Blood collection and measurement apparatus
First Claim
1. A blood sample collection and measurement apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a side dimension and a depth dimension orthogonal to the side dimension, an inlet transition cavity within the housing for receiving blood to be analyzed;
an optical chamber, within the housing, for receiving the blood from the inlet transition cavity, the optical chamber having at least one optical window for viewing the blood and an optical chamber depth extending from the at least one optical window parallel to the depth dimension;
an overflow chamber, within the housing, for receiving blood from the optical chamber; and
an outlet vent, in the housing and fluidly connected to the overflow chamber, to provide an outflow path for air.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention provide one apparatus that is suitable for both the collection and measurement of a blood sample. Once a blood sample is drawn into such an apparatus the blood sample can be analyzed, without having to transfer any portion of the blood sample into another vessel. Also, in some very specific embodiments, the apparatus is provided with an optical chamber that is specifically designed to reduce the average attenuation of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) due to scattering of EMR by the red blood cells in a blood sample, without having to hemolyze the red blood cells by using sound waves or by adding reagents to the blood sample. Moreover, as a result of the time saved by using a single apparatus for blood sample collection and measurement, the addition of an anticoagulant is not required to prevent clotting. Moreover, in such embodiments the optical chamber is designed to spread blood into a thin film, thereby reducing the incidences of trapped air bubbles in the collected blood sample in the optical chamber. Instead air bubbles are easily pushed through the optical chamber and guided out of the apparatus through a vent. Optionally, at least one biosensor may be provided within a second flow path in the apparatus.
59 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A blood sample collection and measurement apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a side dimension and a depth dimension orthogonal to the side dimension, an inlet transition cavity within the housing for receiving blood to be analyzed;
an optical chamber, within the housing, for receiving the blood from the inlet transition cavity, the optical chamber having at least one optical window for viewing the blood and an optical chamber depth extending from the at least one optical window parallel to the depth dimension;
an overflow chamber, within the housing, for receiving blood from the optical chamber; and
an outlet vent, in the housing and fluidly connected to the overflow chamber, to provide an outflow path for air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification