Abstract:
Apparatus ( 20 ) and methods for segmenting a blood-filled tube ( 42 ) into multiple, blood-containing, sealed segment are disclosed. The apparatus ( 20 ) includes a tubing locating surface ( 22 ) for mounting the tubing and sealing means ( 24 ) cooperatively associated with the tubing locating surface ( 22 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/287,027, filed Apr. 27, 2001. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     present invention relates generally to the field of blood donation and collection, and to apparatus and methods for providing multiple blood samples of the donated blood. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for sub-dividing a blood-containing plastic tube to provide multiple, blood-containing, tubing segments.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In a typical blood donation procedure, blood is collected from a donor using a plastic, disposable blood collection kit. In its most basic form, the blood collection kit includes a venipuncture needle, one or more plastic collection containers and a length of plastic tubing connected to the needle and the container(s) to provide a flow path therebetween. After collection, the blood may be further processed or stored until it is ready to be transfused to a patient.  
         [0004]     Before it is used, however, the collected blood must be tested to establish compatibility with the patient&#39;s (recipient&#39;s) blood type (e.g. A, B, AB, O) and/or possibly for other purposes as well. Thus, samples of the donated blood must be collected for the required testing. The blood that remains in the plastic tubing after the blood donation may be used for such samples.  
         [0005]     Recently, sealing devices have been developed to allow the plastic tubing to be sealed into one or more blood-containing segments. The segmented tubing portions can then be separated from the rest of the tube by cutting or tearing at the seal line. The blood in the detached segments can then be used for the tests that may be required. Presently, it is common to prepare up to as many as 16 separate blood-containing tubing segments which can then be used for the required tests.  
         [0006]     The sealing devices currently in use operate on the principle of heat-sealing. The device typically includes a sealing head with heatable jaws for compressing the tubing. The tubing is captured within a slot between the jaws, which compress the wall of the tubing, melts and fuses it.  
         [0007]     There are many commercially available sealing devices. One such sealing device is the Hematron II available from Baxter Healthcare Corporation of Deerfield, Ill. The Hematron II is a portable, dielectric sealing device that includes a single sealing head. Multiple tubing segments can be provided by manually advancing the tube through the sealing head and sealing the tubing at the desired locations.  
         [0008]     Another manufacturer of sealing devices is Starstedt of Newton, N.C. which provides a stationary device (as contrasted to a hand-held device of the type described below). Several modules of this device, each having a single sealing head, can be placed in a series to provide multiple (up to 6) seals in the tubing.  
         [0009]     More recently, hand-held sealing devices have been introduced. Examples of such hand-held devices include the Auto-Seal, Handy-Seal and the Hematron III, all available from Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Other hand-held and/or stationary devices are available from other suppliers/manufacturers.  
         [0010]     Although the devices currently available have generally worked satisfactorily, further improvements in the field of sealing blood tubing are desirable. For example, the sealing devices described above require either manual location of the tubing in the sealing head, manual movement or advancement of the tubing between the sealing heads or the combination of multiple sealing heads (which require greater energy, resulting in increased cost of the device).  
         [0011]     Thus, it would be desirable to provide a sealing device that limits the amount of manual involvement and quickly provides the required number of tubing segments. It would also be desirable to provide a low-cost, energy efficient apparatus.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0012]     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for providing multiple tubing segments. The apparatus includes a tubing locating surface for placing a length of blood-containing tubing thereon. The apparatus also includes sealing means cooperatively associated with the tubing locating surface for concurrently providing multiple, sealed, blood-containing tubing segments.  
         [0013]     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for providing multiple, sealed, blood-containing, tubing segments. The method includes providing a length of blood-containing tubing, mounting the tubing on a tubing locating surface. The method further includes sealing the tubing to concurrently provide a plurality of sealed, blood-containing, tubing segments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the present invention including a blood tubing mounted thereon;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with a sealing means in a closed position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another apparatus embodying the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the tubing locating surface of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , prior to movement of the pins;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the tubing locating surface of the apparatus of  FIG. 4  after movement of the pins to place the tubing in a desired configuration;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a view of the tubing after sealing showing the tubing segments (e.g., S 1 -S 16 );  
         [0020]      FIG. 6A  is a view of the tubing after sealing that results in a packet of tubing segments;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the segmented tubing;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another apparatus embodying the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another apparatus embodying the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the present invention is found in a sealing apparatus  20  embodying the present invention. Apparatus  20  includes a tubing locating surface  22  and a “sealing means.” The tubing locating surface  22  can be any surface that is adapted to receive a length of tubing  42  whereon, if desired, the tubing can be configured in a particular shape. The surface may be flat and provided with means for configuring the tubing, as described in more detail below. The “sealing means” are cooperatively associated with the tubing locating surface  22  by physical attachment to the surface and/or by relative movement to the surface.  
         [0026]     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the tubing locating surface  22  is a flat platform and the “sealing means” is embodied in cover  24 . Sealing apparatus  20  may also include side walls  26  and  28 , end wall  30  and a front panel  31 . Front panel  31  may further include a key pad  32  and a display screen  34  to allow for operator control of and interface with apparatus  20 . The interior of apparatus  20  houses the necessary electrical and mechanical components required to operate apparatus  20 , which will be apparent to those of skill in the art.  
         [0027]     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a basic blood collection kit  40 . Blood collection kit  40  includes a length of tubing  42 , one end of which is attached to collection container  44 . The other end of tubing  42  is attached to a venipuncture needle (not shown). After a blood donation, the venipuncture needle is retracted and housed in a needle protector  46 . Apparatus  20  is adapted to receive a blood collection kit  40  by mounting or otherwise placing tubing  42  on tubing locating surface  22 . Of course, it will be appreciated that apparatus  20  is not limited to use with the particular blood donation kit  40  shown in the Figures, and that other configurations of blood-containing tubing (e.g., tubing from other blood processing/collection kits) may be mounted in and used with apparatus  20 .  
         [0028]     As noted above and shown in  FIG. 1 , apparatus  20  include a “sealing means.” In one embodiment, sealing means may be a cover  24  which includes a sealing element such as sealing bar  50  located in the interior cavity  52  of cover  24 . The sealing bar  50  may be a bar made of metal or other heatable material. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus includes a single sealing element, such as sealing bar  50 . A single sealing element requires less energy and, thus, reduces the overall cost of apparatus  50  (as compared to a device with multiple sealing heads). Although an apparatus with a single sealing element may be preferred, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to such apparatus and examples of apparatus with multiple sealing elements are described below.  
         [0029]     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , cover  24  is cooperatively associated with apparatus  20 . For example, cover  24  can be attached to the apparatus  20  with hinges  53  to the end wall  30  of apparatus  20 . Alternatively, cover  24  may be cooperatively associated with apparatus  20  by hinges attached to side wall  28  of apparatus  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Cover  24  may further include a handle  56  to allow the operator to grasp the cover  24  during the sealing step, described in more detail below.  
         [0030]     It will be appreciated that the sealing means need not be a hinged cover (as shown in the Figures) and that other embodiments of the sealing means are also possible and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the sealing means may be a plate or rack adapted for vertical movement relative to or placement on tubing locating surface  22 . In addition, the cover, plate or rack can either partially or fully cover tubing locating surface  22 . The plate or rack can have a sealing element facing the tubing locating surface as generally described above. The plate or rack can be manually operated by the technician or automatically operated by a microprocessor associated with apparatus  20  under the control of the technician.  
         [0031]     Apparatus  20  may further allow for configuring tubing  42  in a desired configuration. In accordance with a preferred embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the means for configuring the tubing may be a series of pins  60  located on the tubing locating surface  22  of apparatus  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , pins  60  may be located near longitudinal axis  80  of the tubing locating surface  22 . As further seen in  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, pins  60  may be staggered, with one pin located on one side of axis  80 , and the next pin located on the opposite side of axis  80 . Pins  60  reside within slots  62  which, as described in more detail below, allow for lateral movement of pins  60 . Pins  60  may be cylindrical in shape or shaped with a generally concave middle or other shape (e.g., containing a lip at the side opposite surface  22 ) in order to better retain tubing  42 .  
         [0032]     Alternatively, the means for configuring the tubing may be a pre-defined groove in the tubing locating surface into which tubing  42  is placed. The groove may be pre-defined in the desired configuration (i.e., straight line along the axis of surface  22 , wave form, zig-zag, U-shape, spiral). In still another alternative, tubing  42  can be simply configured on the tubing locating surface  22  (without pins and/or slots) and secured in the desired configuration on the tubing locating surface  42  with clips or other retainers.  
         [0033]     Turning now to the operation of the apparatus, after blood collection, the needle is removed from the donor and retracted into protector  46 . It may also be desirable to seal off a portion of the tubing  42  near protector  46  to prevent blood from being forced out the end of the needle during the sealing process. (Of course, as stated above, it will be understood that any blood-containing tubing can be used with apparatus  26 ).  
         [0034]     After removal of the needle from the donor, the portion of the blood-containing tubing  42  between needle protector  46  and container  44  is mounted on tubing locating surface  22 . The tubing may then be configured by any of the available means for configuration, if desired. In the preferred embodiment, tubing  42  is placed between pins  60 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the operator has determined that the tubing  42  is correctly positioned between pins  60 , the pins  60  may be laterally moved within slots  62 .  
         [0035]     More specifically, pins  60  located near the axis  80  of the tubing locating surface  22  are moved across the axis  80  to the end of slot  62  to a position spaced from the axis  80 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It will be appreciated that as pins  60  move within slots  62 , they move the tubing and configure it in, for example, a sine wave, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In a preferred embodiment, pins  60  may rotate as they move across slot  62 , thereby reducing friction with the tubing and, in general, making it easier to move the tubing. Movement of the pins  60  may be manual or, more preferably, automatically effected by the apparatus  20  under the control of the operator, as by mechanical linkage and/or solenoid. Apparatus  20  may also be pre-programed to accommodate different tubing thicknesses, tubing lengths and provide variably sized tubing segments.  
         [0036]     After the pins  60  have moved to their lateral positions spaced from the axis  80 , the tubing may be sealed along the axis  80  to provide the tubing segments. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover  24  (or other sealing means) which includes the sealing bar  50  may be lowered over the tubing locating surface  22  to compress and seal the tubing at spaced locations. Thus, one of the advantages of the present invention is that by being able to configure the tubing in a particular shape, only one sealing bar is required to provide multiple, sealed tubing segments.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , when cover  24  (or other sealing means) is lowered over the tubing locating surface  22 , the sealing bar  50  (located in the interior cavity  52  of cover  24 ) is in line with the axis  80  of the tubing locating surface  22 . Accordingly, the sealing bar  50  contacts the tubing at all points where the tubing intersects axis  80 . The sealing bar  50 , which, as described above, may be a heated element, associated with a source for providing energy such as, but not limited to radio frequency energy, laser energy or any other suitable form of energy. As will be appreciated by those of skill, the portion of tubing locating surface  22  where sealing bar  50  contacts the tubing should be made of a material and/or otherwise sized and shaped to allow for energy and/or current transfer from sealing bar  50 . Sealing bar  50  compresses the tubing  42  at the points of intersection and seals the walls of the tubing together to form the desired segmented tube as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In addition, sealing bar  50  and/or the portion of tubing locating surface  22  where sealing bar  50  contacts the tubing may include ridges or be otherwise textured to provide a scored or perforated seal.  
         [0038]     Shown in  FIG. 6A  is another variant of the segmented tubing resulting from the operation of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 6A , a “packet” of tubing segments can be provided. In the embodiment shown, the seals between the segments are loosely sealed to each other to provide a compact packet of segmented tubing. The packet may be provided by reducing the spacing between the pins along the axis  80 . Thus, a single sealing element  50  contacts the tubing to make the seals. The proximity of the seals to each other causes the seals to touch (during the sealing process), thereby physically joining them. The pins  60  should be spaced in such a way that detachment of adjacent seals from each other can be easily effected by the operator.  
         [0039]     The number of segments can be adjusted by the operator as desired. In the examples shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , for example, the sealing operation results in 16 segments, S 1 -S 16 , which can then be separated by either cutting or tearing at the seal line. The separated segments can then used for the necessary testing of the blood. Of course, it will be understood that the number of desired segments is not limited to 16 and may be greater or fewer, as required.  
         [0040]     For example, some of the pins  60  can be removed (or bypassed) to provide fewer and/or larger segments. In still another alternative, the pins may move independently, with the control system determining how many pins must be employed and/or moved based on operator input. Likewise, if smaller or more segments are desired, additional pins  60  may be added or employed. Where different means for configuring the tubing are used, such as the slot described above, apparatus may be provided with different replaceable tubing locating surfaces adapted to provide the desired number and size of the segments.  
         [0041]     Although the preferred embodiment described above includes a tubing locating surface  22  with moveable pins  60 , in another embodiment, the pins  60  may be stationary and pre-disposed in the desired configuration of the type shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0042]     Still another alternative is shown in  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 8 , pins  60  are not moveable, but instead are fixed substantially along the axis  80  of tubing locating surface  22 . In this embodiment, cover  24  include multiple sealing elements such as sealing bars  50  transversely spaced across the interior cavity  52  of cover  24 . Cover  24  may be hinged to side wall  28 , or otherwise cooperatively associated with apparatus  20 , as described above. When cover  24  is lowered the sealing bars  50  contact the tubing  42 , which is mounted in a straight line, at multiple locations along the length of tubing  42 .  
         [0043]     It is also contemplated that other embodiments of the present invention are possible. For example, in contrast to embodiments described above wherein a sealing means, such as cover  24  is lowered over a flat, horizontal tubing locating surface  22 , apparatus  20  may include a tubing locating surface  22  disposed between two side-by-side platens or surfaces  90  and  92  that are disposed at 90° to the tubing locating surface  22 . These side-by-side platens may include sealing elements (bars)  50  on their interiors so that when pins  60  move the tubing, they press against the interior walls of platens  90  or  92  to seal the tubing and provide the required number of tubing segments.  
         [0044]     The present invention has been described in the context of several possible embodiments which are offered for illustrative purposes only.