Point of care diagnostic platform

• US 20040228765A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FasTraq, Inc. (Quantech Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FasTraq, Inc. (Quantech Ltd.)
• Inventors: Witty, Thomas R., Case, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/745,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20040228765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis

Abstract

A point of care diagnostic system has a plurality of modules and a plurality of analytic cartridges. A host computer is coupled to the plurality of modules, all of which share control by the host computer. The host computer is coupled to an interface. Each module has a corresponding interface component.

Claims

1. A point of care diagnostic system, comprising:

a plurality of modules, each module sharing common QC protocols;

a plurality of analytic cartridges; and

a host computer coupled to the plurality of modules, the host computer being coupled to an interface, each of a module having a corresponding interface component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes immunoassay, hematology, electrolyte, general chemistry and molecular diagnostic modules.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the host computer is coupled to at least one external communication link.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external communication link is a WAN or a LAN.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the external communication link is a wireless network.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the external communication link is a hospital information network or a laboratory information network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the modules share at least a portion of a common functionality of operation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein placement of a cartridge in a module begins an initiation of the module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each module contains common functionalities, and unique technologies that correspond to one or more selected chemistries.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is bar-coded.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each cartridge is bar-coded with information for test protocols, and lot expiration dates.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein fluids are retained and sealed in the cartridges.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridges include serialized identification.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a sample ID barcode is attached to the cartridge for automatic patient identification.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a sample contained in a sample tube is removable after analysis.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein all fluids in a cartridge remain within the cartridge including a patient sample.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge includes wet and dry chemistries and at least one substrate that carriers a chemistry.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the modules are configured to be engaged with cartridges to produce pneumatic movement of fluids in the cartridges.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein each module includes a processor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor of a module in combination with the host computer determines a test protocol for a cartridge and actuates a flow control mechanism in the cartridge that permits a flow of a patient sample with liquid chemistries and waste materials.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor of a module in combination with the host computer activates a transfer of a sample into the cartridge without exposing an operator to the chemistry.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is configured to isolate biohazards in the cartridge from an operator of the cartridge.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide introduction of a blood sample to the cartridge while isolating biohazards in the cartridge from an operator.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide introduction of a blood sample to the cartridge without exposing an operator to patient material in the cartridge.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide removal of a blood sample from a vial and introduction of the blood sample to the cartridge without exposing the patient or an operator to the blood sample.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide that an operator is not exposed to contents in the cartridge.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is configured to work with whole blood.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is connected to a laboratory information system.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is directly connected to a laboratory information system.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is connected to a hospital information system.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is directly connected to a hospital information system.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is connected to a emergency room/department patient management network.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is directly connected to a emergency department patient management network.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the host computer is coupled to at least one of a LAN, a WAN and a wireless network.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the system delivers a multitude of discreet testing capabilities in a standardized manner.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the modules have common operation systems.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of a cardiac, fertility, kidney, coagulation, electrolyte and hematology panel.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge is configured to directly accept directly a blood sample from a standard blood draw tube.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge direct sampling, uses primary tube direct sampling which is directly introduced to the cartridge.

40. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a coagulation module; and

a coagulation cartridge.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides real time QC monitoring, and real time test result threshold detection.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridges include electronic identifiers

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides self-testing of the modules, to provide for monitoring and detection of fluid flow.

44. A point of care diagnostic system, comprising:

a plurality of modules; and

a host computer coupled to the plurality of modules and an operator interface, each of the modules coupled to the user interface.

45. A point of care diagnostic system, comprising:

a plurality of modules; and

a host computer coupled to the plurality of modules and an external communication system.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the system includes immunoassay, hematology, electrolyte, general chemistry and molecular diagnostic modules.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the external communication link is a wireless network.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the external communication link is a hospital information network or a laboratory information network.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein each of the modules share at least a portion of a common functionality of operation.

51. The system of claim 45, wherein each module contains common functionalities, and unique technologies that correspond to one or more selected chemistries.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is bar-coded.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein fluids are retained and sealed in the cartridges.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the cartridges include serialized identification.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein a sample ID barcode is attached to the cartridge for automatic patient identification.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein a sample contained in a sample tube is removable after analysis.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein all fluids in a cartridge remain within the cartridge including a patient sample.

59. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge includes wet and dry chemistries and at least one substrate that carriers a chemistry.

60. The system of claim 51, wherein the modules are configured to be engaged with cartridges to produce pneumatic movement of fluids in the cartridges.

61. The system of claim 45, wherein each module includes a processor.

64. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to isolate biohazards in the cartridge from an operator of the cartridge.

65. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide introduction of a blood sample to the cartridge while isolating biohazards in the cartridge from an operator.

66. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide introduction of a blood sample to the cartridge without exposing an operator to patient material in the cartridge.

67. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide removal of a blood sample from a vial and introduction of the blood sample to the cartridge without exposing the patient or an operator to the blood sample.

68. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide that an operator is not exposed to contents in the cartridge.

69. The system of claim 51, wherein the cartridge is configured to work with whole blood.

70. The system of claim 45, wherein the system is connected to a laboratory information system.

71. The system of claim 45, wherein the system is directly connected to a laboratory information system.

72. The system of claim 45, wherein the system is connected to a hospital information system.

73. The system of claim 45, wherein the system is directly connected to a hospital information system.

74. The system of claim 45, wherein the system is connected to a emergency room/department patient management network.

75. The system of claim 45, wherein the system is directly connected to a emergency department patient management network.

76. The system of claim 45, wherein the host computer is coupled to at least one of a LAN, a WAN and a wireless network.

77. The system of claim 45, wherein the system delivers a multitude of discreet testing capabilities in a standardized manner.

78. The system of claim 45, wherein the modules have common operation systems.

79. The system of claim 45, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of a cardiac, fertility, kidney, coagulation, electrolyte and hematology panel.

80. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to directly accept directly a blood sample from a standard blood draw tube.

81. The system of claim 51, wherein each cartridge is configured to provide direct sampling that uses a primary tube direct sampling that is directly introduced to the cartridge.

82. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

a coagulation module; and

a coagulation cartridge.

83. The system of claim 45, wherein the system provides real time QC monitoring, and real time test result threshold detection.

84. The system of claim 45, wherein the cartridges include electronic identifiers

85. The system of claim 45, wherein the system provides self-testing of the modules, to provide for monitoring and detection of fluid flow.

50. The system of claim 50, wherein placement of a cartridge in a module begins an initiation of the module.

53. The system of claim 53, wherein each cartridge is bar-coded with information for test protocols, and lot expiration dates.

62. The system of claim 62, wherein a processor of a module in combination with the host computer determines a test protocol for a cartridge and actuates a flow control mechanism in the cartridge that permits a flow of a patient sample with liquid chemistries and waste materials.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein a processor of a module in combination with the host computer activates a transfer of a sample into the cartridge without exposing an operator to the chemistry.