Catheter insertion device with blood analyzer
A device and method yielding a blood analysis employable in combination with an introducer for a catheter for a concurrent testing of blood from the introducer flash chamber during placement of a venous catheter. The device employs a colorimetric blood analysis to provide the user a visually discernable alert to the results of tested blood concurrent with the placement of the catheter with the introducer.
1. A test component for blood, comprising:
an introducer for the introduction of a catheter into a vein or artery of a patient, said introducer having a housing that defines a flash chamber, and a needle in communication with the flash chamber;
a substrate configured to generate a visually discernable reaction to the presence or a threshold level of a substance in said blood; and
a fluid communication pathway between said substrate and said flash chamber, said fluid communication pathway defined by a surrounding sidewall of said housing of said introducer;
said substrate generating said visually discernable reaction viewable subsequent to a fluid communication of a portion of said blood from said flash chamber to said substrate via said fluid communication pathway.
2. The test component for blood of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
a separation membrane interposed in said fluid communication pathway between said flash chamber and said substrate;
said separation membrane configured to allow only blood plasma from said portion of blood to pass through said fluid communication pathway.
3. The test component for blood of claim 2 , additionally comprising:
a microporous membrane positioned within said flash chamber;
said microporous membrane defining said separation membrane; and
said substrate positioned on or adjacent to a surface of said microporous membrane viewable through said sidewall of said housing of said introducer.
4. The test component for blood of claim 3 , additionally comprising:
a clotting factor on or adjacent to said separation membrane, to clot said blood at said separation membrane.
5. The test component for blood of claim 2 , additionally comprising:
said substrate positioned within a chamber of a substrate housing which is engageable with said housing of said introducer; and
said fluid communication to said substrate communicating from said housing of said introducer to said chamber of said substrate housing.
6. The test component for blood of claim 5 , additionally comprising:
a clotting factor on or adjacent to said separation membrane, to clot said blood at said separation membrane.
7. The test component for blood of claim 2 , additionally comprising:
a clotting factor on or adjacent to said separation membrane, to clot said blood at said separation membrane.
8. The test component for blood of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
a microporous membrane positioned within said flash chamber; and
said substrate positioned on or adjacent to a surface of said microporous membrane which is viewable through said sidewall of said housing of said introducer.
9. The test component for blood of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
said substrate positioned within a chamber of a substrate housing which is engageable with said housing of said introducer; and
said fluid communication to said substrate communicating from said housing of said introducer to said chamber of said substrate housing.
10. A method of testing a patient's blood for a substance comprising the steps of:
providing a test component for blood comprising:
an introducer for the introduction of a catheter into a vein or artery of a patient, said introducer having a housing that defines a flash chamber, and a needle in communication with the flash chamber;
a substrate configured to generate a visually discernable reaction to the presence or a threshold level of a substance in said blood; and
a fluid communication pathway between said substrate and said flash chamber, said fluid communication pathway defined by a surrounding sidewall of said housing of said introducer;
said substrate generating said visually discernable reaction viewable subsequent to a fluid communication of a portion of said blood from said flash chamber to said substrate via said fluid communication pathway;
puncturing the vein or artery of said patient with said needle engaged to said introducer;
allowing blood from said vein or artery to communicate axially through said needle to said flash chamber in said introducer;
allowing a portion of said blood to fluidly communicate with said substrate; and
viewing said substrate to ascertain said visually discernable reaction.