Fluid sample collection and delivery system and methods particularly adapted for body fluid sampling
First Claim
1. A system for transporting a blood sample directly from a patient'"'"'s body to test equipment capable of analyzing a blood sample, comprising:
- an intervascular means for selectively drawing a blood sample from a patient'"'"'s body;
a fluid conduit having a first and a second end and an intermediate portion, said first end coupled to said intervascular means for receiving said blood sample therein and said intermediate portion of said fluid conduit including at least first and second input ports;
a source of blood miscible fluid;
a source of blood immiscible fluid;
a first tube arrangement coupling said source of blood miscible fluid to said first input port;
a second tube arrangement with an inputting means for selectively introducing blood immiscible fluid into said second input port;
a transportable cassette assembly, wherein said second end of the fluid conduit extends into the cassette, said first tube arrangement extending from said source of blood miscible fluid through said transportable cassette assembly and to said first input port, and said second tube arrangement extending from said source of blood immiscible fluid through said transportable cassette assembly and to said second input port;
a controlling means selectively attachable to said cassette assembly for selectively controlling the introduction of said blood sample, said immiscible fluid and said miscible fluid into said fluid conduit, thereby allowing any juxtapositional sequence of blood, immiscible fluid and miscible fluid to be produced within said fluid conduit;
a pump selectively attachable to said cassette assembly, wherein said pump engages said first tube arrangement and said fluid conduit within said cassette assembly, said pump pumping the sequence of fluids through said fluid conduit at a first flow rate and pumping said miscible fluid through said first tube arrangement at a second flow rate, wherein said first and second flow rates are controlled by said controlling means; and
a mechanical directing means attached through said cassette assembly to said second end of the fluid conduit for directing the position of the second end relative test equipment whereby only a selected sample of blood in said sequence of fluids is received by the test equipment.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed apparatus for transporting a sample of body fluid such as blood from a first location to a remote test site location. The apparatus operates in conjunction with a fluid manifold module which has a first sample input port, a second washing fluid input port and a third input port for receiving air. There are tubes coupled to said first, second and third input ports which are coupled together and coupled to a sample output line which extends from the first location to the remote location. The manifold contains check valves with one valve for blood and one valve for washing fluid and a diaphragm pump for air. There are logic controls which selectively operate the valves and pump to allow the sample line to receive a sample separated by air barriers from washing fluid solution. In this manner, a predetermined volume of sample is transported from the first location to the remote test site location. At the test site location, the presence of sample is detected by detection sensors and the sample is directed to a test site. The remainder of materials such as the washing fluid and air are discharged at the remote location. The system includes flexible tubing and the fluids as present are pumped from the first location to the remote location by ways of a peristaltic pump or other pump in direct contact with the tubing.
317 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A system for transporting a blood sample directly from a patient'"'"'s body to test equipment capable of analyzing a blood sample, comprising:
-
an intervascular means for selectively drawing a blood sample from a patient'"'"'s body; a fluid conduit having a first and a second end and an intermediate portion, said first end coupled to said intervascular means for receiving said blood sample therein and said intermediate portion of said fluid conduit including at least first and second input ports; a source of blood miscible fluid; a source of blood immiscible fluid; a first tube arrangement coupling said source of blood miscible fluid to said first input port; a second tube arrangement with an inputting means for selectively introducing blood immiscible fluid into said second input port; a transportable cassette assembly, wherein said second end of the fluid conduit extends into the cassette, said first tube arrangement extending from said source of blood miscible fluid through said transportable cassette assembly and to said first input port, and said second tube arrangement extending from said source of blood immiscible fluid through said transportable cassette assembly and to said second input port; a controlling means selectively attachable to said cassette assembly for selectively controlling the introduction of said blood sample, said immiscible fluid and said miscible fluid into said fluid conduit, thereby allowing any juxtapositional sequence of blood, immiscible fluid and miscible fluid to be produced within said fluid conduit; a pump selectively attachable to said cassette assembly, wherein said pump engages said first tube arrangement and said fluid conduit within said cassette assembly, said pump pumping the sequence of fluids through said fluid conduit at a first flow rate and pumping said miscible fluid through said first tube arrangement at a second flow rate, wherein said first and second flow rates are controlled by said controlling means; and a mechanical directing means attached through said cassette assembly to said second end of the fluid conduit for directing the position of the second end relative test equipment whereby only a selected sample of blood in said sequence of fluids is received by the test equipment.
-
-
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a detection means coupled to said controlling means for detecting the presence of said blood sample, said immiscible fluid and said miscible fluid within said sequence of fluids.
-
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said immiscible fluid is air and said detection means includes an optical switch for detecting transitions in transparency between blood, miscible fluid and air within said sequence of fluids.
-
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said directing means includes an optical device that detects transitions in transparency between blood, miscible fluid and air within said sequence of fluids, said directing means directing said second end of the fluid conduit to said test equipment when said device detects a desired segment of blood in said sequence of fluids, thereby directing said desired segment of blood to said test equipment.
-
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said miscible fluid is a transparent saline solution.
-
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said inputting means includes a metered pump, for injecting a controlled volume of said immiscible fluid into said fluid conduit as directed by said controlling means.
-
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said detection means, said first end of the fluid conduit, and the first and second input ports are contained within a remote assembly attachable to said patient'"'"'s body at a position adjacent said intervascular means, thereby limiting the distance traversed by said intervascular means from said patient'"'"'s body to said fluid conduit and limiting the amount of blood drawn from said patient'"'"'s body to produce a desired sequence of fluids.
-
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said test equipment, said controlling means, said pump, and said directing means are commonly formed in a single operational device, wherein said cassette assembly is selectively attachable to said operational device enabling said pump to engage said fluid conduit and said first tube arrangement within said cassette assembly.
-
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said detection means within said remote assembly is coupled to an electrical connection means within said cassette assembly, said electrical connection coupling said controlling means to said detection means when said cassette assembly is affixed to said single operational device.
-
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said metered pump is a diaphragm pump coupled to a pneumatic source controlled by said controlling means, said pneumatic source operating said diaphragm pump to provide a controlled volume of said immiscible fluid into said fluid conduit.
-
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pneumatic source is contained within said single operational device and said diaphragm pump is pneumatically coupled to said cassette assembly, said cassette assembly including a pneumatic coupling means therein, said pneumatic coupling means pneumatically interconnecting said diaphragm pump to said pneumatic source, when said cassette assembly is affixed to said single operation device.
-
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pump is a peristaltic pump having a series of oscillating fingers that engage and cause fluid flow within said first tube arrangement and said fluid conduit when said cassette assembly is affixed to said single operational device.
-
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flow rates within said first tube arrangement and said fluid conduit created by said peristaltic pump may be variable.
-
14. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a occlusion detection means coupled to said controlling means for detecting occlusions in said fluid conduit.
-
15. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a flow direction means selectively attachable to said fluid conduit for causing said sequence of fluids in said fluid conduit to flow toward said intervascular means rather than through said second end, thereby causing said sequence of fluids in said fluid conduit to flow into said patient'"'"'s body.
-
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said flow direction means includes a first valving means that selectively restricts the flow of said sequence of fluids to said output port, thereby causing said sequence of fluids to flow toward said intervascular means.
-
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a valving means controlled by said controlling means for controlling the flow of said miscible fluid through said first tube arrangement.
Specification