Patent Grant
11963769
Bacteraemia is the presence of microorganisms in the blood. Sepsis, on the other hand, is bacteraemia in the presence of clinical symptoms and signs such as fever, tachycardia, tachypnea and hypotension. Bacteraemia and sepsis are associated with a high mortality and an increased incidence and duration of hospital stay and associated costs. Many bacteraemias, sepsis, fungaemias and other pathogens actually occur within a hospital or other healthcare settings with catheters and venipunctures being a source of contamination as potential carriers of these pathogens.
Blood cultures are the standard test used to detect microbial pathogens related to bacteraemia and sepsis in a patient's blood. The term blood culture refers to a single venipuncture, either from a peripheral site or central or arterial line, with the blood inoculated into one or more blood culture bottles or containers. One bottle is considered a blood culture where two or more are considered a set. Multiple sets may be obtained from multiple venipunctures and are associated with different sites on the patient.
These methods allow for microbial identification and susceptibility testing to be performed, which is a critical component to managing sepsis, however the lack of rapid results and decreased sensitivity for fastidious pathogens has led to the development of improved systems and adjunctive molecular or proteomic testing.
Collection of blood samples for conducting blood cultures is a critical component of modern patient care and can either positively affect the patient outcome by providing an accurate diagnosis, or can adversely affect the outcome by prolonging unnecessary antimicrobial therapy, the length of hospital stays, and increasing costs.
One outcome of collection of blood cultures is contamination. Blood culture contamination can lead to a false positive culture result and/or significant increase in healthcare related costs. Sources of blood culture contamination include improper skin antisepsis, improper collection tube disinfection, and contamination of the initial blood draw which may then skew results.
Blood culture collection kits generally consist of a “butterfly” set, infusion set, or other type of venipuncture device as offered by companies like BD, Smiths, B. Braun and others, and aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles. Various different bottles are also available depending on the test requirements. These bottles are specifically designed to optimize recovery of both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. In conventional kits, a bottle used is known generally as a “Vacutainer,” which is a blood collection tube formed of a sterile glass or plastic tube with a closure that is evacuated to create a vacuum inside the tube to facilitate the draw of a predetermined volume of liquid such as blood.
False positive blood cultures are typically a result of poor sampling techniques. They cause the use of antibiotics when not needed, increasing hospital costs and patient anxiety. Blood cultures are drawn from a needlestick into the skin, and then a Vacutainer is attached to capture a sample of blood. Contamination may occur from improper or incomplete disinfection of the skin area in and around the puncture site. It may also occur from the coring of the skin by the needle during insertion, with the cored skin cells and any associated contamination being pulled into the sample.
Blood flow through a hypodermic needle is laminar, and as such, a velocity gradient can be developed over the flow tube as a pressure drop is applied to the hypodermic needle. Either forceful aspiration of blood, or using a very small hypodermic needle, can cause lysis and a release of potassium from the red blood cells, thereby rendering the blood samples abnormal.
In other instances, some patients have delicate veins that can collapse under a pressure drop or vacuum, particularly as applied by a syringe's plunger that is drawn too quickly for the patient's condition. Since such condition is impossible to know beforehand, such vein collapses are a risk and very difficult to control.
Various strategies have been implemented to decrease blood culture contamination rates, e.g. training staff with regard to aseptic collection technique, feedback with regard to contamination rates and implementation of blood culture collection kits. Although skin antisepsis can reduce the burden of contamination, 20% or more of skin organisms are located deep within the dermis and are unaffected by antisepsis. Changing needles before bottle inoculation is not advisable as it increases the risk to acquire needle stick injuries without decreasing contamination rates.
Some conventional systems and techniques for reducing blood culture contamination include discarding the initial aliquot of blood taken from central venous catheters, venipunctures, and other vascular access systems. However, these systems require the user to mechanically manipulate an intravascular device, or require a complex series of steps that are difficult to ensure being followed.
This document presents systems and methods for reducing blood culture contamination, lysing of cells, and vein collapse. In some implementations, a system and method can eliminate user variability in disinfection, and also eliminate the risk of skin cells getting into the blood culture sample. The systems and methods disclosed herein do not require a change in existing clinical processes, other than to potentially indicate when a vacutainer or other blood collection device (i.e., syringe) should be attached for drawing contaminant-free blood samples.
In some implementations of the systems and methods disclosed herein the withdrawal of blood is accomplished passively by use of the patient's own blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of vein collapse and eliminating any additional user steps over current practice. The systems and methods can be applied to accommodate short-path direct stick or butterfly venipuncture systems. They can also be used with samples drawn through a catheter.
In one aspect, a blood sequestration device is presented. The blood sequestration device includes an inlet port and an outlet port. The blood sequestration device further includes a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port, the sequestration chamber having a vent comprising an air permeable blood barrier. The blood sequestration device further includes a sampling channel having a proximal end connected with the inlet port and a distal end connected with the outlet port.
In another aspect, a blood sequestration device connected with a blood sampling pathway is described. The blood sampling pathway has a patient needle and a sample collection device. The blood sequestration device includes an inlet port connected with the patient needle, and a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port, the sequestration chamber having a vent comprising an air permeable blood barrier. The blood sequestration device further includes a sampling channel having a proximal end connected with the inlet port, and an outlet port connected with a distal end of the sampling channel and with the sample collection device.
In yet another aspect, a blood sequestration device connected with a blood sampling system is described. The blood sampling system includes a patient needle for accessing a blood sample from a patient, and a sample needle that is sealed and adapted for receiving an evacuated blood collection tube. The blood sequestration device includes an inlet port connected with the patient needle to receive the blood sample from the patient. The blood sequestration device further includes a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port and having a vent comprising an air permeable blood barrier, the sequestration chamber for receiving and sequestering a first portion of the blood sample prior to the sample needle being unsealed by the evacuated blood collection tube. The blood sequestration device further includes a sampling channel having a proximal end connected with the inlet port, the sampling channel for conveying a subsequent portion of the blood sample once the sample needle is unsealed by the evacuated blood collection tube. The blood sequestration device further includes an outlet port connected with a distal end of the sampling channel for conveying the subsequent portion of the blood sample to the sample needle.
In yet another aspect, a blood sample optimization system is disclosed and described. The blood sample optimization system includes a blood sampling system for accessing and acquiring one or more samples of a patient's blood, and a blood sequestration device for receiving and sequestering a first portion of the one or more samples of the patient's blood which might be contaminated by a venipuncture process and which could result in a false positive identification of a pathogen in the patient's blood.
The blood sampling system includes a patient needle configured for a venipuncture of a patient to access a sample of blood of a patient, a blood sampling pathway connected with the patient needle for conveying the sample of blood, and a sample needle configured for receiving an evacuated blood collection container to collect and contain a subsequent portion of the sample of blood.
In yet another aspect, a blood sequestration device is disclosed and described. In some implementations, the blood sequestration device can include an inlet port, an outlet port connected with the inlet port, and a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port. The sequestration chamber can have a vent comprising an air permeable blood barrier.
The blood sequestration device is connected along the blood sampling pathway between the patient needle and the sample needle, and includes an inlet port for receiving the sample of blood. The blood sequestration device further includes a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port for receiving a first amount of the sample of blood, the sequestration chamber having a vent comprising an air permeable blood barrier for sequestering at least a first portion of the first amount of the sample of blood. The blood sequestration device may further include a sampling channel having a proximal end connected with the inlet port, the sampling channel conveying a subsequent amount of the sample of blood to the evacuated blood collection container upon the sequestration chamber sequestering at least the first portion of the first amount of the sample of blood. The blood sequestration device further includes an outlet port connected with a distal end of the sampling channel, the outlet port for outputting the subsequent amount of the sample of blood.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
This document describes blood sample optimization systems and methods for reducing or eliminating contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. In some implementations, a blood sample optimization system includes a patient needle for vascular access to a patient's bloodstream, a sample needle for providing a blood sample to a blood collection container, such as an evacuated blood collection container or tube like a Vacutainer™ or the like, or other sampling device, and a blood sequestration device located between the patient needle and the sample needle. The blood sequestration device includes a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.
The sequestration chamber 55 is a chamber, channel, pathway, lock, or other structure for receiving and holding a first aliquot of the patient's blood, which may be in a predetermined or measured amount, depending on a volume of the sequestration chamber 55. The first draw of blood typically contains or is more susceptible to containing organisms that cause bacteraemia and sepsis or other pathogens than subsequent blood draws. The sequestration chamber 55 can be a vessel encased in a solid housing, formed in or defined by the housing itself, or can be implemented as tubing or a lumen. The sequestration chamber 55, regardless how formed and implemented, may have a predetermined volume. In some implementations, the predetermined volume may be based on a volume of the patient needle, i.e. ranging from less than the volume of the patient needle to any volume up to or greater than 20 times or more of the volume of the patient needle. The predetermined volume of the sequestration chamber 55 may also be established to economize or minimize an amount of blood to be sequestered and disposed of.
The sequestration chamber 55 can be formed, contained or housed in a chamber housing 50, and can be made of plastic, rubber, steel, aluminum or other suitable material. For example, the sequestration chamber 55 could be formed of flexible tubing or other elastomeric materials. The sequestration chamber 55 further includes an air permeable blood barrier 20 that allows air to exit the sequestration chamber 55. As used herein the term “air permeable blood barrier” means an air permeable but substantially blood impermeable substance, material, or structure. Examples may include hydrophobic membranes and coatings, a hydrophilic membrane or coating combined with a hydrophobic membrane or coating, mesh, a filter, a mechanical valve, antimicrobial material, or any other means of allowing air to be displaced from the sequestration chamber 55 as it is filled with blood. In various exemplary embodiments, an air permeable blood barrier may be formed by one or more materials that allow air to pass through until contacted by a liquid, such material then becomes completely or partially sealed to prevent or inhibit the passage of air and/or liquid. In other words, prior to contact with liquid, the material forms a barrier that is air permeable. After contact with a liquid, the material substantially or completely prevents the further passage of air and/or liquid.
The orifice or channel 45 can be any desired length, cross-sectional shape or size, and/or can be formed to depart from the low volume chamber 30 at any desired angle or orientation. The orifice or channel 45 may also include a one-way flap or valve 60 that maintains an initial aliquot of blood sample within the sequestration chamber 55. In some specific implementations, the orifice or channel 45 can include a “duck bill” or flapper valve 60, or the like, for one-way flow of blood from low volume chamber 30 to the sequestration chamber 55. The air permeable blood barrier 20 can also be constructed of a material that allows air to exit but then seals upon contact with blood, thereby not allowing external air to enter sequestration chamber 55. This sealing would eliminate the need for a valve.
Valve 60 can be any type of valve or closing mechanism. Chamber 30 is designed to hold virtually no residual blood, and can be designed to be adapted to hold or allow pass-through of a particular volume or rate of blood into sequestration chamber 55. Likewise, sequestration chamber 55 may also include any type of coating, such as an antimicrobial coating, or a coating that aids identification and/or diagnosis of components of the first, sequestered blood draw.
Housing 50 and 40 can be formed of any suitable material, including plastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other thermoplastic or polymeric material, rubber, steel, or aluminum. The air permeable blood barrier 20 can include a color-providing substance, or other signaling mechanism, that is activated upon contact with blood from the initial blood draw, or when air displacement is stopped, or any combination of events with blood in the sequestration chamber 55. The air permeable barrier may also include an outer layer such as a hydrophobic membrane or cover that inhibits or prevents the inadvertent or premature sealing of the filter by an external fluid source, splash etc. Sequestration chamber 55 can also be translucent or clear to enable a user to visually confirm the chamber is filled.
The sequestration chamber 55 includes an air permeable blood barrier. The filter can further include a sensor or indicator to sense and/or indicate, respectively, when a predetermined volume of blood has been collected in the sequestration chamber 55. That indication will alert a user to attach an evacuated blood collection tube or bottle, such as a Vacutainer™ to the sample needle 5. The housing for the sequestration chamber 55 can be any size or shape, and can include any type of material to define an interior space or volume therein. The interior space is initially filled only with air, but can also be coated with an agent or substance, such as a decontaminate, solidifying agent, or the like. Once evacuated blood collection tube is attached to the sample needle 5, blood will flow automatically into the patient needle 1, through the blood draw channel and sample needle 5, and into the bottle. The sample needle 5 is covered by a resealable boot, coating or membrane that seals the sample needle when a blood collection bottle is not attached thereon or thereto.
The T or Y connector 102 may include a flap or one-way valve, and have an opening that is sized and adapted for a predetermined rate of flow of blood. The sequestration chamber 104 can be formed from tubing, or be formed by a solid housing, and is initially filled with air. The sequestration chamber 104 will receive blood that flows out of a patient automatically, i.e. under pressure from the patient's own blood pressure. The sequestration chamber 104 includes an air permeable blood barrier 106, preferably at the distal end of tubing that forms the sequestration chamber 104, and which is connected at the proximal end to the T or Y connector 102. The T or Y connector 102 can branch off at any desired angle for most efficient blood flow, and can be formed so as to minimize an interface between the aperture and channel and the main blood flow channel, so as to minimize or eliminate mixing of the initial aliquot of blood with main blood draw samples.
In some alternative implementations, the sample needle may be affixed to a tubing of any length, as shown in
Once the air permeable blood barrier and primary chamber are sealed the initial aliquot of blood is trapped in the sequestration chamber 104, an evacuated blood collection tube, such as a Vacutainer™ bottle may be attached to the sample needle 5 to obtain the sample. The blood collection tube can be removed, and the sample needle 5 will be resealed. Any number of follow-on blood collection tubes can then be attached for further blood draws or samples. Upon completion of all blood draws, the system can be discarded, with the initial aliquot of blood remaining trapped in the sequestration chamber 104.
In some implementations, either the patient needle 1 or the sample needle 5, or both, can be replaced by a Luer lock male or female connector. However, in various implementations, the connector at a sample needle end of the blood sample optimization system is initially sealed to permit the diversion of the initial aliquot of blood to the sequestration chamber, which is pressured at ambient air pressure and includes the air outlet of the air permeable blood barrier. In this way, the system passively and automatically uses a patient's own blood pressure to overcome the ambient air pressure of the sequestration chamber to push out air through the air permeable blood barrier and displace air in the sequestration chamber with blood.
When the sequestration chamber fills, the blood will gather at or otherwise make contact with the air permeable blood barrier, which will inhibit or prevent blood from passing therethrough. At 706, when the blood comes into contact with the entire internal surface area of the air permeable blood barrier, the air permeable blood barrier is then closed and air no longer flows out or in. At 708, the clinician may be provided an indictor or can see the full chamber, to indicate the evacuated blood collection tube, such as a Vacutainer™ can be attached. The indicator can include visibility into the primary chamber to see whether it is full, the blood barrier changing color, for example, or other indicator. The fill time of the sequestration chamber may be substantially instantaneous, so such indicator, if present, may be only that the sequestration chamber is filled.
Prior to an evacuated blood collection tube being attached, communication between the needle, sampling channel, and the sequestration chamber is restricted by the sealing of the sequestration chamber blood barrier thereby not permitting air to reenter the system through the sequestration. Sealing the communication path could also be accomplished with a mechanical twist or other movement, a small orifice or tortuous pathway, eliminating the need for a separate valve or mechanical movement or operation by the clinician. At 710, once the evacuated blood collection tube is removed, the self-sealing membrane closes the sample needle, and at 712, additional subsequent evacuated blood collection tubes may be attached. Once samples have been taken, at 714 the device is removed from the patient and discarded.
The blood sequestration system 800 further includes a blood sequestration device 812 which, as shown in more detail in
The blood sequestration device 812 further includes a sequestration chamber 822 connected with the sequestration chamber tubing 806 or other chamber. The sequestration chamber 822 terminates at an air permeable blood barrier 824. The air permeable blood barrier 824 can also include a coloring agent that turns a different color upon full contact with blood, as an indicator that the regular collection of blood samples (i.e. the non-contaminated blood samples) can be initiated. Other indicators may be used, such as a small light, a sound generation mechanism, or the like. In some implementations, the air permeable blood barrier is positioned at a right angle from the direction of sequestration chamber 822, but can be positioned at any distance or orientation in order to conserve space and materials used for the housing 818. The housing 818 and its contents can be formed of any rigid or semi-rigid material or set of materials.
The sequestration chamber 1008 is connected at the distal end to an air permeable blood barrier 1010, substantially as described above. Air in the sequestration chamber 1008 is displaced through the air permeable blood barrier 1010 by an initial aliquot of blood that is guided into the sequestration channel port 1006. Once the sequestration chamber 1008 is filled, further blood draws through the main outlet port 1004 can be accomplished, where these samples will be non-contaminated.
A portion of the sequestration chamber 1108 can protrude from the base member or near a top surface of the base member, just before exiting to an air permeable blood barrier 1110, to serve as a blood sequestration indicator 1109. The indicator 1109 can be formed of a clear material, or a material that changes color when in contact with blood.
In some implementations, the blood sequestration device 1100 can include a blood sampling device 1120 such as a normally closed needle, Vacutainer™ shield or other collection device. The blood sampling device 1120 can be manufactured and sold with the blood sequestration device 1100 for efficiency and convenience, so that a first aliquot of blood that may be contaminated by a patient needle insertion process can be sequestered. Thereafter, the blood sampling device 1120 can draw non-contaminated blood samples to reduce the risk of false positive testing and ensure a non-contaminated sample.
In some implementations, the blood sequestration device 1202 can include an inlet port 1212, a main outlet port, and a sequestration channel port. The inlet port 1212 can be connected to a patient needle or related tubing. The main outlet port 1214 can be connected to a normally closed needle or device to enable connection with an evacuated blood collection container or other collection device such as a Vacutainer™, associated tubing, luer connectors, syringe, a Luer activated valve, or the like. The sequestration channel port splits off from the main outlet port to a sequestration chamber 1218.
In some implementations, the sequestration chamber 1218 is formed as a channel within the body of a sequestration device 1202. The sequestration chamber 1218 can be a winding channel, such as a U-shaped channel, an S-shaped channel, a helical channel, or any other winding channel. The sequestration device 1202 can include a housing or other containing body, and one or more channels formed therein. As shown in
The blood sequestration device 1302 includes a housing 1301 having an inlet port 1314, a main outlet port 1312, and a sequestration channel port 1316. The inlet port 1314 can be connected to a patient needle or associated tubing. The main outlet port 1312 can be connected to a normally closed needle or device to enable connection with an evacuated blood collection container or other collection device such as a Vacutainer™, associated tubing, luer connectors, syringe, a Luer activated valve, or the like. The sequestration channel port 1316 splits off from the main inlet port 1314 to a sequestration chamber 1318.
In the implementation shown in
The sequestration chamber 1318 includes an air permeable blood barrier 1310, substantially as described above. Air in the sequestration chamber 1318 is displaced through the air permeable blood barrier 1310 by an initial aliquot of blood that is provided into the sequestration chamber 1318 by the blood pressure of the patient. Once the sequestration chamber 1318 is filled and the air in the sequestration chamber 1318 displaced, the blood pressure of the patient will be insufficient to drive or provide further blood into the blood sequestration device 1302, and in particular the outlet port 1312, until a force such as a vacuum or other pressure, such as provided by the blood sample collection device like Vacutainer is provided to draw out a next aliquot or amount of blood or bodily fluid. Further blood draws through the main outlet port 1312 can be accomplished, where these samples will be non-contaminated since any contaminants would be sequestered in the sequestration chamber 1318 with the first aliquot of blood.
The inlet port 1402 defines an opening into the blood sequestration device 1401, which opening can be the same cross sectional dimensions as tubing or other conduit connected with the patient needle or the patient needle itself. For instance, the opening can be circular with a diameter of approximately 0.045 inches, but can have a diameter of between 0.01 inches or less to 0.2 inches or more. The blood sequestration device 1401 further includes an outlet port 1404, which defines an opening out of the blood sequestration device 1401 and to the blood sample collection device 1403. The outlet port 1404 may also be connected with tubing or other conduit that is in turn connected with the blood sequestration device 1403. The outlet port 1404 can further include a connector device such as a threaded cap, a Luer connector (male or female), a non threaded interference or glue joint fitting for attachment of various devices including but not limited to tubing, or the like.
The blood sequestration device 1401 further includes a sampling channel 1406 between the inlet port 1402 and the outlet port 1404, and which functions as a blood sample pathway once a first aliquot of blood has been sequestered. The sampling channel 1406 can be any sized, shaped or configured channel, or conduit. In some implementations, the sampling channel 1406 has a substantially similar cross sectional area as the opening of the inlet port 1402. In other implementations, the sampling channel 1406 can gradually widen from the inlet port 1402 to the outlet port 1404.
The blood sequestration device 1401 further includes a sequestration chamber 1408 that is connected to and split off or diverted from the sampling channel 1406 at any point between the inlet port 1402 and the outlet port 1404, but preferably from a proximal end of the sampling channel 1406 near the inlet port 1402. The sequestration chamber 1408 is at first maintained at atmospheric pressure, and includes an air outlet 1412 at or near a distal end of the sequestration chamber 1408 opposite the diversion point from the sampling channel 1406. The air outlet 1412 includes an air permeable blood barrier 1412. As shown in
As shown in
In some implementations, the sampling channel 1406 and the sequestration chamber 1408 are formed by grooves, channels, locks or other pathways formed in housing 1414. The housing 1414 can be made of plastic, metal or other rigid or semi-rigid material. The housing 1414 can have a bottom member that sealably mates with a top member. One or both of the bottom member and the top member can include the sampling channel 1406 and the sequestration chamber 1408, as well as the diversion pathway 1409, the inlet port 1402, and the outlet port 1404. In some other implementations, one or more of the diversion pathway 1409, the inlet port 1402, and/or the outlet port 1404 can be at least partially formed by a cap member that is connected to either end of the housing 1414. In some implementations, the top member and the bottom member, as well as the cap member(s), can be coupled together by laser welding, heat sealing, gluing, snapping, screwing, bolting, or the like. In other implementations, some or all of the interior surface of the diversion pathway 1409 and/or sequestration chamber 1408 can be coated or loaded with an agent or substance, such as a decontaminate, solidifying agent, or the like. For instance, a solidifying agent can be provided at the diversion pathway 1409 such that when the sequestration chamber 1408 is filled and the initial aliquot of blood backs up to the diversion pathway 1409, that last amount of sequestered blood could solidify, creating a barrier between the sequestration chamber 1408 and the sampling channel 1406.
The blood sequestration device 1500 includes an inlet port 1502 that can be connected with a patient needle that is inserted into a patient's vascular system for access to and withdrawing of a blood sample. The inlet port 1502 may also be connected with tubing or other conduit that is in turn connected with the patient needle. The inlet port 1502 defines an opening into the blood sequestration device 1500, which opening may be the same cross sectional dimensions as tubing or other conduit connected with the patient needle or the patient needle itself. For instance, the opening can be circular with a diameter of approximately 0.045 inches, but can have a diameter of between 0.01 inches or less to 0.2 inches or more.
The inlet port 1502 can also include a sealing or fluid-tight connector or connection, such as threading or Luer fitting, or the like. In some implementations, tubing or other conduit associated with the patient needle can be integral with the inlet port 1502, such as by co-molding, gluing, laser weld, or thermally bonding the parts together. In this manner, the blood sequestration device 1500 can be fabricated and sold with the patient needle as a single unit, eliminating the need for connecting the patient needle to the blood sequestration device 1500 at the time of blood draw or sampling.
The blood sequestration device 1500 further includes an outlet port 1504, which defines an opening out of the blood sequestration device 1500 and to the blood sample collection device. The outlet port 1504 may also be connected with tubing or other conduit that is in turn connected with the blood sequestration device, and may also include a sealing or fluid-tight connector or connection, such as threading or Luer fitting, or the like. Accordingly, as discussed above, the blood sequestration device 1500 can be fabricated and sold with the patient needle and/or tubing and the blood sample collection device as a single unit, eliminating the need for connecting the patient needle and the blood sample collection device to the blood sequestration device 1500 at the time of blood draw or sampling.
The blood sequestration device 1500 further includes a sampling channel 1506 between the inlet port 1502 and the outlet port 1504, and which functions as a blood sample pathway once a first aliquot of blood has been sequestered. The sampling channel 1506 can be any sized, shaped or configured channel or conduit. In some implementations, the sampling channel 1506 has a substantially similar cross sectional area as the opening of the inlet port 1502. In other implementations, the sampling channel 1506 can gradually widen from the inlet port 1502 to the outlet port 1504.
The blood sequestration device 1500 further includes a sequestration chamber 1508 that is connected to and split off or diverted from the sampling channel 1506 at any point between the inlet port 1502 and the outlet port 1504, but preferably from a proximal end of the sampling channel 1506 near the inlet port 1502. In some implementations, the diversion includes a Y-shaped junction. The sequestration chamber 1508 is preferably maintained at atmospheric pressure, and includes a vent 1510 at or near a distal end of the sequestration chamber 1508. The vent 1510 includes an air permeable blood barrier 1512.
The air permeable blood barrier 1512 can be covered with a protective cover 1516. The protective cover 1516 can be sized and configured to inhibit a user from touching the air permeable blood barrier 1512 with their finger or other external implement, while still allowing air to exit the air permeable blood barrier 1512 as the air is displaced from the sequestration chamber 1508 by blood being forced into the sequestration chamber 1508 by a patient's own blood pressure. The protective cover 1516 can be constructed to inhibit or prevent accidental exposure of the filter to environmental fluids or splashes. This can be accomplished in a variety of mechanical ways including but not limited to the addition of a hydrophobic membrane to the protective cover.
The sequestration chamber 1508 can have a larger cross-sectional area than the sampling channel 1506, and the cross-sectional area and length can be configured for a predetermined or specific volume of blood to be sequestered or locked. The sampling channel 1506 can be sized to be compatible with tubing for either or both of the patient needle tubing or the blood collection device tubing.
The housing 1501 can be formed of multiple parts or a single, unitary part. In some implementations, and as illustrated in
In some implementations, such as shown in
In some implementations, the sampling channel 1506 and the sequestration chamber 1508 are formed by grooves, channels, locks or other pathways formed in housing 1501. The housing 1501 can be made of any suitable material, including rubber, plastic, metal or other material. The housing 1501 can be formed of a clear or translucent material, or of an opaque or non-translucent material. In other implementations, the housing 1501 can be mostly opaque or non-translucent, while the housing surface directly adjacent to the sampling channel 1506 and/or the sequestration chamber 1508 is clear or translucent, giving a practitioner a visual cue or sign that the sequestration chamber 1508 is first filled to the extent necessary or desired, and/or then a visual cue or sign that the sequestered blood remains sequestered while a clean sample of blood is drawn through the sampling channel 1506. Other visual cues or signs of the sequestration can include, without limitation: the air permeable blood barrier 1512 turning a different color upon contact, saturation, or partial saturation with blood; a color-coded tab or indicator at any point along or adjacent to the sequestration chamber; an audible signal; a vibratory signal; or other signal.
After a venipuncture by a patient needle of a patient (not shown), which could gather a number of pathogens from the patient's skin, a first amount of the patient's blood with those pathogens will make its way into the input port 1502 blood sequestration device 1500 and flow into the sequestration chamber 1508 by following the path of least resistance, as the patient's own blood pressure overcomes the atmospheric pressure in the sequestration chamber 1508 to displace air therein through the air permeable blood barrier 1512. The patient's blood pressure will not be sufficient to overcome the air pressure that builds up in the sealed sampling channel 1506. Eventually, the sequestration chamber 1508, which has a predetermined volume, is filled with blood that displaces air through the air permeable blood barrier 1512. Once the blood hits the air permeable blood barrier, the blood interacts with the air permeable blood barrier 1512 material to completely or partially seal the vent 1510. A signal or indication may be provided that the practitioner can now utilize the Vacutainer capsule or other blood sample collection device to acquire a next amount of the patient's blood for sampling. The blood in the sequestration chamber 1508 is now effectively sequestered in the sequestration chamber.
Upon filling the blood sequestration pathway 1508 but prior to use of the Vacutainer or other blood sample collection device, the patient's blood pressure may drive compression of the air in the sampling channel 1506, possibly resulting in a small amount of blood moving past the diversion point to the sequestration chamber 1508 and into the sampling channel 1506, queuing up the uncontaminated blood to be drawn through the sampling channel 1506.
Referring to
The inlet port 1602 can also include a sealing or fluid-tight connector or connection, such as threading or Luer fitting, or the like. In some implementations, tubing or other conduit associated with the patient needle can be integral with the inlet port 1602, such as by co-molding, gluing, laser weld, or thermally bonding the parts together. In this manner, the blood sequestration device 1600 can be fabricated and sold with the patient needle and/or tubing as a single unit, eliminating the need for connecting the patient needle to the blood sequestration device 1600 at the time of blood draw or sampling.
The blood sequestration device 1600 further includes an outlet port 1604, which defines an opening out of the blood sequestration device 1600 and to the blood sample collection device. The outlet port 1604 may also be connected with tubing or other conduit that is in turn connected with the blood sequestration device, and may also include a sealing or fluid-tight connector or connection, such as threading or Luer fitting, or the like. Accordingly, as discussed above, the blood sequestration device 1600 can be fabricated and sold with the patient needle and/or tubing and the blood sample collection device as a single unit, eliminating the need for connecting the patient needle and the blood sample collection device to the blood sequestration device 1600 at the time of blood draw or sampling.
The blood sequestration device 1600 further includes a sampling channel 1606 between the inlet port 1602 and the outlet port 1604, and a sequestration chamber 1608 that is connected to and split off or diverted from the sampling channel 1606 at any point between the inlet port 1602 and the outlet port 1604. The sampling channel 1606 functions as a blood sampling pathway once a first aliquot of blood has been sequestered in the sequestration chamber 1608. The sampling channel 1606 can be any sized, shaped or configured channel, or conduit. In some implementations, the sampling channel 1606 has a substantially similar cross sectional area as the opening of the inlet port 1602. In other implementations, the sampling channel 1606 can gradually widen from the inlet port 1602 to the outlet port 1604. The sequestration chamber 1608 may have a larger cross section to form a big reservoir toward the sequestration channel path so that the blood will want to enter the reservoir first versus entering a smaller diameter on the sampling channel 1606, as is shown more fully in
In some exemplary implementations, the diversion between the sampling channel 1606 and the sequestration chamber 1608 is by diverter junction 1607. Diverter junction 1607 may be a substantially Y-shaped, T-shaped, or U-shaped. In some preferred exemplary implementations, and as shown in
The sequestration chamber 1608 is preferably maintained at atmospheric pressure, and includes a vent 1610 at or near a distal end of the sequestration chamber 1608. The vent 1610 may include an air permeable blood barrier 1612 as described above.
The blood sequestration device 1600 can include a housing 1601 that can be formed of multiple parts or a single, unitary part. In some implementations, and as illustrated in
The sequestration chamber 1608 may have a larger cross section than the sampling channel 1606 so that the blood will preferentially move into the sequestration chamber first versus entering a smaller diameter on the sampling channel 1606.
In some implementations, the sampling channel 1606 and the sequestration chamber 1608 are formed by grooves, channels, locks or other pathways formed in housing 1601. The housing 1601 can be made of rubber, plastic, metal or any other suitable material. The housing 1601 can be formed of a clear or translucent material, or of an opaque or non-translucent material. In other implementations, the housing 1601 can be mostly opaque or non-translucent, while the housing surface directly adjacent to the sampling channel 1606 and/or the sequestration chamber 1608 may be clear or translucent, giving a practitioner a visual cue or sign that the sequestration chamber 1608 is first filled to the extent necessary or desired, and/or then a visual cue or sign that the sequestered blood remains sequestered while a clean sample of blood is drawn through the sampling channel 1606. Other visual cues or signs of the sequestration can include, without limitation: the air permeable blood barrier 1612 turning a different color upon contact, saturation, or partial saturation with blood; a color-coded tab or indicator at any point along or adjacent to the sequestration chamber; an audible signal; a vibratory signal; or other signal.
As shown in
In use, the blood sequestration device 1600 includes a sampling channel 1606 and a sequestration chamber 1608. Both pathways are initially air-filled at atmospheric pressure, but the sampling channel 1606 is directed to an output port 1604 that will be initially sealed by a Vacutainer or other such sealed blood sampling device, and the sequestration chamber 1608 terminates at a vent 1610 to atmosphere that includes an air permeable blood barrier 1612.
After a venipuncture by a patient needle of a patient (not shown), which could gather a number of pathogens from the patient's skin, a first amount of the patient's blood with those pathogens will pass through input port 1602 of blood sequestration device 1600. This initial volume of potentially contaminated blood will preferentially flow into the sequestration chamber 1608 by finding the path of least resistance. The patient's own blood pressure overcomes the atmospheric pressure in the vented sequestration chamber 1608 to displace air therein through the air permeable blood barrier 1612, but is not sufficient to overcome the air pressure that builds up in the sealed sampling channel 1606. In various exemplary embodiments, the sequestration chamber 1608 and sampling channel 1606 can be configured such that the force generated by the patient's blood pressure is sufficient to overcome any effect of gravity, regardless of the blood sequestration device's orientation.
Eventually, the sequestration chamber 1608 fills with blood that displaces air through the air permeable blood barrier 1612. Once the blood contacts the air permeable blood barrier, the blood interacts with the air permeable blood barrier 1612 material to completely or partially seal the vent 1610. A signal or indication may be provided that the practitioner can now utilize the Vacutainer or other blood sampling device.
Upon filling the blood sequestration pathway 1608 but prior to use of the Vacutainer or other blood sample collection device, the patient's blood pressure may drive compression of the air in the sampling channel 1606, possibly resulting in a small amount of blood moving past the diversion point into the sampling channel 1606, queuing up the uncontaminated blood to be drawn through the sampling channel 1606.
The blood sample optimization system 2000 further includes a blood sequestration device 2008, located at any point on the conduit 2006 between the patient needle 2002 and the blood sample collection device 2004 as described herein.
As described herein, an air permeable blood barrier may be created using a wide variety of different structures and materials. As shown in
The sampling channel 2308 can have any suitable geometry and can be formed of plastic tubing or any other suitable material. Valve 2308 can be a clip or other enclosing device to pinch, shunt, bend or otherwise close off the sampling channel before the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber 2306.
Although a variety of embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/208,559 filed Dec. 4, 2018, entitled BLOOD SAMPLE OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND BLOOD CONTAMINANT SEQUESTRATION DEVICE AND METHOD, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/994,559, filed on May 31, 2018 and titled “BLOOD SAMPLE OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND BLOOD CONTAMINANT EQUESTRATION DEVICE AND METHOD,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,143,412, issued Dec. 4, 2018; which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/140,448, filed on Apr. 27, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,010,282 issued Jul. 3, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/196,797, filed on Jul. 24, 2015 and titled “BLOOD CULTURE IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/238,636, filed on Oct. 7, 2015 and titled “BLOOD SEQUESTRATION SYSTEM FOR NON-CONTAMINATED BLOOD SAMPLING”; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/318,194, filed on Apr. 4, 2016 and titled “BLOOD SAMPLE OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND BLOOD CONTAMINANT SEQUESTRATION DEVICE AND METHOD,” the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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