Device and filter cartridge for separating plasma from whole blood
AssigneeRoche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
InventorHerfried Huemer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-part device for separating plasma from whole blood is provided, with a sample taking unit for receiving whole blood, a filter unit with a layered filter with multiple layers for extracting plasma, and a pumping unit, typically a plunger pump, for creating a partial vacuum in the filter unit. The filter unit and a plasma collector vessel with a conical tip extending towards the filter unit are contained in a filter cartridge, which may be taken apart after plasma extraction, thus exposing the conical tip of the plasma collector vessel for sample input into an analyzer.
Claims10
A multi-part device for separating plasma from whole blood, comprising:
- a sample taking unit for receiving whole blood,
- a filter unit with a layered filter with multiple layers for extracting plasma, and
- a pumping unit having a plunger for creating a partial vacuum in the filter unit, wherein
- the filter unit and a plasma collector vessel having a conical tip extending towards the filter unit are contained in a filter cartridge,
- the conical tip of the plasma collector vessel penetrates a seal towards the filter unit and the collector vessel is held on its opposite end by a supporting element, which has a hydrophobic, air-permeable passage that leads to the pumping device and that prevents the outflow of separated plasma from the plasma collector vessel,
- the filter cartridge is separable after plasma extraction, thus exposing the conical tip of the plasma collector vessel for sample input into an analyser, and
- the volume between the seal towards the filter unit and the supporting element defines a compensation volume of the filter cartridge that is separate from the plasma interior volume of the collector vessel and wherein the compensation volume of the filter cartridge is connected to the pumping device via an air-permeable connection,
- wherein both the interior volume of the plasma collector vessel and the compensation volume are in air communication via the hydrophobic, air-permeable passage and the air-permeable connection when the plunger is displaced from the supporting element forming a suction volume to create the partial vacuum in the filter unit.
A filter cartridge with a multi-layer filter unit for extracting plasma from whole blood, wherein the filter cartridge in its interior has a conical plasma collector vessel, whose tip penetrates a seal towards the filter unit, the plasma collector vessel being held at its other end in the filter cartridge by a supporting element which has a hydrophobic air-permeable passage leading to a connectable pumping device, and wherein the volume between the seal and the supporting element defines a compensation volume of the filter cartridge that is separate from the interior volume of the plasma collector vessel and wherein the compensation volume of the filter cartridge is also connectable to the pumping device via an air-permeable connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.