US5066859A — Hematocrit and oxygen saturation blood analyzer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 275 words

An apparatus for measuring hematocrit and oxygen saturation levels of a volume of blood, comprising: a housing including a key pad and display panel thereon; a receptacle sized to store a quantity of blood therein; a carriage electrically connected to said housing, said carriage being sized and configured to receive and support said receptacle; a light source disposed adjacent said carriage, said light source being operative to illuminate said quantity of blood within said receptacle with first and second wavelengths of light; a first sensing means disposed adjacent said carriage for producing a hematocrit signal as a function of said first wavelength of light after scattering thereof by said blood; a second sensing means disposed adjacent said carriage for producing an oxygen saturation signal as a function of said first and said second wavelengths of light after scattering thereof by said blood; a third sensing means disposed adjacent said carriage for producing a calibration signal for the purpose of calibrating said apparatus; and a signal processing means disposed within said housing, said signal processing means comprising: (a) means for filtering said hematocrit signal and said oxygen saturation signal from system noise and outside interference; (b) means for producing an adjusted hematocrit signal and an adjusted oxygen saturation signal, said adjusted hematocrit signal comprising said hematocrit signal as compensated for effects of oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood pH and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal comprising said oxygen saturation signal as compensated for effects of hematocrit, temperature, and blood pH; and (c) means for converting said adjusted hematocrit signal and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal to hematocrit and oxygen saturation measurements for output on said display panel.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 275 words

An apparatus for measuring hematocrit and oxygen saturation levels of a volume of blood, comprising: a housing including a key pad and display panel thereon; a receptacle sized to store a quantity of blood therein; a carriage electrically connected to said housing, said carriage being sized and configured to receive and support said receptacle; a light source disposed adjacent said carriage, said light source being operative to illuminate said quantity of blood within said receptacle with first and second wavelengths of light; a first sensing means disposed adjacent said carriage for producing a hematocrit signal as a function of said first wavelength of light after scattering thereof by said blood; a second sensing means disposed adjacent said carriage for producing an oxygen saturation signal as a function of said first and said second wavelengths of light after scattering thereof by said blood; a third sensing means disposed adjacent said carriage for producing a calibration signal for the purpose of calibrating said apparatus; and a signal processing means disposed within said housing, said signal processing means comprising: (a) means for filtering said hematocrit signal and said oxygen saturation signal from system noise and outside interference; (b) means for producing an adjusted hematocrit signal and an adjusted oxygen saturation signal, said adjusted hematocrit signal comprising said hematocrit signal as compensated for effects of oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood pH and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal comprising said oxygen saturation signal as compensated for effects of hematocrit, temperature, and blood pH; and (c) means for converting said adjusted hematocrit signal and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal to hematocrit and oxygen saturation measurements for output on said display panel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for producing adjusted hematocrit and oxygen saturation signals comprises a memory module, said memory module being used to store data tables which are accessed to produce said adjusted hematocrit signal and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage is configured in a manner so as to allow said hematocrit and said oxygen saturation levels to be measured while said quantity of blood is in a flowing mode.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage is configured in a manner so as to allow said hematocrit and said oxygen saturation levels to be measured while said quantity of blood is in a static mode.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes a blood mixing mechanism to prevent red blood cells from settling in said receptacle when said hematocrit and said oxygen saturation measurements are being taken.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said blood mixing mechanism comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to said carriage and said second end being attached to a motor disposed within said housing, said motor being operative to resonate said carriage.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said blood mixing mechanism comprises an ultrasound emitter mounted to said carriage in a manner wherein sound waves from said emitter are directed toward said receptacle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said carriage includes a magnetizing means for subjecting said quantity of blood contained within said receptacle to magnetic effects to pull proteins away from red blood cells contained in said blood.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage is releasably connected to said housing so as to be interchangeable with other carriages which are of similar design but sized and configured to accommodate different receptacle sizes.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises first and second light emitting diodes, wherein light from said first diode and said second diode is merged into a single light emission path.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said light emission path comprises a first opticalfiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including an optical splitter disposed thereon which is operable to channel light from said first diode and said second diode into said first optical fiber.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said first diode is fabricated in a manner so as to produce and emit light from said first wavelength and said second diode is fabricated in a manner so as to produce and emit light from said second wavelength.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said first diode is active at different times than said second diode.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 148 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said carriage comprises: an elongate, horizontally oriented lower member having top and bottom surfaces, said top surface including a longitudinally extending recessed portion disposed therein which is sized and configured to receive said receptacle, said recessed portion further defining a first longitudinal axis on an interior surface thereof; and an elongate, horizontally oriented upper member, said upper member being movable between an open position and a closed position and having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface defining a second longitudinally extending axis thereon; said upper member being cooperatively engaged to said lower member such that when said upper member is in said closed position, said bottom surface of said upper member opposes said top surface of said lower member in a manner wherein said second longitudinal axis is in vertical alignment with and parallel to said first longitudinal axis.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said first optical fiber is disposed within said carriage in a manner wherein said proximal end of said first optical fiber is positioned within said recessed portion at a point on said first longitudinal axis.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 88 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said second sensing means for producing an oxygen saturation signal comprises: second and third optical fibers having proximal ends positioned on said first longitudinal axis on opposite sides of and equal distances from said proximal end of said first optical fiber; wherein a signal generated by the receipt of scattered light into said third optical fiber is used to compensate a signal generated by the receipt of scattered light into said second optical fiber in producing said oxygen saturation signal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 121 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said first sensing means for producing a hematocrit signal comprises: fourth and fifth optical fibers having proximal ends positioned on said first longitudinal axis on opposite sides of and equal distances from said first optical fiber, and equal distances from said second and third optical fibers, such that said second optical fiber is disposed between said first and fourth optical fibers, and said third optical fiber is disposed between said first and fifth optical fibers; wherein a signal generated by the receipt of scattered light into said fifth optical fiber is used to compensate a signal generated by the receipt of scattered light into said fourth optical fiber in producing said hematocrit signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 129 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said third sensing means for producing a calibration signal comprises: sixth and seventh optical fibers having proximal ends positioned on said second longitudinal axis in an orientation such that when said upper member is in said closed position, said sixth optical fiber is positioned at a point one-half the distance between said first optical fiber and said fourth optical fiber, and said seventh optical fiber is positioned at a point one-half the distance between said first optical fiber and said fifth optical fiber; wherein a signal generated by the receipt of scattered light into said seventh optical fiber is used to compensate a signal generated by the receipt of scattered light into said sixth optical fiber in producing said calibration signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said receptacle comprises: a syringe comprising an elongate, tubular member having a generally planar window disposed within a portion thereof, said window being constructed of a material which provides a repeatable optical path for said first and second wavelengths of light.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said window is concave.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said window is convex.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said syringe includes means to orient said syringe within said carriage such that light from said light source enters said syringe through said window and is reflected back through said window into said first sensing means and said sensing means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said receptacle comprises: a syringe comprising an elongate tubular member constructed of a material which provides a repeatable optical path for said first and second wavelengths of light.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 122 words

An apparatus for measuring hematocrit and oxygen saturation levels of a volume of blood comprising: a housing; a receptacle sized to store a quantity of blood therein; means formed on said housing for supporting said receptacle; a first sensing means carried by said housing for generating an electrical signal in response to detection of hematocrit in said quantity of blood; a second sensing means carried by said housing for generating an electrical signal in response to detection of oxygen saturation in said quantity of blood; means for oscillating said supporting means to maintain red blood cells in suspension in said quantity of blood within said receptacle; and means for magnetizing said supporting means to pull proteins away from said red blood cells.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 122 words

An apparatus for measuring hematocrit and oxygen saturation levels of a volume of blood comprising: a housing; a receptacle sized to store a quantity of blood therein; means formed on said housing for supporting said receptacle; a first sensing means carried by said housing for generating an electrical signal in response to detection of hematocrit in said quantity of blood; a second sensing means carried by said housing for generating an electrical signal in response to detection of oxygen saturation in said quantity of blood; means for oscillating said supporting means to maintain red blood cells in suspension in said quantity of blood within said receptacle; and means for magnetizing said supporting means to pull proteins away from said red blood cells.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for measuring hematocrit and oxygen saturation levels of a volume of blood comprising: a first means for producing a hematocrit signal as a function of the scattering of light from an infrared wavelength by said blood; a second means for producing an oxygen saturation signal as a function of the scattering of light from a red wavelength and said infrared wavelength by said blood; a third means for filtering said hematocrit signal and said oxygen saturation signal for system noise and outside interference; means for producing an adjusted hematocrit signal and an adjusted oxygen saturation signal, said adjusted hematocrit signal comprising said hematocrit signal as compensated for effects of oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood pH and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal comprising said oxygen saturation signal as compensated for effects of hematocrit, temperature, and blood pH; and means for producing hematocrit and oxygen saturation measurements as a function of said adjusted hematocrit and oxygen saturation signals.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for measuring hematocrit and oxygen saturation levels of a volume of blood comprising: a first means for producing a hematocrit signal as a function of the scattering of light from an infrared wavelength by said blood; a second means for producing an oxygen saturation signal as a function of the scattering of light from a red wavelength and said infrared wavelength by said blood; a third means for filtering said hematocrit signal and said oxygen saturation signal for system noise and outside interference; means for producing an adjusted hematocrit signal and an adjusted oxygen saturation signal, said adjusted hematocrit signal comprising said hematocrit signal as compensated for effects of oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood pH and said adjusted oxygen saturation signal comprising said oxygen saturation signal as compensated for effects of hematocrit, temperature, and blood pH; and means for producing hematocrit and oxygen saturation measurements as a function of said adjusted hematocrit and oxygen saturation signals.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for calibrating said apparatus.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-11-18	1995-05-20	1995-11-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-11-18	1999-05-20	1999-11-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-11-18	2003-05-20	2003-11-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hematocrit and oxygen saturation blood analyzer

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