Mechanical Separator for a Biological Fluid

Abstract

A separation assembly for separation of a fluid into first and second parts is disclosed. A container has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior, the container defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. A separator body is disposed within the interior having a through-hole defined therethrough. The separator body includes a first part, and a second part interfaced with the first part, wherein the separator body is transitionable from a first position wherein the through-hole is provided in fluid-receiving alignment with the first end of the container, to a second position wherein the through-hole is provided substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole of the separator body is in a plane that is not parallel with a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the container.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A separation assembly for enabling separation of a fluid into first and second parts, comprising:
 a container having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween having an inner surface and defining a container interior, the container defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end; and   a separator body disposed within the container interior and having a through-hole defined therethrough, the through-hole having a first open end and a second open end and the separator body comprising:
 a first part; and 
 a second part interfaced with the first part, 
   wherein the separator body is transitionable from a first position in which the through-hole is provided in fluid-receiving alignment with the first end of the container, to a second position in which the through-hole is provided substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, and   wherein, in the first position, at least a portion of the first part adjacent the first open end is in contact with the sidewall of the container and at least a portion of the second part adjacent the second open end is in contact with the sidewall of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole of the separator body is in a plane that is not parallel with a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole is angled with respect to at least one of the longitudinal axis of the container and the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The separation assembly of  claim 3 , wherein, in the first position, the through-axis of the through-hole is angled from about 30° to about 60° with respect to the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole of the separator body is offset from the longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, a first perimeter of the separator body forms an interference engagement with the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, at least a portion of the first part and at least a portion of the second part are spaced away from the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the separator body is a float and the float defines an upper surface of the separator body, and the second part of the separator body is a ballast and the ballast defines a lower surface of the separator body. 
     
     
         9 . The separation assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when the separator body is in the first position, the separator body contacts the sidewall of the container at a location that is offset from a center of the upper surface of the float. 
     
     
         10 . The separation assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when the separator body is in the first position, the separator body contacts the sidewall of the container at a location that is offset from a center of the lower surface of the ballast. 
     
     
         11 . The separation assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when in the second position, the separator body contacts the sidewall of the container at at least part of a periphery of the upper surface of the float. 
     
     
         12 . The separation assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when in the second position, the separator body contacts the sidewall of the container at the entire periphery of the upper surface of the float. 
     
     
         13 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a part of the first part of the separator body and a part of the second part of the separator body define the through-hole. 
     
     
         14 . The separation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the separator body defines the through-hole.