Apparatus and method for determining a biochemical function of a fluid

• US 20130218048A1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Manfred Ruhrig
• Inventors: Hayden, Oliver, Rhrig, Manfred
• Application Number:
  US13/765,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218048A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/577
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150251 Collection chamber divided into at least two compartments, e.g. for division of samples injection syringes having more than one chamber A61M5/19; syringes for injection of two or more media A61M5/2448, A61M5/284; sample preparation for further analysis A61B5/150755
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0256 Adsorption, desorption, surface mass change, e.g. on biosensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02809 Concentration of a compound, e.g. measured by a surface mass change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/036 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2412 using the magnetostrictive properties of the material to be examined, e.g. electromagnetic acoustic transducers [EMAT]; investigating the presence of flaws using eddy currents G01N27/90, magnetostrictive transducers B06B1/08, measuring magnetostrictive properties G01R33/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/86 involving blood coagulating time or factors, or their receptors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/1269 of molecules labeled with magnetic beads magnetic particles for bio assay G01N33/54326
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/18 Measuring magnetostrictive properties

Abstract

Sensor apparatus (1) for determining at least one biochemical function of a fluid (F) with at least one magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) through which the fluid (F) is conveyed, wherein a resonant frequency (fR) of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2), which depends on a surface loading of the inner wall of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) by the fluid (F) conveyed through the tube is able to be read out in a non-contact manner for determining the biochemical function of the fluid (F).

Claims

1. A sensor apparatus (1) for determining at least one biochemical function of a fluid (F) with at least one magnetoelastic capillary tube (2), through which the fluid (F) is conveyed, wherein a resonant frequency (fR) of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2), which depends on a surface loading of the inner wall of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) by the fluid (F) conveyed through the tube, is able to be read out in a non-contact manner for determining the biochemical function of the fluid (F).

2. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a magnetization coil (3), which excites the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) into mechanical vibrations in a non-contact manner, and a pickup coil (4) is provided, which inductively detects the changes in magnetization generated in the magnetoelectric capillary tube (2).

3. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetization coil (3) and the pickup coil (4) are wound concentrically and the capillary tube (2) penetrates the surfaces delimited by the two coils (3, 4).

4. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coil surfaces of the magnetization coil (3) and the pickup coil (4) enclose an angle.

5. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pickup coil (4) is embodied or oriented such that the magnetic field penetrating it is minimal.

6. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein a number of magnetoelastic capillary tubes (2) are provided, which each have a different modulus of elasticity.

7. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the magnetoelastic capillary tubes (2) have a different length (L) and/or a different diameter (D).

8. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the magnetoelastic capillary tubes (2) have a different surface coating, featuring different supplementary reagents for determining different biochemical functions of the fluid (F).

9. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) is able to be set by pre-magnetization.

10. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the magnetoelastic capillary tubes (2) is made of a material with a highly magnetostrictive constant, especially highly magnetostrictive CoFe alloys, highly magnetostrictive amorphous Co—

Fe alloys, highly magneto-restrictive rare earth iron alloys or highly magneto-strictive Ga—

Fe alloys.

11. The sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein a platelet function of blood is determined as a biochemical function by the sensor apparatus (1).

12. A small blood withdrawal tube with a sensor apparatus (1) integrated therein, as claimed in claim 11.

13. The small blood withdrawal tube as claimed in claim 12, wherein a needle is attached to the small blood withdrawal tube through which blood from a vein is able to be withdrawn from an organism and arrives in a first blood receiving chamber (7) of the small blood withdrawal tube.

14. The small blood withdrawal tube as claimed in claim 13, wherein the integrated sensor apparatus (1) is separated from the first blood receiving chamber (7) by a first rupture disk or by a valve.

15. The small blood withdrawal tube as claimed in claim 14, wherein the blood conveyed through the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) of the sensor apparatus (1) reaches a second blood receiving chamber (8) of the small blood withdrawal tube to which a vacuum is able to be applied.

16. The small blood withdrawal tube as claimed in claim 15, wherein a second rupture disk or a valve is provided between the sensor apparatus (1) and the second blood receiving chamber (8).

17. A method for determining at least one biochemical function of a fluid, wherein a resonant frequency (fR) of a magnetoelastic capillary tube (2), through which the fluid (F) is conveyed, is read out in a non-contact manner to determine the biochemical function of the fluid (F), wherein the resonant frequency (fR) of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) depends on a surface loading of the inner wall of the magnetoelastic capillary tube (2) by the fluid (F) passing through it.