Abstract:
A blood microcollection container and associated lancet-collection assembly is provided for making a puncture wound, engaging the wound and rapidly receiving blood from the wound. The assembly incorporates a lancet together with a scoop arrangement for engaging the blood source, and for directing in a rapid and efficient manner the blood to a collection chamber. A two-position cap is provided for sealing the scoop collector of the assembly prior to use, and for permanently locking to the collector after use to prevent exposure of the lancet and collector to the person handling the blood sample, or contamination of the blood sample from outside sources.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a blood collection assembly incorporating a microcollection container, and is related to the subject matter disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 695,121, filed Jan. 28, 1985. The invention is an improvement over the collection assembly described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,318, issued Aug. 9, 1983, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Reference should be made to that patent for background information concerning the teachings of the invention here. The earlier patent involved the use of a scoop collector for connection to a blood microcollection container for engaging a puncture wound to obtain a blood sample from an individual for subsequent examination of that sample for the determination of the presence or absence of some disease or other problem in a patient. The scoop-type blood collection device provides a substantially larger engaging surface for engaging the puncture for collecting the blood, and a substantially larger transfer surface for rapidly transferring the blood from the collector into the microcollection container. Because of the relatively large engaging surface for engaging the puncture wound, the arrangement does not require a precise positioning of the scoop engaging surface in order to initiate and rapidly transfer a quantity of blood to the microcollection container. 
     As will be appreciated by practitioners-in-the-art, recent advancements in analytical instrumentation have made it possible to carry out a variety of hematological or chemical diagnostic procedures on very small quantities of blood. Because of this, a patient&#39;s heel, finger or earlobe may be punctured and a very small quantity of blood rapidly collected into a microcollection container for such testing. Such arrangements obviate the need to withdraw venous blood from patients. However, such collection arrangements must be such that the blood is rapidly collected prior to any coagulation thereof. In the past, prior to the scoop collector disclosed in the above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,318, a cap or top arrangement was configured to fit on the top of a microcollection container with the top having an integral capillary tube for engaging the puncture and transferring blood to the container. However, with such an arrangement, the tip of the capillary tube had to be arranged precisely adjacent the puncture wound and the entire apparatus had to be so positioned that the blood flow along the bottom surface of the tubular microcollection container moved continuously in order to engage the surface of the container. Otherwise, if a precise positioning was not carried out, capillary action was not initiated or was slowed with subsequent clotting. Representative such collectors are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,857, issued May 24, 1977. 
     One problem with the scoop collector taught and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,318, although the arrangement taught therein is highly efficient for the rapid collection of a blood sample into a microcollection container, is the fact that the assembly for making the collection must be distributed with the microcollection container or tube having a separate cap. Typically, the technician must remove the cap, and place on the container the scoop collector prior to making a collection of a blood sample. Subsequent to this collection, moreover, the scoop collector must then be removed, and the cap replaced on the container for delivery to a lab for investigation of the sample. Such removal and replacement of parts on the top of the blood microcollection container is cumbersome, as one will understand, particularly if the technician is, for example, attempting to take a blood sample from a screaming, wiggly baby. Moreover, the technician or nurse or doctor may become exposed to the blood sample during this transfer procedure in removing the blood collection scoop arrangeent and replacing the cap on the blood microcollection container. 
     With the invention claimed in the above-noted co-pending application Ser. No. 695,121, by contrast, a scoop arrangement is incorporated into a blood microcollection assembly in such a way that the scoop collector does not have to be removed until such time as the technician in the laboratory wishes to obtain access to the sample in the blood microcollection container. This is achieved by the use of a cap which is a two-position cap. That is, the assembly is distributed to potential users with the cap in place over the scoop collector on the top of the blood microcollection container. 
     When the nurse or doctor wishes to take a blood sample, the cap is removed and the front end of the scoop collector is placed adacent the wound for collection of blood. Once the blood sample has been taken, the cap is again placed over the scoop collector without any removal of the scoop collector, as in the past. Then, the technician merely has to press-fit the cap down over the scoop collector. This press-fit movement has the effect of permanently locking the cap onto the scoop collector. Therefore, access to the blood sample in the container cannot be obtained unless the cap and the scoop collector arrangement are removed simultaneously. For this reason, no one can be exposed to any blood left in or around the scoop collector arrangement after the sample has been taken, and until such time as the sample is to be obtained from the microcollection tube at the lab. 
     As practitioners-in-the-art will understand, this arrangement reduces the amount of fumbling and movements necessary during the course of taking a blood sample while at the same time reducing the possibility of contamination to the nurse or anyone else present during the taking of the sample. 
     With the invention claimed in this application, any difficulty engendered in taking a blood sample is further reduced dramatically by providing in the assembly itself a built-in lancet for making the wound for collecting the blood sample. That is, the lancet is positioned in the blood collector of the assembly and covered by the cap of the assembly prior to use. This allows for sterilization of the lancet and preservation of the sterile condition prior to use. 
     When a sample of blood is to be collected with the combination assembly of the invention, the cap is removed. Then, the nurse or technician has an exposed collector and an exposed lancet simultaneously. The wound is made with the lancet and the sample collection made without the laying down or picking up of separate devices. The technician&#39;s hand is in place at the site of the wound for immediate collection. 
     Once collection of the sample is completed, the cap is again placed over the collector of the assembly, and moved or forced into its second locking position, as described in the above-noted co-pending application. By this capping procedure, not only is the blood collector removed from contaminating anyone coming into contact, but also, in accordance with this invention, the lancet itself is also capped and removed from such exposure. They are, as will be appreciated by a review of the co-pending application, permanently locked under the cap placed over the blood collection assembly. 
     Other advantages of the invention include the fact that but a single package must be made up and sterilized to achieve collection of a blood sample. Moreover, only this one package must be opened and handled to obtain collection of the sample followed by proper disposal of contaminating objects. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section of the blood microcollection assembly of the invention including a sample collection container having disposed on the top thereof a combination lancet and scoop collector with cap; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in the position after the taking of a blood sample wherein the cap has been moved to its locking position over the collector-lancet assembly fitted on top of the blood collection tube; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section of a further embodiment of blood collection-lancet assembly illustrating the invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in section of the assembly of FIG. 3 with the cap positioned in its final locking position on the scoop collector-lancet assembly of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof, FIG. 1 illustrates the invention as employed with a scoop collector similar to that taught in the above-noted United States Patent utilizing a vane or septum separating, in the blood collector on the top of the blood collector container, a blood collection passage from an air vent passage. 
     Incorporated in the collector is a fixed lancet for forming the wound for collecting the sample to be collected by the collector. 
     In FIG. 1, the device 10 includes a blood microcollection container in the form of a tube 12 having a closed end 16 and an open end 14. The tube is a conventional blood microcollection tube and may be comprised of such materials as polyethylene, polypropylene or glass. Appropriately, tube 12 will be transparent or translucent to enable the nurse to know the quantity of blood collected. For the purpose of understanding the invention here and its position in use, reference is made to FIG. 5C in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,318. That is, the top of the device shown in the Figures is the front end, and the bottom is the left side as shown in the figures because the left side will be held so that it is the bottom of the device in use. 
     Positioned on the top flange 52 of tube 12 is a blood collector 18 having a scoop arrangement 32 extending forwardly thereof. The collector assembly 18 is generally tubular in cross section with a central bore 22 passing therethrough. The scoop collector 18 is different from that taught and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,318 in that the front end edge 31 of the vane or septum 30 does not extend forwardly to form the upper edge of the scoop 32. The reason for this shorter vane 30 will be described in further detail below. 
     The collector 18 includes an annular integral skirt 50, as shown in FIG. 1, which is spaced from the lower 28 and upper 26 walls forming the central bore 22 of collector 18. This spacing allows for an annular space 61 for receiving in press-fit engagement the annular flange 52 surrounding the open end 14 of tube 12. The skirt 50 includes an integral internal abutment 63 which cooperates with flange 52 for maintaining collector 18 on the top of tube 12. Annular skirt 50 also includes an annular outer abutment 48 which cooperates with cap 20 for holding cap 20 locked on collector 18 as will be described below. 
     Positioned in end 57 of wall 26 foming a part of bore 22 is lancet 125. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, lancet 125 has one end embedded in the material of holder 18 with the opposite sharp or pointed end 126 exposed for lancing the skin to obtain a blood sample. It will be appreciated in this connection, that lancet 125 may be in several forms or configurations, including one with a straight wedge-shaped cutting edge. 
     Referring further to FIG. 1, cap 20 includes an annular lower skirt 42, with an upper tapered portion 38 integral therewith. When cap 20 is in place as shown in FIG. 1, the wall of the annular upper portion converges from skirt 42 toward the axis 13 of the assembly shown. The outer surface of the lower skirt portion 42 of cap 20 includes a plurality of spaced ribs 44, which provide for a better grip on cap 20, when it is to be removed from the assembly, as shown. The upper tapered portion 38 also includes a plurality of annular ridges 40 which also serve to provide a gripping surface to the cap assembly 20. 
     The upper tapered portion 38 of cap 20 ends in a tip 64 which connects to a central tubular internal well 60 of cap 20. Well 60, as shown in FIG. 1, serves to fit internally in bore 22 of collector 18. Well 60 includes an annular abutment 56 which cooperates with the front edge 57 of upper wall 26 of collector 18 in the position of cap 20 in FIG. 1. In this connection, the term &#34;upper&#34; as used herein is a designation for the right-hand portion of collector 18. The term &#34;upper&#34; as mentioned above is used to designate the upper side of collector 18 when the assembly is in use. That is, the air vent passage 24 will be positioned upwardly, while blood collection passage 35 will be positioned downwardly in the partially horizontal position of the collector assembly during collection of a blood sample, much in the same manner as the positioning shown in the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,318. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 1, skirt 42 of cap 20 includes an integral inner abutment 46. Abutment 46, as shown in FIG. 1, cooperates with abutment 48 on collector 1 for engaging the collector 18 and capping the assembly prior to use. That is, the abutment 48 serves as a stop for the abutment 46 with the latter being in press-fit engagement with the outer annular surface of skirt 50 of collector 18. 
     Thus, a technician or nurse, wishing to collect a blood sample in the assembly 10 of FIG. 1, receives the assembly with the parts thereof in the position shown in FIG. 1. The technician removes cap 20 from collector 18, makes a skin puncture with lancet 125 and places the front edge 62 of scoop collector 32 adjacent the puncture. Blood flows along surface 33 of bore 22 in collector 18, and passes from the rear edge 34 of that surface into and along the surface 36 of tube 12 to be collected in chamber 54 thereof. Once a proper quantity of a blood sample has been collected in chamber 54, the technician removes the front edge 62 of collector 32 from the wound and places cap 20 on collector 18 which in turn is still in place on tube 12. When the technician replaces cap 20, the cap is press-fit onto collector 18 to the degree wherein the annular abutment 46 on skirt 42 of cap 20 rides over the abutment 48 of collector 18 to the position shown in FIG. 2. 
     Thus, the abutment 46 slides down over abutment 48 and locks the cap 20 onto the collector 18. With this arrangement therefor, the collector 18, including lancet 125, is completely covered and cannot be exposed to anyone. The entire assembly is conveyed to a lab for proper handling of a blood sample contained in chamber 54. At that time, the clinician in the lab may remove cap 20 for obtaining access to the sample contained in chamber 54. When this happens, the cap 20 automatically removes the collector assembly 18, together with lancet 125, as well, so that the entire combination of cap 20-collector 18-lancet 125 may be disposed of and any contaminated sample contained in collector 20 is removed from exposure to anyone handling the sample other than the appropriate handling which takes place in a clinical laboratory. 
     It should be noted here that in the locked position shown in FIG. 2, the annular integral well 60 of cap 20 moves into the bore 22 of collector 18 to a point immediately adjacent the front end 31 of septum or vein 30 for effectively sealing off the bore 22 of collector 18. In this connection, the annular abutment 56 on the outer surface of the annular integral internal well 60 of cap 20 is press-fit against the wall of bore 22 for a positive sealing engagement therewith. It should be noted further that abutment 46 on annular skirt 42 of cap 20 includes a tapered surface 47 for ease of movement of cap 20 into its locked position as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the tapered surface 47 has the effect of camming the abutment 46 outwardly over the abutment 48 for cooperating locking engagement therewith. 
     A further embodiment of blood collection assembly is shown in FIG. 3. This collection assembly is similar to that shown and described in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the blood collector 72 does not include any centrally positioned vane or septum 30 as shown in the FIG. 1 embodiment. The collector 72 includes a central bore 80 defining a passage 82 through which a blood sample passes. Therefore, the skin is lanced with the sharp sterile front end edge 135 of lancet 136. Then blood from the wound is taken by scoop 84 of collector 72, with the front edge 86 thereof engaging the wound for receiving the blood which passes along the lower wall 76 of bore 80 and leaves the end 78 thereof where it engages the internal wall 36 of the collector tube 12. In this embodiment, the internal tubular well 88 of cap 74 is longer. Therefore, the bottom 92 of well 88 passes further into the passage 82 of collector 72, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the position of the assembly as shown in FIG. 4, the wall 92 extends substantially all the way into and fills up the passage 82 of bore 80. 
     The remaining parts in this embodiment are substantially the same as that in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment. That is, collector 72 includes an annular integral skirt 94 with an annular outer abutment 98 which cooperates with the annular inner abutment 96 of skirt 100 of cap 74. Cap 74 is in the same form as cap 20 of FIG. 1 in that it includes an annular lower skirt portion 100 with spaced ribs 102 thereon, and tapered front end wall 108 ending in the front end edge 104. Tapered wall 108 includes a plurality of spaced annular abutment ridges 106 which serve together with the ridges 102 to provide gripping surfaces on the outer surface of cap 74 making it easier to grip to remove the entire collector-cap assembly so that the clinician in the laboratory can obtain a sample. 
     The cap 74, in the same manner as cap 20, has a two-position arrangement with a final locking position as shown in FIG. 4, achieved after passage of the tapered surface 97 over abutment 98 in a camming action. The annular internal well 88 of cap 74 includes an annular abutment 90 which cooperates with the front edge 85 of the upper wall portion of collector 72 in the position shown in the initially capped position of the cap 74 shown in FIG. 3. This annular abutment wedges into the bore 80 of collector 72, as shown in the final locked position of cap 74 in FIG. 4. It should be understood, in this connection that annular abutment 90 may be positioned at other locations along the length of well 88. Either embodiment of the invention here may include an integral strap 112 on cap 74 which strap 112 is attached to a ring 110 for attaching the cap to tube 12 to prevent loss or misplacement thereof. Other ataching configurations, such as a U-shape partial ring may be used, as will be understood by practitioners-in-the-art. Also, either embodiment may include a thumb &#34;roll&#34; or flange 200 to facilitate removal of the assembly from tube 12 by the use of the thumb pushing up on flange 200. 
     Preferably, the assembly of the invention will be comprised of a clear molded thermoplastic such as polyethylene, for example. Other materials which may be used, as will be appreciated by practitioners-in-the-art, include various thermoplastics such as polypropylene and polyvinylchloride. The cap may be comprised of Alathon 20-6064, a polyethylene formulation of DuPont, for example. Preferably, the microcollection container itself is comprised of a clear thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene, which has been properly treated to provide a hydrophillic internal surface for enhancing the flow of blood introduced therein. The internal surface of the container may also utilize a surface active agent such as a silicon coating. 
     Whereas, as discussed above, a specific embodiment of microcollection container has been shown to be used in the assembly of the invention, it should be understood that it is within the purview of this invention that other forms of microcollection containers may be used configured with different cooperating locking arrangements with the associated collection assembly and cap of the invention. That is, the lancet may be oriented differently relative to the rest of the assembly. For example, it may be positioned to extend radially from the assembly. Moreover, other forms of collection assemblies may be used with the combined built-in form of lancet of the invention. In this connection, it should be noted that the collection assembly should be in a form where it serves as the &#34;handle&#34; for the lancet-collector combination. 
     The arrangement here teaches a press-fit engagement with the container top relative to the collector, it is within the purview of the invention that a cooperating screw arrangement could be utilized. Also, the lancet may be incorporated into the snap-cap rather than the collector of the assembly herein. The point is, that the collector itself cannot be removed without the cap covering it and the associated lancet to protect the user from contamination from the time the sample is collected until such time as the lab technician removes the cap for otaining the sample contained in the container. 
     While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodients of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.