US 4,364,903 AGranted

Contamination-free separation device

AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company

InventorGilbert S. Bittings

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Abstract

An arrangement of separation device is provided such that after centrifugation, for example, the heavy materials at the bottom of the separation container may be directly removed from the bottom without first having to decant or otherwise remove the lighter fraction at the upper end of the container. The arrangement may include, for example, a conventional tube-type container modified to have an opening in the bottom. A specially configured plug or stopper is utilized in combination with the container bottom opening to seal the opening closed, which plug is configured to complete the bottom end of the container and to provide an access septum for needle penetration in the bottom of the container. The arrangement of the plug prevents displacement thereof, once it is properly positioned, and includes specifically, a locking detent to prevent the plug from being displaced inwardly upon insertion of a needle into the plug.

Claims4

Dependent claims

Apparatus for securing the heavy fraction from a separation tube without disturbing the lighter fraction, characterized by

(a) a tube body having a top opening and a bottom opening;
(b) said tube body having an annular vertical first wall portion;
(c) a second wall portion integral with said first wall portion;
(d) said second wall portion converging from the bottom edge of said first wall portion to said bottom opening;
(e) a plug for said tube bottom opening extending through said bottom opening;
(f) said plug comprising
(1) an annular upper wall portion the top surface of said annular upper wall portion diverging from the outer surface of said upper wall portion toward the axis of said plug;
(2) an annular lower wall portion integral with said upper wall portion and converging downwardly from said upper wall portion;
(3) said upper wall portion and said lower wall portion defining a heavy fraction receiving cup in said plug;
(4) a locking detent in said annular lower wall portion for engaging the bottom surface of said tube body second wall portion;
and
(5) the lower end of said annular lower wall portion defining a needle receiving septum in said plug.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.