Blood leak detector comparing intensities of high absorption band and low absorption band of a single beam of light passing through a sample
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting the presence of hemoglobin in a solution comprising:
- a radiant energy transmissivity cell including a sample chamber extending along an inclined optical axis between an upper end and an opposite lower end, the sample chamber having a fluid inlet at one end of the chamber for receiving a continuous flow of said solution, a fluid outlet at an end opposite said one end for continuously expelling said solution and a gas outlet positioned at an uppermost portion of the chamber at the upper end to continuously expel gas that accumulates at the gas outlet;
first and second light transmissive windows positioned at opposite ends of the sample chamber;
a light source positioned proximate an end of the sample chamber to emit radiant energy along the optical axis through the first and second windows and through the sample chamber;
first and second radiant energy detectors each positioned proximate an end of the sample chamber opposite the light source to receive radiant energy emitted by the light source after the energy has passed through the first and second windows and the sample chamber, and to generate an indication of the radiant energy incident thereon;
a bandpass optical filter disposed along a light path between a window at an end of the sample chamber proximate the first and second detectors and one of the detectors, the filter having a pass band centered at a wavelength at which hemoglobin constituents of blood are highly light absorbent; and
ratio detecting means responsive to the first and second radiant energy detectors for indicating the ratio of the indications of said detectors.
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Abstract
A system for detecting small amounts of hemoglobin in a solution detects the ratio between the light transmissivities at separated wavelengths of a sample solution, one of which wavelengths is in a range at which hemoglobin is highly light absorptive. Through the use of the ratios of the signals, a reading of high sensitivity and linearity is provided in the presence of substantial contamination and turbidity in the sample or the system.
73 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for detecting the presence of hemoglobin in a solution comprising:
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a radiant energy transmissivity cell including a sample chamber extending along an inclined optical axis between an upper end and an opposite lower end, the sample chamber having a fluid inlet at one end of the chamber for receiving a continuous flow of said solution, a fluid outlet at an end opposite said one end for continuously expelling said solution and a gas outlet positioned at an uppermost portion of the chamber at the upper end to continuously expel gas that accumulates at the gas outlet; first and second light transmissive windows positioned at opposite ends of the sample chamber; a light source positioned proximate an end of the sample chamber to emit radiant energy along the optical axis through the first and second windows and through the sample chamber; first and second radiant energy detectors each positioned proximate an end of the sample chamber opposite the light source to receive radiant energy emitted by the light source after the energy has passed through the first and second windows and the sample chamber, and to generate an indication of the radiant energy incident thereon; a bandpass optical filter disposed along a light path between a window at an end of the sample chamber proximate the first and second detectors and one of the detectors, the filter having a pass band centered at a wavelength at which hemoglobin constituents of blood are highly light absorbent; and ratio detecting means responsive to the first and second radiant energy detectors for indicating the ratio of the indications of said detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for detecting the presence of hemoglobin in a solution comprising:
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a sample cell defining a cylindrical sample chamber which extends along a central optical axis that is inclined with respect to the horizontal between opposite upper and lower ends, the sample chamber having a fluid inlet disposed at one end for continuously receiving solution, a fluid outlet disposed at an end opposite the one end for continuously discharging solution, and a gas outlet disposed at an uppermost portion of the upper end of the chamber to discharge gases collecting thereat, the sample cell providing a single light transmissive path along the optical axis through the sample cell and fluid therein; a single radiant energy source coupled to continuously emit broadband radiant energy along the single light path through the sample cell and fluid therein; a first radiant energy detector positioned along the optical axis to receive radiant energy from the energy source after the radiant energy passes through the sample chamber and a fluid therein; a second radiant energy detector positioned in spaced apart relationship to the optical axis, the second radiant energy detector being optically coupled to a point along the optical axis between the sample cell and the first radiant energy detector by a relatively long, small cross-sectional filter free light path; an optical filter disposed along the light path between said point along the optical axis and the first radiant energy detector to pass only a narrow band of radiant energy to the first radiant energy detector which is readily absorbed by hemoglobin in a fluid within the sample cell; and a ratio circuit coupled to the first and second radiant energy detectors to provide an output that is indicative of a ratio of radiant energy that is incident upon the first and second radiant energy detectors. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for detecting the leakage of blood into a solution comprising:
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an elongated chamber having an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and extending between upper and lower light transmissive ends, the chamber including a solution inlet proximate the lower end, a solution outlet proximate the upper end and a bubble outlet proximate the upper end and the upper surface; a light source disposed to shine light upon one end of the chamber and through the chamber to an opposite end; a first photosensor disposed to detect the incidence thereon of light which passes through the chamber from the light source at only frequencies that are readily absorbed by blood within a solution passing between the solution inlet and outlet of the chamber; a second photosensor disposed to detect the incidence thereon of light which passes through the chamber from the light source at frequencies that are not readily absorbed by blood within a solution passing between the solution inlet and outlet of the chamber; and a circuit coupled to detect and indicate relative changes in the intensity of sensed light incident upon the first and second photosensors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification