Patent ID: 7294311

Claim:
A clot retainer for generally separating serum from a patient blood specimen enclosed in a container having a closure, the clot retainer comprising: an elongate shaft; a piercing tip positioned on an end of the elongate shaft to pierce the closure on the container to insert the clot retainer into the container without removal of the closure; and fingers to displace solid components of the patient blood specimen toward a base of the container while allowing the serum to flow through interstices between the fingers, each of the fingers comprising a solid extension member having a first end connected to the elongate shaft and a second free end and being moveable from a first position, in which the finger is ready for use and is in a generally radially extending position, to a second position, in which the finger is ready for insertion and is in a generally axially extending position along the elongate shaft, each of the fingers being in the second position during insertion prior to returning to the first position after insertion.