Fluid handling cassette having a fluid transport network
A fluid handling module is configured for removable engagement with a reusable main fluid handling instrument. The module comprises a housing, an infusion fluid passageway, a sample fluid passageway, and a fluid component separator. The infusion fluid passageway has a first port and a second port spaced from the first port, and a lumen extending from the first port to the second port. The sample fluid passageway is connected to the infusion fluid passageway. The fluid component separator is connected to the sample fluid passageway.
1 . A fluid handling module configured for removable engagement with a reusable main fluid handling instrument, said module comprising:
a housing;
an infusion fluid passageway having a first port and a second port spaced from said first port, and a lumen extending from said first port to said second port;
a sample fluid passageway connected to said infusion fluid passageway; and
a fluid component separator connected to said sample fluid passageway.
2 . The fluid handling module of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said infusion fluid passageway is enclosed by said housing.
3 . The fluid handling module of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said infusion fluid passageway extends from said housing.
4 . The fluid handling module of claim 1 , wherein the sample fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the infusion fluid passageway.
5 . The fluid handling module of claim 1 , wherein said fluid component separator is configured to remove at least a first component from a sample of bodily fluid drawn into said module.
6 . The fluid handling module of claim 5 , wherein the fluid component separator comprises a filter.
7 . The fluid handling module of claim 6 , wherein the filter is located in said sample fluid passageway.
8 . The fluid handling module of claim 5 , wherein the fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge.
9 . The fluid handling module of claim 5 , wherein the fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge rotor.
10 . The fluid handling module of claim 9 , wherein said centrifuge rotor is configured to interface with a centrifuge drive located on said main fluid handling instrument.
11 . The fluid handling module of claim 5 , further comprising a sample analysis cell in fluid communication with said fluid component separator.
12 . The fluid handling module of claim 11 wherein said sample analysis cell is configured to hold at least a portion of said first component.
13 . The fluid handling module of claim 5 , wherein fluid component separator further comprises a sample analysis cell.
14 . The fluid handling module of claim 5 , further comprising a waste receptacle accessible via said sample fluid passageway.
15 . The fluid handling module of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component separator is located within said housing.
16 . The fluid handling module of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component separator is located on said housing.
17 . A fluid handling module configured for removable engagement with a reusable main fluid handling instrument, said module comprising:
a module housing;
a first fluid passageway extending from said module housing, said first fluid passageway having a patient end remote from said housing, said first fluid passageway configured to provide fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient; and
a fluid component separator in fluid communication with said first fluid passageway, said fluid component separator configured to separate at least one component from a portion of said bodily fluid drawn from said patient.
18 . The fluid handling module of claim 17 , wherein the first fluid passage way further comprises an infusion end extending from the module housing and configured to be connected to an infusion source.
19 . The fluid handling module of claim 17 , wherein the patient end of the first fluid passageway further comprises a connector configured to provide fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient.
20 . The fluid handling module of claim 17 , further comprising a draw passageway, said draw passageway providing fluid communication between said fluid component separator and said first fluid passageway.
21 . The fluid handling module of claim 20 , wherein said fluid component separator is configured to remove at least a first component from a sample of bodily fluid.
22 . The fluid handling module of claim 21 , wherein the fluid component separator comprises a filter.
23 . The fluid handling module of claim 22 , wherein the filter is located in said draw passageway.
24 . The fluid handling module of claim 21 , wherein the fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge.
25 . The fluid handling module of claim 21 , wherein the fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge rotor.
26 . The fluid handling module of claim 25 , wherein said centrifuge rotor is configured to interface with a centrifuge drive located on said main fluid handling instrument.
27 . The fluid handling module of claim 21 , further comprising a sample analysis cell in fluid communication with said fluid component separator.
28 . The fluid handling module of claim 27 , wherein said sample analysis cell is configured to hold a portion of said first component.
29 . The fluid handling module of claim 17 , wherein said fluid component separator further comprises a sample analysis cell.
30 . The fluid handling module of claim 17 , further comprising a waste receptacle accessible via said first fluid passageway.
31 . A method for extracting and preparing for analysis a bodily fluid of a patient, said method comprising:
attaching a removeable fluid handling module to a main fluid handling instrument, wherein:
said fluid handling module comprises a module body, a fluid component separator connected to said module body, and a fluid passageway extending from said module body; and
said main fluid handling instrument comprises an analyte detection system;
drawing a volume of a bodily fluid from said patient into said fluid passageway;
transferring at least a portion of said drawn volume of bodily fluid to said fluid component separator;
with said fluid component separator, separating a first component from said bodily fluid;
with said analyte detection system, analyzing at least a portion of said separated first component to determine a concentration of an analyte.
32 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising maintaining fluid communication between said fluid handling module and said patient's vasculature while performing said analyzing.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein said fluid passageway further comprises an infusion end spaced from said module, said method further comprising:
connecting said fluid passageway with an infusion source; and
periodically infusing a liquid from said infusing source into said patient's vasculature.
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a filter and said separating comprises flowing said bodily fluid through said filter.
35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge and said separating comprises using centrifugal force to separate said first component from said bodily fluid.
36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge rotor, and wherein said main instrument further comprises a centrifuge drive, and wherein said attaching comprises interfacing said centrifuge rotor with said centrifuge drive.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein said separating comprises using centrifugal force to separate said first component from said bodily fluid.
38 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising transporting said first component to a sample analysis chamber.
39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein said sample analysis chamber is operatively configured to interface with said analyte detection system