Blood component pooling valve and kit

A valve adapted for pooling blood components comprising a valve housing and a valve plug, with channels through the valve plug. By rotating the valve plug, selected ports in the valve housing may be brought into communication so that fluids may flow between the ports in communication. To facilitate transfusions of blood components, the valve may be used to pool multiple units of blood components and to resuspend masses of component particles, enabling them to be drawn out of the blood component bag. The risk of infection is decreased, and a more efficient use of the contents of the blood component bags is obtained. A method for producing a blood component pooling device is also disclosed. A containerized kit of the blood component pooling valve is provided which includes a rotary valve; a syringe adapted to be connected to the first port of the rotary valve; hoses, syringe fitting, hypodermic needle, and plastic bag needle to connect the other three ports to a capped vial of sterile saline solution, and a blood component pooling bag respectively; a sealed vial containing a sterile saline solution; a sterile blood component pooling bag; and a sterile sealed packet containing the kit elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to a valve used in the transmission of 
fluids and, more particularly to a rotary valve used to facilitate the 
pooling of blood components. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Transfusions of blood components, such as platelets and cryoprecipitates, 
are often required under current medical practice. For example, 
transfusions of platelets are sometimes required to stop serious bleeding 
in patients who experience a decrease in their number of platelets due to 
primary bone marrow failure and the resulting inadequate production of 
platelets. Transfusions of platelets are also sometimes required to 
control excessive bleeding in patients undergoing massive transfusions of 
blood. The excessive bleeding is related to the decrease in the number of 
platelets, which have a poor viability in stored blood, and platelet 
transfusions are sometimes necessary to control the excessive bleeding. 
Under current medical techniques, when a patient requires transfusions of 
blood components, the medical personnel must attach several blood 
component bags to the patient in order to provide the necessary amount of 
components. Each blood component bag must be individually given to the 
patient. The existing method of transfusing blood components has several 
disadvantages. 
Each time the contents of a blood component bag must be given to a patient, 
there is a risk of infection. A patient needing transfusions of blood 
components often requires several units of platelets, for example. Under 
existing medical techniques, each unit must be individually given to the 
patient, or a jury-rigged set up must be used, either way greatly 
increasing the risk of infection. 
Also, since each blood component bag must be used individually, the nursing 
staff must spend a considerable amount of time tending to the patient when 
several units of blood components are to be transfused. 
Blood components such as platelets and cryoprecipitates are very thick and 
tend to form sticky masses, which may clog the needles used in the 
transfusion unless the blood components are resuspended in a small amount 
of sterile saline solution. Under the existing transfusion methods, the 
blood component bags are individually connected to the patient: Saline 
solution cannot be easily added to the blood component bag, and the 
contents of the bag form a sticky mass that cannot be easily transfused 
into the patient. As a result, the patient often receives only 40-70% of 
the contents of a blood component bag. 
Since, under the existing medical techniques, the entire content of the 
blood component bags cannot be easily transfused, the patient does not 
receive the full benefit of the units that his physician has ordered, nor 
does he receive the entire amount that he has paid for. 
The following patents are, to the inventor's knowledge, the more generally 
pertinent references relating to the present invention. 
West German Pat. No. 807,216, issued to Ulrich, describes a reusable metal 
valve used in the transfusion of blood from one person to another. A 
rotatable stopcock channels blood between a syringe port and ports leading 
to the donor, to the recipient, and to a saline solution source. By 
rotating the stopcock rather than the syringe, disturbance to the 
recipient and the donor is decreased. 
This invention relates to a valve used in direct transfusions of blood 
between the donor and recipient. The valve is manufactured out of metal 
and is easily disassemblable into its component parts so that it may be 
thoroughly cleaned. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,335, issued to Doblar et al., describes a rotary valve 
used to measure pressures within the body and to administer medications 
and intravenous fluids, while minimizing the risk of contamination 
incurred when using multiple stopcocks. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,082, issued to Fuson et al., describes a stopcock that 
may be rotated to select fluids from any one of three inlet ports or a 
mixture of fluids from two adjacent inlet ports. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,736, issued to Chen, describes a four-way rotatable 
valve used in the irrigation of a patient's bladder following surgery. The 
valve may be rotated to bring a compressible bulb into communication with 
a urinary catheter or the source of the irrigating fluid. Also, the 
urinary catheter may be connected to a bedside urinary drainage bag 
without physically disconnecting any of the components. 
A general object of the present invention is to provide a valve for use in 
blood component transfusions to make the transfusions safer and more 
efficient. Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve 
for use in blood component transfusions to enable the pooling of multiple 
units of the components before transfusion to the patient. Pooling the 
blood components prior to the transfusion has the effect that only one 
pooled blood component bag needs to be given to the patient. The risk of 
infection is thus decreased and the transfusion requires less attention by 
the nursing staff. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a valve for use 
in blood component transfusions to enable the injection of sterile saline 
solution into the blood component bag. Particles in the blood component 
that may have formed a sticky mass may be resuspended in the saline 
solution so that they may be drawn out of the bag. 
Yet another object of this invention is to make the valve in a disposable 
form by using such material as acrylic resins for its manufacture. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a sterile kit to 
facilitate the pooling of blood components. 
Other objects, uses and advantages of the present invention will be 
apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the accompanying 
description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is a rotary valve relating generally to the transmission of 
fluids through different lines of communication, and relating specifically 
to the pooling of blood components. 
The valve includes a valve housing having a bore extending partly 
therethrough. The bore is bounded by a surface of revolution, which forms 
the housing wall. Four ports are located on the housing wall opening into 
the bore. A valve plug is rotatably mounted in the valve housing and has 
two channels that extend through the plug. By rotating the valve plug 
within the valve housing, the channels bring the first port into exclusive 
communication with each of the other ports so that fluids may flow between 
the first port and the port with which it is in communication. 
A blood component pooling device is produced by providing a blood component 
pooling valve, connecting a syringe to the first ports and connecting 
hoses to each of the other three ports. The hose connected to the second 
port is connected at its second end to a hypodermic needle, which may be 
inserted into a capped vial of sterile saline solution. The hose connected 
to the third port is connected at its second end to a plastic bag needle, 
which may be inserted into a plastic bag containing sterile blood 
components. The hose connected to the fourth port is connected at its 
second end to a blood component pooling bag. 
In this invention, blood components may be pooled by providing a blood 
component pooling device and rotating the valve plug to bring the first 
port into successive communication with each of the other three ports. The 
blood component is first drawn out of the blood component bag into the 
syringe and then injected from the syringe into the blood component 
pooling bag. Next, saline solution is drawn into the syringe from the 
capped vial of saline solution and injected from the syringe into the 
blood component bag, thereby rinsing the blood component bag and 
resuspending the blood component particles. The rinsed contents of the 
blood component bag are then drawn into the syringe and injected from the 
syringe into the blood component pooling bag. Finally, the spent blood 
component bag is replaced with a new bag, and the procedure is repeated to 
pool contents of multiple blood component bags. 
This invention facilitates the pooling of blood components such as 
platelets, cryoprecipitates, and other blood components that form sticky 
masses in the blood component bags making it difficult to draw the 
components out of the blood component bag. 
In this invention, the pooling of blood components is facilitated by 
providing a containerized kit that furnishes: a rotary valve; a syringe 
adapted to be connected to the first port of the rotary valve; hoses, 
syringe fitting, hypodermic needle, and plastic bag needle to connect the 
other three ports to a capped vial of sterile saline solution, and a blood 
component pooling bag respectively; a sealed vial containing at least 
about 20 ml of sterile saline solution; a sterile blood component pooling 
bag; and a sterile sealed packet containing the kit elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a rotary valve useful in pooling blood 
components. The valve includes a valve housing having a bore extending 
partly therethrough. The surface of revolution of the bore forms the valve 
housing side wall. Four ports are located in the side wall opening into 
the bore. A valve plug is rotatably mounted in the bore of the valve 
housing and has two channels that extend through the plug. By rotating the 
valve plug in the valve housing, the first port of the valve housing may 
be brought into exclusive communication with each of the other ports by 
means of the channels. Fluids may flow through the valve plug between only 
the first port and the port with which it is in communication. 
The valve housing is generally cylindrical, with an annular side wall. The 
valve housing will typically be open at one end, and the valve plug has a 
handle extending through the opening. The upper surface of the valve plug 
may have directional indicators to designate the ports in communication. 
The valve plug fits tightly within the valve housing so that fluids may 
flow only between the ports in communication through a channel. 
The valve plug and valve housing are typically made of acrylic resins and 
are sterilizable for use with medical application. The valve assembly will 
generally not be disassemblable and will be of sufficiently low cost to be 
disposable after just one use. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first port is a Luer-lock 
syringe fitting, and the other three ports are adapted to be connected to 
hoses. The second port is located at an angle of 72.degree. around the 
circumference of the valve housing from the first port. The third port is 
located at an angle of 144.degree. from the first port. The fourth port is 
located at an angle of 72.degree. from the first port in the direction 
opposite the second port. 
The channels in the valve plug are formed by grooves in the bottom surface 
of the valve plug. The first channel is adapted to connect the first port 
with either of the second or fourth ports. The channel is curved through 
the valve plug, the ends of the channel subtending an angle of 72.degree.. 
The second channel is adapted to connect the first port with the third 
port. The channel is a chord of the circle defined by the circumference of 
the valve plug and the ends of the channel subtend an arc of 144.degree. 
around the circumference. 
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the channels are tunnels 
extending through the body of the valve plug. 
This invention is easily manufactured and produced and has great utility in 
the field of medicine. By using this invention, blood component 
transfusions become safer and more efficient. The blood components may be 
pooled before transfusion, decreasing the amount of time necessary for 
transfusions and decreasing the risk of infection to the patient. This 
invention enables saline solution to be injected into blood component bags 
during pooling, resuspending blood component particles and ensuring that 
the patient gets the full benefit of the treatment. 
This invention provides a valve which is disposable, using a material such 
as acrylic resin in its manufacture. The valve is inexpensive, and 
sterilizing the disposable valve after use is not required. 
This invention also provides a sterile kit for pooling blood components. 
All of the apparatus required to pool blood components is provided to the 
medical personnel in a sterile kit, making the pooling of blood components 
safe and economical. 
Referring to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown 
therein and designated generally by the general reference numeral 10 is a 
valve adapted for pooling blood components. The valve 10 includes a valve 
housing 12, a valve plug 14, and a retainer cap 16. 
The valve housing 12 has a bore 18 extending partly therethrough that is 
bounded by a surface of revolution 20. The surface of revolution 20 is 
formed by the inner surface of the side wall 22 of the valve housing 12. 
The valve housing 12 has a firs port 24 opening into the bore 18 through 
the side wall 22. A second port 26, a third port 28, and a fourth port 30 
similarly open into the bore 18 through the side wall 22. 
The location of the ports relative to each other are shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 
and 6, wherein the angles between the ports may be seen. The second port 
26 is located to form an angle of 72.degree. with the first port 24. The 
third port 28 is located to form an angle of 144.degree. with the first 
port 24. The fourth port 30 is located to form angle of 72.degree. with 
the first port 24 opposite the second port 26. Other locations of ports 
may be possible and should be obvious to a person skilled in the art. 
The first port 24 may comprise a Luer-lock syringe fitting adapted to 
connect a syringe. The second, third, and fourth ports (26, 28, 30) are 
adapted to be connected to hoses. 
The valve housing 12 has a top surface 32, and the side wall 22 has an 
outer surface 34. 
The outer surface 34 has a lip 36 near the top surface 32 extending 
radially outward from the valve housing 12. The lip 36, although present 
in this preferred embodiment, is not a necessary feature of the valve 10. 
The valve housing 12 has a lower surface 37 which forms the limit of the 
extension of the bore 18 through the valve housing 12. The valve housing 
12 is generally cylindrical and the side wall 22 is annular. 
The valve plug 14 is rotatably mounted in the bore 18 of the valve housing 
12. The valve plug 14 has an outer surface 38 which corresponds with the 
surface of revolution 20 of the bore 18 so that the valve plug 14 fits 
snugly within the valve housing 12 ensuring that fluids flow only through 
a channel between two ports in communication. 
The valve plug 14 has a bottom surface 40 which corresponds with the lower 
surface 37 of the valve housing 12 so that the valve plug 14 fits snugly 
within the valve housing 12 ensuring that fluids flow only through a 
channel between two ports in communication. 
In one embodiment the bottom surface 40 of the valve plug 14 has a first 
grooved 42 channel extending through the valve plug 14. The first channel 
42 is curved, and the openings of the channel in the outer surface 38 
subtend an angle of 72.degree. to correspond with the angle between the 
first and second ports((24, 26) and the first and fourth ports (24, 30) in 
the valve housing side wall 22. 
The bottom surface 40 of the valve plug 14 has a second grooved channel 46 
through the valve plug 14. The second channel 46 is a chord of the circle 
defined by the outer surface 38 of the valve plug 14. The arc formed by 
this chord subtends an angle of 144.degree. around the circumference of 
the circle, to correspond with the angle between the first and third ports 
(24, 28) in the valve housing side wall 22. 
Other arrangements of the channels that correspond to the locations of the 
ports will be obvious to a person skilled in the art. 
In FIG. 1, a more preferred embodiment is depicted by the phantom 
extensions of the bottom surface 40 of the valve plug 14. In this 
embodiment, the grooved channels 42, 46 are tunnels through the body of 
the valve plug 14 which provide communication between the various ports. 
To accommodate the grooved channels 42, 46 of this embodiment (referred to 
as 142, 146, respectively, in FIG. 3), the bottom surface 40 (140) of the 
valve plug 14 (114) and the lower surface 37 (137) of the valve housing 12 
(112) are recessed relative to the ports 24, 26, 28 30. 
The valve plug 14 has a top surface 50 and has a handle 52 protruding from 
the top surface 50. The top surface 50 may have directional indicators 
(not shown) that indicate the ports in communication. 
The retainer cap 16 is generally annular shaped and has a side wall 54 and 
a top surface 56, which extends radially inward a limited distance toward 
the center of the annulus formed by the side wall 54. 
The retainer cap 16 has a bottom surface 58 and has a lip 60 at the bottom 
surface which extends radially inward a short distance toward the center 
of the annulus from the side wall 54. The lip 60 of the retainer cap 
engages with the lip 36 of the valve housing side wall 22 when the valve 
10 is assembled. The retainer cap 16, although present in this preferred 
embodiment, is optional when a single disposable valve 10 is used. 
The top of the retainer cap 16 has a hole 62 formed by the limited 
extension of the top surface 56 toward the center of the annulus, and has 
a diameter less than the greatest diameter of the valve plug 14, so that 
when the valve 10 is assembled, the valve plug 14 is held within the valve 
housing 12 by the retainer cap 16. 
The valve housing 12, valve plug 14, and retainer cap 16 are ideally made 
of acrylic resins, although other materials for its manufacture will be 
obvious to one skilled in the art. The valve elements are sterilizable for 
use in medical applications. The elements are sufficiently inexpensive 
that the valve 10 is disposable after just one use in order to facilitate 
its application as part of a kit and to prevent having to sterilize the 
valve before each use. 
FIG. 2 shows the valve 10 in an assembled state, with the valve plug 14 
seated within the valve housing 12 and held in place by the retainer cap 
16. The lip 60 of the retainer cap 16 is engaged with the lip 36 of the 
valve housing side wall 22. 
The bottom surface 40 of the valve plug 14 engages with the lower surface 
37 of the valve housing 12 so that fluids may flow between ports in the 
valve housing only through the grooved channels 40, 46 in the valve plug 
14. 
The first port 28 (not shown in FIG. 2) is a syringe fitting, so that it is 
adapted to be connected to a syringe. The first port may be a Luer-lock 
syringe fitting, although other syringe fittings may be used. 
The second port 26, third port 24 (not shown in FIG. 3) and fourth port 30 
are adapted to connect hoses 64. As an example, the second port 26 has an 
annular hose housing 66 extending from the valve housing 12 at the port. 
The port 26 has a diameter equal to the inside diameter of the hose 64 to 
minimize the turbulence in the fluid flowing from the hose to the port. 
The hose housing 66 has an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter 
of the hose 64, so that the hose fits snugly within the housing. The 
second port 26 is located at the bottom of the side wall 22 at the lower 
surface 37 of the valve housing 12 to correspond with the grooved channels 
42, 46 in the bottom surface 40 of the valve plug 14. 
The third port 24 and fourth port 30 are of a similar construction to the 
second port 26. 
With reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, reference numeral 110 refers 
generally to an alternative and more preferred embodiment of the valve 
adapted for pooling blood components in accordance with this invention. 
The valve 110 corresponds substantially with the valve 10, and 
corresponding parts are therefore indicated by corresponding reference 
numerals except that the prefix "1" is used before each numeral. 
FIG. 3 shows the valve 110 in an assembled state with the valve plug 114 
seated within the valve housing 112 and held in place by the retainer cap 
116. 
The grooved channels 142, 146 are formed by holes 68, 70 extending through 
the valve plug 114. The ports (e.g. 126, 130) are located in the valve 
housing side wall 122 at a distance above the valve housing lower surface 
137 to correspond with the height of the grooved channels 146, above that 
surface. 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is the more preferred embodiment because 
there is a decreased likelihood of leakage through the valve plug. In this 
invention, the valve is adapted to transmit fluids only between ports in 
communication through a channel, and possibility of leakage should be 
small. Since leakage occurs where two surface contact each other, these 
areas of contact should be kept to a minimum. The embodiment shown in FIG. 
3 is the more preferred embodiment since there is a possibility of leakage 
only in the immediate vicinity of the ports. In the embodiment shown in 
FIG. 2, there is a possibility of leakage along the entire length of the 
channels where the valve plug contacts the valve housing. 
In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the retainer cap is not 
used. The means for rotatably retaining the valve plug in valve housing 
bore is provided by a rounded annular groove in the outer surface of the 
valve plug and a corresponding rounded annular ridge on he inner surface 
of the valve housing side wall. When the valve is assembled, the groove 
and the ridge snappingly engage so that the valve plug is retained in the 
valve housing in a non-disassemblable condition. With this embodiment, 
once manufactured and assembled, the valve is not intended to be 
disassembled. 
This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings. Reference numeral 
210 refers generally to this embodiment of a valve adapted for pooling 
blood components in accordance with this invention. The figure shows the 
valve before it is finally assembled. 
The valve 210 corresponds substantially with the valve 10, and 
corresponding parts are therefore indicated by corresponding reference 
numerals except that the prefix "2" is used before each numeral. 
FIG. 8 shows the valve plug 214 and valve housing 212 before they have been 
finally assembled. 
The valve housing side wall 222 has an inner surface 292 and has a rounded 
annular ridge 294 extending radially inward from the inner surface 292, 
and located proximate to the top surface 232 of the valve housing 212. 
The valve plug 214 has a rounded annular groove 296 in the outer surface 
238 of the valve plug 214 and located to correspond with the ridge 294 on 
the valve housing side wall 212. 
When the valve is assembled, the ridge 294 of the valve housing 212 
snappingly engages with the groove 296 in the valve plug 214. Once 
assembled, the valve is not intended to be disassembled. Providing a 
ridge-groove retaining means rather than a retainer cap is more economical 
since fewer parts must be produced and assembled. The ridge-groove means 
also provides more assurance that the valve will not be disassembled. 
Referring now to FIG. 7, reference numeral 75 refers generally to a blood 
component pooling device. 
The blood component pooling device 75 is produced by first providing a 
valve 10 adapted for pooling blood components. The valve 10 has a first 
port 24 with a syringe fitting 76, and a second port 26, a third port 28, 
and a fourth port 30, adapted to connect hoses. The syringe fitting 76 may 
be a Luer-lock syringe fitting, although other fittings may be 
commercially available. 
A syringe 78 is then connected to the syringe fitting 76 at the first port 
24. The syringe 78 typically has at least a 20 ml capacity and is ideally 
a 60 ml syringe, although other sizes of syringes may be used. A 35 cc 
syringe may be obtained from Monoject Scientific (Cat. No. B2965-35), and 
a 50 cc syringe may be obtained from American Pharmaseal (Cat. No. 
39520-50). 
Hoses 64a, 64b, 64c, are then connected to the second port 26, third port 
28, and fourth port 30 respectively. The hoses 64a, 64b, 64c are ideally 
between about 20 cm and 50 cm in length and made of a polymerized vinyl 
compound. Tygon tubing hoses are well suited for this purpose and may be 
obtained from American Scientific Products, 1430 Waukegan Rd., McGaw Park, 
Ill., 60085. The hoses will typically have an outer diameter of 5/32 inch 
and an inner diameter of 3/32 inch, with a wall thickness of 1/32 inch. 
The model Tygon S50-H1 (Cat. No. T6034-3T) is ideal. 
A hypodermic needle 80 is connected to the second end of the first hose 64a 
by means of a second syringe fitting 81. The hypodermic needle is 
insertable into a capped vial of sterile saline solution 82. The 
hypodermic needle is preferably 20 gauge and may be obtained from Monoject 
Scientific, St. Louis, Mo., 63103 (H.R.I. No. 8881-216033). 
The second hose 64b is connectable at its second end to a blood component 
pooling bag 90. 
A plastic bag needle 84 is connected to the second end of the third hose 
64c. The plastic bag needle is insertable into a plastic blood component 
bag 86 containing sterile blood components 88, such as platelets or 
cryoprecipitates. The plastic bag needle may be obtained from McGaw 
Laboratories, Inc., Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, 00747 (Cat No. V1420-15). 
This invention includes a kit which facilitates the pooling of blood 
components. The kit provides, in a sterile sealed packet (not shown), a 
blood component pooling device 75 and additional items to facilitate the 
pooling of blood components. 
The kit includes a valve 10 adapted for pooling blood components. The valve 
10 provided in the kit is sterilized for use in medical applications. The 
valve 10 is not disassemblable and is made out of a sufficiently 
inexpensive material, such as acrylic resins, so that the valve is 
economically disposable. 
The kit also includes three hoses 64a, 64b, 64c adapted to connect to the 
second port 26, the third port 28, and the fourth port 30, respectively, 
of the valve 10. The hoses are between about 20 cm and 50 cm in length and 
are made of a polymerized vinyl compound. 
The first port 24 has a syringe fitting 76, which may be a Luer-lock 
syringe fitting. Also included in the kit is a syringe 78, adapted to 
connect with the syringe fitting 76. The syringe 78 has a capacity of at 
least 20 ml, and preferably has a capacity of about 60 ml. 
The kit includes a sealed vial of sterile saline solution 82 containing at 
least 20 ml and ideally 60 ml of sterile saline solution. Bacteriostatic 
saline solution for injection is manufactured by Elkins-Sinn, Inc., Cherry 
Hill, N.J., 08034. The kit also provides a hypodermic needle 80 insertable 
into the sealed vial of sterile saline solution 82, and a second syringe 
fitting 81 adapted to join an end of the first hose 64a with the 
hypodermic needle 80. 
A plastic bag needle 84 is provided by the kit to connect an end of the 
third hose 64c with a blood component bag 86 and the sterile blood 
components 88 contained therein. 
Also included in the kit is a sterile blood component pooling bag 90 
adapted to connect with an end of the second hose 64b. The blood component 
pooling bag 90 is large enough to contain the contents of two blood 
component bags and about 20 ml of saline solution. The pooling bag should 
be at least a 300 ml plastic bag (No. 4R2014) and may be a 600 ml plastic 
bag (No. 4R2023). 
Directional indicators (not shown) may be provided on the upper surface of 
the valve plug 14 of the valve 10 to indicate to medical personnel the 
ports in communication. 
All of the components of the kit are provided in a sterilized and asceptic 
condition in a sterile sealed packet (not shown). All of the components 
are disposable and inexpensive to prevent the necessity of re-sterilizing 
the equipment before another medical application. By providing an 
inexpensive, disposable, sterilized kit, medical personnel are freed from 
the burden of sterilizing the equipment before pooling blood components. 
Patients as well are assured of using a sterile kit. 
Multiple blood components units may be more quickly and efficiently 
administered to patients if they are first pooled and then transfused as 
one unit. The present invention includes a method of pooling blood 
components. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, blood components may be pooled by first 
providing a valve 10 adapted for pooling blood components. The valve 10 
includes generally a valve housing with four ports, and a valve plug with 
two channels, as heretofore described. 
A syringe 78 with a capacity of about 60 ml, is then connected to the first 
port 24, and three hoses 64a, 64b, 64c are connected respectively to each 
of the other three ports 26, 28, 30. The hoses are between about 20 cm and 
60 cm in length are ideally made out of a polymerized vinyl compound. 
The second end of the first hose 64a is connected to a syringe fitting 81, 
which is in turn connected to a hypodermic needle 80. The hypodermic 
needle 80 is inserted into a capped vial of sterile saline solution 82. 
The second end of the second hose 64b is connected to a blood component 
pooling bag. 
The second end of the third hose 64c is connected to a plastic bag needle 
84 for insertion into the blood component bag 86. 
Blood components in separate blood component bags may be pooled according 
to the following steps shown most clearly in connection with FIGS. 4, 5, 
6, and 7: 
1. Connect a blood component bag 86 containing sterile blood components 88 
to the plastic bag needle 84. 
2. Rotate the valve plug 14 of the valve 10 to the position shown in FIG. 
6. In this position, the first channel 44, which subtends an arc of 
72.degree. around the circumference of the valve plug will bring the first 
port 24 and the fourth port 30, which are at an angle of 72.degree. to 
each other, into communication. 
3. Draw the contents 88 of the blood component bag 86 through the plastic 
bag needle 84, the third hose 64c, the fourth port 30, and the valve 10 
into the syringe 78. 
4. Rotate the valve plug 14 of the valve 10 to the position shown in FIG. 
5. In this position, the second channel 48 brings the first port 24 and 
the third port 28 into communication. 
5. Inject the blood components contained in the syringe 78 through the 
valve 10, the third port 28, and the second hose 64b and into the blood 
component pooling bag 90. 
6. Rotate the valve plug 14 of the valve 10 to the position shown in FIG. 
4. In this position, the first channel 44, which subtends an arc of 
72.degree. around the circumference of the valve plug, brings the first 
port 24 and the second port 26, which are at an angle of 72.degree. to 
each other, into communication. 
7. Draw about 20 ml of saline solution from the capped vial of saline 
solution 82, through the hypodermic needle 80, the syringe fitting 81, the 
first hose 64a, the second port 26, and the valve 10 into the syringe 78. 
8. Rotate the valve plug 14 to the position shown in FIG. 6, bringing the 
first port 24 into communication with the fourth port 30 through the first 
channel 44. 
9. Inject the saline solution contained in the syringe 78 into the blood 
component bag 86. 
10. Rinse the blood component bag 86 with the saline solution to resuspend 
any massed particles of the blood components. 
11. Draw the saline solution-component particle suspension contained in the 
blood component bag 86 into the syringe 78. 
12. Rotate the valve plug 14 to the position shown in FIG. 5, bringing the 
first port 24 into the communication with the third port 28 through the 
second channel 48. 
13. Inject the saline solution-component particle suspension contained in 
the syringe 78 into the blood component pooling bag. 
If another unit of blood components is to be pooled, the spent blood 
component bag 86 is removed from the plastic bag needle 84 and the plastic 
needle 84 is inserted into another blood component bag containing fresh 
blood components. Steps 1-13 are repeated until the necessary number of 
blood component units is pooled. 
If the required units of blood components have been pooled, the blood 
component pooling bag 90 is removed from the second hose 64b and sealed 
the blood component units are pooled and are; ready to be transfused to 
the patient. The assembled blood component pooling device can be disposed. 
This method of pooling blood components may be used with any kind of 
components, but is especially useful in pooling components such as 
platelets and cryoprecipitates. The components are very thick and form 
sticky masses in the blood component pooling bag which cannot be drawn out 
by a syringe. By rinsing the blood component bag with sterile saline 
solution, the massed particles of blood components may be resuspended, 
allowing their withdrawal into a syringe 
Changes may be made in the construction, operation and arrangement of the 
various parts, elements, steps and procedures described herein without 
departing from the concept and scope of the invention as defined in the 
following claims.