Method of Measuring Hematocrit (HCT), and Measurement Device Using the Method

• US 20150153298A1
• Filed: 11/29/2013
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadmaster Biotech Corp.
• Original Assignee: Broadmaster Biotech Corp.
• Inventors: CHEN, YI-LUNG, LAI, CHIEN-HUNG, LIN, PO-HAO, LIN, YA-SIAN, CHEN, YI-CHEN, JIANG, FANG-YI, YANG, SHU-WEI, TAI, YU-HSUAN, LU, SHIH-JEN
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14535 for measuring haematocrit
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3274 Corrective measures, e.g. error detection, compensation for temperature or hematocrit, calibration coding of calibration information G01N33/48771
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80

Abstract

A method of measuring hematocrit (HCT) and a measurement device using in the method and depends on an electrode test specimen to create a capacitor charging effect and consequential change in discharge current for measurement of hematocrit. The method of measuring hematocrit comprises steps as follows: (a) Instill blood into a pair of test electrodes which is installed in the present invention and apply a voltage to the pair of test electrodes; (b) Remove the voltage applied to the pair of test electrodes and measure a discharge current value; (c) Refer to a predetermined decision rule and the discharge current to obtain a hematocrit value for blood. As such, the present invention which relies on an electrode test specimen in measurement of hematocrit corresponding to a discharge current value during electric discharge contributes to precision and reliability in contrast to conventional hematocrit tests.

Claims

1. A method of measuring hematocrit, comprising:

Step 1;

Instill blood into a pair of test electrodes installed in the present invention and apply a voltage to said pair of test electrodes;

Step 2;

Remove said voltage applied to said pair of test electrodes and measure a discharge current value; and

Step 3;

Refer to a predetermined decision rule and said discharge current to obtain a hematocrit value for blood.

2. The method of measuring hematocrit according to claim 1 characterized in that said applied voltage to said pair of test electrodes in Step 1, said applied voltage is between 1 and 3 volts.

3. The method of measuring hematocrit according to claim 1 characterized in that said applied voltage to said pair of test electrodes in Step 1, a duration of said applied voltage is within 0.01 through 1 second.

4. The method of measuring hematocrit according to claim 1 characterized in that said pair of test electrodes in Step 1 is separated by a distance of 0.6 mm to 0.05 mm.

5. The method of measuring hematocrit according to claim 1 characterized in that said measuring a discharge current value in Step 2 is to measure a discharge current value in less than 0.005 second after said voltage is removed.

6. The method of measuring hematocrit according to claim 1 characterized in that said predetermined decision rule in Step 3 comprises multiple hematocrit data which presents relationships between hematocrit and discharge current values under different voltage values for determining a hematocrit value of said blood.

7. A measurement device for hematocrit using the method of measuring hematocrit according to claim 1, comprising:

A test unit comprising a pair of test electrodes which consists of a receiver part to carry blood and a contact part; and

A detector linking said contact part in said pair of test electrodes, and according to said predetermined decision rule to apply a voltage to said contact part, remove said voltage to said contact part, and get a hematocrit of said blood.

8. The measurement device for hematocrit according to claim 7 characterized in that said detector further comprises:

A pair of ports, each of which has a first end and a second end, each said first end linking each said contact part;

A reference voltage source linking a second end of one of said ports to supply said voltage; and

A controller which links a second end of another one of said ports and said reference voltage source, receiving a discharge current value to get a hematocrit value of said blood.

9. The measurement device for hematocrit according to claim 7 characterized in that said test unit further comprises:

A substrate on which the pair of test electrodes is mounted;

A baffle installed on said substrate, partially covering said pair of test electrodes for exposure of said electrodes'"'"' rear parts, and comprising an opening which is situated at said baffle'"'"'s front end and makes said electrodes'"'"' front parts corresponding to said opening exposed; and

A cover sheet over said baffle, comprising;

A notch situated at said cover sheet'"'"'s front end and overlapping said opening on said baffle; and

A pilot hole situated at said cover sheet and corresponding to said opening on said baffle for development of a conduction route between said pilot hole and said opening.

10. The measurement device for hematocrit according to claim 8 characterized in that said controller is setup beforehand to save data of discharge current values versus hematocrit in different percentage.