Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090043240 | Method and apparatus for blood transport using a pressure controller in measurement of blood characteristics - A method and app for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller in connection with a blood measurement system. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048535 | Detecting Cross-contamination in Blood Measurements with a Multilumen Catheter - The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide accurate measurement of glucose or other analytes from a multilumen catheter in the presence of infusion of substances, including glucose. Examples of “multilumen catheters” include central venous catheters having multiple lumens, midline catheters having multiple lumens, multiple catheters configured or emplaced such that their lumens are in proximity to each other, and, in the case of indwelling analyte sensors, a catheter with a lumen for infusion and an indwelling sensor spaced apart from the infusion lumen. For blood withdrawal, anti-cross contamination controls can prevent the entrainment of blood which might be contaminated with feeding fluids or medications that are administered through other lumens within the catheter and in proximity of the blood sampling port. Cross contamination can occur under various situations, and is known to occur when the patient is connected to a ventilator. The ventilator cyclically raises the intra-thoracic pressure and diminishes blood flow rate in the central veins returning to the heart. The diminished flow can increase the chances for cross-contamination when additional lumens are introducing fluids during a draw sample. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048576 | Managing Cross-contamination in Blood Samples Withdrawn from a Multilumen Catheter - The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide accurate measurement of glucose or other analytes from a multilumen catheter in the presence of infusion of substances, including glucose. Examples of “multilumen catheters” include central venous catheters having multiple lumens, midline catheters having multiple lumens, multiple catheters configured or emplaced such that their lumens are in proximity to each other, and, in the case of indwelling analyte sensors, a catheter with a lumen for infusion and an indwelling sensor spaced apart from the infusion lumen. For blood withdrawal, anti-cross contamination controls can prevent the entrainment of blood which might be contaminated with feeding fluids or medications that are administered through other lumens within the catheter and in proximity of the blood sampling port. Cross contamination can occur under various situations, and is known to occur when the patient is connected to a ventilator. The ventilator cyclically raises the intra-thoracic pressure and diminishes blood flow rate in the central veins returning to the heart. The diminished flow can increase the chances for cross-contamination when additional lumens are introducing fluids during a draw sample. | 02-19-2009 |
20090054753 | Variable Sampling Interval for Blood Analyte Determinations - The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of glucose with variable intervals between measurements, allowing more efficient measurement with greater patient safety. A method according to the present invention can comprise measuring the value of an analyte such as glucose at a first time; determining a second time from a patient condition, an environmental condition, or a combination thereof; then measuring the value of the analyte at the second time (where the second time can be expressed as an interval after the first time, an absolute time, or a time indicated when certain patient or environmental conditions, or both, are reached or detected). The second time can be determined, as an example, from a comparison of the analyte value at the first time with a threshold. The interval between the first time and the second time can be related to the difference between the analyte value at the first time and the threshold; e.g., the closer to the threshold, the closer the two measurement times. The invention can be used with automated measurement systems, allowing the system to determine measurement times and automatically make measurements at the determined times, reducing operator interaction and operator error. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054754 | CLINICIAN-CONTROLLED SEMI-AUTOMATED MEDICATION MANAGEMENT - The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses of medication management based upon active authorization of medication infusion by a clinician that can provide for effective management of an analyte in a patient's blood, reducing the opportunities for human error common with current manual systems while still placing final control of the medication management with the human clinician. For example, a semi-automated glucose management system can measure the glucose level in a patient's blood, recommend infusion parameters to a clinician who can authorize an infusion of glucose or insulin, and infuse the glucose or insulin into the patient. | 02-26-2009 |
20090088615 | Indwelling Fiber Optic Probe for Blood Glucose Measurements - An indwelling fiber optic probe can be used to make in vivo blood glucose measurements through a central venous catheter. The fiber optic probe can operate in the near-infrared spectral region. The optical measurement can be backscattering, transmission, or a combination of both, depending on the optical configuration. | 04-02-2009 |
20090143770 | Medical luer fitting that promotes liquid mixing - A medical luer connection improves liquid mixing thereby reducing areas of low or stagnant flow within the plenum chamber formed between the male and female luer connectors. Stagnation or low flow areas in the plenum can be reduced by imparting a non-axial flow component to the fluid flow as it passes through the plenum. Improvement of the cleaning effectiveness of the luer connection reduces the amount of flushing fluid needed to clean the connection, reduces the residual blood matter at a fixed volume of fluid relative to a standard luer connection, or combinations of the above. | 06-04-2009 |
20090156975 | Robust System and Methods for Blood Access - Embodiments of the present invention provide robust systems for the removal and subsequent infusion of blood for measurement purposes, and embodiments of the present invention provide methods of operating such systems and providing capabilities such as predicting and avoiding occlusions and/or bubbles, managing occlusions and/or bubbles if they occur, automatic cleaning of the blood access system, and determining and managing the patency of the blood access site. Such operational challenges can occur during any of several phases of operation of a blood access system. Embodiments of the present invention can effectively incorporate a variety of inputs for the identification of trends consistent with present or pending occlusions. An embodiment of the present invention can be aware of the stage of operation, e.g., withdrawal, infusion, or cleaning, and the prior performance of the system. Embodiments of the present invention can have the ability to identify the location of the problem so that effective procedures can be used to resolve the problem. | 06-18-2009 |
20100094113 | HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING DURING AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD CONSTITUENTS - The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of analytes such as glucose with a variety of sensors in connection with hemodynamic monitoring. Some embodiments of the present invention enable the use of a single arterial access site for automated blood glucose measurement as well as hemodynamic monitoring. Some embodiments of the present invention can reduce or eliminate nuisance hemodynamic alarms. Some embodiments of the present invention can provide hemodynamic monitoring during an automated analyte measurement process. An example apparatus according to the present invention comprises a blood access system, adapted to remove blood from a body and infuse at least a portion of the blood back into the body. Such an apparatus also comprises an analyte sensor, mounted with or integrated into the blood access system such that the analyte sensor measures the analyte in the blood that has been removed from the body by the blood access system. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094114 | USE OF MULTIPLE CALIBRATION SOLUTIONS WITH AN ANALYTE SENSOR WITH USE IN AN AUTOMATED BLOOD ACCESS SYSTEM - The invention relates to an automated calibration procedure for analyte sensors such as glucose sensors. The system can provide a calibration point at zero analyte concentration as well as a second calibration point at a known analyte concentration or other pre-determined points. Although not restricted to two point calibration procedure, the system as described enables the system to create one or more calibration points. The use of multiple calibration points can allow the system to correct for both slope and bias drifts. The system also provides the opportunity to provide one or more validation samples. The present invention enables a multitude of options in both calibration and validation to ensure effective operation of the system. | 04-15-2010 |
20100113899 | Alignment System for Optically Sampling a Hand - This invention relates to measurements of material properties by determination of the response of a sample to incident radiation, and more specifically to the measurement of analytes such as glucose or alcohol in human tissue. Some example embodiments of the present invention provide an optical sampling apparatus including an optical subsystem, having a receiver for receiving light expressed from tissue; and an alignment subsystem, adapted to urge a portion of a hand placed in operative relationship with the alignment subsystem into a defined configuration relative to the receiver. In some such example embodiments, the alignment subsystem includes a substrate having a plurality of projections therefrom disposed in a pattern such that the projections urge a portion of a hand placed on the substrate to a defined configuration relative to the receiver. In some such example embodiments, the alignment subsystem includes a substrate having a surface defining a volume approximating the shape of a portion of a hand such that the volume urges a portion of a hand placed therein to a defined configuration relative to the receiver. In some such example embodiments, the alignment subsystem includes a surface having a generally U-shaped cross-section and extending for a distance, wherein the surface is mounted relative to the sampling means such that a finger placed in the U-shaped cross-section of the surface is urged to a defined configuration relative to the receiver. In some such sample embodiments, the alignment subsystem is customized to portion of the hand of a specific individual. | 05-06-2010 |
20100160747 | SELECTION OF PREFERRED SAMPLING LOCATION ON HAND VIA MINIMIZATION OF SAMPLING ERROR, AND OPTICAL ALIGNMENT FOR REPEATABLY SAMPLING TISSUE - The present invention relates to measurements of material properties by determination of the response of a sample to incident radiation, and more specifically to the measurement of analytes such as glucose or alcohol in human tissue. The invention is particularly useful in connection with noncontact optical sampling of skin. Some example embodiments of the invention provide for selection of preferred sampling locations responsive to optically-determined characteristics of the tissue. Some example embodiments of the invention provide for precise and repeatable alignment of the tissue based on optically-determined characteristics of the tissue. | 06-24-2010 |
20100168535 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES RELATED TO BLOOD ANALYTE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a blood analyte measurement system for the procurement of blood samples for measurement of blood properties such as analyte concentration or analyte presence. A blood access system can be coupled with a measurement system such as an electrochemical sensor, and can also be used with other measurement modalities. Embodiments of the present invention can facilitate accurate measurement of blood glucose by the clinician in a sterile manner. Embodiments of the present invention can also enable the calibration of the sensor at one or more calibration points. One desired analyte of measurement is glucose for the effective implementation of glycemic control protocols. Embodiments of the present invention can also be used for the measurement of other analytes such as arterial blood gases, lactate, hemoglobin, potassium and urea. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention can function effectively on a variety of blood access points and specifically enables glucose monitoring in an existing arterial line that is already in place for hemodynamic monitoring. The present invention does not consume a significant amount of blood. Some embodiments of the present invention can re-infuse the blood into the patient, which can facilitate operation of the system in a sterile manner. | 07-01-2010 |
20110060199 | DETERMINATION OF BLOOD PUMP SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND SAMPLE DILUTION USING A PROPERTY OF FLUID BEING TRANSPORTED - The use of an optical or other measurement in a blood access system enables the determination of a fluid sample appropriate for measurement on a real time basis. This information can be used to control the blood access system and related measurement processes. The determination can be based on, for example, at least one of: optical density, optical scatter, analyte level, temperature, the absolute level of any of the preceding, the stability of any of the preceding, the rate of change of any of the preceding, or the value of any of the preceding relative to another determination. The determination can be made using, for example, at least one of: electrochemical sensor, ion specific electrode, capacitance measurement, impedance measurement, inductance measurement, conductivity measurement, optical measurement, and ultrasound measurement. The present invention relates to determination of the quality of a biological sample in which determination of an analyte concentration is to be made, and various methods and apparatuses related thereto. An evaluation of sample quality can be made by monitoring the temporal changes in the sample properties or characteristics as the biological sample is procured or measured. The methods and apparatuses described herein can be used to evaluate the temporal characteristics of a sample during sample acquisition and/or during determination of the sample analyte or parameter of interest. The sample quality assurance methods and apparatuses described herein can thus be used to ensure that a valid sample has been procured by or presented to an instrument or measurement system for analyte determination, thereby preventing the measurement and reporting of analyte values for a sample that is unstable or otherwise non-representative of the biological system from which the sample was obtained. | 03-10-2011 |
20120065482 | DETERMINATION OF BLOOD PUMP SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND SAMPLE DILUTION USING A PROPERTY OF FLUID BEING TRANSPORTED - The present invention provides methods and apparatuses related to measurement of analytes, including measurements of analytes in samples withdrawn from a patient. | 03-15-2012 |