FR2735349A1 - Device for taking multiple samples of blood or other body fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

The device consists of a casing (1) with a number of recesses (7) each receiving a sample tube. The upper part of the casing includes a single inlet conduit (4) which communicates with a distributing conduit (3) which supplies fluid to all the tubes simultaneously. Each recess of the casing includes a fixed needle (9) in communication with the distributing conduit. The inlet conduit may be connected to an intravenous sample needle via a further conduit, and the inlet and distributing conduits may be formed of transparent material. The casing may be formed as a single component, or may comprise upper and lower parts housing the conduits and recesses respectively.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for taking blood samples.

Known blood sample collection devices operate from a hollow needle placed in a vein, the hollow channel of which is extended by a generally flexible capillary tube.

 Blood can be received directly into a container from the capillary.

More generally, to carry out different analyzes from the same sample, the blood is distributed in different tubes.

To this end, use is made of a device of the type mentioned in European application 0 428 723 (TERUMO
KABUSHIKI KAISHA) or in application WO 93 25143 (MIERIK) according to which the capillary tube or the needle is connected to another hollow needle carried in a hollow body in which is blocked in pressure a sample tube including a sealing membrane is pierced by the hollow needle of the hollow body.

 When it is necessary to take several samples, the person responsible for taking the sample must remove and place several tubes successively in the hollow body, which generates loss of time and risk since the blood can continue to flow.

 The tubes in this case must then be collected for example in a bin and identified by a marking, for example by means of a self-adhesive bar code label on which the identity of the person may have been pre-printed or written.

 According to this known device, the tubes are then grouped, each corresponding to a person and are sent to the laboratory the hollow body, the capillary tube and the needle are collected for destruction.

 The subject of the present invention is a device for taking blood samples which allows the user a simplified manipulation with a reduction in the sampling time, when it is necessary to fill several tubes without successive manipulations of tubes.

 Since the sampling needle is not stressed by the displacement of the hollow body when the tube is changed, the operation presents less risk of injuring the person on whom the sampling is carried out.

According to the invention, the tubes remain plugged, which avoids the risks of contamination or the risks of loss of plug.

 To this end, the device according to the invention for taking blood samples from a hollow needle placed in a vein is essentially characterized in that said needle is connected to a case comprising or receiving several collection tubes, said case being provided with a single entry way of the sampled liquid and of a collector feeding the tubes.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the housing comprises, under the collector, one or more housings each receiving a tube, each of the housings being provided with a hollow needle, the channel of which is connected to the collector.

 According to yet another characteristic, the housing comprises an upper part forming a collector and a lower part comprising several tubes, the lower part being housed at least partially in the upper part.

This configuration of the device according to the invention makes it possible to keep the tubes grouped, which has advantages during sampling and also during transport and in terms of identification and transport.

 Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention given by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which - FIG. 1 is a view of side of the device according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a view in perspective, - Figure 5 is a view of another embodiment, - Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show different embodiments of the sampling device according to the invention.

 As shown, the device for taking samples, in particular blood samples, consists of a box 1 of generally parallelepiped shape.

The upper wall 2 of the housing is provided with a hollow horizontal longitudinal collecting channel 3, which is fed by a channel 4.

 Track 4 is a tip in which the sampling needle is crimped during manufacturing.

At least track 4 or end piece and / or the collector are preferably made of a transparent material, which allows the user to check that he has stuck well in the vein thus avoiding unnecessary injuries.

It is however conceivable that this end piece is of conical shape, without crimped needle and that it receives the socket of a hollow sampling needle not shown.

 However, the crimped needle has the advantage of producing a one-piece product. This needle is provided in known manner with a sealing and sealing element which will be removed before use.

The needle can be closed by crimping it with pliers.

 It is also expected that this crimping function can be performed at the end piece 4 which may have a part which can be deformed by a clamp and which can be welded, for example by heat.

The end piece 4 can be produced in any position on the upper wall of the manifold.

 I1 can be centered or off-center or lateral and it is preferably opposite the bottom wall of the collector and not a needle 9.

 It is also conceivable that the end piece is axial to the manifold and is present laterally relative to the housing.

Similarly, the needle can be mounted in the collector and be movable from a non-use position, retracted to a use position outside the collector.

The tip in the eccentric position has been represented in FIG. 5.

 Under the wall 2 of the box between its transverse lateral 5 and longitudinal 6 walls are formed several housings 7 separated by vertical partitions 8.

Preferably, the housings 7 are of rectangular shape and are open at their lower end to allow in each of them the installation of a sampling tube as shown in FIG. 3.

 Advantageously, to facilitate the positioning of each tube in its housing, one of the longitudinal walls 6 of the case is shorter than the other.

Vertically, in each housing 7 is mounted a hollow needle 9, the channel of which is in relation to that of the manifold 3.

 The sampling tube 10 used with this case according to the invention is of the type as shown in the patents of the prior art set out above.

This tube, for example cylindrical, is closed by a sealing plug 11 made of a flexible, deformable and / or elastic material, for example a synthetic material or rubber.

When the tube is put in place, the plug 11 is perforated by the needle 9 which opens into the tube 10.

 In the embodiment as shown, the housing 1 comprises three housings 7 however, it is conceivable that it comprises more, for example five or less, for example two or one.

 The user, before taking the sample, can set up the corresponding number of tubes in the housings and fully insert only the number of tubes he needs.

 After sampling, it can seal the case by shearing and crimping the needle at its base on the tip 4, or by crimping the tip 4.

The needles 9 are in known manner covered with a waterproof film which does not uncover until the establishment of a tube; therefore, the placement of one tube out of two or three does not affect the tightness of the device.

The user can also close off with a plug of appropriate length one of the needles 9 which he does not need when placing the tubes.

 After sampling, the needles 9 and the collector 3 are blocked by blood coagulation, which prevents any communication from one tube to another.

In the case where a single sample is to be taken, the device with needle may comprise only a single housing 7 for a single tube.

Advantageously, the interior of the collector may be provided with blood guiding ribs along a sinuous path allowing good distribution of the blood to the different needles 9 and corresponding tubes.

 According to another embodiment (fig. 5), the device may include an upper part 1 with wall 2, manifold 3 and end piece 4 in which fits or on which fits a lower part 10 consisting of a block of several tubes drilled in a single block or molds.

 In Figures 6 to 9 are shown in plan view, different embodiments of the sampling device according to the invention according to different geometric configurations.

 In Figure 6, the device has four housing 7 tubes on a line, the track 4 being offset on one side.

 In FIG. 7, the housings are arranged in a square with the channel 4 offset.

 In FIG. 8, several housings 7 are arranged in two parallel rows with a channel 4 offset on an angle.

 In Figure 9, the shape of the device is organized in a circle.

The housings 7 are inscribed in said circle and the track 4 is preferably close to the periphery of the circle.

Claims (7)

 1. Device for taking blood samples from a hollow needle placed in a vein, characterized in that it consists of a case (1) receiving one or more sampling tubes, said case being provided with a single channel (4) with needle and a collector (3) supplying the tubes.  2. Sampling device according to claim 1 characterized in that the housing (1) comprises one or more housings (7) each receiving a tube, each of the housings being provided with a hollow needle (9) whose channel is connected to the collector (3) itself connected to the hollow intravenous needle by way 4.  3. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least the channel (4) is transparent.  4. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least the collector (3) is transparent.  5. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the hollow sampling needle is crimped into the end piece constituting the track (4).  6. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the end piece constituting the track (4) is laterally off-center.  7. Sampling device according to claim 1 characterized in that the housing (1) comprises an upper part with collector (3) and a lower part (9) comprising several tubes, the housing serving as housing for the part comprising the tubes.