US3634039A - Blood testing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable blood testing machine causes a blood sample to be drawn from a patient and performs a preselected number of different tests on the blood sample. The machine includes a suction device for drawing the blood sample from the patient into the machine, an input control device for determining the amount of the blood withdrawn, a pair of electrically energized electrodes for coagulating the blood, a dialyzer for separating the blood serum from the blood solids and a device for automatically diverting the serum into a preselected number of testing components which test the serum by means of laser spectroscopy.

Description

United States Patent 72] Inventor Thomas L. Brondy 316 South Home Ave., Oak Park, Ill. 60203 [21] Appl. No. 886,875 [22] Filed Dec. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [54]BLOOD TESTING MACHINE 12 Claims, 20 Drawing Figs. [52] US.Cl 23/259, 23/230 R, 23/230 A, 23/253 R, 23/253 A, 73/425.4 R, 141/130, 356/39, 356/85 [51] Int. Cl 60111 31/00, GOln 33/16, GOln 1/18 [50] Field ofSearch 23/253, 259, 230, 230 B; 424/1 1; 73/423, 425.4; 356/39, 85; 141/130 56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,933,293 4/1960 Ferrari, JrH 23/230 X 3,038,340 6/1962 lsreeli 23/253 R 3,334,018 8/1967 Smythe 23/253 X 3,453,941 7/1969 Marachy 23/230 B 3,503,683 3/1970 lsreeli et al. 23/253 X 3,524,727 8/1970 Noller 23/253 R Primary ExaminerMorris O. Wolk Assistant Examiner-R. E. Serwin An0rneyFidler, Bradley, Patnaude & Lazo ALL 4 I 205 (74 4 jay 32 J 2 4 go 1] o I I |l 1 5 1 5 5':O 11,2 1 "m .4 4- g4 '1 l 8 I Z PATENTEUJAHI 1 1912 313341039 SHEET 3BF 5 III/111111141111 1 111/! \\\L I 'l BLOOD TESTING MACHINE The present invention relates to a blood testing machine, and it more particularly relates to a machine which performs a plurality ofdifferent tests on a blood sample.

Medical doctors of today make use of many difi'erent techniques for diagnosing and controlling disease. One such technique is blood analysis, which has become more important with the advent of the modern hospital laboratory and the extensive research into human biochemistry. However, even though sophisticated procedures and apparatus have been developed for analyzing blood, the problem still remains of unwanted delays in obtaining the results of the blood tests. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a machine for quickly and efficiently analyzing a patients blood in the patients room, thereby eliminating the time delay in transporting a blood sample to the hospital laboratory for analysis by the ordinarily overworked laboratory technicians. Also, it would be highly desirable to have such a machine which could repeatedly draw blood from a patient without repeated venepunctures and their accompanying trauma to the patient. In this regard, a needle portion of the input device to the machine would remain intravenous for as long as the physician deems necessary. In this way, a nonlaboratory attendant, such as a nurse, could repeatedly operate such a machine to test a patients blood periodically, whereby the nurse would be alerted to any change in the patients condition and thus be forewarned of an oncoming crisis, such as a heart attack. Moreover, it would be desirable to have such a machine which would be small in size and portable in nature, so that it could be used, if desired, in a vehicle, such as an ambulance.

Therefore, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved blood testing machine.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved blood testing machine which can quickly analyze a patients blood in the patient's room.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved blood testing machine which remains intravenous for as long as the treating physician deems necessary and which causes a blood sample to be drawn from the patient so that the machine can perform a plurality of different tests on the blood sample.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved technique for separating blood serum from a blood sample.

Briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a blood testing machine which draws a blood sample into the machine and performs a plurality of different tests on the blood sample. The machine of the present invention includes a suction device which causes the blood sample to be drawn into the machine, an input control device for determining the amount of blood withdrawn in proportion to the number of tests to performed, a pair of electrically energized electrodes for coagulating the blood, a dialyzer for separating the blood solids from the blood serum, a device for automatically diverting the serum into a preselected number of testing components which test the serum by techniques, such as laser spectroscopy.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with portions thereof broken away for illustration purposes, of the blood testing machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, face view of the control panel for the machine ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, enlarged view of the left-hand side of the input control device for the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, plan view in cross section of the input control device of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 4 4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a porting on the right-hand side of the input control device of FIG. 4 taken substantially along theline 55 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail view in cross section of the input control device of FIG. 4 taken substantially along theline 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, plan view in cross section of the front end portion of the machine of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 77 thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view in cross section of the front end portion of the machine of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 88 thereof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 9-9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, elevational view in cross section of the dialyzer and main vacuum pump components of the machine ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the dialyzer of FIG. 10 taken substantially along the line 11-11 thereof;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the machine of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 12-12 thereof;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the diverter and combiner components of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, cross-sectional fragmentary view of the diverter component of FIG. 13 taken substantially along the line 14-14 thereof, portions of the diverter component being enlarged to a greater extent than other portions for illustration purposes;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the rod release mechanism of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 15l5 thereof;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, perspective view of a member of the diverter of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, enlarged view in vertical cross section of the combiner and readout components of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a reduced-scale fragmentary plan view of the vacuum release mechanism of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a schematic drawing of the control circuitry for the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another readout component constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown ablood testing machine 10 which embodies the principles of the present invention. Themachine 10 generally comprises aninput control device 12 which has atubular needle 14 for inserting into the vein of a patient, and aportable unit 16 which includes suction and testing components for drawing a blood sample into theunit 16 and for subjecting the blood sample to a plurality of different preselected tests. The portable unit includes a suction andconverter component 18, adialyzer component 20, amain vacuum component 22, a diverter and combinercomponent 24, areadout component 26, alaser component 28, and a control unit 30. A tube 31 connects theinput control device 12 to theportable unit 16 to convey the blood sample directly from the patients vein to theunit 16 for testing purposes. However, it is to be understood that, if desired, the blood sample need not be taken directly from the patient's vein, and that the sample may instead be taken in the conventional manner and then drawn into themachine 10 via theneedle 14 of theinput control device 12. Atube 33 connects abottle 35 containing a proteolytic cleaning fluid, such as acetone, to theinput control device 12 for conveying the cleaning fluid through the system during a cleaning cycle of operation, which immediately follows a blood testing operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9, in order to draw a blood sample from the patient via theinput control device 12 and the tube 31 into theunit 16, the tube 31 is connected in fluid communication at a Y-junction 37 to a pair oftubes 39 and 41, which are relatively larger in diameter than the diameter of the tube 31, and aroller 43, which is mounted on a carriage 45, extends transversely across both of thetubes 39 and 41 and compresses them as the carriage 45 moves theroller 43 along thetubes 39 and 41 to evacuate the air therefrom. The

volume of thetube 39 is slightly greater than the volume of the tube 31 to cause the blood sample to be drawn from theneedle 14 of theinput control device 12 to thejunction 37. Thetube 41 is longer than thetube 39 and has a volume which is sufficiently large to cause the blood sample to be drawn through thecomponent 18 and into thedialyzer component 20. As best seen in FIG. 8, a piston-cylinder operatedclamp 47 located near thejunction 37 of the tube 31 alternately compresses one and then the other of thetubes 39 and 41. Theclamp 47 normally compresses thetube 41, and thus thetube 39 causes the blood sample to be drawn from the patient into the tube 31 via theinput control device 12. When the blood sample reaches thejunction 37, theclamp 47 automatically switches to compress thetube 39 and open the evacuatedtube 41 so that the blood sample enters thetube 41, which at its opposite end is connected in fluid communication with thedialyzer component 20.

A pair of platinum electrodes (not shown) are located in the interior of the tube 71 near the entrance to the dialyzer component and are electrically energized to cause the blood to be coagulated so that the blood solids can be separated from the blood serum by thedialyzer component 20. If desired, additional pairs of electrodes may also be provided in thetube 41 and arranged in a spaced-apart manner to ensure uniform clotting of the blood. The electrodes traumatize the blood, and thus a clotting mechanism of the blood is triggered in the same manner that a wound triggers the clotting mechanism. It I is to be understood that other devices as well can be used to separate the blood serum from the blood solids.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 9, 11 and 12, atube 49 is connected in fluid communication with thedialyzer component 20 to convey the unnecessary solid or cellular portion of the blood sample from thedialyzer component 20 and extends (FIG. 11) longitudinally along thecomponent 18 above thetube 41 to a point (FIG. 1) almost midway between the ends of thecomponent 20, at which point thetube 41 bends (FIG. 9) and extends through an opening in the rear wall of thecomponent 20 and extends (FIG. 12) along the outside of the backwall of thecomponent 20 to awaste bottle 51 which rests on the top wall of thecomponent 22. In order to draw the unnecessary cellular portion of the blood sample from thedialyzer component 20, carriage 45 rolls along and compresses thetube 49 as the carriage 45 returns to its initial position near theclamping device 47, whereby a vacuum is created in thetube 49 to draw the waste material from thedialyzer component 20. For the purpose of drawing the waste material along thetube 49 which extends along the outside of thecomponent 20, atube 53 is connected in fluid communication to thebottle 51 and extends from thebottle 51 across the top of thedialyzer component 20 through an opening in the top wall of thecomponent 18 and extends the length thereof above thetube 39. Thus, the carriage 45 compresses thetube 53 and thus causes a vacuum to be formed therein to evacuate thewaste bottle 51, whereby the waste material is drawn into thebottle 51.

Atube 55 is connected to the serum outlet of thedialyzer component 20 to convey the serum from thedialyzer component 20 to the diverter and combinercomponent 24 under the control of themain vacuum component 22. The diverter portion of thecomponent 24 diverts the blood sample into a number of different combining chambers in accordance with the number of tests to be performed. Chemical reagents are automatically added to the blood serum in each of the combining chambers. Thereadout component 26 receives the mixtures of serum and reagents and filters the mixtures. The filtrates are subjected to laser spectroscopy by means of laser beams from thelaser component 28 to produce secondary radiations which are then graphically displayed on a graph (not shown), which may be an integral part of theblood testing machine 10 or which may be a separate component. The intensity of the secondary radiation from each of the filtrates closely follows Beer's Law," and thus is proportional to the concentration of the blood component being tested.

In operation, an ON-OFF switch 57 located on a control panel 59 (FIG. 2) is switched to its ON position to commence the operation of themachine 10. Theneedle 14 is inserted into the vein of the patient, and the attendant then selects the test or tests to be performed on the patient's blood by pushing one or more of the series of 10different selection buttons 60, which are arranged in a circle on the test panel 59. Once themachine 10 is thus programmed, astart button 62 located at the top of thedialyzer component 20 is pushed to initiate a cycle of operation. Thus, the blood is drawn from the patient through theneedle 14 and theinput control device 12 via the tube 31 into thecomponent 18. After the blood sample is drawn and leaves thedevice 12, cleaning fluid from thebottle 35 via thetube 33 is drawn through theinput control device 12 into the tube 31, so that the cleaning fluid can follow the blood sample through the various components of themachine 10 for cleaning purposes.

As the blood sample reaches thejunction 37 at the end of the tube 31, the clampingdevice 47 switches to compress thetube 39 and open thetube 41, whereby the blood sample enters the evacuatedtube 41. The blood sample is then subjected to the pair of electrically energized electrodes in thetube 41 to coagulate the blood sample. The blood serum is then separated from the solid portion of the blood sample by means of thedialyzer component 20 and conveyed via thetube 55 to the diverter andcombiner unit 24. The blood serum sample is then diverted into a preselected number of combining chambers in accordance with the number of tests to be performed, and the necessary chemical reagents are combined with the blood serum in the combining chambers to form precipitates. The precipitates are then filtered out and analyzed by laser spectroscopy, the results being displayed graphically.

Considering now theinput control device 12 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, of the drawings, thedevice 12 includes an elongatedhollow housing member 66, anose member 68 which is welded to themember 66 by aperipheral weld 70, and ahousing 72 mounted on the side of themember 66. Thedevice 12 is composed of a suitable metal, but it may also be molded of a suitable plastic material. A pair ofU-shaped strap holders 74 and 76 are connected respectively to themember 66 and thehousing 72 for the purpose of receiving and retaining a strap (not shown) so that thedevice 12 can be held in place on the patient. At least a portion of thedevice 12 is intended to be a disposable item so that a fresh sterilized unit can be used for each patient.

As best shown in FIG. 3, apassageway 78 in thenose member 68 communicates with a passageway 81 which extends the length of the upper portion of themember 66 and which is connected in fluid communication with the tube 31 to convey the blood sample from theneedle 14 to the tube 31. Apassageway 83 in the lower portion of themember 66 extends the length of themember 66 and communicates with thepassageway 78 in thenose member 68 to convey the cleaning fluid from thetube 33 to thepassageway 78 and thus to the passageway 81 and the tube 31. Aconnector 83 extends from the front end of thenose member 68 for sealably receiving an enlargedhollow end portion 87 of thehollow needle 14 to connect theneedle 14 in fluid communication with thepassageway 78 in thenose member 68. A ball valve 89 is located in thenose member 68 in the junction between thepassageway 78 and the passageway 81 to permit the blood sample and the cleaning fluid to flow from thepassageway 78 into the passageway 81, but fluid cannot flow from the passageway 81 into thepassageway 78, whereby fluids are prevented from entering the vein of the patient. Aball valve 91 is disposed in thenose member 68 at the junction between thepassageway 78 and thepassageway 83 to permit the cleaning fluid to flow from thepassageway 83 into thepassageway 78, and theball valve 91 also prevents the blood sample from entering thepassageway 83.

Aneedle valve 93 includes a thinplastic rod 94 which extends through an opening in themember 66 and into thepassageway 78 of thenose member 68, and which in its closed position extends into the interior of theneedle 14 and extends out the point of the needle by a slight distance to prevent any blood from entering the needle. As shown in FIG. 3, when thevalve 93 is open, therod 94 of theneedle valve 93 is retracted so that its distal end is located in thepassageway 78 to permit the blood sample to flow into thepassageway 78. Ablock 98 is connected to the rear end of therod 94 to control the movement of therod 94 and is slidably mounted in abore 101 in themember 66. Theneedle valve 93 also includes aspring 103 which is located in thebore 101 and biases theblock 98 away from the front end of thehousing member 66 to cause theneedle valve 93 to the biased in its open position. A rod 98A extends from the rear end of theblock 98 through a central hole in aremovable retainer 104, which is threaded into the rear end of thehousing member 66, and when theneedle valve 93 is disposed in its open position, the rod 98A compressingly engages thetube 33 to shut off thetube 33 so that the cleaning fluid is prevented from entering thepassageway 83 unless and until thevalve 93 is moved out of its open position.

In order to close theneedle valve 93, as best shown in FIG. 4, a pair ofrods 105 and 106 are connected to and extend from opposite sides of theblock 98 through the respectiveelongated openings 107 and 108 in thehousing member 66. A timing device generally indicated at 109 in thehousing 72 normally maintains theneedle valve 93 in its closed position against the force of thespring 103 as shown in FIG. 5, but thedevice 109 permits theneedle valve 93 to snap back to its open position at the beginning ofa testing cycle of operation. Thedevice 109 closes theneedle valve 93 against the force of the number of tests to be performed. In this regard, theneedle valve 93 remains in its open position for a period of time which is proportionate to the number of test-selectingbuttons 60 which are selected and depressed by the attendant. For this purpose, a direct-currentelectric motor 111 which is disposed within thehousing 72 drives atiming belt 113. As shown in FIG. 5, thevalve 93 is disposed in its closed position, and agear tooth 115 on thebelt 113 engages therod 105 and maintains therod 105 in its extreme frontmost position during the interval of time in which theneedle valve 93 is closed. However, once the machine is programmed by depressing thebuttons 60 and thestart switch 62 is depressed, theelectric motor 111 drives thetiming belt 113 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5 so that thegear 115 is cammed away from therod 105 to permit theblock 98 to snap back to its normal position as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Themotor 111 is driven at a rate of speed which is inversely proportionate to a number ofselection buttons 60 which have been selected and depressed. In other words, with a greaternumber ofdepressed buttons 60, themotor 111 drives thetiming belt 113 at a correspondingly slower speed, whereby thevalve 93 remains open for a proportionately longer time to withdraw a proportionately greater amount of blood from the patient. Once the gear tooth I commences its forward motion, thetooth 115 engages therod 105 to move it in a forward direction against the force of thespring 103. Aswitch 117 is engageable by the lower end portion of thegear tooth 115 to cause themotor 111 to abruptly stop thetiming belt 113 once thevalve 93 reaches its closed position. Thegear 115 normally maintains theblock 98 in its extreme forward position, thereby to maintain theneedle valve 93 in its closed position.

Adrive shaft 119 of themotor 111 and a capstan orsleeve 120 surrounding and fixed to the drive shaft drives thetiming belt 113 which is wrapped about and stretched between thecapstan 120 and anothercapstan 121 which is rotatably mounted on astub shaft 123. In order to permit the rod-engaging portion of thetooth 115 to readily move past thecapstan 121, as shown in FIG. 6, thecapstan 121 has a depressed or reducedportion 125, which receives thetooth 115 as it moves past thecapstan 121. Thecapstan 120 has a similar depressed portion (not shown) to permit the rod-engaging portion of thetooth 115 to pass by thedrive shaft 119. The electrical connections for themotor 111 and a pair ofwires 126 for theswitch 117 are connected to the control unit 30 via acable 127.

Considering now theclamping device 47 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 of the drawings, the clampingdevice 47 includes a lever which is pivotally mounted at 122 and extends transversely over thetubes 39 and 41 which are disposed on opposite sides of thepivot point 122. Aspring 124 is connected to anend 125ofthe lever 120 to bias it into compressing engagement with thetube 41 to shut off thetube 41, thetube 39 on the opposite side of thepivot point 122 being normally in an open condition. Apiston cylinder assembly 126 has apiston rod 127 which is connected to anopposite end 129 of thelever 120 to pivot thelever 120 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 8 until thelever 120 compressingly engages thetube 39 to shut off thetube 39 and to open thetube 41.

Considering now the suction andconverter component 18 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9 of the drawings, thetubes 39 and 41 are supported by the respective horizontal spacedapart,coplanar plates 131 and 133 which extend from and are supported by the respectivevertical sidewalls 135 and 137 of thecomponent 18. A pair of horizontal,coplanar spacedapart plates 139 and 141 are supported by therespective sidewalls 135 and 137 and are disposed above theplates 131 and 133, respectively, to cause theroller 43 to compressingly engage thetubes 39 and 41 as theroller 43 moves toward thedialyzer component 20, whereby theroller 43 rolls along thetubes 39 and 41 and compresses them. The carriage 45 includes a triangularly shapedplate 142 which has a backwardly slopingguide slot 143 through which extends a reducedportion 145 of theroller 43 so that when the carriage 45 moves in a direction away from thedialyzer component 20, theroller 43 is permitted to roll along the upper surfaces of theplates 139 and 141 whereby to compress theupper tubes 49 and 53 against atop wall 147 of thecomponent 18. As shown in FIG. 1, a downwardly turned end portion (not shown) of theplate 141 near thecomponent 20 cause theroller 43 to be guided upwardly when the carriage 45 reverses its direction of movement and moves away from thecomponent 20 to position the roller above theplates 139 and 141.

Agear 152 is rotatably connected to theplate 142 of the carriage 45 by means of arivet 154. A pair of vertically spacedracks 156 and 158 extend for the length of thecomponent 18 and mesh with thegear 152, whereby the carriage can roll along theracks 156 and 158. Therack 156 is connected to the underside of theplate 133, and therack 158 is connected to abottom wall 160 of thecomponent 18. A direct-currentelectric motor 162 is mounted on thecarriage plate 142 and drives thegear 152 by a suitable gear train (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, alimit switch 164 is supported by theplate 133 near the end of thetube 39 and is actuated by thecarriage plate 142 to cause theclamping device 47 to switch from its normal position as the carriage 45 moves toward thedialyzer component 20 and rolls past the end of thetube 39. A switch 166 is supported by thebottom wall 160 beyond the downwardly turnedend portion 149 of theguide plate 133 so that when thecarriage plate 142 actuates the switch 166, it causes a reversal of electrical power to theelectric motor 162 thereby to reverse the direction of movement of the carriage 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 10, 11 and 12, thestart button 62 comprises arod 172 which is spring-loaded at its bottom end by means ofa coil spring 174 (FIG. 10) and which has an electrical switch 62A mounted on the top wall of thecomponent 20 and actuated by therod 172 to start a cycle of operation. In order to retain therod 172 in its depressed condition, acatch member 176, which is a rod bent in the shape ofa rectangle, is urged into engagement with therod 172 by means of a pair ofsprings 178 and 179 (FIG. 11) stretched between therespective rings 181 and 183 of therespective side portions 185 and 187 of thecatch member 176 and anend wall 189 of thecomponent 18. Anotch 191 in therod 172 receives anend portion 193 of thecatch member 176, when therod 62 is depressed,

to maintain therod 172 in its depressed condition. As shown in FIG. 1, when the carriage 45 returns to its original position, an opposite end portion 195 of thecatch member 176 is moved by thecarriage plate 142 of the carriage 45 tomove theend portion 193 of thecatch member 176 out of engagement with thenotch 191 to permit the spring 174 to return therod 172 to its initial position. Thus, thecarriage plate 142 moves thecatch member 176 to cause the switch 62A to turn off the power to abruptly stop the carriage 45. As a result, the carriage 45 comes to rest at a position where theroller 43 is located beyond the end portion of theguide plates 139 and 141 near thesidewall 170 so that the roller then returns to its normal position in the lower end of theslot 143 in theplate 142. When thestart button 62 is depressed to start a cycle of operation, the bottom 62 must be held in a fully depressed condition until the carriage 45 begins to move toward thedialyzer component 20 to permit thecatch member 176 to move into engagement with thenotch 191. In order to slidably mount thecatch member 176, theside portions 185 and 187 of the catch member 196 are slidably supported by a plurality of therespective brackets 197 and 199 which are supported by thetop wall 147 of thecomponent 18.

Considering now thedialyzer component 20 is greater detail, with reference to FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 of the drawings, the component separates the clotted blood from the blood serum so that the blood serum can be subjected to the desired tests. It should be understood that, if desired, rather than utilizing the electrodes and thedialyzer component 20, the blood serum may be obtained directly by separating the blood serum from the unnecessary cellular blood solids by conventional means. Aball check valve 200 is disposed in thetube 41 which is connected to aninlet 202 of adialyzer unit 204 for separating the clotted blood solids from the blood serum. Theball check valve 200 permits the clotted blood to enter thedialyzer unit 204 and prevents any flow of fluid in the reverse direction. Thus, thecheck valve 200 prevents partially clotted blood from flowing back toward theinput control device 12 and thus the patient. Thedialyzer unit 204 includes a helicalsemipermeable tube 205 which is connected in fluid communication between the inlet 102 and anoutlet 206, and a tube 208 which concentrically and sealably surrounds thesemipermeable tube 205. The tube 208 is connected in fluid communication with an outlet 210 which in turn is connected in fluid communication with thetube 55. Thesuction tube 55 draws the blood serum through thesemipermeable tube 205 into the concentric tube 208 and out thetube 55, whereby the blood serum id drawn from thedialyzer component 20 and is transferred to thecomponent 24. The larger unnecessary cellular portion of the blood does not pass through the semipermeable tube 208, but instead it is conveyed to thetube 49 via aball check valve 212 which permits the cellular portion of the blood to leave thedialyzer unit 204 and prevents a reverse flow the cellular portion of the blood from thetube 49 to thedialyzer unit 204.

The unnecessary cellular portion of the blood sample is drawn from thedialyzer unit 204 into the evacuatedtube 49 as a result of theroller 43 compressing thetube 49 and forcing the air therefrom. In order to draw the cellular portion of the blood from thetube 49 to thewaste bottle 51, theroller 43 also compresses thelonger tube 53 to force the air therefrom and thus to withdraw the air from thebottle 51, which is connected in fluid communication with thetube 53.

Considering now themain vacuum component 22 in greater detail with reference to FIG. 10 of the drawings, themain vacuum unit 22 supplies the necessary vacuum to draw the blood serum from thedialyzer component 20 to thediverter component 24 and thereadout component 26. Since the blood serum is not as unstable as whole blood, the suction produced by themain vacuum component 22 need not treat the blood serum as gently as the suction component treated the whole blood. Moreover, if desired, a conventional vacuum pump may be used in place of thecomponent 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, thevacuum pump component 22 includes aplunger 214 which extends into thecomponent 18. In FIG. 1, theplunger 214 is shown in the normal position, and it is shown in its fully retracted position in FIG. 10. Theplunger 214 is moved from its normal position to its retracted position by thecarriage plate 142 to activate thevacuum pump component 22. One end of a hollow piston rod 216 is connected to anend plate 218 of theplunger 214, and the opposite end of the hollow piston rod 216 is connected to apiston head 221 which is slidably mounted within anelongated chamber 223. A return spring 225 is positioned between theend plate 218 of theplunger 214 and thevacuum chamber 223 to bias theplunger 214 to its normal position, as shown in FIG. 1, the spring 225 causing theplunger 214 to move extensively toward the left as seen in FIG. 1 as the carriage 45 returns to its initial position.

Aball valve 229 is positioned in the hollow rod 216 at an opening in the end wall of thepiston head 221 to permit air to flow from the interior of thechamber 223 into the hollow piston rod 216 and enter the atmosphere via avent 231 in the portion of the piston rod 216 extending outside of thechamber 223. Thus, as theplunger 214 retracts due to the carriage 45, atube 223 which is connected in fluid communication between the evacuatedchamber 223 and other components of themachine 10 via aball check valve 235, provides the necessary suction to draw the blood serum through the remaining components to thereadout component 26. Thevalve 235 prevents air from entering the interior of the evacuatedchamber 223 and permits air to escape during the initial movement of thepiston head 221 to evacuate thechamber 223.

In order to energize thediverter component 24 to receive the blood serum, a toggle switch 236 is actuated by an abutment 236k as theplunger 214 is moved to its retracted position, and the switch 236 is opened by an abutment 236a during the return of theplunger 214 to its initial position.

Considering now thediverter component 24 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 13, 14, 15 and 16, theselection buttons 60 each include a rodlike extension 237 (FIG. 1), which is similar to thestart button 62 and which extends into thediverter component 24 to control its operation. As best seen in FIG. 13, thediverter component 24 includes avalve assembly 239 for conveying the blood serum to a combining assembly 241 which surrounds thevalve assembly 239 and which comprises a plurality of individual combiningunits 243. The diverter component further includes a plurality ofindividual valve units 245, which are controlled by therods 237, for selectively connecting thevalve assembly 239 in fluid communication with the combiningunits 243. Therods 237 are reciprocably mounted in thevalve units 245, and the upper ends of therods 237 project from the control panel 59 to provide theselection buttons 60. The lower ends of therods 60 extend into thevalve units 245.

As shown in FIG. 15, in order to retain therods 60 in a depressed position during a testing cycle of operation, there is provided anelectromagnetic release mechanism 247 having a plurality ofindividual catchplates 249 which are slidably mounted on abaseplate 250. A plurality ofsprings 252 extending between thecatchplates 249 and a plurality of electromagnets 254bias thecatchplates 249 against therods 237. A plurality of slots 256 in therods 237 receive thecatchplates plates 249 when the rod is moved into its downward position, whereby thecatchplates 249 retain the depressed rods in their downward position. As best seen in FIG. 14, a plurality ofsprings 258 surround therods 237 above thevalve unit 245, and a plurality ofsprings 260 are disposed within thevalve units 245 at the bottom ends of therods 237 to bias therods 237 in their upper position where the buttons extend above the control panel, whereby when themagnets 254 are energized to retract thecatchplates 249 against the force of thesprings 252, thesprings 258 and 260 of thedepressed rods 237 cause the depressed rods to return to their upper initial posi tion. It is to be understood that thevalve units 245 as illustrated in FIG. 14 are shown in an enlarged scale as compared to thevalve assembly 239 and the selection and combiningassembly 243.

Thevalve assembly 239 generally comprises a cylindrical housing valve-seat member 262 which has a conical-shaped chamber 264, and a conical-shapedvalve member 266 which is urged via a compression spring 268 into a closed position in the chamber 264 to seal aninlet 271 which is connected in fluid communication with thetube 55. A plurality ofpassageways 275 are disposed below thevalve member 266 in a lower base portion 273 ofthehousing member 262 and communicate with the conical-shaped chamber 264 to convey the blood serum from thetube 55 to a plurality ofpassageways 277 which are located in thehousing member 262 and which are connected in fluid communication withcorresponding passageways 279 in thevalve units 245. A plurality ofpassageways 281 in the base portion 273 of thehousing member 262 communicate with atube 283 through a centrallydisposed hole 285 in the bottom of thehousing member 262 so that suction can be applied from the main vacuum component via thetube 283 to evacuate thechamber 275 when thevalve member 266 is in its closed position. Anelectrical coil 287 is disposed in the bore of thehousing member 262 and is energized in response to the switch 236 in themain vacuum component 22 to cause thevalve member 266 to move out of sealing engagement with themember 262 against the force of the bias spring 268 into contact with the upper surface of the base portion 273. A plurality ofball check valves 289 are disposed within thepassageways 277 to permit the blood serum to flow from thepassageways 275 into thepassageways 279 of thevalve unit 245 and to prevent air from entering thepassageways 275 from thepassageways 277 when thepassageways 275 are evacuated via thetube 283.

Each of therods 237 of thevalve unit 245 includes a transverse passageway orhole 290 which has the same diameter as thepassage way 279 or less, whereby when the rods are depressed, thedepressed rods 237 have theirholes 290 aligned with thepassageways 279 to permit the fluid to flow from thevalve assembly 24 to thecombiner unit 243 via atube 292.

Considering now thevalve units 245 in greater detail, each of theunits 245 includes achamber 294 which has aninlet 296 and anoutlet 298 for receiving a chemical reagent to be added to the blood serum for test purposes. Apiston device 300 is connected to and forms an integral part of the bottom end of each of therods 237 for the purpose of forcing the chemical reagent from thechamber 294 through theoutlet 298. Thepiston device 300 includes an upstandingcylindrical piston head 302 which is integrally connected to acircular bottom wall 304 which in turn is biased in an upward direction by thespring 260. Thebottom wall 304 is integrally joined to therod 237 via a pair of diametricallyopposed rods 306 and 308 which are slidably mounted in their respective holes in the housing of thevalve unit 245. A pair of diametricallyopposed bars 311 and 313 are also connected to the periphery of thebottom wall 304 and are positioned so that when therod 237 is disposed in its normal position, thebars 311 and 313 block and seal theserum passageways 279 in thevalve unit 245. A depressed rod therefore causes thepiston head 302 to retract almost entirely out of the chamber 274 to permit the chemical reagent to enter thechamber 294 via theinlet 296. When therods 237 are released by therelease mechanism 247, thepiston head 302 enters thechamber 294 and forces the liquid contained in the chamber into theoutlet 298.

Considering now the combiningunits 243 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 13, 17 and 18 of the drawings each of the combiningunits 243 includes a combining chamber 315 for mixing the blood serum with chemical reagents, aserum measuring device 317 connected in fluid communication with thetube 292 from thevalve unit 245 for measuring the amount of blood serum entering theunit 243 and for forcing the blood serum into the combiner chamber 315, and a convoluted tube 319 connected in fluid communication with thereadout component 26 for additional agitation of the mixture of blood serum and chemical reagents. The blood serum tube 2 292 enters ahousing 320 of theunit 243 and is connected in fluid communication with the measuringdevice 317. A ball check valve 322 is disposed in the tube 2892 to prevent any of the blood serum from leaving the unit 243 Atube 324 is connected in fluid communication with thetube 292 between the check valve 232 and thedevice 317 to transfer the blood serum from thetube 292 to the combining chamber 315. Aball check valve 326 is disposed within thetube 324 to prevent the blood serum from leaving the combining chamber 315 via thetube 324.

Thedevice 317 includes a spring-loadedpiston 328 in thetube 292 which is movable toward and away from avacuum chamber 330. Thepiston 328 is moved by a predetermined distance in a downward position toward thechamber 330 as a result of thechamber 330 being evacuated by themain vacuum component 22. As thepiston rod 328 retracts, a vacuum is created in thetube 292 to draw the blood serum into thetube 292, it being understood that theball check valve 326 in thetube 324 prevents air from being drawn from the combining chamber 315 into thetube 292. A spring-loaded wedge-shapedplug member 332 is normally spring-biased in a closed position to close and seal a vent opening in the bottom wall of thechamber 330, and in order to release the vacuum in thechamber 330, theplug 332 moves upwardly, whereby the spring-loadedpiston 328 returns to its initial position to force the blood serum in thetube 292 into the connectingtube 324 and thus into the combining chamber 315.

As shown in FIG. 18, in order to move thewedge members 332 by a short distance in an upward direction to vent thechambers 330, a plurality ofcam members 334 of anelectromagnetic release mechanism 336 are disposed opposite thewedge members 332 and are slidably mounted on abaseplate 338. Anelectromagnet 340, when energized, moves a plurality ofshank portions 342 of thecam members 334 toward themagnet 340 against the force of a plurality of bias springs 344 to cause thewedge members 332 to momentarily relieve the vacuum in thechambers 330. Thesprings 344 cause the slidably mountedcam members 344 to return to their original position.

Atube 346 is connected in fluid communication with thechamber 330 and extends through an opening in thehousing 320 of theunit 243 and is connected to thepump component 22 via a distributor 348 which is connected to each of theunits 243 and to thevalve assembly 239 via thetube 283. Thepump component 22 is connected to the distributor 348 via thetube 233.

Atube 350 extends through thecomponent 243 and is connected between a source (not shown) of chemical reagent under pressure and theinlet 296 of thecorresponding valve unit 245. Atube 352 connects theoutlet 298 of thecorresponding valve unit 245 to the combining chamber 315. Should a second reagent be required, asecond inlet tube 354 is directly connected to the combining chamber 315. For mixing purposes, a plurality of mixingvanes 356 are disposed within the combining chamber 315 which is supported by abracket 358 which in turn is connected to thehousing 320.

Considering now thereadout component 26, a plurality of outlets, such as theoutlet 358, of the convoluted tubes 319 are connected in fluid communication with a plurality of chambers, such as thechamber 361, in a plurality ofreadout units 363, it being understood that there is areadout unit 363 for each combining unit of the combiningcomponent 243. Anoutlet tube 365 is connected in fluid communication with the tube 49 (FIG. 12) to convey the remains of the blood serum to the evacuatedwaste bottle 51. Atransparent curvette 367 is connected in fluid communication between thechamber 361 and theoutlet tube 365. A piston assembly 369 is disposed in thechamber 361 and has asemipermeable piston head 370 which is drawn into thecurvette 367 by the vacuum in thewaste bottle 51 to cause the precipitates of the blood serumreagent mixture from entering thecurvette 367. A spring 372 is connected between thehead 370 and aperforated plate 374 to retract thesemipermeable head 370 from thecurvette 367 to permit the trapped precipitate particles to flow through thecurvette 367 to thewaste bottle 51 via thetube 365.

A pair ofwindows 376 and 378 on opposite sides of thecurvette 367 are disposed in apassageway 381 in thehousing 363 so that a laser beam from thelaser component 28 can be directed in thepassageway 381 and thus the beam passes through thecurvette 367. The windows are composed of nearly nonrefractive quartz material. A beam enters thepassageway 381 before it enters thecurvette 367 to establish a reference. When the fluid enters thecurvette 367, the beam stimulates the specific quantity of material in thecurvette 367, since the curvette has a predetermined microvolume. With the material in thecurvette 367, the intensity of the secondary radiation of the beam leaving the exit window 378 closely follows Beers Law, and thus is proportional to the concentration of the blood component being tested, it being understood that different valves of secondary radiation are produced for the various different tests due to the fact that different reagents are added to the blood serum. Moreover, it is to be understood that, if desired, different types of readout components may be used in place ofthe laser testing technique.

Aphotomultiplier tube 383 is positioned in thehousing 363 in line with thepassageway 381 to detect the reference and secondary radiation which passes through thepassageway 381 and thecurvette 367. Thephotomultiplier tube 383 in turn converts the radiations into electrical energy to operate a stylus (not shown) for marking a moving graph paper (not shown) in a conventional manner, the conventional graphical recording apparatus not being illustrated in the drawings. A magnet 385 and a light filter 387 are disposed between the curvette 367 and thephotomultiplier tube 383, and a lens may be located between the magnet and filter cluster and thephotomultiplier tube 383.

When the ON-OFF switch 57 is first closed, the stylus records a normal position on the graph to indicate an area of relatively normal values for a particular blood component. When the material enters thecurvette 367, a change is indicated on the graph paper. A switch 391 (FIG. 1) is actuated by the carriage 45 at its initial position to energize a motor 394 (FIG. 19) to move the graph paper, it being understood that there is one stylus for eachreadout unit 363 and that the graph paper is divided into separate horizontal test quadrants which are each calibrated for its specific test.

Referring now to FIG. 19 of the drawings, acontrol circuit 396 is located in the control unit 30 and includes a pair oftransformers 398 and 401 having their primary windings connected in series with the ON-OFF switch 57 and an indicator lamp 403 on the control panel 59 and which are connectable to a source of AC electrical power by means of aplug 405. Aconventional rectifier circuit 407 is connected across a secondary winding 409 of thetransformer 398 to rectify the output of the secondary winding 409 for the purpose of driving themotors 111 and 162 which are coupled across therectifier circuit 407 between theterminals 411 and 413. The terminal 413 is connected to therectifier circuit 407 by means of the start switch 62A. Themotor 111 of theinput control device 12 is connected via awire 415 between the terminal 411 and a resistance switching network generally indicated at 417, which in turn is connected to asafety switch 419. A manuallyoperable reset switch 420 connects thesafety switch 419 to the terminal 413 and is operated at the control panel 59. Theswitch 420 is a single throw, double pole switch, which in its normal position as shown in FIG. 19, connects a lamp 421 across theterminals 411 and 413 to indicate to the attendant that thereset switch 420 must be actuated to its other position before commencing the operation by closing the start switch 62A. In order to return thereset switch 420 to its initial position, a relay 420A is connected to a secondary winding 422 of thetransformer 398 via arectifier circuit 424 and is momentarily actuated by theswitch 117 in theinput control device 12 to release the spring-loadedswitch 420 to cause it to return to its initial position.

The resistance switching network 417 comprises a plurality of switches, such as theswitch 426, which are single-throw, double pole switches and which are manually operated by therods 60 at the control panel 59. Each of the switches connects a resistor, such as aresistor 428, in series with themotor 111 to cause it to run at a proportionately slower speed in proportion to the number of closed switches. in this regard, theswitch 426 in its normal position opens the circuit to itsresistor 428, but in its closed position, theswitch 426 connects theresistor 428 in series with themotor 11 1. Thesafety switch 419 is mechanically connected to each of theswitches 426 of the network 417 so that when one or more of the switches of the network 417 are closed, theswitch 419 is then automatically closed. In this manner, themotor 111 cannot be accidentally energized to cause blood to be withdrawn from a patient since one or more of the switches of the network 417 must first be actuated.

A secondary winding 431 of thetransformer 398 is connected to theelectromagnet 126 of theclamping device 18 via a rectifier circuit 433 to energize theelectromagnet 126 upon closing of theswitch 164 which is located slightly beyond the end of theshorter tube 39 of thecomponent 28. A rectifier circuit 435 is connected across a secondary winding 437 of thetransformer 398 to supply rectified current via theswitch 341 to theelectromagnets 254 and 340, which are connected in parallel. In this regard, when theswitch 341 is momentarily actuated by the carriage 45 in thecomponent 28, theswitch 341 closes momentarily to energize momentarily theelectromagnets 254 and 340 whereby therelease mechanism 247 releases therods 237 and therelease mechanism 340 causes the vacuum to be relieved in thevacuum chambers 330.

Arectifier circuit 439 is connected across a secondary winding 442 of thetransformer 398 to energize theelectromagnet 287 of thevalve assembly 239. Connected in series with theelectromagnet 287 is the switch 236 which is closed when theplunger 214 is fully retracted and which is opened with theplunger 214 returns to its initial position.

The pair of platinum electrodes, which are disposed in thetube 41 of thecomponent 28, and which are shown schematically in FIG. 19 by the box E, are connected across a secondary winding 444 of thetransformer 401 via a capacitor 446 which is connected across the winding 444 to supply low voltage and low current excursions to the electrodes for traumatizing the blood for trigger the clotting mechanism of the blood. For the purpose of supplying power to thelaser component 28, a secondary winding 448 of thetransformer 401 is connected to thelaser component 28 via arectifier circuit 450. A secondary winding 452 of thetransformer 401 is connected to thephotomultiplier tubes 383 via a rectifier circuit 454 for the purpose of energizing the photomultiplier tubes. in like manner, thegraph motor 394 is coupled to a secondary winding 456 of the transformer 40] via a rectifier circuit 458, the graph motor being energized by theswitch 391 which is connected in series with themotor 394 and which is energized by the carriage 45 of theunit 18.

Referring now to FIG. 20, there is shown another readout component 460, which is similar to thereadout unit 26 of FIG. 17, and which may be used in addition to or in place of thereadout units 26. The unit 460 may be used for different types of blood testing procedures, such as where additional reagents are required. The unit 460 includes a housing 462 which supports acylinder 464 having aninlet 466 adapted to be coupled in fluid communication with the outlet of a combiningunit 243. A curvette 468 forms an extension of thecylinder 464 and has an outlet 469 which is connected to a combiningchamber 471. A reagent tube 473 is also connected in communication with thechamber 471 to provide a passageway to permit the addition of other reagents. A convoluted tube 475 is connected in fluid communication with achamber 471 and with acurvette 477 which is disposed in a laser-beam passageway 479. A pair of oppositely disposedwindows 481 and 483 permit the laser-beam to pass through thecurvette 477. A tube is connected to thecurvette 477 and to thevacuum waste bottle 51. Aball check valve 487 and a spring loadedsemipermeable piston 489 are disposed within thecylinder 464 and thecurvette 468 in the same manner as theball check valve 375 and the piston assembly 369 of FIG. 17. A photomultiplier tube 490 is positioned in the housing 462 at the end of thepassageway 479 opposite the exit window 483 of thecurvette 477 to receive the reference and secondary radiation of the laser-beam and to convert the radiation into electrical energy for operating the stylus of the graphic recording apparatus. A filter 492 is disposed in thepassageway 479 between the window 483 and the photomultiplier tube 490.

In view of the foregoing description, it should now be apparent that there is provided in accordance with the present invention a new and improved blood testing machine which is capable of performing a number of different tests simultaneously on a blood sample. Moreover, the blood testing apparatus of the present invention is adapted to automatically draw a blood sample from a patient and divert it into the separate blood testing components of the machine. Blood serum is clotted by electrically energized electrodes, and then the unnecessary solid portion of the blood sample is separated from the blood serum by a dialyzer.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications of this invention may be made of those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making a plurality of tests on a blood sam ple, comprising a plurality of testing units for holding respective amounts of blood on which said plurality of different blood tests are to be performed,

manually o erable selecting means for preselecting a plurality of said tests to be performed,

pumps means for transferring a blood sample into said apparatus,

control means responsive to said selecting means for controlling the operation of said pump means to supply a predetermined amount of blood for the preselected tests, and

diverting means responsive to said selecting means for directing predetermined amounts of said blood sample into the selected ones of said testing units for making the selected ones of said tests.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a line connected between said pump means and said diverting means,

a pair of electrically energized electrodes mounted in proximity to said line for producing an electric field in a portion of the blood contained in said line, and

means for separating the blood serum from the blood solids after the passage of said blood through said line,

whereby coagulation and separation of said blood is accelerated by said electric field.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said testing means includes combining means for combining chemical reagents with said blood serum for testing purposes.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes valve means for controlling the flow of blood to be drawn into said apparatus, and timing means responsive to said selecting means for maintaining said valve means in an open position for a length of time proportionate to said number of preselected tests.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said valve means comprises a spring-loaded needle valve, and said timing means includes a timing belt having a gear tooth for cooperating with said needle valve to permit said needle valve to move into its open position and to maintain it in its open position for said length of time, said tooth moving said needle valve into its closed position, an electrical motor for driving said timing belt, said selecting means including a plurality of manually operated electrical switches for selectively connecting a plurality of impedances in circuit with said motor, whereby said impedances control the speed of the motor so that the motor in turn controls the speed of the timing belt in accordance with the number of switches being operated.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suction means includes a flexible tube connected in fluid communication with said control means and roller means extending transversely of said tube for compressing a portion of said tube and for rolling along said tube to remove the air therefrom so that the blood sample is drawn into said tube.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further including a second tube connected in fluid communication with said input device, said roller means including a roller extending transversely of said tubes for compressingly engaging said tubes, and motive means for moving said roller along said tube to remove air from said tubes, further including clamping means for alternately clamping a portion of the first-mentioned tube and a portion of said second tube, said clamping means normally closes a portion of the second tube to cause the blood sample to be drawn from said input control device to said second tube, whereby when said clamping means releases the second tube and closes a portion of the first-mentioned tube, the blood samples enters the second tube.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said diverting means includes a diverting valve, a plurality of passageways connecting said diverting valve with said testing means, and means responsive to said selecting means for normally blocking said passageways and for selectively opening preselected ones of said passageways in response to said selecting means being operated to preselect a number of different tests.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said testing units include a plurality of combining units, each of said units including a combining chamber adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a source of chemical reagent, a tube communicating with one of said passageways, a vacuumoperated piston slidably mounted in the tube for determining a preselected amount of said blood and for forcing the determined amount of blood into said chamber to form a blood mixture, and a convoluted tube connected in fluid communication with said chamber.

10. Apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein said testing means includes a plurality of readout units individually associated with said combining units, each of said testing units including a chamber connected in fluid communication with a corresponding convoluted tube of a corresponding combining unit, a spring-loaded piston having a semipermeable head slidably mounted in the last-mentioned chamber for filtering the blood mixture, a transparent curvette connected in fluid communication with the last-mentioned chamber, and optical means for acting upon the filtered blood mixture for test purposes.

11. Apparatus for separating blood serum from a blood sample, comprising;

a pair of electrically energized electrodes adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy for coagulating the blood to clot the blood solids in the blood serum, and

a dialyzer for separating the blood serum from the blood solids,

12. Apparatus according toclaim 11, wherein said electrodes are composed of platinum, and further including a capacitor connected across said electrodes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTECN Patent No. 3 ,634,039 Dated January 11 1972 Inventor(s) THOMAS L. BRONDY It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line- 33, "It is further should read "It is a further- Column 1, line 52, "to performed" should read -to be performed--; Column 1, line 73, "of a porting" should read --of a portion--. Column 3,line 19, "of the tube 7l should read --of the tube 4l--. Column 6,line 33, "the upper surfaces" should read "the upper surface--; Column 6, line 34,. "whereby to compress" should read --thereby to compress--; Column 6 line 36 "end portion (not shown) should read --end portion 149 of the guide plate 139 and a similar downwardly-turned end portion (not shown)-- Column 7,line 23, "20 is greater" should read --20 in greater-; Column 7,

line 47, "blood serum id drawn" should read --blood serum is drawn--; Column 7,line 53, "flow the cellular should read --flow of the cellular- Column 8,line 23, "atube 223" should read -a tube 233-; Column 8,lines 61 and 62, "catchplates plates 249" should read --catchplates 249--; Column 8, line 67, "the bottom ends" should read -the bottom end-Column 10,line 5, "the tube 2892" should read --thetube 292--;Column 10, line 8, "check valve 232" should read --check valve 322-. Column ll,line 19, "different valves of" should read --different values of- Column 13,line 39, Claim 1, "pumps means" should read -pump meansColumn 14,lines 16 and 17, Claim 6 "so that the blood" should read so that said blood--;Column 14, line 30, Claim 7, blood samples enters" should read --blood sample enters-;Column 14,line 33, Claim 8, "said testing means" should read --said testing units--.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of November 1972.

it. an)

Attest:

EDL'JARD MBFLETCPERQR ROBERT GOTTSCHALK attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (11)

1. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a line connected between said pump means and said diverting means, a pair of electrically energized electrodes mounted in proximity to said line for producing an electric field in a portion of the blood contained in said line, and means for separating the blood serum from the blood solids after the passage of said blood through said line, whereby coagulation and separation of said blood is accelerated by said electric field.
2. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said testing means includes combining means for combining chemical reagents with said blood serum for testing purposes.
3. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes valve means for controlling the flow of blood to be drawn into said apparatus, and timing means responsive to said selecting means for maintaining said valve means in an open position for a length of time proportionate to said number of preselected tests.
4. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said valve means comprises a spring-lOaded needle valve, and said timing means includes a timing belt having a gear tooth for cooperating with said needle valve to permit said needle valve to move into its open position and to maintain it in its open position for said length of time, said tooth moving said needle valve into its closed position, an electrical motor for driving said timing belt, said selecting means including a plurality of manually operated electrical switches for selectively connecting a plurality of impedances in circuit with said motor, whereby said impedances control the speed of the motor so that the motor in turn controls the speed of the timing belt in accordance with the number of switches being operated.
5. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suction means includes a flexible tube connected in fluid communication with said control means and roller means extending transversely of said tube for compressing a portion of said tube and for rolling along said tube to remove the air therefrom so that the blood sample is drawn into said tube.
6. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further including a second tube connected in fluid communication with said input device, said roller means including a roller extending transversely of said tubes for compressingly engaging said tubes, and motive means for moving said roller along said tube to remove air from said tubes, further including clamping means for alternately clamping a portion of the first-mentioned tube and a portion of said second tube, said clamping means normally closes a portion of the second tube to cause the blood sample to be drawn from said input control device to said second tube, whereby when said clamping means releases the second tube and closes a portion of the first-mentioned tube, the blood samples enters the second tube.
7. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said diverting means includes a diverting valve, a plurality of passageways connecting said diverting valve with said testing means, and means responsive to said selecting means for normally blocking said passageways and for selectively opening preselected ones of said passageways in response to said selecting means being operated to preselect a number of different tests.
8. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said testing units include a plurality of combining units, each of said units including a combining chamber adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a source of chemical reagent, a tube communicating with one of said passageways, a vacuum-operated piston slidably mounted in the tube for determining a preselected amount of said blood and for forcing the determined amount of blood into said chamber to form a blood mixture, and a convoluted tube connected in fluid communication with said chamber.
9. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said testing means includes a plurality of readout units individually associated with said combining units, each of said testing units including a chamber connected in fluid communication with a corresponding convoluted tube of a corresponding combining unit, a spring-loaded piston having a semipermeable head slidably mounted in the last-mentioned chamber for filtering the blood mixture, a transparent curvette connected in fluid communication with the last-mentioned chamber, and optical means for acting upon the filtered blood mixture for test purposes.
10. 11. Apparatus for separating blood serum from a blood sample, comprising; a pair of electrically energized electrodes adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy for coagulating the blood to clot the blood solids in the blood serum, and a dialyzer for separating the blood serum from the blood solids.
11. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said electrodes are composed of platinum, and further including a capacitor connected across said electrodes.

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