Coagulation detection by plunger sensing technique
First Claim
1. A cartridge in which to conduct a coagulation-related analytical test on fluid, comprising:
- a tube-like member having an open interior extending generally axially therethrough from an open lower end to an upper end;
a partition of the tube-like member located within the open interior at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the tube-like member, said partition generally dividing the open interior into a lower chamber between the partition and the lower end and into an upper chamber between the partition and the upper end;
a passageway defined by and extending through the partition to allow fluid communication between the lower chamber and the upper chamber;
a plug member extending across the open interior of the lower chamber and sealing the open end of the lower chamber at a position spaced from the partition;
means for initially sealing the passageway to fluid communication therethrough and for subsequently selectively opening the passageway to fluid communication therethrough; and
a plunger assembly extending into the upper chamber, said plunger assembly adapted to be reciprocated within the tube-like member and includes means by which to operatively contact and move said plunger assembly in a generally axial direction while permitting descent by force of gravity during analytical test.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Coagulation is detected in a fluid sample contained in either a gas flow cartridge or a plunger sensor cartridge, either one of which may be inserted in an actuator mechanism which has the capability of acting on either type of cartridge. Coagulation is detected in the gas flow cartridge by optically sensing the accumulation of coagulating liquid in a foam member at the top of the reaction chamber. In the plunger sensor cartridge, a plunger assembly is raised and released to descend through the sample of liquid in the bottom of the reaction chamber. The plunger assembly descends more slowly upon an increase in the viscosity of the fluid sample due to coagulation. Both cartridges include a lower reagent chamber, an upper reaction chamber, and means initially sealing and thereafter communicating the contents from the reagent chamber to the reaction chamber. The actuator mechanism includes means for delivering the flow of gas to the gas flow cartridge and means for reciprocating the plunger assembly in the plunger sensor cartridge.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A cartridge in which to conduct a coagulation-related analytical test on fluid, comprising:
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a tube-like member having an open interior extending generally axially therethrough from an open lower end to an upper end; a partition of the tube-like member located within the open interior at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the tube-like member, said partition generally dividing the open interior into a lower chamber between the partition and the lower end and into an upper chamber between the partition and the upper end; a passageway defined by and extending through the partition to allow fluid communication between the lower chamber and the upper chamber; a plug member extending across the open interior of the lower chamber and sealing the open end of the lower chamber at a position spaced from the partition; means for initially sealing the passageway to fluid communication therethrough and for subsequently selectively opening the passageway to fluid communication therethrough; and a plunger assembly extending into the upper chamber, said plunger assembly adapted to be reciprocated within the tube-like member and includes means by which to operatively contact and move said plunger assembly in a generally axial direction while permitting descent by force of gravity during analytical test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A cartridge in which to conduct a coagulation-related analytical test on a sample of liquid blood inserted therein, comprising:
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a tube-like member having an interior surface and defining an open interior extending along an axis therethrough from a lower end to an upper end; a partition of the tube-like member located within the open interior and extending inward from the interior surface toward the axis at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the tube-like member, said partition generally dividing the open interior into a lower chamber between the partition and the lower end and into an upper chamber between the partition and the upper end; a passageway defined by the partition and extending through the partition to allow fluid communication between the lower chamber and the upper chamber; a plug member operatively extending across and sealed against the interior surface of the tube-like member within the lower chamber, said plug member adapted to be axially moved along the interior surface of the lower chamber toward the partition; a plunger assembly comprising a plunger shaft extending through the upper chamber to an upper end thereof above the upper end of the tube-like member and a disc member connected to the lower end of the plunger shaft; the disc member including a main body portion and a flange portion extending outward from an upper end of the main body portion, the flange portion defining a plurality of slots extending through the flange portion, the main body portion initially positioned within the passageway and operative to seal the passageway to fluid communication therethrough; said plunger shaft further including means connected to the upper end of the plunger shaft and adapted to be contacted to move the plunger shaft and connected disc member axially upward in the upper chamber, initial upward movement of the disc member from within the passageway opening the passageway to the flow of fluid therethrough; said plunger assembly adapted to be reciprocated within the tube-like member in a generally axial direction while permitting descent by force of gravity; and a predetermined quantity and type of fluid reagent initially confined in the lower chamber between the partition and the plug member. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A cartridge in which to conduct a coagulation-related analytical test on fluid, comprising:
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a tube-like member having open interior extending generally axially therethrough from an open lower end to an upper end; a partition of the tube-like member located within the open interior at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the tube-like member, said partition generally dividing the open interior into a lower chamber between the partition and the lower end and into an upper chamber between the partition and the upper end; a passageway defined by and extending through the partition to allow fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers; a plug member extending across the open interior of the lower chamber and sealing the open end of the lower chamber at a position spaced from the partition; a resilient member initially positioned within the passageway in a resiliently sealing state to establish a fluid-tight seal within the passageway for preventing fluid communication therethrough; a shaft member connected to the resilient member and extending within the open interior of the tube-like member by which to apply force for removing the resilient member from within the passageway to open the passageway to fluid communication therethrough, and said shaft member and resilient member adapted to be reciprocated within the tube-like member in a generally axial direction while permitting descent by force of gravity. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A cartridge in which to conduct a coagulation related analytical test on fluid, comprising:
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a tube-like member having an open interior extending generally axially therethrough from a open lower end to an upepr end;
a partition of the tube-like member located within the open interior at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the tube-like member, said partition generally dividing the open interior into a lower chamber between the partition and the lower end and into an upper chamber between the partition and the upper end;a means extending across the open interior of the lower chamber and initially sealing the open end of the lower chamber at a position spaced from the partition;
means for intitially sealing the passageway to fluid communication therethrough and for subsequently selectively opening the passageway to fluid communication therethrough;a plunger assembly having an elongated plunger shaft extending into the upper chamber; retarding means connected to one end of the plunger shaft within the chamber and operative for interacting with a fluid in the upper chamber and retarding movement of the plunger shaft through the fluid in a predetermined relation to the viscosity of the fluid; and a contact member connected to the other end of the plunger shaft and located exteriorly of the upper end of the tube-like member, said contact member defining a contact surface facing toward the upper end of the tube-like member, the contact surface spaced from the upper end of the tube-like member a predetermined distance to allow the insertion of lifting means therein to allow lifting of the plunger assembly during the analytical test. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification