BLOOD COAGULATION TEST CARTRIDGE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A system that performs a test on a test sample determining a coagulation test time comprising:
- a test cartridge comprising;
a cartridge housing having at least one cylindrical test chamber therein into which a test sample is deposited to be tested, the test chamber having a test chamber axis, a test chamber diameter and a test chamber height defining a test chamber volume; and
an agitator mounted at a pivot point at the test chamber axis, the agitator having an agitator vane adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber, the agitator vane having an agitator vane height extending substantially through the test chamber height and an agitator vane length extending substantially through the test chamber diameter; and
a test instrument having an instrument housing including a cartridge receptacle for supporting the test cartridge, the test instrument further comprising sweeping means for sweeping the agitator vane about the test chamber pivot point through the test sample in substantially the full test chamber volume;
detecting means for detecting a reduction of sweeping movement of the agitator vane; and
timing means for timing a coagulation test time elapsed from the commencement of sweeping of the agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining a coagulation time, e.g., TT, PT, aPTT, and ACT, of a test sample deposited in a test cartridge is disclosed. A cartridge housing having upper and lower major sides and a minor sidewall encloses a test chamber having a test chamber pivot element and is provided with a cartridge port for introducing a test sample into the test chamber,. Ferromagnetic agitator vane leaflets extend from an agitator pivot element supported by the test chamber pivot element intermediate the upper and lower major sides for rotational motion. The agitator vane leaflets can be swept, in response to an external magnetic field, through the test sample in the absence of coagulation. A timer is started when the agitator movement is commenced whereupon the agitator moves freely. Resistance to agitator movement due to coagulation is detected, and the coagulation time is measured.
105 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A system that performs a test on a test sample determining a coagulation test time comprising:
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a test cartridge comprising;
a cartridge housing having at least one cylindrical test chamber therein into which a test sample is deposited to be tested, the test chamber having a test chamber axis, a test chamber diameter and a test chamber height defining a test chamber volume; and
an agitator mounted at a pivot point at the test chamber axis, the agitator having an agitator vane adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber, the agitator vane having an agitator vane height extending substantially through the test chamber height and an agitator vane length extending substantially through the test chamber diameter; and
a test instrument having an instrument housing including a cartridge receptacle for supporting the test cartridge, the test instrument further comprising sweeping means for sweeping the agitator vane about the test chamber pivot point through the test sample in substantially the full test chamber volume;
detecting means for detecting a reduction of sweeping movement of the agitator vane; and
timing means for timing a coagulation test time elapsed from the commencement of sweeping of the agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A test cartridge for use in a system that performs a test on a test sample determining a coagulation test time comprising:
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a cartridge housing having at least one cylindrical test chamber therein into which a test sample is deposited to be tested, the test chamber having a test chamber axis, a test chamber diameter and a test chamber height defining a test chamber volume; and
an agitator mounted at a pivot point at the test chamber axis, the agitator having an agitator vane adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber, the agitator vane having an agitator vane height extending substantially through the test chamber height and an agitator vane length extending substantially through the test chamber diameter, whereby the agitator is adapted to be swept through substantially the test chamber volume and contacts the test sample therein and a coagulation test time from the commencement of sweeping of the agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement is determinable. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of performing a test on a test sample and determining a coagulation test time comprising:
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providing a test cartridge comprising;
a cartridge housing having at least one cylindrical test chamber therein into which a test sample is deposited to be tested, the test chamber having a test chamber axis, a test chamber diameter and test chamber height defining a test chamber volume; and
an agitator mounted at a pivot point at the test chamber axis, the agitator having an agitator vane adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber unless impeded by coagulation of the test sample, the agitator vane having an agitator vane height extending substantially through the test chamber height and an agitator vane length extending substantially through the test chamber diameter; and
filling the test chamber with a test sample;
inserting the test cartridge into a cartridge receptacle of a test instrument; and
operating the test instrument to;
sweep the agitator vane about the test chamber pivot point through the test sample;
detect the reduction of sweeping movement of the agitator vane; and
time a coagulation test time elapsed from the commencement of sweeping of the agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement.
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42. A method of performing a test on a biologic test sample and determining a coagulation test time comprising:
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providing a test cartridge comprising;
a cartridge housing having at least one cylindrical test chamber therein into which a test sample is deposited to be tested, the test chamber having a test chamber axis, a test chamber diameter and test chamber height defining a test chamber volume; and
an agitator mounted at a pivot point at the test chamber axis, the agitator having an agitator vane adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber unless impeded by coagulation of the test sample, the agitator vane having an agitator vane height extending substantially through the test chamber height and an agitator vane length extending substantially through the test chamber diameter; and
filling the test chamber with a test sample;
inserting the test cartridge into a cartridge receptacle of a test instrument; and
operating the test instrument to;
sweep the agitator vane about the test chamber pivot point through the test sample;
detect the sweeping movement of the agitator vane; and
display an image of the sweeping movement of the agitator vane, whereby changes in the sweeping movement due to coagulation and dissolution of coagulation are presented. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification