IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0615927
(2006-12-22)
|
등록번호 |
US-8828320
(2014-09-09)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bardell, Ron L.
- Padmanabhan, Aravind
- Reutiman, Peter L.
- Rezachek, Tom M.
- Cox, James A.
- Fritz, Bernard S.
- Cabuz, Cleopatra
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Honeywell International Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Seager Tufte & Wickhem LLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
104 |
초록
▼
A system relating to sample analyzers, and more particular, to sample analyzers that are simple to operate and have a reduced risk of providing an erroneous result to a user. In some cases, the sample analyzer may be a portable sample analyzer that includes a disposable fluidic cartridge. The operat
A system relating to sample analyzers, and more particular, to sample analyzers that are simple to operate and have a reduced risk of providing an erroneous result to a user. In some cases, the sample analyzer may be a portable sample analyzer that includes a disposable fluidic cartridge. The operators of the analyzers need not be trained.
대표청구항
▼
1. A sample analyzer comprising: a housing;a cartridge disposed within and removable from the housing, the cartridge comprising: at least one flow channel comprising at least a first wall, a second wall, and a volume within the channel, wherein the second wall is positioned opposite to and spaced a
1. A sample analyzer comprising: a housing;a cartridge disposed within and removable from the housing, the cartridge comprising: at least one flow channel comprising at least a first wall, a second wall, and a volume within the channel, wherein the second wall is positioned opposite to and spaced a distance from the first channel wall; anda first electrode situated on the first wall and extending into the at least one flow channel such that the first electrode is in contact with a fluid flowing through the at least one flow channel; anda second electrode situated on the second wall and extending into the at least one flow channel such that the second electrode is in contact with the fluid flowing through the at least one flow channel; and a signal source connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, the signal source in combination with the first and second electrodes capable of measuring voltage and current characteristics of a signal across the at least one flow channel; anda controller disposed within the housing and configured to receive an output signal from the signal source in combination with the first and second electrodes, the output signal indicative of a voltage and current characteristic of the signal across the at least one flow channel, the controller providing no result, an error message or an error code when the voltage and current characteristic measured by the first and second electrodes and the signal source is outside of a certain range for the fluid. 2. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein: voltage and current characteristics of the signal source across the electrodes is indicative of a resistivity of the volume;a resistivity within the certain range is indicative of an appropriate fluid in the volume;a resistivity not within the certain range is indicative of an incorrect reagent in the fluid, a presence of bubbles, and/or unacceptable characteristics of the fluid; anda resistivity not within the certain range causes the sample analyzer to provide no result of analysis or indicate an error. 3. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein: voltage and current characteristics of the signal source across the electrodes is indicative of a resistance of the volume;a resistance within the certain range is indicative of a correct fluid in the volume;a resistance not within the certain range is indicative of an incorrect fluid reagent in the fluid, a presence of bubbles, and/or unacceptable characteristics of the fluid in the volume; anda resistance not within the certain range causes the sample analyzer to provide no result of analysis or to indicate an error. 4. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein: voltage and current characteristics of the signal source across the electrodes is indicative of a capacitance across the volume;a capacitance within the certain range is indicative of an appropriateness of a fluid in the volume;a capacitance not within the certain range is indicative of an incorrect reagent in the fluid, a presence of bubbles, incorrect fluid, and/or unacceptable characteristics of the fluid; anda capacitance not within the certain range causes the sample analyzer to provide no result of analysis, to indicate an incorrect fluid, or indicate an error. 5. A sample analyzer comprising: a housing;a cartridge disposed within and removable from the housing, the cartridge comprising: a flow channel for conveying a sample fluid for analysis;a sensor disposed in the flow channel, the sensor connected to a power source and measuring at least one characteristic of the sample fluid, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of pH, thermal conductivity, specific heat, flow rate change after change of applied pressure, and position of a terminal end of the sample fluid; anda controller disposed within the housing and configured to receive a signal from the sensor, the controller configured to compare the measured characteristic of the sample fluid to an expected characteristic range, wherein a measured characteristic of the sample fluid outside the expected range indicates the sample includes an undesired fluid component; andwherein the controller provides no result an error message or error code when the measured characteristic is outside of the expected range for the sample fluid. 6. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein: the sensor is a pH sensor, and the measured characteristic is pH;a signal from the pH sensor indicates a measurement of the pH of the sample fluid in the flow channel; andthe measurement of pH indicates whether there is an undesired fluid in the flow channel. 7. The sample analyzer of claim 6, wherein the measurement of pH further indicates additional measured characteristics of the sample fluid, the characteristics including bubbles, clots or particles in the sample fluid, correctness of sample fluid, reagent type and/or other items. 8. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein: the sensor is a thermal conductivity sensor, and the measured characteristic is thermal conductivity;a signal from the thermal conductivity sensor indicates a measurement of the thermal conductivity in the flow channel; andthe measurement of thermal conductivity indicates whether there is an undesired fluid in the flow channel. 9. The sample analyzer of claim 8, wherein the measurement of thermal conductivity further indicates additional measured characteristics of the sample fluid, the characteristics including bubbles, clots or particles in the sample fluid, correctness of sample fluid, reagent type and/or other items. 10. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein: the sensor is a specific heat sensor, and the measured characteristic is specific heat;a signal from the specific heat sensor indicates a measurement of the specific heat in the flow channel; andthe measurement of specific heat indicates whether there is an undesired fluid in the flow channel. 11. The sample analyzer of claim 10, wherein the measurement of the specific heat further indicates additional measured characteristics of the sample fluid, the characteristics including bubbles, clots or particles in the sample fluid, correctness of sample fluid, reagent type and/or other items. 12. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein: the sensor comprises a pressure source and a flow detector, and the measured characteristic is flow rate change after change of applied pressure;the pressure source is for providing a variable pressure in the flow channel;the flow detector is for detecting flow rate change in the flow channel; andthe variable pressure and flow rate change are for indicating characteristics of the sample fluid in the flow channel. 13. The sample analyzer of claim 12, wherein: characteristics include bubbles, clots or particles in the sample fluid, correctness of sample fluid, reagent type and/or other items. 14. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein: the sensor comprises a first pressure transducer and a first pressure receiver, and the measured characteristic is position of a terminal end of the sample fluid;the first pressure transducer is for providing a first pressure pulse in the flow channel;the first pressure receiver is for detecting the first pressure pulse reflected by a terminal end of sample fluid in the flow channel; anda time between providing the first pressure pulse and detecting the first pressure pulse reflected by the terminal end is for determining a location of the terminal end of the sample fluid in the flow channel. 15. The sample analyzer of claim 14, further comprising: a second flow channel for conveying a sample fluid for analysis; anda second sensor proximate to or in the second flow channel;the second sensor comprises a second pressure transducer and a second pressure receiver;the second pressure transducer is for providing a second pressure pulse in the second flow channel;the second pressure receiver is for detecting the second pressure pulse reflected by a second terminal end of a sample fluid in the second flow channel;a second time between providing the second pressure pulse and detecting the second pressure pulse reflected by the second terminal end is for determining a location of the second terminal end in the second flow channel; andthe locations of the first and second terminal ends are compared.
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