Flow detection appartus and method
First Claim
1. A method for determining coagulation time of a blood sample comprising the following steps:
- drawing a blood sample into a fluid passageway, the blood sample having a boundary surface along said passageway;
applying positive and negative pressures to the blood sample by varying the volume in a pressure chamber fluidly coupled to said passageway to reciprocate the boundary surface of the blood sample back and forth along said fluid passageway;
initiating blood coagulation;
continuously monitoring the location of the boundary surface to obtain continuous boundary position data; and
analyzing the boundary position data to determine the blood coagulation time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fluid sample tester assembly (12) comprises a cartridge (6) having a pressure chamber (22) and entrance port (20) connected by a passageway (24). An analyte reagent (36) is positioned along the fluid passageway so that when a liquid sample (28) is drawn through the entrance port into the passageway, the analyte reagent mixes with the sample. The sample is preferably drawn into the cartridge by temporarily reducing the volume of the pressure chamber, applying the sample to the entrance port and then returning the pressure chamber to its initial volume; this can also be done by heating the chamber, contacting the sample and then cooling the chamber. The end of the sample defines a boundary surface (30) along the fluid passageway. Positive and negative pressure is applied to the sample to cause the boundary surface to oscillate within the passageway. The position of the boundary surface is continuously monitored so that continuous boundary position data is obtained and is analyzed to obtain a flow-related characteristic, typically speed of coagulation, of the sample.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for determining coagulation time of a blood sample comprising the following steps:
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drawing a blood sample into a fluid passageway, the blood sample having a boundary surface along said passageway; applying positive and negative pressures to the blood sample by varying the volume in a pressure chamber fluidly coupled to said passageway to reciprocate the boundary surface of the blood sample back and forth along said fluid passageway; initiating blood coagulation; continuously monitoring the location of the boundary surface to obtain continuous boundary position data; and analyzing the boundary position data to determine the blood coagulation time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification