Gas flow cartridge with improved coagulation detection and expanded analytical test capability
First Claim
1. In a cartridge defining a reaction chamber in which to hold a pool of blood or a blood derivative during a coagulation analytical test, a reagent chamber to hold a liquid reagent, means separating the reaction chamber and the reagent chamber, and means for intercommunication of the reaction chamber and the reagent chamber, an improvement comprising:
- means containing a pre-determined quantity of activator agent within the reaction chamber said means being designed to release the activator agent into the blood or the blood derivative when the reaction chamber is intercommunicated with the reagent chamber to intermix the reagent with the pool of blood or the blood derivative.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas flow cartridge includes a tube-like member which defines a reaction chamber in which a pool of liquid is subjected to an analytical test. A coating of debubbling agent is applied to an area of the tube-like member above the reaction chamber. The debubbling agent collapses bubbles of noncoagulated fluid but allows bubbles of coagulated fluid to continue an upward movement above the area where the coating is applied. Coagulation is detected by sensing the coagulated bubbles moving upward in the tube-like member. A quantity of activator agent is initially confined with the reaction chamber, preferably within a structure defined by a segment of paper-like material formed into an activator retaining form. The paper-like material unrolls or unfolds during the analytical test.
38 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a cartridge defining a reaction chamber in which to hold a pool of blood or a blood derivative during a coagulation analytical test, a reagent chamber to hold a liquid reagent, means separating the reaction chamber and the reagent chamber, and means for intercommunication of the reaction chamber and the reagent chamber, an improvement comprising:
means containing a pre-determined quantity of activator agent within the reaction chamber said means being designed to release the activator agent into the blood or the blood derivative when the reaction chamber is intercommunicated with the reagent chamber to intermix the reagent with the pool of blood or the blood derivative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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6. In a gas flow cartridge having an upward extending tube-like member defining a reaction chamber in which to hold a pool of fluid during a coagulation analytical test, and means for admitting gas flowing upward through the liquid pool to transport liquid in bubbles from the pool above the reaction chamber upward through a hollow interior of the tube-like member, an improvement comprising:
a coating of debubbling agent applied to the interior of the tube-like member at a location above the reaction chamber and over an area extending completely around the periphery of the interior to circumscribe a substantially unobstructed center opening in the hollow interior through which bubbles of fluid may pass, the coating of debubbling agent being effective on contact with noncoagulated fluid in the bubbles to collapse all the bubbles of noncoagulated fluid within the center opening and reflow the noncoagulated fluid downward into the pool in the reaction chamber and prevent the upward movement of bubbles of non-coagulated fluid through the center opening, the coating of debubbling agent further being ineffective on coagulated fluid in the bubbles to allow the bubbles of coagulated fluid to continue upward through the center opening. - View Dependent Claims (5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- 21. In a gas flow cartridge having an upward extending tube-like member and a partition extending across the open interior of the tube-like member to define a reaction chamber and a reagent chamber within the interior of the tube-like member which are respectively above and below the partition, means associated with the partition for initially sealing an opening through the partition and for selectively thereafter being removed to provide fluid communication through the partition between the reaction and reagent chambers, the reaction chamber operatively holding a pool of liquid during a coagulation analytical test, and means for admitting gas flowing upward through the liquid pool in the reaction chamber to create bubbles and to transport liquid in bubbles through the tube-like member above the pool and reaction chamber, and an improvement comprising a segment of fibrous material formed into a predetermined structure and attached to the tube-like member within the reaction chamber at a position adjacent the partition, the fibrous material adapted to open from the initial structural form and snag or hold the initial sealing means after being selectively removed from the partition.
Specification