Disposable cartridge for fluid analysis

• US 8,741,233 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bardell, Ron, Wang, Tzu-Yu, Washa, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MERKLING, SALLY ANNE
• Application Number:
  US13/337,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20130164773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/68.1, 422/73, 422/400
• US Class Current: 422/554
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502776 specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1484 microstructural devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0321 One time use cells, e.g. integrally moulded
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/058 Flat flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/532 : with measurement of scattering and transmission

Abstract

A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical light scattering measurement channel is described. In use, processed sample may be introduced into a sheath fluid channel at an angle, α, of approximately 90 degrees, relative to the direction of flow of the sheath fluid. In addition, delivering the sample from the side into the sheath fluid may facilitate better positioning of the core within the hydrodynamic focusing channel for measurement.

Claims

1. A disposable cartridge for blood analysis comprising:

a sample introduction port for receiving a fluid sample;

a sample loading channel in fluid communication with the sample introduction port;

a reagent channel in fluid communication with the sample loading channel, the reagent channel including a mixing region wherein the fluid sample is mixed with a reagent to produce a processed sample;

a sheath channel in fluid communication with the reagent channel, the sheath channel for carrying a flow of a sheath fluid, wherein the reagent channel is configured to deliver the processed sample through a sidewall of the sheath channel and introduce the processed sample into the sheath channel at an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees relative to a direction of fluid flow of the sheath fluid within the sheath channel;

a measurement channel including a hydrodynamic focusing region disposed adjacent a transparent window, wherein the processed sample is carried by the sheath fluid from the sheath channel into the measurement channel and past the transparent window; and

an on-board waste storage reservoir in fluid communication with the measurement channel, the on-board waste storage reservoir configured to receive the processed sample and the sheath fluid after they have passed through the measurement channel.

2. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge does not include a bifurcated sheath channel.

3. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a waste channel configured to carry the processed sample and the sheath fluid to the on-board waste storage reservoir, the waste channel entering the on-board waste storage reservoir in a top region of the on-board waste storage reservoir such that the processed sample and the sheath fluid enter the on-board waste storage reservoir from the top region and flow toward a bottom region of the on-board waste storage reservoir.

4. The disposable cartridge of claim 3, further comprising a via disposed between the measurement channel and the waste channel, the via having a reduced cross-sectional area relative to a cross-sectional area of the measurement channel.

5. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, wherein the reagent channel is configured to deliver the processed sample through the sidewall of the sheath channel and introduce the processed sample into the sheath channel at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to a direction of fluid flow of the sheath fluid within the sheath channel.

6. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, wherein the reagent channel is configured to deliver the processed sample through the sidewall of the sheath channel and introduce the processed sample into the sheath channel at an angle of between 85 and 95 degrees relative to a direction of fluid flow of the sheath fluid within the sheath channel.

7. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an optical absorbance measurement channel.

8. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sheath channel does not include a narrowed region upstream of the measurement channel.

9. The disposable cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least part of the sample introduction port is configured to mate with and receive at least part of a syringe for delivery of the fluid sample into the disposable cartridge.