Portable test apparatus and associated method of performing a blood coagulation test
First Claim
1. A method of performing a prothrombin time test on a blood sample that contains an anticoagulant, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of conduits that extend from a first end to a second end, wherein at least one restriction is disposed between said first end and second end in each of said conduits, said plurality of conduits including at least one test conduit and at least one control conduit;
providing a normalizing agent in said at least one control conduit, wherein said normalizing agent is capable of counteracting effects of the anticoagulant in the blood sample;
drawing a predetermined volume of blood into each of said plurality of conduits;
simultaneously moving the blood in each of said plurality of conduits back and forth through said at least one restriction from a first position to a second position, wherein said normalizing agent in said control conduit mixes with the blood and creates a normalized blood sample;
timing how long it takes the blood in each of said test conduits to move from said first position to said second position, until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs;
analyzing the coagulation times occurring in said test conduit, to obtain a representative prothrombin time for the blood sample; and
using the normalized blood sample in the control conduit as a quality control sample to quantify the reliability of the prothrombin time test for the blood sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable device for performing coagulation tests on a patient'"'"'s blood. Blood is first drawn from a patient using a lancet. The blood is then supplied to a disposable cuvette placed within the testing device. The blood is drawn into multiple conduits within the cuvette. Each of the conduits contains a dried or lyophilized activation reagent that is rehydrated by the blood. The blood in each of the conduits is then reciprocally moved across a restricted region until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs. Since the coagulation time is being monitored in multiple conduits, a representation coagulation time for a given sample can be determined. In at least one of the conduits a normalizing control agent is present. The normalizing control agent counteracts any effects of anticoagulants present in the blood sample, thereby allowing the blood sample to have generally normal coagulation characteristics. The normalized blood is tested simultaneously with the untreated blood to provide a reference value against which the functionality of the test system and the quality of the sample can be judged.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of performing a prothrombin time test on a blood sample that contains an anticoagulant, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of conduits that extend from a first end to a second end, wherein at least one restriction is disposed between said first end and second end in each of said conduits, said plurality of conduits including at least one test conduit and at least one control conduit; providing a normalizing agent in said at least one control conduit, wherein said normalizing agent is capable of counteracting effects of the anticoagulant in the blood sample; drawing a predetermined volume of blood into each of said plurality of conduits; simultaneously moving the blood in each of said plurality of conduits back and forth through said at least one restriction from a first position to a second position, wherein said normalizing agent in said control conduit mixes with the blood and creates a normalized blood sample; timing how long it takes the blood in each of said test conduits to move from said first position to said second position, until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs; analyzing the coagulation times occurring in said test conduit, to obtain a representative prothrombin time for the blood sample; and using the normalized blood sample in the control conduit as a quality control sample to quantify the reliability of the prothrombin time test for the blood sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method of performing a prothrombin time test on a blood sample, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of conduits that extend from a first end to a second end, wherein at least one restriction is disposed between said first end and second end in each of said conduits, said plurality of conduits including at least one test conduit and at least one control conduit; providing an anticoagulant in said at least one control conduit, wherein said anticoagulant is capable of producing an abnormal blood sample with abnormal coagulation characteristic when mixed with the blood sample; drawing a predetermined volume of blood into each of said plurality of conduits; simultaneously moving the blood in each of said plurality of conduits back and forth through said at least one restriction from a first position to a second position, wherein said anticoagulant in said control conduit mixes with the blood and creates said abnormal blood sample; timing how long it takes the blood in each of said test conduits to move from said first position to said second position, until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs; analyzing the coagulation times occurring said test conduit, to obtain a representative prothrombin time for the blood sample; and using the abnormal blood sample in the control conduit as a quality control sample to quantify the reliability of the prothrombin time test for the blood sample. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification