Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~2~4~
This invention relates generally to apparatus for
collecting blood and in particular to an apparatus for
simultaneously agitating collected blood to prevent
- coagulation thereof and for weighing the collected blood.
Supplies of blood are maintained by hospitals and
other medical facilities for use in blood transfusions.
.. , . :
Blood may be collected from individual donors at hospitals,
clinics and at other sites via mobile blood collection
; units. Because blood supplies are in great demand, it is
(~ 10 important to be able to maintain the quality of blood
Ji~ supplies between the time they are collected and the time
they are actually used in transfusions. Typically, the
collected blood is mixed with an anticoagulant to prevent
the blood from coagulating.
In the withdrawal of blood from a donor, particularly
.~. .,
a human donor, it is highly advisable, and is most often
required, that the quantity of blood withdrawn not exceed
a particular value. It is also advisable to make the
withdrawal process as nearly automatic and free of possible
human errors as possible and to afford an easy and
effective withdrawal process.
The most common method of blood collection includes
the use of flexible tubing connected with a needle, which
is inserted in a blood vessel of an arm of a patient and a
blood container, e.g., a plastic bag. This bag contains
in advance an anticoagulant intended to prevent coagulation
of the blood entering the bag. Several devices have been
made which measure the weight or quantity of the blood
:
,ii :
.. . . . .
: :
,: :: .
,'i,, '~ . ~ , . . . .
~ ~2~
collected and at a preselected point stop the flow of blood
from the donor to the container by closing off the flexible
tubing.
Since the permissible fluid flow rates are low, a
relatively lengthy period generally is required for
transfer of a desired fluid quantity. Thus, a system which
accurately and automatically controls the amount of fluid
transferred is extremely useful both for reasons of
exactness and for eliminating the requirement for
continuous monitoring of the transfer process by highly
trained personnel. In taking blood it is important to
check both the amount of blood taken from the donor and to
s effect continuous stirring of this blood with the anti-
coagulant in the bag receiving it, in order to effect good
mixing of these two products.
,,J' One technique for assuring that the quantity of blood
h does not exceed a particular amount, incorporates the use
',7 of a static weighing scale to limit the amount of blood by
weight flowing into a collection bag. As is well known to
those familiar with static scales of less than excellent
s quality, the friction inherent in such scales often
precludes an accurate determination of the weight of blood
within each collection bag. Moreover, aging, humidity,
!' temperature and other variables may vary the response of
the scales on a short term basis. When such a static scale
is used, the monitoring operation is generally performed by
a technician simultaneously supervising several blood
donors. Again because the technician cannot continuously
" .
:, ~; ; :~
~:, - : -
- ~ . .
2 ~
monitor each of the scales, some discrepancies arise
because the blood flow may be interrupted prior or
subsequent to collection of the predetermined weight.
Static weight monitoring apparatus have been employed
which provide a visual indication, such as a scale, to an
operator upon fill of a blood collection bag commensurate
with a norm. Thereafter, further flow is terminated by the
s operator. Other apparatus which actuate mechanical,
electrical or electro mechanical elements on achievement of
an approximated weight, have also been developed.
In blood collection devices which employ a balancing
arm to accomplish shut off of the flexible tubing upon
rotation of the balancing arm from a level position,
, several operational problems have been encountered. The
primary problem was that the unaided rotation of the
balance bar, occasioned only by the moment of the blood
container at one end of the bar surpassing the moment of a
~ counter weight at the other end of the bar, was relatively
; slow. This slow rotation was, of course, a result of a
slow rate of flow of blood through the flexible tubing into
the container. The slow rotation in turn caused the
constriction of the flexible tubing to be accomplished
slowly resulting in inaccuracies of measurement.
Another problem with balance bar type measurement
devices was that they must be carefully levelled with
s respect to the ground in order for the balancing mechanism
to be performed accurately. Accordingly, some of the
balance bar type measuring devices now available are
,, ~ : ,
,.. - :
~-,: ,. ~ : : ,
" ~ : ~ . . : ' -, .,
:.,. ~ . -. : . , .
:,, : - - . , :
.~ ~
2~
provided with their own stand which will insure a level
plane for the balance bar so long as the stand itself is
placed on a level surface. Inaccuracies may still result,
however, if the chosen surface is not level, and in some
~ 5 cases, it may be difficult to find a convenient level
;~ surface on which to place the stand.
~ On the other hand, an apparatus which relied upon the
~ I'
weight of the blood collection bag to generate an indica-
tion of the state of fill or for terminating further flow
10 of blood, inherently negatively affected the weighing
accuracy. Prior art apparatus which terminates the flow of
blood into a filled blood collection bag in response to a
~ signal generated by or as a result of the state of fill of
- the blood collection bag required a source of electrical or
15 mechanical power to actuate blood flow terminating equip-
~ ment. This requirement limited the utility of the
;ii apparatus to locations where such electrical or mechanical
.,
power must be transported along with the apparatus to
remote locations. Should the electrical or mechanical
20 power not be available ln situ or through portable
motor/generator sets, the operation of the blood collection
centre must be monitored solely by operators, which
resulted in non-uniformity in the fill of the blood
collection bags.
One problem associated with electrically powered
agitators is that a suitable source of electrical power may
not be available, e.g., when blood is collected via mobile
collection units. Electrically operated agitators are also ~-
~', ' .
''` : " :'
:. '
:; : : : : '
~ ' Q 2 ~
relatively large and expensive because of the electrical
components required. The need therefore exists in the art
for a blood agitator device which can be operated without
electrical power.
To achieve uniformity of fill of blood collection bags
and remove a dependency upon an in situ or transportable
..
source of substantial power, a device was provided which
employed a blood collection bag weight responsive trigger
to generate a very low energy electrical signal from a
self-contained source of electrical power to release stored
' energy and perform the work required. Thereby, the device
, was fully self-contained and monitored and terminated the
filling process of blood collection bags.
Other devices contain a volumetric sensor which senses
increasing volume of the bag as the blood is taken, and the
entire arrangement is placed on an agitator. Devices of
`~ this kind leas to bulky, expensive arrangements, the
' precision of which moreover usually leaves much to be
desired.
Another problem to be solved involves mixing of the
~; preservative with the inflowing blood. Mixing may occur
during handling and/or transportation of the collection
bags. The speculative nature of the mixing process
sometimes results in decomposition of the blood to the
.~; :
extent that it is no longer fit for use. The detection of
~- this condition is not always assured and may result in
deterioration of the blood quality and the ultimate
,'. "
~ - .
. .
,~:: ::: , - : :, . : : , :
,,;; ,: ~: .. . .. .
2 ~
recipient of the blood or blood components may not obtain
full benefit from a transfusion.
U.S. Patent No. 2,784,932 described a system including
a stationary member which pivotally supported a two-arm
scale lever having one arm adapted to support the blood
collection vessel and an opposite arm supporting a weight
selected to counterbalance the combined weight of the
collection vessel and desired quantity of blood. After
transfer of the predetermined weight of blood into the
collection vessel, the position of the lever automatically
shifted to pinch closed the flexible tubing joining the
, collection vessel and blood donor, thereby terminating the
collection process.
A prior art device for terminating blood flow into a
blood collection bag was described in U.S. Patent No.
3,960,224. A pivotally-mounted lever was urged into
pivotal movement by a spring to squeeze the tubing through
which the blood flowed. The lever was maintained in a
cocked state by an armature of a solenoid through
penetrable insertion within a bore in a fixed element and
an aperture in the lever. On energization of the solenoid,
the armature was retracted from within the aperture in the
lever to allow the spring to urge pivotal movement of the
lever to squeeze the tubing.
Another purported solution to the above-identified
problems was U.S. Patent No. 3,557,789 patented January 26,
1971 by E. J. Poitras. That patent described a device
; which automatically both agitated an anticoagulant medium -~
' .':
. ::. -
,,~.. " . . ... . . : . -: .- ~ . : . - : ~: - : : . : -
` .~
~^
~` 7 ~ ~2~A.f
~- with inflowing blood during a blood collection process and
3 terminated the process after a predetermined quantity of
blood had been collected. The device included a weight
:~
longitudinally-slidable on a lever-type scale arm to permit
accurate selection of the blood quantity collected. A
movable support was adapted to hold a blood collecting
,~
closed container connected to a blood donor by a flexible
;~ tubing, the support including a scale for indicating the
weight of blood collected in the closed container. An
~ 10 electrically-energizable drive was coupled to the movable
i; support. It was adapted upon energization to produce
'~f, movement thereof and agitation of the blood content of the
closed container. A closure was adapted automatically to
interrupt blood flow by closing the flexible tubing in
response to an indication by the scale that a predetermined
- weight of blood has been collected in the ciosed container.
~ The scale included a two-arm lever pivotally mounted on a
.:, .
`~' stationary support. A movable support was attached to one
~ arm of the lever and was movable with respect thereto. A
^J 20 counterbalance was attached to the other lever arm. The
;' closure comprised pinch means adapted to pinch closed the
flexible tubing in response to a predetermined relative
movement between the stationary support and the lever.
Another device was provided in U.S. Patent No.
! 25 3,698,494 patented October 17, 1972 by J. J. Sander. That
patent provided a balance for weighing and agitating a
blood bag into which blood was fed from a donor. A pivoted
beam was provided with an adjustable counterweight on one ~
, ~ -
''' '. : ' ~ ~ :: ' ': ' :
~: . ' ' ' ' ' . . - , '
,",'. :. :' . ' : ", ' ::
' j. .~. ' : ' :' - ' ' ', , ' ' .: ~' '
.
~ ~`
~:`
~9 side of the pivot axis and with a pan on the other side.
: ..
The pan was mounted on a rocking arm which was pivotally
' supported on the beam and rocked about an axis extending
,;
~i along the beam by a motor mounted on the beam. A support
was provided for a blood bag. A micromotor was carried by
the beam for rocking the support. on the side of the
pivoting opposite the support, the beam included two rods
~ rigidly interconnected to each other, and a manually
;~1 adjustable counterweight which was slidable lengthwise
~ 10 along each of the rods.
''3 Yet another device was provided by U.S. Patent No.
3,924,700 patented December 9, 1973 by H. M. Lindsey et al.
, That patent provided a blood withdrawing device for use in
measuring blood withdrawn from a donor including a frame on
which is mounted a weight responsive device. A balance
beam was fulcrumed on the frame and carried a suspended
tray for supporting a blood container having a supply tube
under control of a pinch valve on the frame. The balance
beam was continually balanced by a movable weight on the
balance arm, the weight being advanced and retracted by an
electric motor under control of a counter so that when a
, predetermined weight of blood was in the container, the
pinch valve was automatically actuated to stop the blood
flow. The means to operate the blood controlling device
included a weight mounted for movement along the balance
~' beam. A motor was provided for moving the weight along the
balance beam. Means were provided to give a number of
, counts in accordance with the movement. Means were
. ~j .
~, 9
-~ provided for accumulating the counts. Means were effective
J at a predetermined number of counts for disabling the
motor. During filling of the container the tray was
mechanically agitated so as to intermix the incoming blood
, .1
with an anticoagulant in the container. The agitation or
~ shaking was periodically interrupted as the blood flowed in
?.i~
and was terminated shortly before the final weighing. Then
it was reinitiated upon completion of the total draw.
Still another such device was provided by U.S. Patent
No. 4,027,735 patented June 7, 1977 by J. E. Floyd. That
patent provided a weight monitoring apparatus which
'l supported and agitated a fluid collection bag to mix a
~ received flow of fluid with a fluid contained within the
~ . .
bag while simultaneously monitoring the increasing weight
~ i ,
of the bag. The patented dynamic weight monitoring
~;' apparatus included a base for supporting the apparatus upon
'~ a surface and a foundation extending upwardly from the
~, base. In addition, the apparatus included a rocker for
receiving and retaining the collection bag in fixed
;~ 20 relationship thereto. A weight-responsive means was
provided having one end secured to the foundation and
another end extending from the foundation for supporting
the rocker, the other end of the weight-responsive means
being deflectable in the vertical plane in response to any
'.1 . :: '
~ 25 change in weight of the contents of the collection bag. A
'~ pivot was disposed intermediate the other end of the ~
'.i ~ '
weight-responsive means and the rocker for accommodating -~
reciprocating angular movement of the rocker with respect ~;
, ' ,
~`
.: 1 0
to the foundation. A motor driven linkage was disposed
intermediate the foundation and the rocker for imparting a
' reciprocating vertical movement to one end of the rocker
-j and for producing a rocking motion of the rocker about the
pivot means. Position sensing means extended from the
' foundation for detecting a predetermined downward deflec-
.~ :
tion of the other end of the weight-responsive means. Such
deflection was commensurate with the weight of a predeter-
mined quantity of fluid that has flowed into the collection
bag. An indicator was responsive to the sensing means for
indicating that the predetermined quantity of blood has
~ flowed into the collection bag. When a predetermined
-~ weight of the bag and its contents was achieved, the inflow
~; of fluid was automatically interrupted.
. 15 Another device was provided in U.S. Patent No.
;s 4,095,658 patented June 20, 1978 by R. Kendall et al. This
~r patent provided a fluid collection, dispensing and measure-
ment device for use in connection with a blood container,
and flexible tubing leading thereto. A hollow balance bar,
with mobile spherical weights disposed therein was
provided. Rapid, forceful cut off of the blood flow
through the flexible tubing was achieved when the moment
created by the filling blood container, accentuated by the
.~ :
motion of the spherical weights, overcame the moment
produced by a preset adjustable counter weight. An
adjustable clamping apparatus allowed the fluid collection -
device to be affixed to a stationary object and subse~
quently adjusted to a level plane to insure accuracy of
.
~ -
::.: :
i ~.- :- - . :
measurement. An adjustable counter weight was operatively
~^i; engaged with the first end of the balance bar. Opposing
flexible tube constricting means were provided on the
~; balance bar mounting member and the first rotatably
3i 5 adjustable clamping means. Means were provided for
-I attaching a hanging fluid container affixed to the second
-~ end of the balance bar.
Still another device was provided in U.S. Patent No.
4,378,854 patented April 5, 1983 by E. W. Rosen. That
patent provided a blood collection bag which was suspended
from a leaf spring, which leaf spring, on being
repositioned a specified distance by the weight of a
properly filled blood collection bag, energized an
electrical circuit. The electrical circuit generated a
.~ 15 pulse momentarily to energize a coil in proximity to a
"
permanent magnet and momentarily disrupt the magnetic field
of the magnet. A clamp for terminating the flow of blood
to the blood collection bag is actuated upon the disruption
of the magnetic field. The patented blood collection bag i~
~, 20 weighing device included a member for embodying stored
~;i energy when positioned in a retained state and for clamping
... .
:~?, the tube when positioned in a clamped state. The member
included a planar surface and means for exerting a first
. magnitude of force against retention in the retained state
and a second magnitude of force for clamping the tube in
the clamped state. A permanent barium ferrite magnet was
provided for overcoming the first magnitude of force
magnetically to capture and retain the member in the
:
. ~ . ~, .
'~
-: :-:
',' ~ , ~ ,:
,
.,
12
- retained state. The magnet included a straight edge and
~', movable mounting means for accommodating realignment of the
magnet to position the straight edge of the magnet in
.;
aligned contacting relationship with the planar surface of
the member and to maximize the magnetic coupling there-
~ ,
between. Means were provided for momentarily disrupting
,3. the magnetic field of the magnet to a value insufficient to
j overcome the first magnitude of force and independent of
-~ the magnitude of the second magnitude of force and to
permit repositioning of the member from the retained state
to the clamped state in response to the exerting means.
Means were provided for sensing achievement of the
' predetermined weight by the blood collection bag during the
i~l filling of the blood collection bag. Means were provided
for generating an electrical signal in response to the
~ sensing means to energize the disrupting means.
-` Still another such device was provided in U.S. Patent
'~ No. 4,390,073 patented June 28, 1983 by E. W. Rosen. That
;-1 patent provided a blood collection bag which was suspended
~ 20 from a leaf spring. The patented blood collection bag
~i weighing device included means for clamping the tubing, the
~;;, clamping means including a member for embodying a stored
~;' potential energy when positioned in a retained state and
~, for clamping the tube when positioned in a clamping state.
The member included a planar surface and means for exerting
a first magnitude of force against retention in the
;~, retained state and a second magnitude of force for clamping
the tubing in the clamped state. The second magnitude of
~ ~ A J
~, ,~,''' ' ' '' ,
~,. ' ~ ' '
: ' ~ , . . .
'~' '~'~ ' , , ' ' '
2 ~
13
force was substantially greater than the first magnitude of
force. A permanent magnet was provided for overcoming the
first magnitude of force magnetically to capture and retain
the member in the retained state. The magnet included a
straight edge and movable mounting means for accommodating
`~ realignment of the magnet to position the straight edge of
the magnet in aligned cooperating relationship with the
planar surface of the member and to maximize the magnetic
coupling therebetween. Means were provided for momentarily
disrupting the magnetic field of the magnet to a value
'. 7
'' which is insufficient to overcome the first magnitude of
;~
force and independent of the magnitude of the second
magnitude of force and permitting repositioning of the
member from the retained state to the clamping state in
response to the energizing means. Means were provided for
sensing achievement of the predetermined weight by the
blood collection bag during the filling of the blood
-
collection bag. Means were provided for generating an
electrical signal in response to the sensing means to
nl 20 energize the disrupting means. By this structure the
,:~
energy level of the magnet and of the generated electrical
signal may be unrelated to the level of energy of the
second magnitude of force to clamp the tubing.
Still another such device was provided by U.S. Patent
, ~
No. 5,010,968 patented April 30, 1991 by T. E. Barrow.
' That patent provided a blood agitating and weighing device.! J,
The patented apparatus included a base member. Means were
, coupled to the base member for applying tension to the
. . .
. ~
~,f '~ " ~ '"
.. .
~" ' ,' :'
' ~ ' '
''' ~ ' ,~ , ~ ' ,
~2~
14
blood collecting tube so that at least a portion of the
tube was maintained relatively straight. Means were
coupled to the base member for exerting a compressive force
~-~ on the relatively straight portion of the tube to close off
~ 5 the tube and terminate the flow of blood to the tube.
C,`
Means were coupled to the base member for detecting a
, predetermined weight of blood collected in the container.
; A latch was provided for holding the compressive force
exerting means out of contact with the relatively straight
portion of the tube until a predetermined weight of blood
has been collected in the container. Means were provided
for releasing the latch when a predetermined weight of
` blood had been collected to allow the compressive force
~, exerting means to engage the relatively straight portion of
^ 15 the tube to close off the tube and terminate the blood
flow. The tension applying means included a retaining
:- : -
~ member having a pair of aligned slots for receiving the
',~'Jll flexible tube therethrough. The compressive force exerting
~ means included a piston member which was biased toward a
`~ 20 first position for closing off the flexible tube. The
piston member had a notch therein, the latch including a
bar member pivotally mounted on the base member. The bar
` member had a first end portion which mated with the notch
to maintain the piston member in a second position opposite
from the first position, such that the piston member was
held out of contact with the flexible tube. The first end
i ~
. ~ .
portion of the bar member was disengaged from the notch to
' release the piston member when a force was exerted on a
,.
., . ~ .
' ~ ~ ' ' , : , - -
2 ~ ~ ~
` 15
`-~ second end portion of the bar member, opposite from the
'
first end portion thereof, to tilt the first end portion
away from the piston member.
.,., ~ .
~- Although the device described in the above-noted
patents substantially simplified blood collection
,-i techniques, a need still exists for improved equipment of
this type.
Another deficiency in the prior art patents is that
,
the mixing of the blood with the anticoagulant is not
efficiently done. For example, in U.S. Patent No.
1, !
3,557,789 during the collection process, the electrically
energized motor produces rotation of the eccentric shaft.
~
The resultant forces exerted between the shaft and the
mechanically coupled arched portion produce a rocking
movement of the cradle pan between two positions.
.~ ~; -,
In U.S. Patent No. 3,698,494, the side plate of the
frame carries a micromotor on the output shaft of which
there a connecting rod is keyed. At its free end this
connecting rod is articulated to a crank which in turn is
articulated on a rocking arm. This rocking arm is mounted
~, pivotally by a pin on the side plates of the frame and it
,"~
~;~ carries a pan. When the micromotor is started up the
`~ output shaft applies a relatively slow alternating rocking
. -,!
movement to the pan and thus to the bag carried by the pan.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,924,700, the suspended tray is
agitated by swinging or oscillation generally about the
` axis of the pins as a centre. An electric drive motor
~' having a crank pin rotated thereby is mounted on the frame.
~, ~
:,
.... ~, ~ ~ : . . .
, .
: .- - . :
. ~ - .
~, ,
, --~, : .
:: . .
. . - , . ,
16
! .
The motor is connected through a pitman to a pivot pin
- positioned in parallel linkage relationship to the pivot
pins. When the motor is energized, the tray is rocked
side-to-side about the axis of the pins.
In U.S. Patent No. 5,010,968, a flexible, inflatable ~ -
:
bladder is disposed between inner surface and the mounting
plate and also between the horizontal tilt axis and the
second end. When the support member is in a first tilted
position, the bladder is in a substantially collapsed
,~ 10 position. When pneumatic pressure is introduced into the
~` bladder sufficient to overcome the bias of spring, the
bladder will be expanded to tilt support member to a second
tilted position, opposite from the first tilted position.
In a second tilted position, second end is elevated above
-~ 15 first end, as the donor alternately squeezes and releases
jb:.,i bulb, support member will be tilted gently back and forth
~ "~ ~ .
to agitate the blood collected in bag and mix the collected
blood with the anti-coagular.t inside bag. -
An object of this invention is to provide a blood
.:,
collection control device which both terminates a blood
collection process after transfer of a desired quantity of
blood and agitates the blood container during the transfer ~-
process to ensure thorough mixing of a previously
introduced anticoagulant medium with the incoming blood.
,.
Another object of the invention is to provide a blood
withdrawal device that can easily be utilized in the
process of blood withdrawal and can accurately and
.~. :
''
., '
.
.... . . . .
,., !; , . , ~ ,
~29~
~ 17
`~ efficiently be worked by personnel who may not be highly
:~;l skilled.
Another object of the invention is to provide a blood
'! withdrawal that measures the withdrawn blood accurately by
weight. ~-
Another object of the invention is to provide a blood
withdrawal device in which the withdrawn blood is
maintained in an optimum condition during withdrawal.
Yet another object of the present invention is to
provide apparatus for dynamically weighing blood flowing
~, into a container.
. ~, .
,.,. ~
Another object of the present invention is to provide
apparatus for collecting a predetermined weight of blood
with a dynamic weighing scale while simultaneously
agitating the fluid.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide apparatus for automatically terminating the flow of
blood into a container as the container achieves a
predetermined weight.
~ 20 Yet another object of the present invention is to
--~ provide a means for accurately limiting the total weight of
~' a blood flowing into a container while the container is
agitated.
. . ~ .
A, A further object of the present invention is to
~ 25 provide a means for filling a series of blood collection
~ , .
bags with an essentially equal weight of blood.
A yet further object of the present invention is to
provide an easily portable weight monitoring and agitating
. -~
'';' :
~.,,. ~
,........................................................................... ..
~ ` `~,1' ' ` '
~, ~'
:`'
~1~2
.. .. .
:~. 18
-~. apparatus for filling blood collection bags with a
~ predetermined weight of blood.
; Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a low cost, self-contained device for continuously
] 5 weighing a blood collection bag during filling thereof and
:q for terminating the filling on achievement of a predeter-
mined weight of the bag.
The present invention provides a blood withdrawing
device comprising: a frame; a platform mounted on the
frame, the platform being operatively connected to a strain
gauge load measuring device, the platform supporting a
motor including a shaft and a cam operator to which a tray
is secured, the tray being adapted to support a container
~s having a supply tube, the tray being provided with means on
the underside thereof for cooperation with the cam operator
cause the tray to rock in three planes; switch means for
automatically setting the load measuring device to nil upon
sensing the inflow of blood to the container; means on the
~-, frame for controlling the flow of blood through the tube
~i. 20 and means actuated by the load measuring upon device
i~ reaching a predetermined weight automatically to stop the
-~ flow of blood through the supply tube.
~: The present invention also provides a dynamic weight
monitoring apparatus for collecting a predetermined weight
of blood flowing into a collection bag while the collection
. bag is rocked to mix the collected blood and including a
;: base for supporting the apparatus upon a surface and a
;. foundation, the apparatus comprising in combination: a
~ ~.
. . .
., ~ j f, ' . - .
~' ''" ' ' ' .
;l
~2~
:..
:` 19
..
, rocker for receiving and retaining the collection bag in
.. I .
!~3; fixed relationship thereto; a motor operatively connected
to the rocker; a platform for supporting the motor and the
rocker and including weight-responsive strain gauge means
~ ' !
`~ 5 operatively associated with the platform, and being
~l automatically settable to nil upon sensing the flow of
; :
-'~ blood into the bag; linkage means driven by the motor for
r~ imparting a movement in three planes for producing such
rocking motion of the rocker; signal means operative upon
10 sensing that a predetermined quantity of blood has flowed
~; into the collection bag; and means automatically to stop
the flow of the blood upon sensing that the predetermined
of blood has flowed into the collection bag.
The-arrangement of the present invention leads to an
15 economical construction with small dimensions which is easy
~;
-' to use. The device effects systematic mixing in an
` advantageous manner of the blood taken with the anti-
~; coagulant contained in the bag receiving the blood,
~, accurate weighing of the latter, automatic interruption of
the supply of blood when a determined amount of blood has
been taken, also providing signal that the flow of blood
has been stopped.
The present invention provides rotation of the tray in
;; three planes, rather than a single axis of rotation as is
common in the prior art.
,.,; ~
In the accompanying drawing,
. ~ .
.~
..-- ,
. .,
,., ~ -
....
'''",',~- ~ ,
~.
.~ ;.
4 1
- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the blood
~ collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of the
,j present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the blood
collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of the
present invention;
~ .,~ , .
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the blood collecting and
shaking apparatus of one aspect of the present invention;
. ~ .
, Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lid forming part of
the blood collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of
the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the lid forming
part of the blood collecting and shaking apparatus of one
aspect of the present invention;
`~l 15 Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal cross-section through
--~ the blood collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of
/ ,~
~;~ the present invention;
~ Fig. 7 is a central transverse cross-section through
`~ the blood collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of
the present invention;
^ Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-section through the tower
. !, section of the blood collecting and shaking apparatus of
one aspect of the present invention;
~ Fig. 9 is a transverse cross-section through the lid
'`.,4j 25 forming part of the blood collecting and shaking apparatus
~ of one aspect of the present invention;
, . ~.~ .
,~ :
:, ~
,~ , = . -, ,
2 ~ ~ 1
, ~
-~ 21
Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the mechanical
operating assembly of the blood collecting and shaking
apparatus of one aspect of the present invention;
,.
,'~ Fig. 11 is a front view of the mechanical operating
5assembly.
Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the mechanical operating
assembly.
Fig. 13 is a schematic drawing of the electronics of
the blood collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of
-~ 10the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a schematic drawing of the electronics of
the stripper motor control of the blood collecting and
-~ shaking apparatus of one aspect of the present invention;
~, and
~'S 15Fig. 15 is a schematic drawing of the electronics of
- the instrument amplifier of the blood collecting and
shaking apparatus of one aspect of the present invention;
The overall appearance of the blood collecting and
shaking apparatus of one aspect of the present invention is
~ 20self evident from the views shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
,;~ The appearance of the lid forming part of the blood
collecting and shaking apparatus of one aspect of the
.~ .
: present invention is self evident from the views shown in
Figure 4 and Figure 5.
25Referring now to Figures 6 - 12, the invented blood
collecting and shaking apparatus 10 has a vertically-
-~ upright pedestal 11 and a shallow, forwardly-projecting
base 12. The base 12 is hollow and includes a lower
,":.
,
; :~ -
'`'~'
"
, . . . .
r .. ~:' .
- 22
. s .
platform 13 mounted in associated with a strain gauge load
(weight) measuring device 14 (see Fig. 10). Disposed on
the lower platform 13 is a battery 15, an electric motor 16
, ;, ,
and a power supply board 17. The motor 16 includes a shaft
!j 5 12 to which a cam 18 is secured at its free end 19. The -
'A
cam 18 is operatively associated with a cam follower 20
secured to the base 21 of a rocker tray 22. If battery 15
is not used, an electrical power cord 23 extends into the
base 12 to provide electrical power via on/off switch 24 to
the electrical motor means 25 and electrical components.
' A visual indicator, e.g., light 26, or an audible
indicator, e.g., a bell 27, is provided to signal that the
~-1
apparatus 10 has terminated the fluid flow.
`i The rocker tray 22 is provided with a depression 28,
;~ 15 configured to conform with, and to receive, a blood
collection bag 29 therewithin. Standard blood collection
-` bags are presently manufactured with a loop disposed at one
, end thereof and a pair of tabs disposed at the opposite
end. Registration apertures are formed within the
.j ,.~ ,
~ 20 respective tabs during the manufacturing process of the
. ., ~
collection bag and all dimensions of the collection bag are
~, keyed thereto. One or more conduits extend into the cavity
of the collection bag intermediate tabs, thereby to provide
a channel for the flow of fluid into and out of the blood
collection bag 29. The tray is provided with an upright
~!3i projecting pin 30 within which the registration aperture 31
in the blood collection bag 29 is fitted, to prevent
,
~:
'
~ .
~ ., ~ . -
,i
:; ~
23shifting of the blood collection bag 29 due to the rocking
motion of rocker tray 22.
,,",j
A conduit 32 for conveying blood is mounted within a
slot 33 disposed in pedestal 11. A solenoid-actuated
-~ 5 mechanism 34 is disposed in proximity to the slot 33 to -~
.'~3 pinch the conduit 32 and thus to prevent further blood flow
. . ~
- therethrough when blood collection bag 29 has become filled
- to a predetermined weight, as determined by the strain
~- gauge measuring device 14, e.g., load cell.
I 10 The electric motor 16 mounted upon the lower platform
13 receives electrical power directly via on/off switch 24
or from a module wherein the applied electrical power has
been transformed to a different voltage level, current or
otherwise regulated. The cam 18 which is secured to the
'~ 15 shaft 17 rotates in response to energization of electric
motor. The cam 18 has a shape such that, in cooperation
with the shape of the cam follower 20 mounted on the
underface of the rocker tray 22, rotation of the output
shaft 17 causes reciprocating pivotal movement of the
.-
`~ 20 rocker tray 22 in three planes. As the blood collection
: . .
~-', bag 29 fills, the weight acting upon the strain gauge load -
cell 14 increases. When the increasing weight reaches the
r.';, pre-set maximum weight, as detected by the strain gauge
load cell 14, the solenoid switch is activated.
~'`! 25 The mechanism 34 for terminating the flow of fluid
~,
through conduit whenever the blood collection bag 29 has
'~ been filled with a predetermined amount of blood includes
` a solenoid 35 is mounted within pedestal 11. The plunger
~`
, .
:,
`t ~ i
.,
~:? ' '.'~
~1 :~' . - :
i: ,~ ~'.. . . .
;"'. ,~' ',
: . , .
2 ~ ~ ~
~, ~
24
36 of the solenoid 35 is attached to a piston 37 which is
translatable within a cylindrical cavity 38. A conduit-
receiving passageway 39 is disposed within the slot.
-~ When a blood collection bag 29 is to be filled,
conduit 40 is positioned within the passageway 39 of the
.~,- .
, slot 33. On energization of the solenoid 35, the plunger
F 36 is extended. Extension of the plunger 36 produces a
commensurate movement of the piston 37. The piston 32
squeezes the conduit 40 against the wall of passageway 39
and prevents further fluid flow therethrough. Hence,
. :-
~ further filling of the collection bag 29 is inhibited.
: .
To collect blood by using the present invention, the
' following steps may be employed.
A collection bag 29 to be filled is placed within the
.. ~.......................................................................... . .
depression 28 in the rocker tray 22 and correctly
~ positioned therein by means of the pin 30 and registration
-'~ aperture 31. The conduit 32 is inserted within the
passageway 39 of the slot 33 and ultimately is connected to
the source of the blood. The switch 24 is placed in the
"on" position to "nil" the strain gauge load cell 14, to
energize the motor and to produce a three-plane rocking
motion of the rocker tray 22. The rocking motion will
cause a mixing of the blood being collected with a
preservative or anti-coagulant which has already been
disposed within each collection bag 29 to prevent
decomposition of the blood until it can be properly stored
or processed.
. ,~
,," ,~,,
, . .
2 ~ ~ 1
.,
i`
- 25
.
~ The inflowing blood necessarily increases the weight
. , ,
of the collection bag sensed by the strain gauge load cell
14. When a predetermined amount of blood has been
collected, such weight is sufficient to cause the ener-
gization of the solenoid 35 to cause the plunger 36 to
extend. Extension of plunger 36 squeezes the conduit 30
against the wall of passageway 39 and to prevent further
blood flow therethrough. To assist an operator in
determining when the collection bag has been filled, a
light 36 or a bell 37 may be energized.
A simplified schematic of the electrical components is
illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15. The components of
the entire schematic electronics in Figure 13 are self
, .
evident and the operation is clear to the person skilled in
~ 15 the art. Similar comments apply to the stripper motor
- control of Figure 14 and to the instrumentation amplifier
of Figure 15. A standard wall plug connects power cord to
a source of alternating current. A protective device, such
as fuse, may be incorporated. On closing of switch,
electric motor is energized and the rocker will begin to
-` rock. At such time as the solenoid is energized the triac
diode, the voltage dropping resistor, the light and the
-~ solenoid. A bypass capacitor precludes the flow of any
alternating current to triac.
By the present invention a degree of accuracy is
achievable which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive
., .
with presently available weight devices. It has been found
that the weight of fluid collection can be maintained
. /:r,
~., .
~ ':".
' ~, '
.'.'
'
. ~ ",
` 2~i ~2~1
.
--~ 26
~i within plus or minus two grams, which limits are well
r, within acceptable levels for blood collection services.
The mechanisms employed are relatively straight forward and
i;, ~
~ require only normal tolerance levels.
i ,
i .
,
..s
;.
.~ . .
. . ` .
-, .
.
;, .
.. . ..
,, :
~:;
..
~ '.,
-
`
'
"'~
~:
.,
~ .
: i .
; .
.'~
,, ., ~:' . :' : , :: -::
