{
  "patent_number": "US 12733849",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Suction Controls Fluid Collection for Medical Tests",
  "original_title": "Fluid control devices and methods of using the same",
  "summary": "This patent describes a device that uses different levels of suction to precisely control and separate bodily fluids, like blood, for collection and analysis.",
  "what_it_does": "The fluid control device has an inlet that connects to a bodily fluid source and an outlet that connects to a collection device creating suction. It uses two separate flow controllers to manage the fluid path. First, when a collection device applies a lower level of suction (a 'first magnitude' negative pressure differential), a 'first flow controller' activates. This directs the fluid into a 'sequestration portion' (Abstract). Then, if the collection device applies a stronger suction (a 'second magnitude' negative pressure differential, greater than the first), a 'second flow controller' activates. This directs fluid from the inlet into a 'sampling portion' (Abstract). For example, this could first divert initial blood flow (which might contain contaminants) and then collect a pure sample for testing.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover fluid collection devices that use only a single, fixed pressure differential for all fluid handling.",
    "Does not cover devices that rely on gravity or active pumping mechanisms instead of negative pressure differentials to move fluid.",
    "Does not cover devices where the sequestration and sampling portions are activated simultaneously by the same pressure.",
    "Does not cover fluid control systems that lack distinct, pressure-activated flow controllers for different fluid paths.",
    "Does not cover devices where the flow controllers are not triggered by specific magnitudes of negative pressure."
  ],
  "filed": "2022-02-02",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "medical_devices",
    "biotech",
    "diagnostics",
    "healthcare",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "A fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a bodily fluid source and an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid collection device, which can produce a negative pressure differential between the outlet and the inlet. A sequestration portion is in fluid communication with the inlet and includes a first flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sequestration portion in fluid communication with the outlet when the negative pressure differential has a first magnitude. A sampling portion is in fluid communication with an outlet and includes a second flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sampling portion in fluid communication with the inlet when the negative pressure differential has a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733849/fluid-control-devices-and-methods-of-using-the-same",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733849/fluid-control-devices-and-methods-of-using-the-same/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12733849",
  "relatedPatents": [
    {
      "patentNumber": "12733848",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Device for Collecting and Separating Bodily Fluids Using Pressure",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733848/fluid-control-devices-and-methods-of-using-the-same-12733848"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12734063",
      "countryCode": "US",
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      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734063/apparatus-and-methods-for-receiving-discharged-urine"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12734520",
      "countryCode": "US",
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      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734520/interposer-with-first-and-second-adhesive-layers"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12734300",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Precise Medicine Delivery Device with Priming Control",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734300/devices-and-methods-for-precision-dose-delivery"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12734317",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How a Device Delivers Aerosol with Controlled Airflow During Inhalation",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734317/systems-and-methods-of-aerosol-delivery-with-airflow-regulation"
    }
  ]
}