Method and apparatus for blood glucose testing from a reversible infusion line

• US 7,162,290 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palco Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Palco Laboratories
• Inventors: Levin, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/228,827
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/331 used as turbidity change detectors, e.g. for priming-blood or plasma-hemoglubine-interface detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps

Abstract

A method and apparatus for periodically and automatically testing and monitoring a patient'"'"'s blood glucose level. A disposable testing unit is carried by the patient'"'"'s body and has a testing chamber in fluid communication with infusion lines and a catheter connected to a patient blood vessel. A reversible peristaltic pump pumps the infusion fluid forwardly into the patient blood vessel and reverses its direction to pump blood into the testing chamber to perform a glucose level test. The presence of blood in the testing chamber is sensed by a LED/photodetector pair or pairs and when the appropriate blood sample is present in the test chamber, a glucose oxidase electrode is energized to obtain the blood glucose level. The resulting glucose level is displayed on a monitor. The unit is typically used for a patient in an intensive care unit.

Claims

1. Apparatus for periodically and automatically testing a patient'"'"'s blood glucose level, comprising:

a disposable testing unit,

a first infusion line having first and second ends connected at said first end to a catheter in a blood vessel of said patient and at said second end to said disposable testing unit,

a second infusion line having first and second ends wherein said first end is connected to a source of infusion fluid and said second end is connected to said disposable testing unit, and

a reversible peristaltic pump connected to said second infusion line, said pump adapted to either pump infusion fluid forwardly through said first and second infusion lines and said disposable testing unit into said patient blood vessel, to stop pumping, or to pump infusion fluid and blood backwardly from said patient blood vessel into and through said disposable testing unit,

said disposable testing unit having a testing chamber in fluid communication with said infusion lines, a blood glucose testing means, and fluid opacity sensing means for sensing the opacity of said infusion fluid and blood pumped backwardly through said testing chamber wherein fluid opacity sensing means comprises a first light source and a first photodetector positioned adjacent a first end of said testing chamber and a second light source and a second photodetector positioned adjacent a second end of said testing chamber and for determining when said testing chamber is filled with undiluted blood from said patient blood vessel by comparing outputs from said first and second photodetectors, and when said outputs are equal and sufficiently great to indicate the presence of blood, an undiluted sample is present in said test chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second light sources are LEDs.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said testing unit comprises a plurality of molded layers and wherein said testing chamber is formed between two adjacent layers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said adjacent layers are transparent and wherein said light source and photodetector are carried by said adjacent layers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said testing unit comprises first, second, third and fourth molded plastic layers, wherein said test chamber is formed between said second and third layers, wherein said light sources are mounted between said first and second layers, and wherein said photodetectors are mounted between said third and fourth layers.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising flexible circuits carried on surfaces of said layers to energize said light sources and photodetectors.