In the medical and veterinary fields bodily fluid samples such as urine are quite frequently obtained to assist in the diagnosis of ailments. Since this invention is particularly useful in the medical field it will be discussed in that context, however, it should be understood that it is applicable to the veterinary field. On occasion a fluid sample, such as a urine sample procured over a 24 hour period, could be used for several things. Initially, it may be important to determine the volume of fluid passed by the individual during a 24-hour period. Secondly, body fluid, such as urine obtained over a 24 hour period, may be helpful in determining the presence of an ailment such as diabetes and the like. It is also common that more than one test may be performed on the 24 hour fluid sample. While it would be possible to divide the sample after it is fully obtained from the patient, certain tests require different preservatives in order to maintain the fluid in condition for testing. If the preservatives in each of the tests were identical, then division of the sample at the end of the 24 hour period would be simple. Since preservatives quite frequently are mutually exclusive division of the sample after collection is precluded unless a third container is used for collection and immediate division.
Because of the mutual exclusivity of the preservatives used in 24 hour collection tests, it is common practice for physicians when obtaining urine, to require a patient to collect fluid not over a 24-hour period but over a 48-hour period. While this provides the physician with the necessary samples for testing, it works an inconvenience on the patient in that the patient's movements are restricted for twice the period of time.
It might be suggested that the urine be divided at the time the sample is passed. This could be a workable solution if the patient could always be relied upon to divide the sample obtained at each passing such that one half was placed in one collection bottle and the other half placed in a second collection bottle. In the hospital situation where the patient provides the sample to a nurse, the physician is dependent upon the nurse to divide the sample throughout the 24-hour period. While this seems to be a viable solution from the standpoint of the nursing profession, it is still subject to human error thus an entire sample may have to be discarded if a descrepancy occurs during the sampling.
Accordingly, this invention provides a simple inexpensive fluid proportioner which may be used in association with 24 hour body fluid sample.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a fluid proportioner that may be utilized to divide samples into two relatively equal sample sizes over an elapsed period of time.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a fluid proportioner that is inexpensive.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a fluid proportioner that will withstand the hostile environment of a sterilization process.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a fluid proportioner that may be used in conjunction with standard sample containers and funnels.
The invention is a fluid proportioner that includes a first tubular member having an open end and a closed end. At least two second tubular members each having a cross sectional area less than the cross sectional area of the first tubular member are affixed to and open into the closed end of the first tubular member.