Anti-clotting apparatus and methods for fluid handling system

1. A method for maintaining clear passageways in a blood flow system comprising:

providing a first passageway for a blood flow in the blood flow system, the blood flow having a return portion which is returned to the patient through the first passageway;

providing at least one valve in operative association with the first passageway;

operating the valve to cause at least a portion of the blood flow to change a direction of blood flow in the first passageway;

separating from the blood flow at least one portion to provide a sample fluid flow, the sample fluid flow comprising a nonreturn portion;

providing a second passageway for the sample fluid flow;

providing one or more anti-clotting agents to only the sample fluid flow in the second passageway of the blood flow system;

treating the sample fluid flow;

analyzing the sample fluid flow for at least one analyte; and

collecting the nonreturn portion such that it is not returned to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said one or more anti-clotting agents comprises ultrasound.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises positioning an ultrasound generator against at least a portion of said second passageway.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises providing from approximately 2 Watts to approximately 200 Watts of ultrasound.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises providing up to approximately 25 Watts of ultrasound.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises providing ultrasound having a frequency including approximately 15 kHz to approximately 60 kHz.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises providing ultrasound having a frequency of approximately 40 kHz.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said one or more anti-clotting agents is a detergent, and wherein said providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises providing said detergent within at least a portion of said second passageway.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said detergent includes a protease enzyme.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blood flow system includes a point-of-care analyte monitoring system.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blood flow system includes an optical detection device, wherein said second passageway includes an optical measurement cell, and wherein said one or more anti-clotting agents is provided at or near said optical measurement cell.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blood flow system includes a spectral analyzer of the blood.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said treating the sample fluid flow comprises centrifuging the sample fluid flow with a centrifuge.

14. A blood flow system comprising:

a first passageway;

a second passageway in fluid communication with the first passageway;

a pump configured to draw a sample into the blood flow system from a blood source;

a valve in fluid communication with the first passageway and the second passageway, the valve being configured to separate the sample into a return portion and a nonreturn portion;

a controller configured to operate the blood flow system such that the return portion is returned to the blood source and the nonreturn portion is not returned to the blood source;

a blood analyzer operatively connected to the second passageway, the blood analyzer being configured to determine the concentration of at least one analyte in the nonreturn portion of the sample; and

an anti-clotting device operatively connected to provide one or more anti-clotting agents to at least a portion of the sample in the second passageway.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said anti-clotting device comprises an ultrasound generator positionable to contact said second passageway.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said ultrasound generator generates from approximately 2 Watts to approximately 200 Watts of ultrasound.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said ultrasound generator generates up to approximately 25 Watts of ultrasound.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein said ultrasound has a frequency of from approximately 15 kHz to approximately 60 kHz.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein said ultrasound has a frequency of approximately 40 kHz.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein one of said one or more anti-clotting agents comprises a detergent, and wherein said anti-clotting device provides said detergent within at least a portion of said second passageway.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said detergent includes a protease enzyme.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein said blood flow system comprises a point-of-care analyte monitoring system.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein said point-of-care analyte monitoring system includes an optical detection device, wherein said passageway includes an optical measurement cell, and wherein said one or more anti-clotting agents is provided at or near said optical measurement cell.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein said point-of-care analyte monitoring system includes a spectroscopic analyzer.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein said spectroscopic analyzer is an infrared spectrometer.

26. A method for providing clear passageways in a blood flow system comprising:

providing a first passageway for a blood flow in the blood flow system;

providing at least one valve in operative association with the first passageway;

operating the valve on at least a portion of the blood flow;

separating at least one portion from the blood flow to provide a sample fluid flow;

providing a second passageway for the sample fluid flow;

providing one or more anti-clotting agents to only the sample fluid flow;

analyzing the sample fluid flow for at least one analyte; and

collecting the sample fluid flow such that it is not returned to the patient.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising treating the sample fluid flow.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein treating comprises separating the sample fluid flow into fluid components.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein separating the sample fluid flow into fluid components comprises filtering the sample fluid flow.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein separating the sample fluid flow into fluid components comprises centrifuging the sample fluid flow.