Abstract: A collection container and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes at least one stabilizing agent in an amount effective to stabilize and inhibit protein degradation and/or fragmentation. The stabilizing agent is able to stabilize proteases in the biological sample, particularly at the point of collection, by inhibiting protein degradation and/or fragmentation in the sample when the sample is stored. The stabilizing agent includes one or more protease inhibitors.

Abstract: A needle shield assembly with a needle having a distal tip and a static feature is provided. The needle shield assembly includes an adapter having an open distal terminus and an open proximal terminus to allow passage of the needle and a needle shield slidably associated with the adapter having an open distal end and an open proximal end where the open proximal end is sufficiently narrow to restrict proximal movement of the needle static feature causing the shield to move in a proximal direction when the needle is pulled proximally after the static feature has established contact with the needle shield proximal end. The assembly includes a canting plate having an unactivated first position and an activated second position that restricts needle movement. The canting plate is activated via a canting plate retention system in communication with the canting plate and responsive to proximal movement of the needle.

Abstract: A co-injection process is provided for fabricating improved multi-layer containers, including but not limited to blood collection tubes, evacuated blood collection tubes, culture bottles, centrifuges tubes, and syringe barrels. The container includes a tube (10) having a bottom wall (12) and a side wall (14) with an open end (18). The container can be provided with a stopper having an upper portion (22) and a skirt with an outside portion (30), a well (34) and a cavity (36). The tube and stopper assembly can be used for medical purposes including containing a blood sample within an enclosed interior space (40).

Abstract: A collection device and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes a separating member to separate the whole blood into its components, and at least reagent positioned to selectively interact with a component of the separated sample. The reagent is able to selectively interact with the plasma/serum, and is prevented from contacting or interacting with the whole blood.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet end, a fluid outlet end, a flashback chamber and a venting mechanism therebetween. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent plug over the outlet of the flashback chamber to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle on withdrawal from the patient.

Abstract: Rare cells are separated from a sample fluid by a positive selection or negative selection antibody by centrifuging in a tube containing a harvesting float. The harvesting float has an axial passage and a density to settle in the sample fluid and expand the layer of the target component. The positive selection antibody is preferably coupled to a particulate carrier, such as a microbead, to attach to the target component. The negative selection antibody forms a complex or conjugate with a contaminating component. In the positive separation, the particulate carrier is recovered in the axial passage of the float.

Abstract: An improved system and method for stirring suspended solids in a liquid media to enhance sample growth and improve sample detection results. The system and method employs a sample vessel holder which adapted to receive at least one sample vessel which contains the solids and liquid media and a stirrer, such as a ferrous metal filled stirrer, and maintain the sample vessel in a position such that the longitudinal axis of the sample vessel extends at an angle substantially less than 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal, such as within the range of about 15 degrees to about 25 degrees with respect to the horizontal. The system and method further employs a magnet driver, adapted to move a magnet, such as a rare earth magnet, proximate to an outer surface of the sample vessel to permit the magnet to impose a magnetic influence on the stirrer to move the stirrer in the sample vessel.

Abstract: A plurality of container assemblies are provided. Each container assembly has substantially identical external dimensions. However, the internal volumes of certain container assemblies differ from the internal volumes of other container assemblies. The container assemblies are configured in accordance with the required volume of material to be collected or maintained in the respective container assemblies and to enable uniform head spaces despite the different volumes of materials in the respective container assemblies. Each container assembly may have an inner container and an outer container. The inner and outer containers may be assembled together or formed integrally by molding.

Abstract: A device for separating plasma from whole blood is provided having an evacuated primary collection chamber capable of fluid communication through a porous filter to an evacuated secondary collection chamber. An agglutinating agent is provided within the primary collection chamber so as to aggregate blood cells within a whole blood sample. The porous filter has a pore size which is small enough to capture the aggregated blood cells therein, yet large enough to permit plasma to transfer therethrough under pressures associated with conventional evacuated blood collection tubes. The primary and secondary collection chambers may be provided in separate containers or tubes, with transfer occurring therebetween through a transfer device including the porous filter therein.

Abstract: A free flow electrophoresis method for separating sample substances into their analytes. This method comprises multiple steps: a first step for the crude fractionation of the sample substance and at least one second step in which the crudely fractionated sample substance is finely fractionated. These steps can be performed in a parallel simultaneous method, in a serial method or in a combination of these two methods.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for assembling a safety shield assembly and more particularly a method for assembling a safety shield assembly with a fluid handling device. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be assembled with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements.

Abstract: An electrophoresis device having a separation chamber that is provided with at least one sample inlet on the inlet side and outlets (9) for the electrophoretically treated sample species on the outlet side. The separation chamber is divided into two chamber parts (7, 8) by at least one separation element (2) which is selectively permeable for specific sample species and has a continuous inner space extending longitudinally, especially a hollow fiber, from the inlet to the outlet side. Electrodes (4) are disposed parallel to the separation element on both sides of the separation chamber.

Abstract: An arterial blood collection device is provided having a one-piece plunger rod for use with a blood collection syringe. The plunger rod is hollow, with a closed front end. A self-sealing filter is provided within the closed front end of the plunger rod. Vents are spaced radially about the front end of the plunger rod for fluid communication into the hollow interior thereof. The plunger rod is intended for use in slidable communication within a syringe barrel. In use, the plunger can be retracted within the syringe barrel to form a cavity therein. Upon arterial blood contact, the cavity fills with blood and air can be expelled from the cavity through the vents and the filter and out to ambient air. The plunger rod is a one-piece assembly, eliminating the need for a separate rubber plunger seal.

Abstract: A non-volatile lubricious coating composition is provided for use with medical devices, such as hypodermic needles, catheters, and the like. The coating composition includes a first siloxane polymer having a very low viscosity less than about 50 centistokes, a second siloxane polymer having a high viscosity greater than about 1,000 centistokes, a reactive silicone polymer which is capable of crosslinking upon exposure to radiation, such as a UV curable silicone acrylate, and a photoinitiator to accelerate cross-linking of the reactive silicone polymer. The coating composition may further include an aminofunctional siloxane polymer to promote adhesion to metal surfaces when used with needles. The coating composition provides flowability without the need for any volatile organic solvent, and is capable of curing to provide adhesion and lubricity.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly including a needle with an intravenous puncture tip, a shield in pivotal engagement with respect to the needle, and a hub in the form of a collar providing pivotal engagement between the needle and the shield is provided. The shield is pivotally movable between an unshielded position and a shielded position in which a portion of the shield encompasses the intravenous puncture tip for shielding the needle for safety purposes. The collar and the shield include locking structure providing locking engagement therebetween for locking the shield in the shielded position for preventing pivotal movement to the unshielded position. The collar further includes at least one collar flange extending laterally along a portion of the collar for preventing disengagement of the locking structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medium for analytic and preparative electrophoresis which includes a content of acids and bases of different pKa values. The medium contains at least two acids, where the difference in pKa values (?pKa) of adjacent acids are no greater than 1.0, preferably in the range from 0.8 to 0.5. The medium also contains at least two bases, whose pKa values range from approximately 1.5 to 11, and the difference of the pKa values (?pKa) of adjacent bases is no greater than 1.0, preferably in the range from 0.8 to 0.5.

Abstract: A fluid collection or infusion set is provided. The set includes flexible tubing with a fitting attached to a proximal end and a needle assembly attached to the distal end. The needle assembly includes a needle hub and a needle cannula secured in the hub. An actuator arm extends proximally and outwardly from the needle hub and has an actuator button at its free end. The needle assembly is disposed in a barrel and can move from a distal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a proximal position where the needle cannula is shielded. A spring is disposed in the barrel for propelling the needle assembly to the proximal position. The barrel includes an actuating aperture that receives the actuator button for locking the spring in a compressed condition. Depression of the actuator button enables the spring to propel the needle assembly into its proximal shielded position.

Abstract: A retractable safety needle apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a needle holder with opposite proximal and distal ends. A needle assembly is mounted in the needle holder for movement from a first position where a distal cannula projects distally beyond the needle holder and a second position where the distal cannula is entirely within the needle holder. A spring is provided for propelling the needle assembly proximally and into the second position. The needle assembly includes a deflectable actuator for releasably holding the needle assembly in the first position and against the biasing forces of the spring. Portions of the needle holder adjacent the distal end are tapered to facilitate alignment of the needle assembly and to provide visual cues for proper orientation and gripping locations.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a water-swellable porous plastic plug is provided, the process including the steps of: providing a porous substrate having a plurality of passageways therethrough, disposing into the passageways a hydrophilic polymer, irradiating the substrate to induce cross-linking of the hydrophilic polymer, such that the polymer forms a hydrogel coating on the walls of the passageways.