Abstract:
A method and device for handling blood sample tubes provides a group of interconnected tube receptacles releasably secured to the wrist of an operator. The receptacles are preferably arranged transversely to the wrist in parallel relationship. They are C-shaped in cross-section, and capable of peripheral resilient deformation to provide a gentle clamping action on the tubes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a method and a device related to the handling of blood sample containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Clinical procedures often require the taking of a plurality of blood samples from the same patient. Maintaining the placement of the needle inserted in the patient while completing and disconnecting the conduits leading to the tubular containers easily becomes a &#34;three-handed&#34; operation requiring a high degree of skill, experience, and patience on the part of the operator. Once the samples are taken, it becomes vital to keep the samples from each patient grouped together for further processing. Various techniques have been worked out to accomplish this, but improvement is needed to reduce the level of skill involved and make it easier to isolate the samples from each patient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a method and a device for handling the standard tubular containers for blood samples. The tubes are releasably secured to the wrist of an operator, and in a position preferably parallel to each other and transverse to the wrist of the operator. After filling each tube and inserting the tube into (or back into) the receptacles, the group of interconnected receptacles, together with the tubes, is handled as a unit for further processing. 
     The device includes a plurality of interconnected receptacles which are preferably attached to a backing plate, with each of the receptacles adapted to receive one of the tubular containers. A disengageable strap secures the group on the backing plate to the wrist of the operator preferably in a position transverse to the wrist. These receptacles are C-shaped in cross section, with a tapered slot along the side forming this configuration. The containers are of a material with a sufficient resilience to permit the receptacles to be received with a gentle clamping action. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the device. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the loaded device attached to the wrist of an operator. 
     FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the installed device. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a group of receptacles attached to a backing plate for the handling of the contained items as a unit. 
     FIG. 5 is a section through the sub-assembly of the receptacles and the backing plate, on the plane V--V of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view of the details of the Velcro patch mounted on the backing plate. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing one of the receptacles. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a tubular container installed in one of the receptacles. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-section showing the configuration of a receptacle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a group of receptacles 10, 11, and 12 are shown bonded to a backing plate 13 provided with a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro) patch 14 bonded to the underside of the backing plate. The receptacles are essentially peripherally interrupted tubes producing a C-shaped cross-section, and providing a tapered slot (in the direction of the axes of the receptacles). The widest part of the slots should be about a quarter of the cylindrical circumference. These receptacles are bonded to the backing plate by an adhesive. The cross-section of the receptacles produces a peripheral resilience such that the standard tubular containers 15 are receivable with a slight resilient clamping action. The taper of the slots facilitates the insertion of the containers 15, preferably from the end of the receptacles where the slot is widest. 
     The group of receptacles, together with a backing plate, is releasably mounted on the wrist strap 16 through a Velco type patch 17 on the strap which mates with the Velcro type patch 14 on the backing plate. The strap itself is preferably releasably secured to the wrist of the operator as shown in FIG. 2 through the interengagement of the patch 18 with another patch on the strap indicated at 19, possibly with the assistance of the buckle 20. The hook unit 14, together with the mating loop patch 17 on the strap, should have a strong interengagement. A Velcro brand hook unit HTH-23, No. 751 which has a T-shaped or double hook (as shown in FIG. 6) has been found effective for the securing of the backing plate. The insertion of the containers into the receptacles should not result in the disengagement of the backing plate from the strap. It is also preferable that the patch 14 terminate around its margins somewhat inward from the margins of the backing plate, to avoid inadvertent snagging of the Velcro patches. This is illustrated in FIG. 4, with the periphery of the backing plate being indicated in dotted lines. After the sample containers have been filled, FIG. 4 illustrates how the resulting group of receptacles 21 mounted on a backing plate 22 can be handled as a unit when separated from the wrist strap so that the contained tubes can be kept together. 
     The present invention contemplates the use of receptacle groups having different numbers receptacles. FIG. 2 shows a group having three receptacles, while FIG. 4 shows a group having four receptacles. The groups also can have two or five receptacles or any number practically desired. Backing plate size is varied to accommodate different numbers of receptacles. The unexpanded receptacles should have a slot width at the narrow end of at least about 1/8 of an inch. The receptacles are best made of a tubing formed of plastic such as polyurethane, of about 1/16 inches wall thickness, with a flat spot 23 to facilitate bonding. The size of the receptacle tubing is selected so that the inside diameter of the tubing is at least slightly smaller than the tube being stored therein. For the most common types of tubes, which are called 16 and 13 millimeter tubes but have respective outer diameters of 15.5 and 12.5 millimeters, tubing having a 7/16 inches (11.1 millimeters) inside diameter is preferred. The tubing has to stretch open somewhat to accept either size tube and resiliently grips the tube to hold it in place. 
     The procedure in the use of the method and the device is preferably as follows: 
     1. Tighten the wrist band firmly around the wrist of the hand that is holding the needle equipment. The wrist band must be tight for the system to perform properly. It should be positioned as shown in the drawing, with the loop portion of the Velcro exposed on the underside of the wrist to provide the best position of the device. The wrist band can be placed over a lab coat, or directly on the wrist, whichever is more convenient. 
     2. Attach the sub-assembly of the backing plate and the receptacles to the installed strap through the interengagement of the appropriate Velcro patches. The position of this sub-assembly can be varied to suit the particular technique used by the operator during the drawing process. The predetermined sequence of the tubes should be preserved in their insertion into the receptacles. 
     3. Proceed with drawing of the samples from the patient. As each collection tube is filled and removed from the needle, it should be returned to its appropriate receptacle, and carefully snapped into position. 
     4. The spacing of the receptacles apart from each other also is important. When the preferred receptacle tubing size is used for 16 mm and 13 mm blood collection tubes, there should be at least a 1/8 inch spacing between the receptacles so as to give the receptacle tubing from to flex open to receive the blood collection tubes. 
     5. When the drawing process has been completed, the group of receptacles (including the filled tubes) should be promptly removed by detaching the backing plate so that the sequence of tubes is preserved for further processing.