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US3910256A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automated blood analysis system

Assignee: PRIMARY CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
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Filing: 1974-07-22
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-07-22
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Abstract

Abstract A system for automatically withdrawing blood from a patient and testing various parameters of the blood, such as oxygen saturation, hemoglobin, gas content (PO2, PCO2) and pH, includes a withdrawal unit which automatically withdraws a measured volume of blood, and returns all of it to the patient except a small measured quantity which is provided to an analysis unit that measures the gas content and pH. The withdrawal unit includes provision for continuously monitoring patients'' blood pressure, irrigation from a standard I.V. source between blood withdrawals, or a constant low flush of saline, alternatively, as well as detection of any air in the blood, which results in shutting down the system and activating an air alarm. The withdrawal unit also has provision for automatically withdrawing a small sample of blood, measuring oxygen content, and returning all blood to the patient, all on a programmed basis. The analysis unit includes two-point gas and pH calibration and includes use of calibration fluid for washout. In each complete use cycle, blood from the withdrawal unit is washed into the analysis unit and blood in the analysis unit is moved and washed out using saline, water and calibration fluids. The withdrawal unit may be used alone to acquire blood samples, and the analysis unit may be fed by more than one withdrawal unit or by manually-acquired blood specimens.

Inventors

  • 👤 Justin S Clark
  • 👤 Lloyd George Veasy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 16:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00594; G01N35/00693

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A method of timing of blood withdrawal and examination system connected to a patient via a catheter, comprising the steps of: filling the system with at least one biologically inert fluid; calibrating the system; withdrawing blood, upon command, from the patient through the catheter into the system in fluid-to-fluid contact with the inert fluid; sensing the inert fluid/blood interface at a blood examination site; automatically and instantaneously discontinuing the withdrawal step when the sensing step occurs; applying pressure to the inert fluid to push substantially all of the blood out of the system through the catheter and back into the patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 101 words
A method of timing of blood withdrawal and examination system connected to a patient via a catheter, comprising the steps of: filling the system with at least one biologically inert fluid; calibrating the system; withdrawing blood, upon command, from the patient through the catheter into the system in fluid-to-fluid contact with the inert fluid; sensing the inert fluid/blood interface at a blood examination site; automatically and instantaneously discontinuing the withdrawal step when the sensing step occurs; applying pressure to the inert fluid to push substantially all of the blood out of the system through the catheter and back into the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the withdrawing and applying steps comprise the step of confining the flow of inert fluid and blood to laminar flow in passageways of uniform cross-sectional area and configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of terminating the withdrawing step if the sensing step does not occur within a predetermined time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of examining at least one blood characteristic at the blood examination site and providing a visual display of the results.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of initiating additional automated blood withdrawal and examination at other sites when said visually displayed results are abnormal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 118 words
A method of minimizing Blood loss during blood withdrawal and blood testing, comprising the steps of: withdrawing blood, upon command, from a patient through a catheter into a blood withdrawal system; discharging only a predetermined quantity of blood from the withdrawal system into a blood testing system while maintaining a physical separation between the two systems; creating a fluid/blood interface in the blood testing system; displacing in unison fluid, blood and the interface into the blood testing system; sensing the fluid/blood interface at a blood testing site; automatically discontinuing the displacing step when the sensing step occurs; testing the blood at said site; applying pressure to the blood to discharge blood from the blood testing system to waste.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 118 words
A method of minimizing Blood loss during blood withdrawal and blood testing, comprising the steps of: withdrawing blood, upon command, from a patient through a catheter into a blood withdrawal system; discharging only a predetermined quantity of blood from the withdrawal system into a blood testing system while maintaining a physical separation between the two systems; creating a fluid/blood interface in the blood testing system; displacing in unison fluid, blood and the interface into the blood testing system; sensing the fluid/blood interface at a blood testing site; automatically discontinuing the displacing step when the sensing step occurs; testing the blood at said site; applying pressure to the blood to discharge blood from the blood testing system to waste.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of terminating the displacing step if the sensing step does not occur within a predetermined time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of returning substantially all of the blood in the withdrawal system to the patient through the catheter.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of calibrating a blood monitoring system comprising the steps of: providing at least one source of calibration fluid; displacing calibration fluid from the source through lines of the system to at least one blood monitoring site; causing a calibration measurement in respect to the calibration fluid to be made at said site; removing a quantity of blood from the patient through a catheter; creating an interface between the blood and the calibration fluid; simultaneously displacing the calibration fluid and the blood within lines of the system so as to distinctly maintain the interface while evacuating fluid from and introducing blood at said site; causing a blood measurement to be made at said site.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of calibrating a blood monitoring system comprising the steps of: providing at least one source of calibration fluid; displacing calibration fluid from the source through lines of the system to at least one blood monitoring site; causing a calibration measurement in respect to the calibration fluid to be made at said site; removing a quantity of blood from the patient through a catheter; creating an interface between the blood and the calibration fluid; simultaneously displacing the calibration fluid and the blood within lines of the system so as to distinctly maintain the interface while evacuating fluid from and introducing blood at said site; causing a blood measurement to be made at said site.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the removing step precedes the displacing step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of flushing blood from the lines of the system following the last-mentioned causing step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of allowing the calibration fluid and the blood respectively to equilibrate at said site before causing said measurements to be made.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of calibrating a blood monitoring system comprising the steps of: placing one calibration fluid within lines of the system at one monitoring site and another calibration fluid within lines of the system at a second monitoring site; causing a calibration measurement to be made at each site in respect to the calibration fluid there disposed; removing blood from the patient through a catheter into lines of the system; evacuating calibration fluid from the sites and replacing the calibration fluid with blood; causing a blood measurement to be made at each said site.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of calibrating a blood monitoring system comprising the steps of: placing one calibration fluid within lines of the system at one monitoring site and another calibration fluid within lines of the system at a second monitoring site; causing a calibration measurement to be made at each site in respect to the calibration fluid there disposed; removing blood from the patient through a catheter into lines of the system; evacuating calibration fluid from the sites and replacing the calibration fluid with blood; causing a blood measurement to be made at each said site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 13 wherein each causing step comprises two separate measurements each made at a different time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said evacuating step comprises removing the two calibration fluids from said sites at different points in time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said placing step comprises separate acts each made at a different time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said placing, causing and evacuating steps, respectively, occur at essentially the same point in time.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2700320A Cited
US3043303A Cited
US3489145A Cited
US3648694A Cited
US3838682A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-06 1979-04-07 1979-10-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-06 1983-04-07 1983-10-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-06 1987-04-07 1987-10-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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