Blood testing system

• US 9,897,618 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C. A. Casyso GmbH
• Original Assignee: C. A. Casyso GmbH
• Inventors: Gorin, Michael, Hillman, Robert S., McCluskey, Cory Lee, Schwaiger, Hubert Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Siefke, Samuel P
• Application Number:
  US14/958,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20160091517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/04 Closures and closing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/06 Valves, specific forms thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/00 Investigating flow properties of materials, e.g. viscosity, plasticity; Analysing materials by determining flow properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4905 Determining clotting time of blood by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/86 involving blood coagulating time or factors, or their receptors

Abstract

Some embodiments of a blood coagulation testing system include an analyzer console device and a single-use cartridge component configured to releasably install into the console device. In some embodiments, the blood coagulation testing system can operate as an automated thromboelastometry system that is particularly useful, for example, at a point-of-care site.

Claims

1. A cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising;

a measurement chamber;

a mixing chamber;

a testing chamber formed therein, the measurement chamber in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and the mixing chamber in fluid communication with the testing chamber through ductwork connecting the chambers; and

a valve seat configured to block flow through the ductwork when sealed; and

a cover attachable to a side of the cartridge body, the cover comprising a valve molded to the cover, the valve comprising an elastomeric material configured to distend away from an internal surface of the cover and seal with the valve seat in the cartridge body upon application of an external pressure to the valve through an external surface of the cover.

2. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the valve is formed across an opening in the cover.

3. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of valves molded to the cover, the plurality of valves including the valve comprising the elastomeric material.

5. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the external pressure applied to the valve is applied by a mechanical device contacting the elastomeric material of the valve.

6. The cartridge device of claim 5, wherein the mechanical device is actuated by a solenoid.

7. The cartridge device of claim 4, wherein a valve of the plurality of valves molded to the cover is further configured to regulate fluid flow to an overflow chamber of the cartridge body.

8. The cartridge device of claim 4, wherein a valve of the plurality of valves molded to the cover is further configured to regulate fluid flow from a blood collection tube installed within a sample well of the cartridge body.

9. The cartridge device of claim 4, wherein a valve of the plurality of valves molded to the cover is located between the mixing chamber and the testing chamber.