A BLOOD GAS ANALYZER AND SYSTEM COMPRISING A BLOOD GAS ANALYZER, AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

A blood gas analyzer (1) for performing a measurement on analyte parameters in a blood sample, such as a whole blood sample, aspirated into the blood gas analyzer from a blood sample container comprises an output device, such as a monitor (30), for outputting instructions to a user of the blood gas analyzer for the user's handling of the one or more of the user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer, such as for maintenance purposes, and/or for replacement of sensor cassettes, gaskets, probes, solution packs, etc. A controller (8) is provided for receiving a signal, on the basis of which it is determined if an instruction, such as an animated video instruction, is to be presented to the user. In the affirmative, the controller selects one of a plurality of pre-stored sets of instructions for outputting at the output device.

Claims

1. A blood gas analyzer for performing a measurement on analyte parameters in a blood sample aspirated into the blood gas analyzer from a blood sample container, the blood gas analyzer comprising a plurality of user-accessible parts, a controller, and: an aspiration system for aspirating the blood sample from the blood sample container, the aspiration system comprising an inlet structure for connecting to the blood sample container; a monitor for outputting instructions to a user of the blood gas analyzer for the user's handling of one or more of user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer; an electronic memory comprising at least two pre-stored sets of animated video instructions, each of the pre-stored sets of animated video instructions illustrating the user's correct handling of at least one of the user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer; wherein the controller is configured to: receive a signal indicative of at least one of: a user input; a presence, a position, and/or an orientation of the user-accessible parts, and at least one projected handling action of at least one of the user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer; and in response to the signal, determine if one of the animated video instructions is to be presented to the user, and in the affirmative: select at least one of the at least two pre-stored sets of animated video instructions on the basis of the signal; and output the at least one selected animated video instruction at the monitor.

2. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer comprises at least one of: a solution pack, an inlet module, a sensor cassette, an inlet probe of the inlet structure, an inlet connector gasket, and an inlet gasket with a holder therefor.

3. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said signal is indicative of a need or a user desire to conduct at least one of: a manual flush for removing clots in a conduit of the blood gas analyzer, replacement or installation of the solution pack, replacement or installation of the sensor cassette, replacement of the inlet probe, replacement of the inlet connector gasket, replacement of the inlet gasket with holder, and replacement of the inlet module.

4. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein each of the animated video instructions illustrates a sequence of steps of the user's correct handling of the at least one user-accessible part.

5. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 4, wherein: the signal indicative of the projected handling action includes an indication if one or more of said steps have been completed; and the controller is configured to carry out the selection of the animated video instructions in such a manner that those one or more of the animated video instructions or those one or more parts thereof associated with the completed steps are omitted from outputting at the monitor.

6. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein each of the pre-stored sets of animated video instructions comprises a simulation of a haptic feedback during the user's handling of the at least one of the user-accessible parts.

7. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the aspiration system comprises an aspiration point for establishing a fluid flow communication with the blood sample container, and wherein the blood gas analyzer further comprises a detection structure for detecting a presence of the blood sample container at the aspiration point.

8. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: deny the performance of analyte parameter measurements if it is determined that one or more of the at least one projected handling actions or one more steps thereof is due; or prompt for a user confirmation of the performance of analyte parameter measurements if it is determined that one or more of the at least one projected handling action is due.

9. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of the projected handling is derived on the basis of a sensor signal, a measurement, a message from an external source, a maintenance or upgrade schedule, and/or a detected need for training.

10. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to prompt the user for confirmation of outputting of the at least one selected animated video instruction, and wherein the outputting of the at least one selected animated video instruction is subject to user confirmation.

11. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to not allow the user to bypass the output of the at least one selected animated video instruction.

12. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor system for detecting the completion of steps to which the at least one selected animated video instruction relates, and wherein the controller is configured to progress outputting of the least one animated video instruction on the basis of the detected completion of completed steps.

13. The blood gas analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for communicating with an external device or network.

14. A system for performing a measurement on analyte parameters in a blood sample comprising a blood gas analyzer according to claim 1 and a blood sample container.

15. A method of performing point-of-care (POC) measurement on analyte parameters in a blood sample, the method comprising: obtaining the blood sample from a patient; aspirating blood from the blood sample into the blood gas analyzer of claim 1; and measuring analyte parameters in said blood.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] The invention will now be described in further details with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0075] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a blood gas analyzer according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0076] FIG. 2 is a side-view of a blood gas analyzer according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0077] FIGS. 3-8 illustrate a sequence of steps included in instructions for a user's performance of a handling action of one or more user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a blood gas analyzer 1 having a controller 8, one or more analyte sensors 3(a-i) and 4, a measurement chamber 2, and fluid handling infrastructure 20. For performing measurements, the user may provide a blood sample at an inlet structure 12 a/b of the blood gas analyzer 1 using a handheld blood sample container 100 (see FIGS. 3-10). When connecting the handheld blood sample container to the inlet structure 12a/b, a sensor system 5 detects a presence, a position and/or an orientation of the handheld blood sample container. A sensor signal of the detected presence, position and/or orientation of the handheld blood sample is provided from the sensor system 5 to the controller 8. The controller 8 assesses whether the detected sensor signal indicates if the handheld blood sample container 100 is in fluid communication with an aspiration point.

[0079] The blood sample is transferred from the aspiration point through an inlet 6 to the measurement chamber 2 comprising a plurality of analyte sensors 3 and 4. The analyte sensors 3 and 4 are arranged to provide measurements on analyte parameters in the blood sample. The analyte sensors 3 and 4 generate signals that are representative of a physical parameter for the respective analyte and provide the signals to the controller 8. The controller 8 is adapted to receive and process signals from the analyte sensors 3 and 4 and present the processed signals as output to the user at the monitor 30. The fluid handling infrastructure 20 includes a number of reservoirs 21 pre-filled with process liquids for, e.g., rinsing/wash-out, calibration and quality control tasks, as indicated in FIG. 1. The exact composition of a given process liquid may be stored in a chip 25. The process liquid for a given process step may be selected by a fluid selector valve 22, and via feed line 12c transferred through the aspiration point to the measurement chamber 2. Correct filling of the measurement chamber 2 is monitored by means of liquid sensors 10(a-c), located, e.g., at the aspiration point, at an outlet of the measurement chamber 2, and after a measurement device 9. The fluid flow through the blood gas analyzer 1 is driven by a pump 23, connected to a measurement device 9 via a fluid line 13. The discharged process fluids are transported through fluid line 14 to a waste reservoir 24.

[0080] FIG. 2 is a side-view of a blood gas analyzer inlet module. The blood gas analyzer of FIG. 2 may be in accordance with the blood gas analyzer according to the FIG. 1. As shown, the inlet structure of the blood gas analyzer may include a stationary part 12d and an inlet module 12e.

[0081] FIGS. 3-8 illustrate a sequence of steps included in instructions for a user's performance of a handling action of one or more user-accessible parts of the blood gas analyzer. More particularly, FIGS. 3-8 specifically show replacement of an inlet gasket with holder.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows the blood gas analyzer 1 with inlet structure 12 a/b and monitor 30. For the purpose of presenting instructions to the user 102 in order to guide the user to convenient and efficient handling of the at least one user-accessible part (in this case the replacement of an inlet gasket with holder), a selected pre-stored set of animated video instructions is output to the user 102 via the monitor 30. In FIG. 3 the animated video instructions shows a hand gripping the inlet gasket with holder to be replaced.

[0083] FIG. 4 depicts a situation subsequent to the user having removed the inlet gasket with holder to be replaced, where the animated video instructions has progressed so that the animated video instructions being output at the monitor 30 show no inlet gasket with holder at the position of the blood gas analyzer where the inlet gasket with holder to be replaced was previously positioned.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows the animated video instructions showing a hand holding a replacement inlet gasket with holder at the position of the blood gas analyzer where it is to be mounted.

[0085] The output of particular animated video instructions, such as these particular parts relating to a specific step to be carried out by the user (such as the animated video instructions depicted in FIGS. 4-5 relating to mounting of the replacement inlet gasket with holder at the empty position of the removed inlet gasket with holder), may be a result of a signal indicating the completion by the user of the removal of the inlet gasket with holder to be removed and/or a signal indicating that a replacement inlet gasket with holder has not yet been installed. For example, both of the above mentioned signals would enable the controller to arrange that the animated video instructions correspond to the actual situation, i.e., showing only the relevant step, such as showing the actual situation (presently no inlet gasket with holder at the position where the replacement inlet gasket with holder is to be mounted, cf., the animated video instruction depicted in the monitor in FIG. 4) and the next step to be carried out (mounting of the replacement inlet gasket with holder, cf., the animated video instruction depicted in the monitor in FIG. 5). This may be advantageous as the user might then not need to spend time (or be confused by) animated video instructions regarding the (completed) removal of the inlet gasket with holder to be replaced (cf., the animated video instruction depicted in the monitor in FIG. 3) and/or regarding not yet relevant steps.

[0086] FIG. 6 shows the user following the animated video instruction on the monitor 30 (cf., FIG. 5) and more particularly the hand of the user 102 placing the replacement inlet gasket and holder at the appropriate position of the blood gas analyzer in accordance with the animated video instructions depicted at the monitor 30.

[0087] FIG. 7 is an illustration of the monitor outputting a visual indication to the user 102 that the handling is completed.

[0088] FIG. 8 is an illustration of the monitor outputting a visual indication to the user 102 that the blood gas analyzer is ready for performing a measurement on analyte parameters in a blood sample, such as a whole blood sample, aspirated into the blood gas analyzer from a blood sample container.

[0089] While the steps and animated video instructions depicted in FIGS. 3-8 depict a specific workflow relating to replacement of inlet gasket with holder, it is understood that the steps and animated video instructions could reflect other workflows to be carried out by the user in respect of the handling of other actions, i.e. another step or another plurality of sequential steps. For example, animated video instructions illustrating the user's correct handling, such as a step or a sequence of steps, could relate to replacement of other parts (such as an inlet module, an inlet connecter gasket), cleaning (such cleaning of an inlet gasket with holder and inlet area or such as back flush flow, where a cleaning liquid is flushed backwards through the system and out of the inlet through which blood samples during normal use are aspirated), or other actions.