Method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit

• US 20050220629A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bohm, Sebastian, McNeilage, Alan W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0442 thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502784 specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics automatic analysis using a stream of discrete samples in a tube system G01N35/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

The invention described is a method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit. The described invention further includes a method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit wherein the method includes the step of injecting an air pocket into the fluid stream to create the bolus. In addition, the described invention includes a method of measuring the analyte concentration in a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit. The described invention further includes a method of measuring the analyte concentration in a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit wherein the method includes the step of injecting an air pocket into the fluid stream to create the bolus.

Claims

1. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

moving a fluid into a first end of a channel in said fluid handling circuit;

injecting an air pocket from said pneumatic actuator into said channel when said fluid reaches a fill detector in said channel, said air pocket being injected upstream from said fill detector;

forming a bolus of fluid extending from said fill detector to said air pocket;

forcing said fluid bolus and said gas pocket through said channel until said gas pocket reaches a vent.

2. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit according to claim 1 wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises:

a controller;

a pressure generator connected to said controller; and

an isolator for isolating said pressure generator from said channel.

3. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit according to claim 2 wherein said pneumatic actuator further comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel through said isolator;

a heater controlled by said controller and adapted to heat gas in said gas pocket.

4. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit according to claim 2 wherein said pneumatic actuator further comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel by said isolator;

a flexible bladder connected to said gas pocket;

a plunger connected to said flexible bladder, said plunger being controlled by said controller.

5. Method of measuring the analyte concentration in a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning said fluid in a channel in said fluid handling circuit;

actuating said pneumatic actuator to inject an air into said channel when said fluid is detected by a fill detector;

injecting air from said pneumatic actuator into said channel to form an air pocket upstream from said fill detector;

forming a bolus of said fluid, said bolus having a length which is substantially equal to the distance from said fill detector to said pneumatic actuator;

moving said bolus and said air pocket through said channel until said fluid is positioned over an analyte detector in said channel;

measuring the analyte content of said bolus;

venting said air pocket from said channel.

6. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit according to claim 5 wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises:

a controller;

a pressure generator connected to said controller; and

an isolator for isolating said pressure generator from said channel.

7. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit according to claim 6 wherein said pneumatic actuator further comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel through said isolator;

a heater controlled by said controller and adapted to heat gas in said gas pocket.

8. A method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit according to claim 6 wherein said pneumatic actuator further comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel by said isolator;

a flexible bladder connected to said gas pocket;

a plunger connected to said flexible bladder, said plunger being controlled by said controller.