Apparatus for analyzing the influence of additive reagents upon the coagulation of blood and related methods

• US 4,671,939 A
• Filed: 07/02/1985
• Issued: 06/09/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Technidyne Corporation (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Original Assignee: International Technidyne Corporation (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Inventors: Mintz, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/751,325
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/102, 422/99, 422/61, 422/73, 356/246, 436/166, 436/165, 436/69, 436/501, 436/502, 436/510, 436/814
• US Class Current: 422/402
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/86 involving blood coagulating time or factors, or their receptors

Abstract

There is shown a cartridge assembly which is used to analyze the coagulation of blood when subjected to an additive reagent. A base plate is divided into two sections as a right and left section by means of a longitudinal groove. Located on the right side of the groove is a plurality of first cylindrical chambers. Located on the left side of the groove is a second plurality of cylindrical chambers. The chambers on the right side of the groove have a top depression with sloping sidewalls which are adapted to receive extending tapered flanges associated with the chambers on the left side of the groove. In this manner upon folding or pivoting the cartridge about the groove, the chambers on the left and right side coact with one another. In operation the chambers on the left side of the groove receive a blood sample while the chambers on the right side of the groove receive a suitable reagent. When the apparatus is closed, the chambers communicate one with the other and a support shelf is formed between the chambers. The assembly can be agitated in order to provide a coagulation test.

Claims

1. Apparatus for analyzing the influence of additive reagents in a blood sample according to the coagulation time of said sample, comprising:

a plurality of transparent test chambers, each consisting of a lower cylindrical test chamber having a closed bottom and an opened top, with said opened top having sloping sidewalls extending into said chamber, with an upper cylindrical test chamber having a closed top and an opened bottom with said bottom surrounded by a projecting tapered flange for insertion into said opened top of said lower chamber and dimensioned when inserted to form a peripheral shelf between such chambers for supporting clotted blood,

reagent means effecting the clotting of blood located within said upper cylindrical chamber,

means associated with said lower test chambers for dividing a blood sample into said lower chambers prior to insertion of said upper chambers into said lower chambers,

locking means on said upper and lower chambers for sealing said chambers together when said upper chamber is inserted into said lower chamber to allow one to invert said apparatus to cause blood to enter said upper chamber and to clot according to said reagent whereby when said chambers are reinverted, said clotted blood will remain in said upper chamber due to said peripheral shelf.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including hinge means located between said upper and lower chambers to allow said upper chamber to pivot with respect to said lower chamber for insertion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means associated with said lower chambers comprises a common trough directed from one lower chamber to the next via said opened tops to allow blood to flow from a first lower chamber which is first filled and to overflow into said trough to the next lower chamber which is then filled and to repeat until all lower chambers are filled.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including numerical identification means for distinguishing said test chambers with said reagent means in said upper chambers being proportioned according to said numerical identification.