Test Cartridge Holder for Blood Samples

• US 20080009073A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Green, Michael, Rejent, Jeff, Wallace, Brent, Zillmann, William, Nippoldt, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/00 Supporting devices; Holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Improved methods and apparatus that make more accurate and reduces risk of filling reaction chambers of cartridge cells with blood samples to conduct blood coagulation tests of the type employing the plunger technique are disclosed. A cartridge holder is provided that secures a test cartridge in a fixed upright position and deflects the plunger flag of each cartridge cell to enable manual insertion of a blood dispenser deeply into the reaction chamber to fill the reaction chamber and avoid contamination of surfaces of the cartridge outside the reaction chamber. Preferably, the cartridge holder provides illumination of the reaction chamber during filling, so that the user can judge when the reaction chamber is properly filled with blood dispensed from the blood dispenser. The cartridge holder may incorporate image magnification to facilitate viewing of the reaction chamber as it is filled.

Claims

1. A test cartridge holder comprising:

a base member;

a rear frame that extends from the base member, the rear frame including a test cartridge receptacle adapted to receive and support a test cartridge in an upright position; and

a first deflecting arm and a second deflecting arm, wherein the arms extend from the rear frame.

2. The test cartridge holder of claim 1, wherein base member comprises a first recess and a second recess

3. The test cartridge holder of claim 1, wherein the rear frame comprises a light emitter.

4. The test cartridge holder of claim 3, wherein the light emitter is a transparent panel, a translucent panel, or an electroluminescent flat panel.

5. The test cartridge holder of claim 1, further comprising an optical lens.

6. The test cartridge holder of claim 5, wherein the lens is supported by the rear frame and disposed with respect to the test cartridge receptacle.

7. The test cartridge of claim 5, wherein the rear frame comprises the optical lens.

8. The test cartridge holder of claim 1, further comprising a lens cover.

9. The test cartridge holder of claim 8, wherein the lens cover comprises a front panel coupled to a first and second side panel.

10. The test cartridge holder of claim 9, wherein the front panel comprises a first guide and a second guide.

11. The test cartridge holder of claim 9, wherein the front panel comprises an optical lens.

12. The test cartridge holder of claim 8, wherein the lens cover comprises a transparent material.

13. The test cartridge holder of claim 8, wherein the lens cover is adapted to be disposed in front of a test cartridge cell that is inserted in the test cartridge receptacle.

14. A method comprising:

providing a test cartridge cell having a plunger including a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein a flag is disposed on the first end;

inserting the test cartridge cell into a test cartridge holder having a base member, a rear frame that extends from the base member, wherein the rear frame includes a test cartridge receptacle adapted to receive and support the test cartridge cell in an upright position, a first deflecting arm and a second deflecting arm, wherein the arms extend from the rear frame so that the first end of the plunger is deflected to the side of the test cartridge cell upon insertion; and

dispensing a physiological sample into the cell.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the physiological sample comprises blood or a component thereof.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising illuminating the test cartridge cell.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the illuminating comprises the use of diffuse light.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the test cartridge cell is illuminated during the dispensing of the physiological sample.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising magnifying the test cartridge cell.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the magnifying comprises use of an optical lens.