Patent Application
20150351676
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to blood collection. More specifically, the present invention relates to automatic blood collection.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art discusses various devices to collect blood from a patient.
Currently when collection of blood with a capillary tube is required for finger-stick testing the procedure involves a six step process that typically requires a phlebotomist (a person skilled in the process of making an incision in a vein with a needle). This process is 1—cleaning the finger 2—pricking the finger with a commercially available lancet that contains a clean needle, 3—wiping off of the first droplet of blood, 4—using a capillary tube to collect the quantity of blood needed for testing, 5 transport the blood into a blood analyzer device, 6 Applying a bandage around finger at the puncture location, and 7 dispose all the contaminated materials in a safe waste.
The present invention provides a solution to blood collection.
One aspect of the present invention is a self-contained universal front-end automatic blood collection device that collects a few micro-liters blood sample that is used for a broad range of blood analyzers. The design of the front-end closely mimics current phlebotomist practice and provides a number of unique features that ensure patient safety and sterility, improve collection efficacy, prevent sample contamination and user cross contamination. All the features are integrated into a compact, low-cost package.
Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for automatic blood collection from a patient. The apparatus comprises a housing having an insertion port, a lancet comprising a needle, a dispenser positioned within the housing, a mechanism for removing an initial droplet of blood, a capillary tube for collecting a predetermined amount of blood, and a dressing dispenser. The lancet is positioned within the housing and in communication with the insertion port. The dispenser comprises a sanitizing agent. The mechanism removing an initial droplet of blood is positioned within the housing. The dressing dispenser is located at an opening of the insertion port. The dressing dispenser comprises a bandage. The capillary tube is positioned within the housing and in communication with the insertion port. The dispenser is adapted to dispense the sanitizing agent on a portion of a finger of a patient placed within the insertion port. The needle is adapted to pierce the sanitized finger. The mechanism is adapted to remove the initial droplet of blood from the pierced finger. The capillary is adapted to collect the predetermined amount of blood from the patient. The dressing dispenser is adapted to wrap the bandage around the pierced finger of the patient.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for automatic blood collection from a patient. The method includes inserting a finger of a patient into a port of an automatic blood collection apparatus. The method also includes sanitizing a portion of the finger of the patient within the automatic blood collection apparatus. The method also includes piercing the sanitized portion of the finger with a needle of a lancet. The method also includes removing a first droplet of blood from the pierced finger. The method also includes collecting a predetermined amount of blood from the pierced finger in a capillary tube. The method also includes transporting the predetermined amount of blood to a blood analyzer device. The method also includes bandaging the pierced finger of the patient with a wrap within the automatic blood collection apparatus. The method also includes disposing of a plurality of contaminated materials from the automatic blood collection apparatus.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for dressing a punctured finger of a patient subsequent to automatic blood collection from a patient. The apparatus comprises a housing having an insertion port, and a dressing dispenser located at an opening of the insertion port. The dressing dispenser comprises a dressing. The dressing dispenser is adapted to automatically wrap the dressing around a pierced finger of the patient as the pierced finger is removed from the insertion port. The dressing protects and avoids cross contamination of the finger.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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The housing 257 preferably composed of a sterile material such as a polycarbonate plastic material, an ABS material, a stainless steel material, or the like.
The insertion port 260 preferably has a length ranging from 2 centimeters to 10 centimeters, more preferably from 4 centimeters to 8 centimeters, and most preferably 6 centimeters. A diameter of the insertion port preferably ranges from 1 centimeter to 3 centimeters, and is most preferably 2 centimeters. The biasing member/actuator 254 aligns a patient's finger in an optimal position within the insertion port 262 with the puncturing needle for blood collection.
The lancet is preferably positioned near the internal end of the insertion port 262. The puncturing needle is preferably the type typically utilized by a phlebotomist such as a 21 g (green top) needle, a 22 g (black top) needle, a 21 g (green label) butterfly needle, a 23 g (blue label) butterfly needle, and a 25 g (orange label) butterfly needle.
In a preferred embodiment, a transport mechanism transports the blood collection receptacle containing blood to a blood analyzer. The blood collection receptacle is preferably a vacuum tube such as a VACUTAINER tube available from Becton, Dickinson & Company, or a similar generic model. Preferably, the blood collection receptacle contains up to ten milliliters of blood, and alternatively contains from 1 milliliter to 10 milliliters of blood from the patient.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 further comprises a heater adapted to warm the finger within the automatic blood collection apparatus 200 to enhance a blood flow of the patient.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 further comprises a massage mechanism adapted to massage the patient's finger within the automatic blood collection apparatus 200 to enhance a blood flow of the patient.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 further comprises a vacuum mechanism to withdraw air from the insertion port of the automatic blood collection apparatus 200 to enhance a blood flow of the patient. The vacuum pressure ranges from 0 to negative 600 mmHg. Negative pressure signifies pressure less than standard atmospheric pressure (14.7 phi or 760 mm Hg at sea level). A vacuum pump is placed in flow communication with the insertion port in order to create the vacuum or partial vacuum in the insertion port for assistance in the flow of blood from the patient.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 further comprises a sensor for measuring the amount of blood drawn from the patient. The sensor is positioned within the housing 257.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 further comprises an ejection mechanism for ejecting the blood collection receptacle from the housing 257.
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A flow chart of a method 300 for automatic blood collection from a patient is illustrated in
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes modification and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claim. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.
