Appeal No. 2001-2139
Application 09/189,643
for separating plasma from whole blood and an anticoagulant
coating 22 on its inner wall 12. The device is produced by a
method wherein
[t]he thixotropic polymer gel is first
deposited into a tube at the closed end, then the
anticoagulant formulation . . . is applied onto the
inner wall of the tube above the gel in the form of
a fine mist by spray coating. The applied
formulation is then dried by air jet or forced air
at an elevated temperature for a
period of time. Thereafter, the tube is assembled
with a closure and a vacuum is formed inside the
tube. The device is then sterilized by gamma
irradiation or the like [column 5, lines 8 through
16].
As for the particular manner in which the anticoagulant
formulation is spray coated onto the inner wall of the tube,
Carroll teaches that “[i]t is preferable that the
anticoagulant formulation is metered and dispensed by a
volumetric type device, such as a positive displacement pump.
. . . Other spraying techniques include ultrasonic spraying”
(column 5, lines 39 through 45). Carroll further explains
that
[t]he main advantages of a tube with a spray
coated anticoagulant formulation on the inner wall
are more precise, stable and uniform anticoagulant
fill and improved anticoagulant dissolution into the
specimen. Because of the fine mist of the
anticoagulant formulation, the actual surface area
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