Fluid analysis module and fluid analyzer

Inventors

Benk, Christoph • GRUDKE, Juergen • Feldbruegge, Rainer • Borchardt, Michael

Assignees

Resuscitec GmbH

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid analysis module that comprises 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 make a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port; a chamber integrated within the module housing. The chamber can 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 which is 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 a separating wall at least one fluidic functional configured as a flow valve and at least one fluidic functional element configured as a delivery pump is attached so that the fluidic functional elements are operable by local mechanical deformation of the separating wall: a) only deliver fluid from the fluid inlet port into the chamber via the sensor surface and b) only deliver a liquid housed in the liquid reservoir from the liquid reservoir into the chamber via the sensor surface.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a fluid analysis module with a module housing that includes a fluid inlet port and at least one fluid sensor integrated within the module housing. The sensor has a sensor surface that is brought into a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port, and the module housing further integrates a chamber configured to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface.

The module includes at least one first liquid reservoir attached within the chamber, where the liquid reservoir is configured to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor. The module housing surface carries an elastic fluid-tight separating wall that provides a membrane, and the membrane has at least a portion moveable under the separating wall, functioning as a flow valve and as part of at least one delivery pump.

The at least one delivery pump operates only by mechanical deformation of the separating wall to deliver only fluid from the fluid inlet port into the chamber via the sensor surface. The delivery pump also delivers only a liquid housed in the at least one liquid reservoir into the chamber via the sensor surface. The document describes an elastic, fluid-tight membrane-based arrangement enabling valve sealing in a fluid channel recess spanned by the membrane and pump transport using sequential actuating strokes.

The invention also encompasses electrical coupling and control architecture in which electrode surfaces are electrically connected to the sensor with actuation and control via an external control and evaluation unit. A housing architecture is described in which the module can be subdivided into a measuring carrier and a chamber region, while the chamber provides a collection/disposal volume.

Claims Coverage

The document contains three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00016, clm-00017). Across these claims, the coverage centers on a sensor-integrated fluid inlet and chamber, reservoir-to-sensor fluidic connection, and an elastic fluid-tight separating wall (membrane) that provides both flow-valve behavior and a delivery pump driven only by mechanical deformation, delivering only the inlet fluid and only the reservoir liquid to the chamber via the sensor surface.

Collectively, the independent claims require a fluid analysis module that integrates a fluid inlet port, at least one sensor with a sensor surface, and a chamber fluidically connected to the sensor surface. The claims further require one or more liquid reservoirs attached within the chamber, and an elastic fluid-tight separating wall/membrane that is moveable to provide flow-valve function and that enables a delivery pump to operate only by mechanical deformation to deliver inlet fluid and reservoir liquid to the chamber via the sensor surface. The claims also explicitly include use for analyzing biological fluids and, for the third claim, a second reservoir where the membrane functions as a flow valve or as a delivery pump.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found