Apparatus and cartridge for hemostasis testing

摘要

A sample testing cartridge is usable to perform a variety of tests on a viscoelastic sample, such hemostasis testing on a whole blood or blood component sample. The cartridge includes a sample processing portion that is in fluid communication with a sample retention structure. A suspension, such as a beam, arm, cantilever or similar structure supports or suspends the sample retention portion relative to the sample processing portion in a unitary structure. In this manner, the sample retention portion may be placed into dynamic excitation responsive to excitation of the cartridge and correspondingly dynamic, resonant excitation of the sample contained within the sample retention portion, while the sample processing portion remains fixed. Observation of the excited sample yields data indicative of hemostasis. The data may correspond to hemostasis parameters such as time to initial clot formation, rate of clot formation, maximum clot strength and degree of clot lysis.

主权项

1. A cartridge for sample testing, the cartridge comprising:
a sample preparation portion including a fluid processing structure; a sample testing portion including a sample retention structure, the sample testing portion being coupled to the sample preparation portion via a fluidic passage providing fluid communication between the fluid processing portion and the sample retention structure; the sample retention structure supporting a sample to be tested such that the sample may be excited to resonant vibration responsive to an excitation applied to the cartridge and permitting observation of the resonant vibration of the sample.