Separable cassette for measuring glycated hemoglobin
Inventors
KIM, Hyu Jeong • KIM, Hyong Soo • Kim, Dong Han • SHIN, Eun Myung • Shin, Jung Sub • Hong, Soon Min • Lee, Su Hyun • CHOI, Dong Cheol
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11474120-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a separable cassette for measuring glycated hemoglobin. It is easy to use the separable cassette for measuring glycated hemoglobin of the present invention since a reagent is sequentially leaked during the rotation thereof. In addition, there is no need to shake the reagent beforehand, as the reagent without residual reagent is fully discharged by the rotation. Therefore, the measurement result is accurate because an error between the amount of the reagent used and the amount of sample blood is small.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for measuring glycated hemoglobin that uses a separable cassette and a cartridge configured to be inserted into the cassette. The cartridge includes a first storage zone for storing a first reagent and a second storage zone for storing a second reagent, and further includes a blood sampling unit integrally formed with the cartridge and located between the first storage zone and the second storage zone to divide an inner space of the cartridge.
The cartridge is configured so that blood is injected into the cassette, and the device includes a first measurement zone in which the blood sample reacts with the first reagent to measure an amount of total hemoglobin. The device further includes a second measurement zone in which the reacted blood sample reacts with the second reagent to measure an amount of glycated hemoglobin.
An external power driving unit is configured to rotate the cassette so that, as the cassette rotates by a first predetermined angle or more relative to a horizontal axis of the cassette in a first direction, the first reagent leaks from the first storage zone and moves to the first measurement zone, and as the cassette rotates by a second predetermined angle or more in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second reagent leaks from the second storage zone and moves to the second measurement zone. The cassette comprises a first leakage hole and a second leakage hole provided on upper sides of the first and second storage zones, respectively, arranged opposite each other with respect to an insertion guide unit.
In further embodiments described, the device includes an insertion guide unit, a cartridge accommodation part, an optical window for optical reflectometry with an external optical sensor, a leakage preventing unit removed upon cartridge insertion, a delivery guide unit, and a sample absorption unit. A sensor arrangement and controller convert a signal to measure total hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin and enable calculation such as a glycated hemoglobin ratio.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a glycated hemoglobin measuring device with five inventive features: a rotating separable cassette, a cartridge-integrally formed blood sampling unit, first and second reagent storage zones, first and second measurement zones, and leakage holes arranged with an insertion guide unit.
Rotating separable cassette to trigger first and second reagent leakage
A device with a driving unit applying external power to rotate the cassette such that rotation by a first predetermined angle or more in a first direction causes the first reagent to leak from the first storage zone and move to the first measurement zone, and rotation by a second predetermined angle or more in an opposite second direction causes the second reagent to leak from the second storage zone and move to the second measurement zone.
Cartridge integrally formed blood sampling unit between reagent storage zones
A cartridge insertable into the cassette, where a blood sampling unit is integrally formed with the cartridge, is located between the first storage zone and the second storage zone, and injects a blood sample into the cartridge while dividing an inner space into the first storage zone and the second storage zone.
Total hemoglobin first measurement zone and glycated hemoglobin second measurement zone
A first measurement zone in which the blood sample reacts with the first reagent to measure an amount of total hemoglobin and a second measurement zone in which the reacted blood sample reacts with the second reagent to measure an amount of glycated hemoglobin.
Leakage holes aligned with insertion guide unit
The cassette further comprises a first leakage hole provided on an upper side of the first storage zone and a second leakage hole provided on an upper side of the second storage zone, where the first leakage hole and the second leakage hole are opposite each other with respect to the insertion guide unit.
Insertion guide unit for cartridge insertion direction
An insertion guide unit configured to guide an insertion direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cassette, located between the first storage zone and the second storage zone.
Overall, the independent claim scope centers on rotating a cassette to sequentially leak first and second reagents from upper-side leakage holes into first and second measurement zones, while using a cartridge-mounted blood sampling unit positioned between the reagent storage zones and an insertion guide unit to control cartridge placement.
Stated Advantages
Ease of use without pre-shaking.
Full reagent discharge with minimal residuals.
Reduced reagent-sample amount error.
Prevention of reagent mixing.
Documented Applications
Measuring glycated hemoglobin using a separable cassette/cartridge that sequentially moves reagents to first and second measurement zones.
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