Catheter Insertion Device with Blood Analyzer

Abstract

A device and method yielding a blood analysis employable in combination with an introducer for a catheter for a concurrent testing of blood from the introducer flash chamber during placement of a venous catheter. The device employs a colorimetric blood analysis to provide the user a visually discernable alert to the results of tested blood concurrent with the placement of the catheter with the introducer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for testing blood of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter or needle for being inserted into a vein or artery of a patient to convey a sample of blood from the patient;   a chamber in fluid communication with the catheter or needle, the chamber being formed by one or more sidewalls, the chamber being configured to receive a first portion of the sample of blood conveyed from the patient via the catheter or needle; and   a substrate arranged along at least one of the one or more sidewalls of the chamber, the substrate configured to generate, upon contact with the first portion of the sample of blood in the chamber, a visually discernable reaction to a presence, a non-presence or a threshold level of a substance, chemical or content in the first portion of the sample of blood, the visually discernable reaction being viewable through the at least one of the one or more sidewalls of the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that defines the one or more sidewalls that form the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sidewalls of the chamber define a fluid pathway from the catheter or needle to the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the visually discernable reaction is a dual threshold indication, in which a first visually discernable reaction is generated upon detection of a first threshold level of the substance, chemical or content in the first portion of the sample of blood, and in which a second visually discernable reaction is generated upon detection of a second threshold level of the substance, chemical or content in the first portion of the sample of blood. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a separation membrane within the fluid pathway proximate to the substrate, the separation membrane being configured to allow only blood plasma from the first portion of blood to contact the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a microporous membrane positioned in the chamber proximate the substrate, the microporous membrane being configured to retain at least some of the first portion of blood for a period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the catheter or needle is further configured to convey subsequent portions of the sample of blood so as to bypass the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for testing blood of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter or needle for being inserted into a vein or artery of a patient to convey a sample of blood from the patient;   a housing having an input in fluid communication with the catheter or needle, and an output, the housing defining a chamber being formed by one or more sidewalls, the chamber being configured to receive a first portion of the sample of blood conveyed from the patient via the catheter or needle; and   a substrate arranged along at least one of the one or more sidewalls of the chamber defined by the housing, the substrate configured to generate, upon contact with the first portion of the sample of blood in the chamber, a visually discernable reaction to a presence, a non-presence or a threshold level of a substance, chemical or content in the first portion of the sample of blood, the visually discernable reaction being viewable through the at least one of the one or more sidewalls of the chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the flash chamber is further configured to at least temporarily hold the first portion of blood of the sample of blood. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the one or more sidewalls of the chamber define a fluid pathway from the catheter or needle to the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the visually discernable reaction is a dual threshold indication, in which a first visually discernable reaction is generated upon detection of a first threshold level of the substance, chemical or content in the first portion of the sample of blood, and in which a second visually discernable reaction is generated upon detection of a second threshold level of the substance, chemical or content in the first portion of the sample of blood. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a separation membrane proximate the substrate, the separation membrane being configured to allow only blood plasma from the first portion of blood to contact the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a microporous membrane positioned in the chamber proximate the substrate, the microporous membrane being configured to retain at least some of the first portion of blood for a period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the catheter or needle is further configured to convey subsequent portions of the sample of blood so as to bypass the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the microporous membrane includes a clotting factor to clot at least some of the first portion of blood.