Apparatus for rapid collection of blood from liverstock

Abstract

An apparatus useful for the rapid collection of blood from a subject (e.g., the vein of a bovine subject) and dispensing the blood therefrom into a collection device includes: (a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, with the chamber having an inlet and outlet, and with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through the inlet by capillary action; (b) a hollow barrel connected to the chamber outlet; (c) a plunger positioned in the barrel; and (d) a hollow needle connected to the capillary body, with the hollow needle in fluid communication with the capillary chamber through the capillary inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into the capillary chamber through the needle by the combined action of vein pressure (or other pressure, if present, such as arterial pressure) and capillary action.

1 . An apparatus useful for the rapid collection of blood from the vein, artery or capillary bed of a subject and dispensing the blood therefrom into a collection device, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, said chamber having an inlet and outlet, with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through said inlet by capillary action;   (b) a hollow barrel connected to said chamber outlet;   (c) an ejector operatively associated with said barrel;   (d) a hollow needle connected to said capillary body, with said hollow needle in fluid communication with said capillary chamber through said inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into said capillary chamber through said needle by the combined action of vein pressure and capillary action, the needle optionally removed, and then blood dispensed into a collection device by actuating said ejector.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent opening formed in either said barrel or said ejector, with said capillary chamber in fluid communication with said vent opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said ejector comprises a plunger having a blunt end portion configured for depression of said plunger into said barrel, and wherein said vent opening is formed in said blunt end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said barrel has at least one laterally projecting grasping projection connected thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary chamber, said barrel, said ejector, and said needle are all axially aligned with one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub member, with both said hollow needle and said capillary body connected to said hub member, and with at least one of said hollow needle and said capillary body removably connected to said hub member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a chelating agent contained in said chamber in a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said chelating agent is in dry powder form comprising a salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claims 1 , further comprising a liquid or gel reagent composition in said chamber in a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve operatively associated with said capillary chamber and/or vent opening said one-way valve configured to prevent backflow of collected blood from the capillary chamber back into the animal. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said one-way valve is positioned on the gas vent side of said capillary chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said capillary body is transparent, said capillary body further comprising a porous indicator element positioned in said capillary chamber outlet opening adjacent a transparent portion of said capillary body. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary chamber has a volume of from 2 to 1,000 microliters. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow needle has a length of from 5 to 40 millimeters. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow needle is between 14 to 25 gauge. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow needle has at least one lateral vent opening formed therein and configured to facilitate rapid blood collection. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary body and said hollow needle are removably connected to one another through linear frictional engagement, optionally through said hub member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hub member comprises at least one laterally projecting grasping member connected thereto. 
     
     
         19 . A method of collecting a blood sample from a subject from a blood collecting apparatus, the apparatus comprising (a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, said chamber having an inlet and outlet, with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through said inlet by capillary action; (b) a hollow barrel connected to said chamber outlet; (c) an ejector operatively associated with said barrel; (d) a hollow needle connected to said capillary body, with said hollow needle in fluid communication with said capillary chamber through said inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into said capillary chamber through said needle by the combined action of vein pressure and capillary action, the needle optionally removed, and then blood dispensed into a collection device by depressing said plunger, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting the hollow needle of the apparatus of into said subject for a time sufficient for said capillary chamber to at least partially fill with said blood sample;   (b) withdrawing said needle from the subject;   (c) optionally separating said needle from said capillary chamber; and then   (d) dispensing said blood sample from said chamber into a collection device by actuating said ejector.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said subject is a bovine. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said needle is inserted into a vein of the subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein steps (a) through (d) are carried out in a time of one minute or less.