Disposable cartridge for investigating physical properties of blood

Abstract

A disposable cartridge for measuring the physical properties of blood is disclosed. A waste compartment supports a platform having first and second syringe fittings. First and second syringes containing blood samples to be measured are positioned within the fittings. At least one testing station is located on the platform for subjecting blood flowing from one of the syringes to a test station, and the testing station is connected at a second end to the waste compartment. Tests on blood running through each of the blood channels may be conducted by inducing various platelet activation conditions, such as piercing a channel, or putting a platelet activating substance within a test channel. The cartridge interfaces with a test stand which will measure pressure changes within each of the test channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A disposable cartridge for measuring . .the.!. properties of blood comprising: a waste compartment for receiving blood samples which have been subject to measuring;   a platform supported on said waste compartment including first and second fluidic couplings.Iadd., .Iaddend.which receive . .the.!. front tip.Iadd.s .Iaddend.of first and second syringes which contain blood samples, . .connecting.!. .Iadd.wherein said fluidic couplings connect .Iaddend.said platform and syringes together. ., forming.!. .Iadd.to form .Iaddend. a leak-proof assembly, said fluidic couplings providing a pressurizing fluid to said syringes and .Iadd.each .Iaddend.having an outlet for delivering pressurized blood;   .Iadd.first .Iaddend.guide means for supporting said syringes in alignment with said fluidic couplings;   first and second blood-carrying tubes mounted along a routing path on a surface, connected to each of said outlets;   a punching mechanism comprising:   a ram operated punching needle, said needle being positioned during a punching operation by a .Iadd.second .Iaddend.guide .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to punch an opening in said first blood carrying tube, permitting blood to exit through said opening;   a first domed chamber receiving . .the.!. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.end of said first blood-carrying tube, and receiving a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.pressurizing fluid from a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.source of pressurizing fluid . .for.!..Iadd., said receipt of said first pressurizing fluid .Iaddend.displacing air through a restricted orifice, . .and for.!. .Iadd.said first source of pressurizing fluid .Iaddend.providing a pressure transducer connection which measures changes in blood pressure occurring during a flow of blood through said first blood-carrying tube into said first domed chamber, .Iadd.said flow of blood .Iaddend.displacing .Iadd.first .Iaddend.pressurizing fluid through said restrictive orifice into said waste compartment; and   a second domed chamber receiving . .the.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.distal end of said second blood carrying tube, and receiving a .Iadd.second .Iaddend.pressurizing fluid . .for.!. .Iadd.from a second source of pressurizing fluid said receipt of said second pressurizing fluid .Iaddend.displacing air through a restricted orifice in said second domed chamber, . .as well as.!. .Iadd.said second source of pressurizing fluid .Iaddend.providing a connection to a pressure transducer for measuring changes in blood pressure in said second blood-carrying tube from blood flowing through said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.domed chamber.Iadd., said blood flow .Iaddend.displacing .Iadd.said second .Iaddend.pressurizing fluid through said restrictive orifice into said waste compartment.   
     
     
       2. The disposable cartridge of claim 1 wherein said second blood-carrying tube contains a platelet-induced body. 
     
     
       3. The disposable cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a vertically extending conduit connected to said fluidic couplings which is received in said syringes, and supplies said pressurizing fluid to said syringes. 
     
     
       4. The disposable cartridges of claim 3 wherein said guide means position said syringes to be tangential to a rear edge of said cartridge so that said syringes can be located against a common heating surface. 
     
     
       5. The disposable cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a tapered chamber having an axis aligned with said punching needle, said chamber tapered to receive an optical sensor for detecting blood exiting from a punched hole in said first blood-carrying tube. 
     
     
       6. The disposable cartridge of claim 5 wherein said tapered chamber includes an inlet for receiving a saline solution which washes blood from said hole punched in said first blood-carrying tube. 
     
     
       7. The disposable cartridge of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second blood-carrying tubes .Iadd.are supported .Iaddend.in a common plane to permit said tubes to be heated by a heating surface. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for measuring the properties of blood comprising: a disposable cartridge including first and second supports for vertically supporting two blood-filled syringes, in first and second fluidic couplings forming a sealed assembly therewith, said couplings having inlets for receiving a pressurized fluid, and outlets for supplying blood . .and.!..Iadd., and said disposable cartridge further including .Iaddend.first and second testing channels for carrying blood from said outlets, and a waste receptacle for receiving tested blood from said first and second testing channels; and,   a test stand for receiving said cartridge, said test stand having a heater for maintaining said blood-filled syringes at a constant temperature, and including means for maintaining plungers associated with said syringes in a fixed position when said disposable cartridge is receiving a pressurizing fluid, and a ram which operates a punching needle at a constant speed for punching a hole having a precise diameter in one of said testing channels.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said test stand further comprises a second heater for maintaining said first and second testing channels at a constant temperature. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an optical sensor support for maintaining an optical sensor positioned with respect to a bleeding chamber in one of said testing channels. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said test stand further provides a connection between a bleeding chamber centrally positioned with respect to said . .channel hole.!. .Iadd.punching needle .Iaddend.and a source of saline solution. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said test stand includes a source of pressurizing fluid coupled to said fluidic coupling inlets when said cartridge is received in said test stand. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said test stand includes first and second pressure transducers which measure the blood pressure in said first and second testing chambers. 
     
     
       14. A disposable cartridge for measuring physical properties of blood comprising: a waste compartment supporting a platform, said platform having at least one fluidic coupling, and having   a guide for positioning at least one syringe holding a blood sample into said fluidic coupling which forms a sealed assembly . .therewith.!. .Iadd.with said syringe.Iaddend.;   at least one testing station.Iadd., .Iaddend.located on said platform.Iadd., .Iaddend.for subjecting blood flowing from said syringe to a testing condition, and connected .Iadd.to said waste compartment .Iaddend.to discharge tested blood in .Iadd.to .Iaddend.said waste compartment; and   conduit means connecting said at least one syringe to said testing station.   
     
     
       15. A disposable cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said testing station comprises means for creating a precise opening in said conduit means to simulate bleeding. 
     
     
       16. A disposable cartridge according to claim 14 further comprising a second syringe having a blood sample.Iadd., said second syringe .Iaddend.forming a sealed assembly with said cartridge.Iadd., .Iaddend.and a second testing station which includes a flow channel connected to said second syringe having a blood sample . .which includes.!..Iadd., said flow channel including .Iaddend.a blood platelet activating substance. 
     
     
       17. The disposable . .apparatus.!. .Iadd.cartridge .Iaddend.of claim 14 further comprising a conduit extending through said fluidic coupling along an axis of said syringe, and connected to receive a pressurizing media. 
     
     
       18. The disposable cartridge of claim 14, wherein said test station further comprises a columnar pressure chamber having a volume of fluid immiscible with blood which is displaced by said blood, and which is connectable to a pressure transducer for monitoring pressure resulting from blood flowing into said columnar pressure chamber. 
     
     
       19. The disposable cartridge of claim 14 wherein said testing station includes means for introducing a shear force to blood flowing in said channel, thereby activating blood platelets.