Sealing apparatus and method
View Patent ↗Apparatus ( 20 ) and methods for segmenting a blood-filled tube ( 42 ) into multiple, blood-containing, sealed segment are disclosed. The apparatus ( 20 ) includes a tubing locating surface ( 22 ) for mounting the tubing and sealing means ( 24 ) cooperatively associated with the tubing locating surface ( 22 ).
1. A method for providing multiple, sealed, blood-containing tubing segments comprising:
providing a length of blood-containing tubing;
mounting said tubing on a tubing locating surface having means for configuring said tubing in a desired configuration, wherein said means comprises a series of pins spaced from a longitudinal axis of said surface;
configuring said tubing on said tubing locating surface in said desired configuration after said mounting, whereby said tubing is configured in the shape of a wave; and
sealing said tubing to concurrently provide a plurality of sealed, blood-containing, tubing segments.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising mounting said tubing along a longitudinal axis of said tubing locating surface and contacting said tubing at multiple locations of said tubing.
3. A method for providing multiple, sealed, blood-containing tubing segments comprising:
providing a length of blood-containing tubing;
mounting said tubing on a tubing locating surface having means for configuring said tubing in a desired configuration, wherein said means comprises a plurality of pins disposed near a longitudinal axis of said surface and slots for lateral movement of said pins, said method further comprising:
configuring said tubing on said tubing locating surface in a desired configuration after said mounting including placing said tubing between said pins;
laterally moving said pins across said axis to a position spaced from said axis;
contacting said tubing at the locations where said tubing intersects said axis; and
sealing said tubing to concurrently provide a plurality of sealed, blood-containing, tubing segments.