PORTABLE SAMPLE ANALYZER CARTRIDGE

• US 20070166196A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Rezachek, Tom, Padmanabhan, Aravind, Fritz, Bernard, Cabuz, Cleopatra, Reutiman, Peter, Bardell, Ron, Cox, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,828,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1023 Microstructural devices for non-optical measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/12 by observing changes in resistance or impedance across apertures when traversed by individual particles, e.g. by using the Coulter principle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1484 microstructural devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/011 with lysing, e.g. of erythrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/012 Red blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/018 Platelets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1024 Counting particles by non-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00603 Reinspection of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 of consumables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/085 Flow Injection Analysis

Abstract

A system relating to sample analyzers, and more particular, to sample analyzers that are simple to operate and have a reduced risk of providing an erroneous result to a user. In some cases, the sample analyzer may be a portable sample analyzer that includes a disposable fluidic cartridge. The operators of the analyzers need not be trained.

Claims

1. A sample analyzer cartridge comprising:

at least one flow channel; and

wherein;

the flow channel comprises one or more walls and a volume within the channel;

two or more electrodes are situated on one or more walls of the flow channel; and

the two or more electrodes are connectable to a signal source.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

voltage and current characteristics of the signal source across the electrodes is indicative of a resistivity of the volume;

a resistivity within a certain range is indicative of an appropriate fluid in the volume;

a resistivity not within the certain range is indicative of an incorrect reagent in the fluid, a presence of bubbles, and/or unacceptable characteristics of the fluid; and

a resistivity not within the certain range causes the sample analyzer to provide no result of analysis or indicate an error.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

voltage and current characteristics of the signal source across the electrodes is indicative of a resistance of the volume;

a resistance within a certain range is indicative of a correct fluid in the volume;

a resistance not within the certain range is indicative of an incorrect fluid reagent in the fluid, a presence of bubbles, and/or unacceptable characteristics of the fluid in the volume; and

a resistance not within the certain range causes the sample analyzer to provide no result of analysis or to indicate an error.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

voltage and current characteristics of the signal source across the electrodes is indicative of a capacitance across the volume;

a capacitance within a certain range is indicative of an appropriateness of a fluid in the volume;

a capacitance not within the certain range is indicative of an incorrect reagent in the fluid, a presence of bubbles, incorrect fluid, and/or unacceptable characteristics of the fluid; and

a capacitance not within the certain range causes the sample analyzer to provide no result of analysis, to indicate an incorrect fluid, or indicate an error.

5. A sample analyzer cartridge comprising:

having at least one flow channel; and

wherein a sensor is situated in the flow channel.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein:

the sensor is a PH sensor;

a signal from the PH sensor indicates a measure of the PH in the flow channel; and

the measure of PH indicates whether there is an appropriate fluid in the flow channel.

7. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein:

the sensor is a thermal conductivity sensor;

a signal from the thermal conductivity sensor indicates a measure of the thermal conductivity in the flow channel; and

the measure of thermal conductivity indicates whether there is an appropriate fluid in the flow channel.

8. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein:

the sensor is a specific heat sensor;

a signal from the specific heat sensor indicates a measure of the specific heat in the flow channel; and

the measure of specific heat indicates whether there is an appropriate fluid in the flow channel.

9. A cartridge comprising:

at least one flow channel; and

a time indicator associated with the cartridge; and

wherein an event causes the time indicator to perform an action.

10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein:

the cartridge is initially in a sealed package; and

the event is a removal of the cartridge from the package which starts the time indicator to elapse time.

11. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein if an elapse of time is greater then acceptable, then upon an insertion of the cartridge in an instrument, the card and instrument constitute a sample analyzer which may not perform an analysis, not provide a result, and/or will provide an error indication.

12. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein:

the time indicator has a strip covering it; and

the event is a removal of the strip from the time indicator which starts the time indicator to elapse time.

13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein if an elapse of time is greater then acceptable, then upon an insertion of the cartridge in an instrument, the card and instrument constitute a sample analyzer which may not perform an analysis, not provide a result, and/or will provide an error indication.

14. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein:

the time indicator is a clock chip for maintaining accurate time and date; and

the event is an insertion of the cartridge in an instrument which causes the clock chip to indicate an age of the cartridge.

15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein if the age of the cartridge is unacceptable, then upon an insertion of the cartridge in the instrument, the sample analyzer may not perform an analysis, not provide a result, and/or will provide an error indication.

16. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the time indicator has a color-changing strip for indicating an amount of time.

17. A cartridge comprising:

a flow channel; and

a spring activated lancet; and

wherein;

the lancet is biased in an extended position;

a release mechanism locks the lancet in a retracted position until released; and

a blood sample via the lancet is conveyed into the cartridge.

18. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the lancet has a dial-in adjustment for depth of the lancet when released.

19. A cartridge comprising:

at least one flow channel; and

wherein the channel comprises a bubble trap.

20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the bubble trap comprises a porous membrane as part of a wall of the channel to vent bubbles from the channels as the bubbles pass by.

21. The cartridge of claim 20, wherein the membrane is hydrophobic.

22. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the bubble trap comprises a deformation in a wall of the flow channel.