Anti-clotting apparatus and methods for fluid handling system
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample, such as an analyte in a sample of bodily fluid. In some embodiments, a method for maintaining clear passageways in an extracorporeal blood flow system includes intermittently providing one or more anti-clotting agents to a passageway of the extracorporeal blood flow system. In some embodiments, an extracorporeal blood flow system includes a passageway and a device operatively connected to provide one or more anti-clotting agents to a least a portion of said passageway.
1. A method for maintaining clear passageways in a fluid flow system connected to a patient, the method comprising:
providing a passageway configured to carry a fluid flow in a fluid flow system from the patient;
drawing a fluid sample into the fluid flow system;
separating an analysis portion from the fluid sample;
providing one or more anti-clotting agents to only the analysis portion, wherein at least one of the anti-clotting agents comprises an anticoagulant;
preventing the analysis portion of the fluid sample from being returned to the patient; and
analyzing the analysis portion to determine at least one analyte measurement.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises intermittently providing ultrasonic energy to the passageway.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a cleaning solution that is thermally stable at room temperatures.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture having approximately 1% TERGAZYME in saline.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising sodium heparin.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising K2EDTA.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising K3EDTA.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising sodium citrate and citric acid.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a ratio of volume of anticoagulant solution to total volume;
using the equation C 0 =C 0 ′(1+δV/V 0 ) to correct for dilution; and
storing the corrected measurement in a memory.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing an accurately-measured volume of anticoagulant solution; and
measuring the amount of anticoagulation analyte in the analysis portion.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the analysis portion comprises analyzing the analysis portion for glucose concentration.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the fluid sample.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein treating comprises separating the fluid sample into fluid sample sub-components.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein separating the fluid sample into fluid sample sub-components comprises filtering the fluid sample.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein separating the fluid sample into fluid sample sub-components comprises centrifuging the fluid sample.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises introducing heparin into the analysis portion.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein introducing heparin comprises introducing a solution having a sodium heparin concentration of approximately 10 mg/dL.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein preventing the analysis portion of the analysis portion from being returned to the patient comprises directing the analysis portion into a waste reservoir.
20. A method for maintaining clear passageways in a fluid flow system connected to a patient, the method comprising:
providing a passageway configured to carry a fluid flow in a fluid flow system from the patient;
drawing a fluid sample into the fluid flow system;
providing one or more anti-clotting agents to at least a portion of the fluid sample, wherein at least one of the anti-clotting agents comprises an added anticoagulant; and
returning to the patient only one or more portions of the fluid sample, wherein the one or more portions include no added anticoagulant.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising sodium heparin.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising K2EDTA.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising K3EDTA.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises intermittently providing ultrasonic energy to the passageway.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a cleaning solution that is thermally stable at room temperatures.
27. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture having approximately 1% TERGAZYME in saline.
28. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises delivering a mixture comprising sodium citrate and citric acid.
29. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
separating an analysis portion from the fluid sample; and
analyzing the analysis portion to determine at least one analyte measurement.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein analyzing the analysis portion comprises analyzing the analysis portion for glucose concentration.
31. The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
determining a ratio of volume of anticoagulant solution to total volume;
using the equation C 0 =C 0 ′(1+δV/V 0 ) to correct for dilution; and
storing the corrected measurement in a memory.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising:
providing an accurately-measured volume of anticoagulant solution; and
measuring the amount of anticoagulation analyte in the analysis portion.
33. The method of claim 29 , wherein providing one or more anti-clotting agents comprises introducing heparin into the analysis portion.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein introducing heparin comprises introducing a solution having a sodium heparin concentration of approximately 10 mg/dL.
35. The method of claim 20 , further comprising treating the fluid sample.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein treating comprises separating the fluid sample into fluid sample sub-components.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein separating the fluid sample into fluid sample sub-components comprises filtering the fluid sample.
38. The method of claim 36 , wherein separating the fluid sample into fluid sample sub-components comprises centrifuging the fluid sample.
39. The method of claim 20 , wherein returning to the patient one or more portions of the fluid sample comprises pumping a volume of fluid sample back to the patient.