Near-patient module for analyte detection system
In certain embodiments, an apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid includes a first fluid passageway having a patient end which is configured to provide fluid communication with a bodily fluid within a patient. The apparatus further includes at least one pump coupled to the first fluid passageway. The at least one pump has an infusion mode in which the pump is operable to deliver infusion fluid to the patient through the patient end, and a sample draw mode in which the pump is operable to draw a sample of the bodily fluid from the patient through the patient end. The apparatus further includes an analyte detection system accessible via the first fluid passageway such that the analyte detection system can receive at least one component of the drawn sample of bodily fluid and determine a concentration of at least one analyte. The analyte detection system is spaced from the patient end of the first fluid passageway. The apparatus further includes a fluid sensor located at or near the patient end of the first fluid passageway and spaced from the analyte detection system. The fluid sensor is configured to sense a property of a fluid within the first fluid passageway.
1 . An apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid, said apparatus comprising:
a first fluid passageway having a patient end which is configured to provide fluid communication with a bodily fluid within a patient;
at least one pump coupled to said first fluid passageway, said at least one pump having an infusion mode in which said pump is operable to deliver infusion fluid to said patient through said patient end, and a sample draw mode in which said pump is operable to draw a sample of said bodily fluid from said patient through said patient end;
an analyte detection system accessible via said first fluid passageway such that said analyte detection system can receive at least one component of said drawn sample of bodily fluid, and determine a concentration of at least one analyte, said analyte detection system being spaced from said patient end of said first fluid passageway; and
a fluid sensor located at or near said patient end of said first fluid passageway and spaced from said analyte detection system, said fluid sensor being configured to sense a property of a fluid within said first fluid passageway.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said analyte detection system comprises an optical analyte detection system.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said analyte detection system comprises a spectroscopic analyte detection system.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said analyte detection system comprises an electromechanical analyte detection system.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said analyte detection system comprises an enzymatic analyte detection system.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said analyte detection system comprises a reagent-based analyte detection system.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor is located between said patient end and said analyte detection system.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor comprises a colorimetric sensor.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor comprises a hemoglobin sensor.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor comprises a hematocrit sensor.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor comprises a pressure sensor.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor comprises a bubble sensor.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor comprises a dilution sensor.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor is configured to detect the arrival of said drawn sample of bodily fluid in said first fluid passageway.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor is located in a near-patient module located on said first fluid passageway between said patient end and said analyte detection system.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said near-patient module is spaced from said analyte detection system.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second fluid passagewayin fluid communication with said first fluid passageway via a junction between the first and second passageways, wherein said fluid sensor is configured to sense the arrival of said drawn sample of bodily fluid near said junction between said first and second fluid passageways.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one pump comprises a first single-mode pump operable in said infusion mode and a second single-mode pump operable in said sample draw mode.
19 . A fluid-handling method comprising:
providing a first fluid passageway having a patient end and a spectroscopic analyte detection system accessible via said first fluid passageway;
infusing an infusion fluid to a patient through said patient end;
drawing a body fluid from said patient through said patient end;
sensing a property of a fluid within said first fluid passageway at a sensing location at or near said patient end and spaced from said analyte detection system; and
determining the concentration of at least one analyte in the fluid within said first fluid passageway using said analyte detection system.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said fluid within said first fluid passageway comprises the body fluid.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing the color of the fluid within said first fluid passageway.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing the hemoglobin content of the fluid within said first fluid passageway.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing the hematocrit of the fluid within said first fluid passageway.
24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing the pressure of the fluid within said first fluid passageway.
25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing the presence of one or more bubbles within said first fluid passageway.
26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing dilution of said fluid within said first fluid passageway
27 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting the arrival of said fluid within said first fluid passageway.
28 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising providing a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with said first fluid passageway via a junction between the first and second passageways and sensing the arrival of said body fluid near said junction of said first and second fluid passageways.
29 . The method of claim 19 , wherein sensing a property of said fluid within said first fluid passageway comprises sensing a property of said infusion fluid or said body fluid within said first fluid passageway.
30 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining the concentration of at least one analyte in said fluid within said first fluid passageway comprises determining the concentration of at least one analyte in at least one component of said body fluid.
31 . A method for analyzing the composition of a body fluid of a patient, said method comprising:
obtaining a body fluid sample from said patient;
passing said sample through a first fluid passageway towards an analyte detection system;
detecting a property of said sample at a predetermined location along said first fluid passageway;
separating the sample into a first portion and a second portion;
passing said first portion to said analyte detection system; and
returning said second portion to said patient.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said first portion travels a first distance to said analyte detection system and said second portion travels a second distance to said patient, wherein said second distance is smaller than said first distance.
33 . A system for obtaining a body fluid sample, said system comprising:
a first fluid passageway having a patient end which is configured to provide fluid communication with a body fluid of a patient;
a sensor located at a predetermined location along said first fluid passageway, wherein said sensor is configured to detect a property of fluid within said first fluid passageway; and
an analyte detection system in fluid communication with said first fluid passageway, wherein at least a first portion of said fluid within said first fluid passageway at said predetermined location travels a first distance to said analyte detection system and at least a second portion of said fluid within said first fluid passageway at said predetermined location travels a second distance to said patient.
34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein said second distance is smaller than said first distance.
35 . The system of claim 33 , further comprising one or more valves configured to direct fluid within said first fluid passageway into at least said first portion and at least said second portion.
36 . The system of claim 33 , wherein a volume of said first portion is smaller than a volume of said second portion.