Patent Application
20190046406
The present invention relates to blood component storage containers, and more particularly plasma storage containers.
Blood plasma is a straw-colored liquid component of whole blood, in which blood cells, such as red blood cells and white blood cells, and other components of the whole blood are normally suspended. Whole blood is made up of about 55%, by volume, plasma. Plasma plays important roles in a body's circulatory system, including transporting blood cells, conducting heat and carrying waste products. Pure plasma contains clotting factors, which increase the rate at which blood clots, making it useful in surgery and in the treatment of hemophilia. Banked whole blood is sometimes used to replace blood lost by patients during surgery or as a result of traumatic injuries. However, if banked whole blood that is compatible with the patient's blood type is not available, plasma may sometimes be used to replace some of the lost blood. Plasma additionally contains proteins that may be used to produce pharmaceuticals for immunodeficiency and other protein disorders. Furthermore, plasma may be frozen and stored for relatively long periods of time until it is needed.
To collect plasma, whole blood may be collected from a donor, and the plasma may be separated from the other components of the donated whole blood later, such as in a laboratory. However, in other cases, the plasma is separated from the other components of the whole blood at the donation site, and the other components are returned to the circulation system of the donor. For example, apheresis is a medical technology in which the blood of a donor or patient is passed through an apparatus, such as a centrifuge, that separates out one particular constituent and returns the remainder to the donor or patient. Plasmapheresis is a medical therapy that involves separating blood plasma from whole blood.
Collected plasma for pharmaceutical manufacturing is typically stored in plastic bottles. A typical plasma bottle includes two ports, one for introducing plasma into the bottle, and the other for venting air out of the bottle. Each of the ports typically extends from a surface of the plasma bottle (e.g., the top of the plasma bottle) and may have tubing connected to it. After plasma has been collected in the bottle, the tubing is cut off using radiofrequency sealing tongs, leaving short (typically about 1½ inch long) sealed tubing stubs attached to the ports extending from the plasma bottle. These stubs typically project from the bottle neck and may pose problems during transport and storage. For example, when the plasma is frozen, the plastic of the stubs and/or ports becomes brittle and may break, thereby violating the requirement to keep the plasma in a sealed container.
In a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a top for a plasma storage container. The top includes a top body that defines the structure of the top and seals an opening of the plasma storage container. The top may also include a first opening and a vent opening extending through the top body. A septum may be located at least partially within the first opening, and may include an aperture through it. The septum may allow a blunt cannula to pass through the aperture to access the interior of the plasma storage container. The top may also include a hydrophobic membrane located on underside of the top body. The membrane covers the vent opening and may allow air to move through the vent opening during filling of the plasma storage container while preventing ingress of undesirable microorganisms.
In some embodiments, the top may also include a skirt that extends downward from the underside of the top body around the first opening. The septum may be located and secured (e.g., via a swage connection) within the skirt. Alternatively, the septum may be overmolded with the skirt. The skirt and/or the swage connection may apply a compressive retaining force on the aperture. The aperture may be closed when the blunt cannula is not connected, and the first opening may be larger than the vent opening. Additionally or alternatively, the septum may allow a sample collection container holder to pass through the aperture to access the interior of the plasma collection container. For example, the sample collection container holder may be a vacutainer holder. The blunt cannula may be part of a tubing set connected to a blood processing device.
The top body may also include at least one flow channel on the underside of the top body. The at least one flow channel may be in fluid communication with the vent opening to allow airflow in and out of the plasma storage container via the vent opening. The surface area of the hydrophobic membrane may be larger than a cross-sectional area of the vent opening, and/or the hydrophobic membrane may be sealed and/or ultrasonically welded to an energy director on the underside of the top body. The top may include a retaining element (e.g., a clip) located on a top surface of the top body. The retainer may hold the blunt cannula in place during filling of the plasma storage container.
In accordance with additional embodiments, a plasma storage container includes a container body that defines the structure of the plasma storage container and defines an interior. The container includes a top configured to seal an opening of the plasma storage container. The top may include a first opening and a vent opening extending through the container top. A septum may be located at least partially within the first opening and may include a pre-pierced aperture therethrough. The septum/aperture allows a blunt cannula to pass through the aperture to access the interior of the plasma storage container. The container also includes a hydrophobic membrane located on underside of the container top. The membrane covers the vent opening and allows air to pass through the vent opening during plasma collection. The first opening may be larger than the vent opening.
In some embodiments, the plasma storage container may include a skirt that extends from the underside of the container top around the first opening. The septum may be located and secured within the skirt, for example, via a swage connection. Additionally or alternatively, the septum may be overmolded within the skirt. The skirt and/or the swage connection may apply a radially inward force on the aperture that biases the aperture closed. The aperture may be closed when the blunt cannula is not connected.
The container top may include at least one flow channel on an underside of the container top. The flow channel(s) may be in fluid communication with the vent opening to allow airflow in and out of the plasma storage container via the vent opening. The surface area of the hydrophobic membrane may be larger than a cross-sectional area of the vent opening. Additionally or alternatively, the hydrophobic membrane may be ultrasonically welded to the underside of the container top and/or may be sealed to the underside of the container top.
In further embodiments, the plasma storage container may include a retainer located on a top surface of the container top. The retainer may hold the blunt cannula in place during filling of the plasma storage container, and/or may be a clip. In other embodiments, the septum may allow a sample collection container holder (e.g., a vacutainer holder) to pass through the aperture to access the interior of the plasma collection container. The blunt cannula may be part of a tubing set connected to a blood processing device.
In accordance with additional embodiments, a top for a plasma storage container may include a top body that defines the structure of the top and seals an opening of the plasma storage container. The top may also include a first opening and a vent opening extending through the top body. A valve mechanism may be located at least partially within the top body. The valve mechanism may have an aperture therethrough that opens upon connection of a blunt cannula to the plasma storage container (e.g., thereby providing access the interior of the plasma storage container). The top may also have a vent filter that allows air to vent through the vent opening during filling of the plasma storage container.
The valve mechanism may include a septum and the aperture may extend through the septum. The aperture may allow the blunt cannula to at least partially enter the aperture after connection of the blunt cannula to the plasma storage container. In some embodiments, the top may include a skirt extending from the underside of the top body and around the first opening. The septum may be located and secured within the skirt (e.g., via swage connection). The skirt and/or the swage connection may apply a radially inward force on the septum to keep the septum secured within the skirt.
In further embodiments, the valve mechanism may include a resilient member that has (1) a septum located nearer the top of the resilient member and (2) a valve wall that extends downward from the septum. The aperture may extend through the septum, and the valve wall may form a valve interior. Additionally, the top may include a valve housing that extends from a top surface of the top. The valve mechanism may at least partially be located within valve housing. The valve housing may include an inlet portion. The septum may be located at least partially within the inlet portion, and an inner surface of the inlet portion may include a luer taper. A cap may be placed over at least a portion of the inlet portion, and the cap may provide a sterile barrier for the first opening prior to connection of the blunt cannula.
The valve housing may also include a second portion that is located below the inlet portion. The second portion may have an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the inlet portion. Additionally or alternatively, the second portion may have an inner diameter that expands along a length of the second portion. Connection of the blunt cannula to the plasma storage container may cause the septum to move from the inlet portion of the valve housing to the second portion (e.g., to allow the aperture to open).
In still further embodiments, the valve housing may include a locking mechanism that locks the blunt cannula to the valve housing. For example, the locking mechanism may include luer threads. Additionally or alternatively, the blunt cannula may have a skirt and threads within the skirt. The skirt threads may engage the luer threads on the valve housing. The first opening may be larger than the vent opening.
The vent filter may include a hydrophobic membrane that is located on the underside of the top body and covers the vent opening. The top body may include at least one flow channel on the underside of the top body. The flow channel(s) may be in fluid communication with the vent opening to allow airflow in and out of the plasma storage container via the vent opening. A surface area of the hydrophobic membrane may be larger than a cross-sectional area of the vent opening, and the hydrophobic membrane may be sealed to the underside of the top body.
In other embodiments, the vent filter may include a plug filter. For example, the plug filter may be a self-sealing filter that seals the vent opening upon exposure of the plug filter to liquid. The top may include a vent skirt extending from the top body (e.g., from the underside of the top body) and around the vent opening. The plug filter may be located and secured within the vent skirt. Also, the top may include at least one splash guard extending from the vent skirt. The splash guard may prevent liquid from contacting the plug filter during filling of the plasma storage container.
In additional embodiments, the top may include a removable sterile barrier seal that covers the first opening prior to connection of the blunt cannula. On the top surface, the top may include a retainer (e.g., a clip) that holds the blunt cannula in place during filling of the plasma storage container. The blunt cannula may be part of a tubing set connected to a blood processing device. The tubing set may include a connector configured to connect to a blood component separation device and a cap secured to the connector via a tether. The blunt cannula may be secured to the tether prior to use. The cannula may include a grasping element configured to allow a user to grasp the cannula during use. The top may also include at least one stiffening rib located on an underside of the top.
In accordance with further embodiments, a top for a plasma storage container includes a top body that defines the structure of the top and seals an opening of the plasma storage container. The top also has an inlet opening extending through the top body and a valve mechanism located at least partially within the inlet opening. The valve mechanism has an aperture that is configured to open upon connection of a cannula to the plasma storage container (e.g., to provide access to the interior of the plasma storage container). A locking mechanism locks the cannula to the top, and the top may have a vent opening extending through the top body. A vent filter allows air to vent through the vent opening during filling of the plasma storage container.
The valve mechanism may include and/or be a septum and the top may have a skirt extending from the underside of the top body and around the first opening. The septum may be located and secured within the skirt (e.g., via a swage connection). The skirt and/or the swage connection may apply a radially inward force on the septum to keep the septum secured within the skirt. The aperture may be closed when the blunt cannula is not connected and may allow the cannula to at least partially enter the aperture after connection of the cannula to the plasma storage container.
The locking mechanism may include a locking protrusion extending from the top body and into the inlet opening. The locking protrusion may snap into a recess within the cannula during connection of the cannula. The cannula may include a cannula protrusion that extends from a surface of the cannula, and the locking protrusion may snap over the cannula protrusion into the recess during connection of the cannula. At least one surface of the locking protrusion may be angled to allow the locking protrusion to snap over the cannula protrusion.
In some embodiments, the top may include a cannula support structure that extends from a top surface of the top and defines a channel configured to support the cannula when connected to the plasma storage container. The cannula support structure may include a camming surface, and rotation of the cannula may cause the cannula to slide up the camming surface. This, in turn, causes the locking protrusion to snap out of the recess and disconnects the cannula from the plasma storage container.
To provide a sterile barrier for the inlet opening prior to connection of the cannula, the top may have a cap that connects to the inlet opening. The cap may have a lower portion that extends into the inlet opening when connected to the plasma storage container, and a mating portion that mates with at least a portion of the channel of the cannula support structure. The cannula may have a grasping element that allows a user to grasp the cannula during use and/or the grasping element may include a clamp.
The cannula may be part of a tubing set connected to a blood processing device. For example, the tubing set may include a connector configured to connect to a blood component separation device and a cap secured to the connector via a tether. The cannula may be secured to the tether prior to use.
In some embodiments, the inlet opening may be larger than the vent opening and/or the vent opening may include a hydrophobic membrane that is located on an underside of the top body and covers the vent opening. The top body may have at least one flow channel on the underside of the top body. The flow channel may be in fluid communication with the vent opening to allow airflow in and out of the plasma storage container via the vent opening. The surface area of the hydrophobic membrane may be larger than a cross-sectional area of the vent opening and/or the hydrophobic membrane may be sealed to the underside of the top body.
In other embodiments, the vent filter may include a plug filter. The plug filter may be a self-sealing filter configured to seal the vent opening upon exposure of the plug filter to liquid. In such embodiments, the top may include a vent skirt extending from the top body (e.g., from the underside) around the vent opening. The plug filter may be located and secured within the vent skirt. The top may also have at least one splash guard that extends from the vent skirt. The splash guard may prevent liquid from contacting the plug filter during filling of the plasma storage container.
On the top surface, the top may have a retainer (e.g., a clip) that holds the blunt cannula in place during filling of the plasma storage container. The valve mechanism may also allow a sample collection container holder (e.g., a vacutainer holder) to pass through the aperture to access the interior of the plasma collection container. The top may have at least one stiffening rib located on an underside of the top.
In some embodiments, the valve mechanism may include a resilient member with (1) a septum located nearer the top of the resilient member and (2) a valve wall that extends downward from the septum. The aperture may extend through the septum, and the valve wall may form a valve interior. The top may have a valve housing that extends from a top surface of the top. The valve mechanism may be located, at least partially, within the valve housing. The valve housing may have an inlet portion and the septum may be located at least partially within the inlet portion. The inner surface of the inlet portion may have a luer taper.
The valve housing may also include a second portion located below the inlet portion. The second portion may have an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the inlet portion and/or the second portion may have an inner diameter that expands along a length of the second portion. Connection of the blunt cannula to the plasma storage container may cause the septum to move from the inlet portion of the valve housing to the second portion to allow the aperture to open. The locking mechanism may be on the valve housing. For example, the locking mechanism may include luer threads. The blunt cannula may have a skirt and threads within the skirt. The threads may engage the luer threads on the valve housing.
In accordance with additional embodiments, a plasma storage container has (1) a container body that defines the structure of the plasma storage container and an interior, and (2) a container top that seals an opening of the plasma storage container. The container may also have an inlet opening extending through the top body and a valve mechanism located at least partially within the inlet opening. The valve mechanism may have an aperture that opens upon connection of a cannula to the plasma storage container (e.g., to provide access to the interior of the plasma storage container). The container/top also has (1) a locking mechanism, (2) a vent opening extending through the top body, and (3) a vent filter. The locking mechanism may lock the cannula to the top. The vent filter allows air to vent through the vent opening during filling of the plasma storage container.
The foregoing features of embodiments will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
As shown in
On the underside 124, the top 120 may include a skirt 190 that extends distally from the top 120 (e.g., downward from the top 120) and around the inlet opening 170. To help maintain the sterility of the container 100 and keep the inlet opening 170 closed when the container is not being filled with plasma (e.g., before and after filling), the top 120 may include a valve mechanism. For example, the top may include a septum 200 located and secured within the skirt 190. As best shown in
It should be noted that, although the aperture 210 is shown as a slit within
To provide a sterile barrier for the vent hole 170, the top may include a vent filter. For example, also on the underside 124, the top 120 may include a hydrophobic membrane 230 located under the vent hole 160 such that the hydrophobic membrane 230 may provide a sterile barrier for the vent hole 160. During filling of the plasma container 100, the hydrophobic membrane 230 will allow air to pass through the membrane 230 and the vent hole 160 to prevent atmospheric pressure differentials from building up in the container 100. To help with air flow, the top may also include a number of channels 220 within the surface under the hydrophobic membrane 230. The channels 220 can extend to the edge of the vent hole 160 and allow air pass through the membrane 230, for example, even if the membrane 230 is pushed against the underside 124 of the top 120 (e.g., during high-air-flow-rate periods).
The hydrophobic membrane 230 may be ultrasonically welded to the top 120 (or otherwise sealed to the top 120) to prevent air from leaking past the hydrophobic membrane 230. To that end, the top 120 may include an energy director 222 for use during the ultrasonic welding process to ensure that the hydrophobic membrane 230 is properly sealed and secured to the underside 124 of the top 120. Alternatively, the membrane 230 may be secured to the top 120 via other joining methods including, but not limited to, adhesives, hot melt glue, and laser welding.
As shown in
It should be noted that the top 120 and container body 110 may be formed as two separate pieces and then secured together via ultrasonically welded together. To help facilitate the ultrasonic welding, the top 120 may include a distally extending wall 126 that extends over the top of the container body 110 when the top 120 is placed on the body 110 (e.g., over the proximal end 140 of the body 110). Additionally, on the underside 124, the top 120 may include an energy director 128 to aid in the ultrasonic welding process (e.g., to secure the top 120 to the body 110).
During use and plasma collection, the user may connect the plasma container 100 to a blood processing device via the blunt cannula 240 (
As the blood processing device separates the plasma from whole blood and sends the plasma to the storage container 100, the plasma may flow through the tubing set 300 and into the interior volume 150 of the container 100 via the blunt cannula 240. As the plasma flows into the container 100, air will exit the container 100 through the hydrophobic membrane 230 and the vent hole/opening 160. This, in turn, will prevent pressure from building up within the container 100. As needed/required by the blood processing device, air may also enter the container 100 through hydrophobic/sterilizing membrane 230 and the vent hole/opening 160. This, in turn, will prevent vacuum from building up within the container 100.
In order to aid in storage and to ensure that the opening in the outlet portion 242 of the cannula 240 is covered and not exposed to the atmosphere, the tubing set 300 may include a cap 320 that can be used for both the blood processing device connector 310 and the outlet portion 242 of the cannula 240 (
Once the plasma has been collected within the container 100, there may be a need to sample the collected plasma at various times (e.g., after collection, sometime during storage, prior to use). To that end, the user may insert a sample collection container holder (e.g., a vacutainer holder) into the septum 200/aperture 210 to access the volume of plasma within the container 100. The user may then turn the container 100 upside down and connect a vacutainer to the holder to begin collecting a sample of plasma within the vacutainer. It should be noted that collecting the plasma sample in this manner provides the most representative sample of the plasma in the container 100 possible and minimizes/eliminates any loss of plasma, where residual plasma might otherwise be lost in sampling means that involve sampling through tubing external to the top 120.
It is important to note that the outlet portion 242 of the cannula 240 need not be located within the cap 320 prior to use and may be located elsewhere. For example, as shown in
As also shown in
Although the embodiments described above use a hydrophobic membrane 230 as the vent filter, other embodiments may utilize different vent filters. For example, as shown in
It should be noted that the plug filter 410 can be any number filter types that allows air to vent through the vent hole 160 and provides a sterile barrier. In some embodiments, the plug filter 410 can be a hydrophobic filter like the membrane 230 discussed above and/or the plug filter 410 can be a Porex™ plug filter. Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments, the plug filter 410 may be a self-sealing filter (also sold by Porex™) that swells upon contact with a liquid to seal the vent hole 160 and prevent the liquid within the plasma container 100 from leaking out of the vent hole 160. For example, once the plasma collection process is complete, and the user turns the container 100 upside to collect a sample (discussed above), the plasma will contact plug filter 410 causing it to self-seal and preventing the plasma from leaking out of the vent hole 160.
In some embodiments, particularly those using self-sealing plug filters, it may be beneficial to minimize the risk of fluid (e.g., plasma) contacting the vent filter (e.g., the plug filter 410) during filling of the plasma container 100. To that end, the top 120 may have one or more splash guards 430 that protect the plug filter 410 from any splashing or foaming within the plasma container 100 during filling. For example, as best shown in
As best shown in
Located below the inlet portion 514, the valve housing 510 may include a second/distal portion 516 that has a larger inner diameter than that of the inlet portion 514. It is important to note that the larger inner diameter may expand gradually like that shown in
The valve member may be an elastomeric element 520 that include a proximal portion 522 (e.g., a septum) and a valve wall 524 that extends distally from the proximal portion 522 within the inlet housing 510. The valve wall 524 forms a valve interior 526, and the valve member 520 also has a distal end 521 that preferably is open (e.g., to allow fluid flow though the valve member 520 and into the plasma container 100). To help support the valve member 520 within the inlet housing 510 and skirt 190, the valve member 520 may include a flange 527 that extends radially outward from the distal portion 521 of the valve member 520 and contacts a shelf portion 192 of the skirt 190. Like the embodiments described above, the valve member/elastomeric element 520 may be secured within the top 120 via a swage connection (or similar connection). To further support the valve member/elastomeric member 520 within the inlet housing 510 and help position the proximal portion 522 at the inlet 170, the valve member/elastomeric member 520 have a shoulder 523 that contacts an inner surface of the inlet housing 510 (e.g., the angled/gradually expending diameter of the second/distal portion 516) when the valve mechanism is in the closed mode (e.g., when the cannula 240 is not connected).
During operation (e.g., during connection of the cannula 240), the user may insert the cannula 240, which may also have a luer taper on the outlet portion 242, into the inlet 170. As the cannula 240 is inserted, the valve member 520, which normally closes/seals the inlet 170, moves/deforms distally within the inlet housing 510. As the valve member 520 continues to move/deform distally into the inlet housing 510, the aperture 210 will open (e.g., when the proximal portion 522 enters the larger inner diameter portion of the inlet housing 510) to create fluid communication between the cannula 240 and the valve interior 526 (and interior of the plasma container 110). Conversely, when the cannula 240 is withdrawn from the inlet 170 (e.g., after collection is complete), the elastomeric properties of the valve member 520 cause the valve member 520 to begin to move proximally within the inlet housing 510 and return to its at-rest position with the inlet portion 514. This, in turn, causes the aperture 210 to close.
It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the cannula 240 (e.g., the outlet portion 242 of the cannula 240) does not enter (or only partially enters) the aperture 210. Rather, as shown in
As noted above, some embodiments may have a retainer/clip 180 that secures the cannula 240 to the plasma container 100 and keeps the cannula 240 from accidentally disconnecting from the inlet 170 during use. Additionally or alternatively, as shown in
It is important to note that although luer lock threads are discussed above, other embodiments may use other connections such as a BNC connection. For example some embodiments, may utilize connections that lock with only a partial turn. Such connections may include radial protrusions (on the inlet housing 510 or the cannula 240) that mate with a ramped surface (e.g., on the inlet housing 510 or cannula).
To help with the connection and disconnection of the cannula 240, the top 120 may have cannula support structure 710 that extends from the top surface 122 of the top 120 and around the inlet 170. The cannula support structure 710 may be cup/u-shaped such that the wall 712 of the structure 710 slopes downward to create a channel 714 within support structure 710. As discussed in greater detail below, the cannula 240 may reside within the channel 714 after connection to inlet 170 and the cannula support structure 710 (e.g., the top surface 716 of the structure) may act as a camming surface to help the user disconnect the cannula 240 from the top 120.
Within the interior of the inlet 170, the top 120 may have an inwardly projecting protrusion 720 (e.g., an inlet protrusion) that extends from the inner surface of the inlet 170 (
Although
It should be noted that the cannula protrusion 810 and/or the inlet protrusion 720 may have features that reduce the force required to connect the cannula 240 and snap the inlet protrusion 720 over the cannula protrusion 810 and into the recess 820. For example, the surface 722 of the inlet protrusion 720 that contacts the cannula protrusion 810 and/or the surface 812 of the cannula protrusion 810 that contacts the inlet protrusion 720 may be angled to allow the protrusions to more easily pass over one another.
As noted above, the top surface 716 of the cannula support structure 710 may act as a camming surface that helps to disconnect the cannula 240 after fluid collection is complete. To that end, once the fluid collection is complete and the user wishes to disconnect the cannula 240, the user may grab the cannula 240 (e.g., via the body 240 and/or the grasping element 246) and turn the cannula 240 (e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise) (
During processing the user/technician may need to occlude the various tubing/tubes within the collection system (e.g. the tube within the tubing set 300 or other tubing used during collection). To that end, some embodiments may incorporate an additional clamp within the set. For example, as shown in
It is important to note that, in some applications, it may be beneficial to keep the inlet 170 sealed and/or sterile prior to use and connection of the cannula 240. To that end, some embodiments may include a sterile barrier that may be placed over the inlet 170. For example, as shown in
For embodiments like that shown in
Although the embodiments described above eliminate both the port for introducing plasma into prior art containers and the port for venting prior art containers (e.g., the ports extending from the plasma container and the sections of tubing connected to the ports, discussed above), some embodiments may eliminate only a single port (e.g., the container may retain one port). For example, some embodiments may utilize the inlet hole 170 and valve member/septum 200 but retain the vent port (e.g., a vent port extending from the plasma container and having a section of tubing connected to it). Alternatively, some embodiments may utilize the vent hole 160 and hydrophobic membrane 230 (or plug filter 410) but retain the port to introduce plasma into the bottle (e.g., an inlet port extending from the plasma container and having a section of tubing extending from it).
It should be noted that various embodiments of the present invention provide numerous advantages over prior art plasma storage containers. For example, because embodiments of the present invention eliminate one or more of the plastic stubs and ports mentioned above, some embodiments of the present invention are able to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of breaking and comprising product sterility. Furthermore, various embodiments of the present invention are able to eliminate the need for heat/RF sealing equipment and processes for sealing tubing prior to transportation and storage. Additionally, because embodiments of the present invention allow for sample collection directly via the septum 200 (e.g., as opposed to drawing plasma into a section of tubing first like in many prior art systems), the present invention is able to collect a highly representative sample of the plasma with little/no loss.
The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in any appended claims.
This patent application is a continuation in part of and claims priority from all priority dates of PCT Application number PCT/US17/32824, filed May 16, 2017, entitled “Sealer-Less Plasma Bottle and Top for Same,” assigned attorney docket number 1611/C81WO, and naming Christopher S. McDowell as inventor, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety by reference. PCT Application number PCT/US17/32824 claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/337,031, filed May 16, 2016, entitled “Sealer-Less Plasma Bottle and Top for Same,” assigned attorney docket number 1611/C68, and naming Christopher S. McDowell as inventor, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety by reference. This patent application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/674,913, filed May 22, 2018, entitled “Sealer-Less Plasma Bottle and Top for Same,” assigned attorney docket number 1611/C89, and naming Christopher S. McDowell and Matthew J. Murphy as inventors, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62337031 | May 2016 | US | |
| 62674913 | May 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2017/032824 | May 2017 | US |
| Child | 16161482 | US |
