms of the containers rest;    substantially vertically disposed side panels connected to the top shelf member, the inside shelf member, the handle shelf member, and the bottom shelf member; and    means for holding an element selected from the group consisting of:    a spinal needle,    a spinal needle sleeve,    a spinal needle stylette,    a spinal needle sleeve holding a spinal needle, and    a spinal needle sleeve holding a spinal needle and a stylette.