Fluid handling cassette with a fluid control interface and sample separator

1. A fluid handling module removably engageable with a bodily fluid analyzer, said module comprising:

a disposable fluid handling element configured to prevent fluid contact with the non-disposable bodily fluid analyzer, the analyzer having plural fluid control element actuators, the fluid handling element configured to interface with the analyzer at an analyzer interface surface, the disposable fluid handling element comprising:

multiple fluid passageways comprising tubes and having no exits for fluid within the analyzer interface surface area, wherein fluid is prevented from contacting the analyzer;

a syringe configured to receive a fluid, the syringe having a syringe control element recessed in an opening in the analyzer interface surface and configured to engage an actuator on the analyzer;

a valve configured to engage at least a portion of at least one fluid passageway, the valve having a valve control element recessed in an opening in the analyzer interface surface and configured to engage an actuator on the analyzer; and

an integrated fluid component separator mounted for rotation on the disposable fluid handling element, the separator configured to separate the bodily fluid into multiple components for analysis, the separator further comprising:

a disposable rotor;

a disposable container mounted on the disposable rotor, the disposable container comprising an analysis chamber having a window configured for positioning in an optical path for analysis; and

a separator control element recessed in an opening in the analyzer interface surface and configured to mechanically engage the analyzer to facilitate input of fluid into the analysis chamber and rotation of the rotor;

wherein each such opening in the disposable fluid handling element at least partially registers the respective control element on the fluid handling element with the actuator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said fluid handling element comprises a flexible tube.

3. The module of claim 1 , wherein said fluid component separator further comprises a membrane.

4. The module of claim 1 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge.

5. A fluid handling and analysis system comprising:

a main analysis and control instrument; and

a disposable fluid handling module removably engageable with said main instrument;

said main instrument comprising:

a bodily fluid analyzer; and

at least one control element, the control element comprising at least one actuator configured to control fluid flow through the fluid handling module without directly contacting the fluid;

said fluid handling module comprising:

multiple fluid passageways configured to remove a bodily fluid from a patient and to prevent contact by the fluid with the main instrument;

an integrated fluid component separator that is configured to separate bodily fluid into multiple subcomponents for analysis the separator mounted for rotation on the disposable fluid handling module, the separator further comprising an analysis chamber having a window configured for positioning in an optical path for analysis, the optical path being formed on the bodily fluid analyzer of the main instrument;

at least one fluid handling element coupled to said fluid component separator; and

at least one control interface coupled to the fluid handling element configured to engage said at least one actuator when said main instrument and said fluid handling module are engaged.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid handling module comprises a cassette.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid handling element comprises a flexible tube.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein said at least one actuator comprises a valve actuator.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein said at least one fluid handling element further comprises a container portion of a syringe.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein said at least one protruding control element is selected from a group consisting of a syringe drive, a handle portion of the syringe, a valve actuator, a pinch valve actuator, a pump actuator or a piston.

11. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid handling module encloses said at least one fluid handling element, said fluid handling module further comprising at least one opening operably positioned to allow access to said at least one protruding control element.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid handling module comprises said fluid component separator mounted in said module body so as to be at right angles with respect to said module body.

13. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge rotor configured to engage a centrifuge motor of said main instrument.

14. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a membrane.

15. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge.

16. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fluid component separator comprises a centrifuge rotor.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said centrifuge rotor is configured to engage a centrifuge drive located on said main instrument.

18. A method for extracting and analyzing a bodily fluid of a patient, said method comprising:

attaching a disposable fluid handling module to a main analysis and control instrument, wherein:

said fluid handling module comprises:

at least one disposable fluid handling element further comprising a fluid passageway;

at least one control element interface; and

a fluid component separator integrated onto said disposable fluid handling module and accessible via said fluid handling element, wherein said fluid component separator is configured to separate the bodily fluid into multiple subcomponents, said separator further comprising an analysis chamber positioned in an optical path of a fluid analyzer on said main analysis and control instrument;

engaging said at least one control element interface of said fluid handling module with said at least one control element of said main instrument through an opening in the fluid handling module;

drawing a sample of said bodily fluid from said patient into said fluid handling module by actuating said at least one control element;

controlling fluid flow between said at least one fluid handling element and said fluid component separator with said at least one control element;

separating the sample of the bodily fluid into multiple subcomponents with the fluid component separator, at least one subcomponent remaining in the analysis chamber for optical analysis; and

analyzing at least one of the multiple subcomponents with said body fluid analyzer to determine the concentration of an analyte.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said at least one fluid handling element comprises a flexible tube.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said fluid handling module comprises a cassette.

21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising connecting said fluid handling module to said bodily fluid of said patient, wherein said drawing a sample of said bodily fluid from said patient into said fluid handling module comprises withdrawing a sample of said bodily fluid by actuating a syringe pump.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein said fluid handling module further comprises a sample cell in fluid communication with said fluid component separator, said method further comprising:

holding at least a portion of said multiple subcomponents of said bodily fluid in said sample cell; and

with said bodily fluid analyzer, spectroscopically analyzing at least one of said multiple subcomponents of bodily fluid in said sample cell.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

said at least one fluid handling element comprises a syringe;

said at least one control element further comprises a syringe drive; and

said engaging comprises interfacing said syringe with said syringe drive.

24. A disposable fluid handling cassette configured to interface with a non-disposable analyzer, the cassette comprising:

multiple fluid passageways comprising tubes configured to prevent bodily fluid from contacting the analyzer;

an analyzer interface surface having plural fluid control element actuators therein, each fluid control element actuator configured to interface with an actuator on the non-disposable analyzer;

an integrated fluid component separator mounted on the cassette, the separator configured to separate the bodily fluid into multiple subcomponents for analysis, the separator further comprising:

an analysis chamber for positioning at least one of the bodily fluid components in an optical path for analysis;

a separator control element positioned in the analyzer interface surface and configured to mechanically engage the analyzer;

a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said passageways and said separator for providing bodily fluid to the separator; and

a fluid outlet for removing the analyzed bodily fluid from the separator; and

a waste container in fluid communication with said separator fluid outlet.

25. The disposable fluid handling cassette of claim 24 , wherein the separator fluid inlet is engageable with a movable fluid nozzle mounted on the cassette.