SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING LEAKS

1 . A bodily fluid sample analysis system comprising:

an analyte measurement system configured to determine the concentration of an analyte in a bodily fluid;

a fluid handling network comprising a plurality of tubes and at least one junction between the plurality of tubes, wherein the fluid handling network comprises a patient end configured to receive bodily fluid drawn from a patient, wherein the fluid handling network is configured to provide at least a portion of the drawn bodily fluid to the analyte measurement system;

an arrival sensor configured to detect the arrival of the bodily fluid at a location in the fluid handling network;

one or more valves having a closed position and an open position;

one or more pumps configured to apply pressure to the fluid handling network;

at least one pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the fluid handling network; and

a controller configured to:

actuate at least one of the one or more pumps to draw bodily fluid from a patient through the patient end into the fluid handling network and to transport the bodily fluid to the location in the fluid handling network associated with the arrival sensor;

receive data from the arrival sensor indicating the arrival of the bodily fluid at the location;

determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the time that the bodily fluid arrived at the location associated with the arrival sensor;

close at least one of the one or more valves to block fluid flow through a tube between the patient end and the at least one junction;

apply pressure to the fluid handling network using the one or more pumps;

receive data from the at least one pressure sensor regarding a pressure in the fluid handling network;

confirm whether the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the data received from the at least one pressure sensor;

actuate the one or more valves to isolate a portion of the fluid handling network;

apply pressure to the isolated portion of the fluid handling network using the one or more pumps;

receive data from the at least one pressure sensor regarding a pressure in the isolated portion of the fluid handling network; and

determine whether the isolated portion of the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the data received from the at least one pressure sensor.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the time it takes for the bodily fluid to move from a starting point to the location associated with the arrival sensor.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a second arrival sensor configured to detect the arrival of the bodily fluid at the starting point, wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the second arrival sensor indicating the arrival of the bodily fluid at the starting point.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the starting point is a junction in the fluid handling network and wherein a start time comprises the time that the bodily fluid is drawn through the junction.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking by comparing the time that the bodily fluid arrived at the location with an acceptable time threshold.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking by comparing the time that the bodily fluid arrived at the location with one or more arrival times from one or more previous measurement cycles.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause a sample of bodily fluid to be received into the fluid handling network after determining that the fluid handling network is not leaking.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to post an alarm after determining that the fluid handling network is leaking.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to perform a plurality of measurement cycles, and wherein the system is configured to check the fluid handling network for leaks before receiving a fluid sample into the fluid handling network for each measurement cycle.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

isolate a first portion of the fluid handling network;

apply pressure to the first portion of the fluid handling network;

measure a pressure in the first portion of the fluid handling network;

isolate a second portion of the fluid handling network;

apply pressure to the second portion of the fluid handling network;

measure a pressure in the second portion of the fluid handling network; and

determine a location of a leak based at least in part on the measured pressure of the first portion of the fluid handling network and the measured pressure of the second portion of the fluid handling network.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the fluid handling network overlaps at least part of the second portion of the fluid handling network.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the fluid handling network and the second portion of the fluid handling network do not overlap.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine whether a leak is present in the first portion of the fluid handling network based at least in part on the measured pressure in the first portion of the fluid handling network; and

determine whether a leak is present in the second portion of the fluid handling network based at least in part on the measured pressure in the second portion of the fluid handling network.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to output an indicator of the location of the leak.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to apply more pressure to the fluid handling network when testing for leaks than when providing the at least a portion of the fluid sample to the analyte measurement system.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the analyte comprises glucose.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid sample comprises whole blood.

18 . A patient monitoring system comprising:

an analyte measurement system configured to determine the concentration of an analyte in a bodily fluid;

a fluid handling network comprising a plurality of tubes and at least one junction between the plurality of tubes, wherein the fluid handling network comprises a patient end configured to receive bodily fluid drawn from a patient, and wherein the fluid handling network is configured to provide at least a portion of the drawn bodily fluid to the analyte measurement system;

a valve having a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position blocks fluid flow through a tube between the patient end and the at least one junction, and wherein the open position permits fluid flow through the tube between the patient end and the at least one junction;

at least one pump configured to apply pressure to the fluid handling network;

at least one pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the fluid handling network; and

a controller configured to:

close the valve to block fluid flow through the tube between the patient end and the at least one junction;

apply pressure to the fluid handling network through the junction using the at least one pump;

receive data from the at least one pressure sensor regarding a pressure in the fluid handling network; and

determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the data received from the at least one pressure sensor.

19 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to cause a sample of bodily fluid to be drawn into the fluid handling network after determining that the fluid handling network is not leaking.

20 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to post an alarm after determining that the fluid handling network is leaking.

21 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the system is configured to perform a plurality of measurement cycles, and wherein the system is configured to check the fluid handling network for leaks before drawing bodily fluid into the fluid handling network for each measurement cycle.

22 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to:

actuate one or more valves to isolate a first portion of the fluid handling network;

apply pressure to the first portion of the fluid handling network using the at least one pump;

measure a pressure in the first portion of the fluid handling network using the at least one pressure sensor;

actuate the one or more valves to isolate a second portion of the fluid handling network;

apply pressure to the second portion of the fluid handling network using the at least one pump;

measure a pressure in the second portion of the fluid handling network using the at least one pressure sensor; and

determine a location of a leak based at least in part on the measured pressure of the first portion of the fluid handling network and the measured pressure of the second portion of the fluid handling network.

23 . The patient monitoring system of claim 22 , wherein the first portion of the fluid handling network overlaps at least part of the second portion of the fluid handling network.

24 . The patient monitoring system of claim 22 , wherein the first portion of the fluid handling network and the second portion of the fluid handling network do not overlap.

25 . The patient monitoring system of claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine whether a leak is present in the first portion of the fluid handling network based at least in part on the measured pressure in the first portion of the fluid handling network; and

determine whether a leak is present in the second portion of the fluid handling network based at least in part on the measured pressure in the second portion of the fluid handling network.

26 . The patient monitoring system of claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to output an indicator of the location of the leak.

27 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to apply more pressure to the fluid handling network when testing for leaks than when drawing bodily fluid or when providing the at least a portion of the drawn bodily fluid to the analyte measurement system.

28 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the analyte comprises glucose.

29 . The patient monitoring system of claim 18 , wherein the bodily fluid comprises whole blood.

30 . A method comprising:

using an analyte measurement system to determine the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample;

using a fluid handling network to receive a fluid sample and to provide at least a portion of the fluid sample to the analyte measurement system;

actuating one or more valves to isolate a first portion of the fluid handling network;

applying pressure to the isolated first portion of the fluid handling network using at least one pump;

receiving receive data from the at least one pressure sensor to measure a pressure in the isolated first portion of the fluid handling network; and

determining whether the isolated first portion of the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the data received from the at least one pressure sensor,

isolating a second portion of the fluid handling network;

applying pressure to the isolated second portion of the fluid handling network;

measuring a pressure in the isolated second portion of the fluid handling network; and

determining a location of a leak based at least in part on the measured pressure of the isolated first portion of the fluid handling network and the measured pressure of the isolated second portion of the fluid handling network.

31 . (canceled)

32 . The method of claim 30 , comprising posting an alarm after determining that the fluid handling network is leaking.

33 . The method of claim 30 , comprising performing a plurality of measurement cycles, and checking the fluid handling network for leaks before receiving a fluid sample into the fluid handling network for each measurement cycle.

34 . (canceled)

35 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the isolated first portion of the fluid handling network overlaps at least part of the isolated second portion of the fluid handling network.

36 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the first portion of the fluid handling network and the second portion of the fluid handling network do not overlap.

37 . The method of claim 30 , comprising:

determining whether a leak is present in the first portion of the fluid handling network based at least in part on the measured pressure in the first portion of the fluid handling network; and

determining whether a leak is present in the second portion of the fluid handling network based at least in part on the measured pressure in the second portion of the fluid handling network.

38 . The method of claim 30 , comprising outputting an indicator of the location of the leak.

39 . The method of claim 30 , comprising applying more pressure to the fluid handling network when testing for leaks than when providing the at least a portion of the fluid sample to the analyte measurement system.

40 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the analyte comprises glucose.

41 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the fluid sample comprises whole blood.

42 . A patient monitoring system comprising:

an analyte measurement system configured to determine the concentration of an analyte in a bodily fluid;

a fluid handling network comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein the fluid handling network is configured to draw bodily fluid from a patient and to provide at least a portion of the drawn bodily fluid to the analyte measurement system;

an arrival sensor configured to detect the arrival of the bodily fluid at a location in the fluid handling network; and

a controller configured to:

actuate at least one pump to draw bodily fluid from a patient into the fluid handling network and to transport the bodily fluid to the location in the fluid handling network associated with the arrival sensor;

receive data from the arrival sensor indicating the arrival of the bodily fluid at the location; and

determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the time that the bodily fluid arrived at the location associated with the arrival sensor.

43 . The system of claim 42 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking based at least in part on the time it takes for the bodily fluid to move from a starting point to the location associated with the arrival sensor.

44 . The system of claim 43 , further comprising a second arrival sensor configured to detect the arrival of the bodily fluid at the starting point, wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the second arrival sensor indicating the arrival of the bodily fluid at the starting point.

45 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the starting point is a junction in the fluid handling network and wherein a start time comprises the time that the bodily fluid is drawn through the junction.

46 . The system of claim 42 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking by comparing the time that the bodily fluid arrived at the location with an acceptable time threshold.

47 . The system of claim 42 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fluid handling network is leaking by comparing the time that the bodily fluid arrived at the location with one or more arrival times from one or more previous measurement cycles.