FLUID ANALYSIS MODULE AND FLUID ANALYZER

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid analysis module that comprises the following components and, in particular, is suitable for blood analysis: a module housing with a fluid inlet port; at least one fluid sensor that is integrated within the module housing and comprises a sensor surface that is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port; a chamber integrated within the module housing, said chamber being able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; at least one first liquid reservoir attached within the chamber, said liquid reservoir being able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; and at least one module housing surface, on which an elastic, fluid-tight separating wall that is embodied in membrane-like fashion is attached, at least in portions, under which separating wall at least one fluidic functional element in the style of a flow valve and at least one fluidic functional element in the style of a delivery pump are attached and embodied in such a way that the fluidic functional elements are operable in at least one of the following ways only by way of local mechanical deformation of the separating wall: a) only delivering fluid from the fluid inlet port into the chamber via the sensor surface and b) only delivering a liquid housed in the liquid reservoir from the liquid reservoir into the chamber via the sensor surface.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A fluid analysis module comprising: a module housing including a fluid inlet port, at least one fluid sensor integrated within the module housing and comprising a sensor surface that is brought into a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port; a chamber integrated within the module housing, the chamber being configured to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; at least one first liquid reservoir attached within the chamber, the liquid reservoir being configured to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; and at least one module housing surface, on which an elastic, fluid tight separating wall is located to provide a membrane which has at least portions, under the separating wall which is at least moveable functionally as a flow valve and at least one delivery pump so that operation in at least one of the following ways occurs only by mechanical deformation of the separating wall as follows: delivering only fluid from the fluid inlet port into the chamber via the sensor surface; and delivering only a liquid housed in the at least one liquid reservoir from the liquid reservoir into the chamber via the sensor surface.

14. The fluid analysis module according to claim 13, wherein at least one second liquid reservoir is attached inside the chamber, the second liquid reservoir being brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor, by use of at least fluidic functional element functioning as a flow valve or a delivery pump.

15. The fluid analysis module according to claim 13, wherein the at least one liquid reservoir comprises a fluid-tight elastic bag.

16. The fluid analysis module according to claim 14, wherein the at least one liquid reservoir comprises a fluid-tight elastic bag.

17. The fluid analysis module according to claim 13, wherein the module housing is subdivided into a measuring carrier and a chamber region, with the measuring carrier positioned on the chamber and defining the chamber at least on one side, and the measuring carrier has an upper face remote from the chamber and the elastic fluid-tight separating wall is a membrane is attached at least in portions thereto.

18. The fluid analysis module according to claim 17, wherein the fluid inlet port is attached to an inside part of the measuring carrier along at least one fluid line which is fluidically connected to the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor, at least one fluid line leads therefrom inside the measuring carrier and which discharges into the chamber, and the flow valve is positioned along at least one of the fluid lines, and one of the fluid lines connectable into a fluidic operative connection with the delivery pump.

19. The fluid analysis module according to claim 17, wherein the at least one liquid reservoir is fluidically connected to the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor via a discharge fluid line which discharges into the part of the measuring carrier, at least one leading fluid line leads away from the fluid sensor inside the measuring carrier and discharges into the chamber, and the flow valve is positioned along at least one of the fluid lines, and the discharge fluid line and the leading fluid line are connectable into a fluidic operative connection with the delivery pump.

20. The fluid analysis module according to claim 18, wherein the at least one liquid reservoir is fluidically connected to the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor via a discharge fluid line which discharges into the part of the measuring carrier, at least one leading fluid line leads away from the fluid sensor inside the measuring carrier and discharges into the chamber, and the flow valve is positioned along at least one of the fluid lines, and the discharge fluid line and the leading fluid line are connectable into a fluidic operative connection with the delivery pump.

21. The fluid analysis module according to claim 13, wherein at least two freely accessible electrode surfaces are attached to at least one module housing surface which are electrically connected to the at least one fluid sensor.

22. The fluid analysis module according to claim 21, wherein the flow valve comprises a fluid channel portion which opens toward the module housing surface and which is spanned by the elastic fluid-tight separating wall that is a membrane, and the separating wall is deformable by application of force thereto, so that the fluid channel portion is sealed locally in a fluid-tight manner by the deformed separating wall.

23. The fluid analysis module according to claim 22, wherein the delivery pump comprises a fluid channel portion which opens toward the at least one module housing surface and which is spanned by the elastic fluid-tight separating wall that is a membrane, and the separating wall is deformable by the application of force, so that the fluid channel portion encloses with the deformed separating wall to deliver volumes of fluid moving forward peristaltically in a direction of the fluid channel.

24. The fluid analyzer comprising a fluid analysis module according to claim 13, comprising a control and evaluation unit, the fluid analysis module is couplable thereto in a releasable and fixed manner, so that mechanical actuating elements of the control and evaluation unit are able brought into engagement with the fluidic functional elements via the elastic fluid-tight separating wall which is a membrane located, and an electrical connection is between the control and evaluation unit and the at least one fluid sensor via at least two electrode surfaces which are attached to the module housing surface.

25. The fluid analyzer comprising a fluid analysis module according to claim 14, comprising a control and evaluation unit, the fluid analysis module is couplable thereto in a releasable and fixed manner, so that mechanical actuating elements of the control and evaluation unit are able brought into engagement with the fluidic functional elements via the elastic fluid-tight separating wall which is a membrane located, and an electrical connection is between the control and evaluation unit and the at least one fluid sensor via at least two electrode surfaces which are attached to the module housing surface.

26. The fluid analyzer comprising a fluid analysis module according to claim 15, comprising a control and evaluation unit, the fluid analysis module is couplable thereto in a releasable and fixed manner, so that mechanical actuating elements of the control and evaluation unit are able brought into engagement with the fluidic functional elements via the elastic fluid-tight separating wall which is a membrane located, and an electrical connection is between the control and evaluation unit and the at least one fluid sensor via at least two electrode surfaces which are attached to the module housing surface.

27. The fluid analyzer comprising a fluid analysis module according to claim 16, comprising a control and evaluation unit, the fluid analysis module is couplable thereto in a releasable and fixed manner, so that mechanical actuating elements of the control and evaluation unit are able brought into engagement with the fluidic functional elements via the elastic fluid-tight separating wall which is a membrane located, and an electrical connection is between the control and evaluation unit and the at least one fluid sensor via at least two electrode surfaces which are attached to the module housing surface.

28. A method of use of the fluid analysis module according to claim 13 as an analyzer of biological liquids comprising blood, liquor, serum, urine, or reperfusate.

29. A method of use of the fluid analysis module according to claim 14 as an analyzer of biological liquids comprising blood, liquor, serum, urine, or reperfusate.

30. A method of use of the fluid analysis module according to claim 15 as an analyzer of biological liquids comprising blood, liquor, serum, urine, or reperfusate.

31. The method or use according to claim 29, wherein the at least one liquid reservoir contains a flushing liquid or calibration liquid and a further liquid reservoir with a calibration liquid is contained inside the chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The invention is described by way of example hereinafter without limitation of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a fluid analysis module configured according to the invention with the control and evaluation unit coupled thereto;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an illustration of a fluidic functional element configured to be a flow valve; and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a fluidic functional element configured to be a delivery pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a fluid analysis module 1 which is mechanically coupled to a control and evaluation unit 3 via a mechanically releasable interface 2. The fluid analysis module 1 in combination with the control and evaluation unit 3 forms a fluid analyzer.

[0028] The fluid module 1 shown in FIG. 1 is surrounded by a module housing 4 and thus constitutes a single unit and/or may be operated as a single unit. The fluid analysis module 1 is able to be functionally subdivided into a measuring carrier region 5 and a chamber region 6. The chamber region 6 has a chamber 7 in which two liquid reservoirs 8, 9, which are configured as elastic bags, are incorporated. The bag-shaped liquid reservoirs 8, 9, with the exception of the fluid lines discharging into the measuring carrier region 5, are otherwise loosely mounted inside the chamber 7.

[0029] The measuring carrier 5* has a fluid inlet port 10, via which a liquid to be analysed by sensor and/or a fluid to be analysed by use of a sensor, for example blood, is able to be fed into the measuring carrier 5*. Inside the measuring carrier 5* is located at least one fluid sensor 12 which has at least one sensor surface 11, via which the fluid to be examined by the at least one fluid sensor is guided inside the fluid sensor 12.

[0030] The fluid entering the measuring carrier 5* via the fluid inlet port 10 is guided into the fluid sensor 12 via the fluid lines 15, 16. Leading away from the fluid sensor 12 is a fluid line 17 which is provided inside the measuring carrier 5*, via which fluid flowing through the fluid sensor 12 directly discharges into the volume of the chamber 7 which serves as a fluid collection and/or disposal chamber.

[0031] In order to ensure a flow in a defined manner along the fluid lines 15, 16 and 17, fluidic functional elements 13 and 14 are provided inside the measuring carrier 5*. The fluidic functional element 13, which is provided in FIG. 1 between the fluid line 15 and 16, is a valve permitting selective closing and opening of the connection between the fluid lines 15 and 16. The fluidic functional element 14, which is provided along the fluid line 17, is a delivery pump which ensures a controlled flow along the respective fluid lines. Depending on the design, the fluidic functional elements 13, 14 may be attached to regions along the fluid lines which differ from those shown in the figures.

[0032] For the purpose of cleaning or calibrating the sensor surface 11 of the fluid sensor 12, flushing liquid or calibration liquid is guided from the fluid reservoir 8, which stores a flushing liquid or calibration liquid, to the fluid sensor 12 via the fluid lines 16 and 18, which is ultimately disposed of again via the fluid line 17 into the chamber 7. To this end, the valve control of the fluidic functional element 13 has to be performed, such that it is ensured that the supply along the fluid line is closed 15 and only the fluid lines 18 and 16 are fluidically connected.

[0033] For the purposes of calibrating the sensor, a calibration liquid is housed inside the fluid reservoir 9. The calibration liquid passes to the fluid sensor 12 via the fluid lines 19 and 16 and being transferred therefrom via the fluid line 17 into the collection volume of the chamber 7. Also in this case it is necessary to perform the valve control of the fluidic functional element 13, with the fluid lines 15 and 18 being closed, while the fluid line 19 for a supply of calibration liquid to the fluid sensor 12 is open.

[0034] In FIG. 2 a cross section through a fluidic functional element which is a valve 13 is illustrated. Thus, for example, the fluid line 15 shown in FIG. 2 has a recess 21 which is configured to be open toward the module housing surface 20 and which is spanned by an elastic fluid-tight separating wall 22 that is embodied as a membrane. If it is necessary to close the flow path along the fluid channel 15, a deformation of the separating wall 22 by the application of force is required, such that the separating wall ensures a local fluid-tight seal inside the fluid line 15. Advantageously, an actuating element 23, which is attached to the sides of the control and evaluation unit 3, is used.

[0035] In each case a fluidic functional element configured as a value according to FIG. 2 is provided at least along each of the fluid channels 15, 18 and 19 shown in FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates a possible embodiment for implementing a fluidic functional element as a delivery pump. The fluid channel 17 has a recess 21 which is oriented toward the module housing surface 20 and which is spanned by an elastic fluid-tight separating wall 22 that is a membrane. For the purpose of implementing a fluid flow in the delivery direction 24 at least three actuating elements 23, with actuating strokes respectively adapted to one another and which are attached to the sides of the control and evaluation unit 3, contact the separating wall 22 which has to be deformed such that it encloses with the fluid channel wall a delivered volume 27 which moves forward in a peristaltic manner in the delivery direction 24.

[0037] Finally, at least two electrode surfaces 25 are attached to the module housing surface 20 so that the fluid sensor signals being able to be picked up thereby. To this end, the control and evaluation unit 3 has corresponding electrode contacts 26.

[0038] The fluid analysis module 1 according to the invention uses components which are simple and cost-effective to produce and is suitable, in particular, as a single-use article and/or disposable article. Since the fluid analysis module 1 contains no electrical components, disposal is easy. All actuators and electronic components are attached to the control and evaluation unit 3 and are exclusively brought into an operative connection with the fluid analyzer via a fluid-tight separating wall, that is the control and evaluation unit is not subjected to any contamination during a measuring process and/or measuring cycle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0039] 1 Fluid analysis module [0040] 2 Mechanical interface [0041] 3 Control and evaluation unit [0042] 4 Module housing [0043] 5 Measuring carrier region [0044] 6 Chamber region [0045] 7 Chamber [0046] 8 First fluid reservoir [0047] 9 Second fluid reservoir [0048] 10 Fluid inlet port [0049] 11 Sensor surface [0050] 12 Fluid sensor [0051] 13 Fluidic functional element in the style of a flow valve [0052] 14 Fluidic functional element in the style of a delivery pump [0053] 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Fluid lines [0054] 20 Module housing surface [0055] 21 Recess [0056] 22 Separating wall [0057] 23 Actuating element [0058] 24 Delivery direction [0059] 25 Electrode surfaces [0060] 26 Electrode contacts [0061] 27 Delivered volumes