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Abstract

The invention is a device and a method for preparing serum from blood. The invention is used in conjunction with the centrifugal separation of serum from blood for filtering fibrin and other particulates from the separated serum and for partitioning the serum filtrate from unfiltered blood. During the first phase of centrifugation, a detent holds the serum preparator in check within the centripedal end of a tube containing the blood while the components of blood separate by sedimentation and backflow. Once all cellular components have sedimented to the pellet, the second phase of centrifugation begins and the sedimentation of the serum preparator is initiated by a triggering centrifugal force. During sedimentation, the serum preparator forces displaced serum to pass across a filter spanning an aperture through the serum preparator. The sedimentation velocity of the device and the rate of filtration are controlled by a brake on the serum preparator. The serum preparator is a density device which is approximately isopycnic with normal whole blood. The density of the serum preparator causes it to seek an isopycnic equilibrium stop position near the interface of the separated serous and cellular components. At the isopycnic stop position, the serum preparator forms an impermeable barrier to protect the serum filtrate from contamination by the cellular component during storage and decanting.

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First Claim