Device for Collecting and Separating Bodily Fluids Using Pressure
This patent describes a device that uses different levels of negative pressure to first isolate a portion of bodily fluid and then collect a separate sample from a fluid source.
Original patent title: “Fluid control devices and methods of using the same”
This patent describes a device that uses different levels of negative pressure to first isolate a portion of bodily fluid and then collect a separate sample from a fluid source. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The device manages bodily fluids using two distinct control steps. First, it has an inlet to connect to a fluid source and an outlet to a collection device that creates a negative pressure difference. A 'sequestration portion' has a first flow controller that opens when the negative pressure reaches a certain level, allowing fluid into this portion. Then, a 'sampling portion' has a second flow controller that opens only when the negative pressure increases to a higher level, allowing a separate sample to flow into the collection device. For example, it could first isolate a specific volume of blood plasma and then, with more suction, draw a separate blood sample for analysis.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover fluid control devices that use only a single flow controller for both sequestration and sampling.
- Does not cover systems where the sequestration and sampling portions activate at the same negative pressure magnitude.
- Does not cover devices that rely on positive pressure to move fluids, rather than a negative pressure differential.
- Does not cover fluid collection systems that do not differentiate between a sequestration portion and a sampling portion.
- Does not cover devices where the flow controllers are manually operated rather than automatically transitioning based on pressure.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in using two distinct, increasing negative pressure differentials to sequentially activate different fluid pathways: first to sequester a portion of fluid, and then, at a higher pressure, to collect a separate sample. This allows for precise, automated separation and collection.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Advanced blood collection tubes for diagnostics
Urine analysis systems requiring pre-separation
Devices for collecting cerebrospinal fluid
Point-of-care diagnostic cartridges
Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology could improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical diagnostics by ensuring that different parts of a fluid sample are processed or collected under precise conditions. For instance, it could help separate specific components of blood or urine before a main sample is taken, reducing contamination or ensuring a purer sample for analysis. This precision is valuable in clinical settings where sample integrity is critical.
Filed
November 2, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in medical diagnostics and fluid handling systems, such as Becton Dickinson, Abbott Laboratories, and Siemens Healthineers, are likely to be interested in or developing similar technologies. Startups in the microfluidics space also frequently innovate in precise fluid control for lab-on-a-chip applications.
Market impact
This type of technology could lead to more reliable and automated sample preparation in clinical diagnostics, potentially reducing human error and improving test accuracy. It could enable new diagnostic tests that require precise separation of fluid components, thereby expanding the capabilities of existing diagnostic platforms and influencing the design of future fluid collection devices.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The device manages bodily fluids using two distinct control steps. First, it has an inlet to connect to a fluid source and an outlet to a collection device that creates a negative pressure difference. A 'sequestration portion' has a first flow controller that opens when the negative pressure reaches a certain level, allowing fluid into this portion. Then, a 'sampling portion' has a second flow controller that opens only when the negative pressure increases to a higher level, allowing a separate sample to flow into the collection device. For example, it could first isolate a specific volume of blood plasma and then, with more suction, draw a separate blood sample for analysis.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in using two distinct, increasing negative pressure differentials to sequentially activate different fluid pathways: first to sequester a portion of fluid, and then, at a higher pressure, to collect a separate sample. This allows for precise, automated separation and collection.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover fluid control devices that use only a single flow controller for both sequestration and sampling.
- Does not cover systems where the sequestration and sampling portions activate at the same negative pressure magnitude.
- Does not cover devices that rely on positive pressure to move fluids, rather than a negative pressure differential.
- Does not cover fluid collection systems that do not differentiate between a sequestration portion and a sampling portion.
- Does not cover devices where the flow controllers are manually operated rather than automatically transitioning based on pressure.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 15.1 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Device for Collecting and Separating Bodily Fluids Using Pressure (U.S. Patent No. 12,733,848). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733848/fluid-control-devices-and-methods-of-using-the-same-12733848
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Device for Collecting and Separating Bodily Fluids Using Pressure cover?
This patent describes a device that uses different levels of negative pressure to first isolate a portion of bodily fluid and then collect a separate sample from a fluid source.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology could improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical diagnostics by ensuring that different parts of a fluid sample are processed or collected under precise conditions. For instance, it could help separate specific components of blood or urine before a main sample is taken, reducing contamination or ensuring a purer sample for analysis. This precision is valuable in clinical settings where sample integrity is critical.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover fluid control devices that use only a single flow controller for both sequestration and sampling.
Patent monitoring