Blood hematocrit monitoring system

Claim 1

A system for monitoring and controlling the level of blood hematocrit comprising: an infra-red light source means; an infra-red sensitive photo-transistor detector means opposing said light source means, said detector means being selected so as to produce a change in voltage dependent upon the amount of light impinging thereupon and having a spectral sensitivity at the wavelength of the light source means; lumen means intermediate said light source means and said detector means, said lumen means being substantially optically transparent to the light emitted by said light source means; and meter means responsive to the voltage emitted from said detector means for indicating the quantity of hematocrit within a moving column of blood when said column is passed through said lumen means; a three-way valve means downstream of said detector means and said light source means, said valve means being coupled to said lumen means, a first outlet of said valve means and a second outlet from said valve means; and means within said meter means for causing blood to flow from said lumen means to said first outlet when the blood hematocrit level is above a preselected value and to flow from said lumen to said second outlet when the blood hematocrit level is below said preselected value.

Claim 2

A system for monitoring and controlling the level of blood hematocrit comprising: an infra-red light source means; an infra-red sensitive photo-transistor detector means opposing said light source means, said detector means being selected so as to produce a change in voltage dependent upon the amount of light impinging thereupon and having a spectral sensitivity at the wavelength of the light source means; lumen means intermediate said light source means and said detector means, said lumen means being substantially optically transparent to the light emitted by said light source means; and meter means responsive to the voltage emitted from said detector means for indicating the quantity of hematocrit within a moving column of blood when said column is passed through said lumen means; a three-way valve means downstream of said detector means and said light source means, said valve means being coupled to said lumen means, a first outlet of said valve means and a second outlet from said valve means; and means within said meter means for causing blood to flow from said lumen means to said first outlet when the blood hematocrit level is above a preselected value and to flow from said lumen to said second outlet when the blood hematocrit level is below said preselected value.

Claim 10

A device for monitoring the level of blood hematocrit in a moving blood column comprising: a lumen for containing said column of blood, at least a portion of said lumen being optically transparent to light passing therethrough at a wavelength of approximately 800 nm; a light source disposed adjacent said portion of said lumen for directing light having a wavelength of approximately 800 nm through said lumen; a photo-transistor detector disposed on the opposite side of said portion of said lumen for receiving light from said light source and having a maximum spectral sensitivity at approximately 800 nm; meter means coupled to said detector for indicating the quantity of hematocrit within said lumen; a three-way valve means downstream of said detector means and said light source means coupled to said lumen means, a first outlet of said valve means and a second outlet from said valve means; and means within said meter means for causing blood to flow from said lumen to said first outlet when the blood hematocrit level is above a preselected value and to flow from said lumen to said second outlet when the blood hematocrit is below said preselected value.

Claim 11

A device for monitoring the level of blood hematocrit in a moving blood column comprising: a lumen for containing said column of blood, at least a portion of said lumen being optically transparent to light passing therethrough at a wavelength of approximately 800 nm; a light source disposed adjacent said portion of said lumen for directing light having a wavelength of approximately 800 nm through said lumen; a photo-transistor detector disposed on the opposite side of said portion of said lumen for receiving light from said light source and having a maximum spectral sensitivity at approximately 800 nm; meter means coupled to said detector for indicating the quantity of hematocrit within said lumen; a three-way valve means downstream of said detector means and said light source means coupled to said lumen means, a first outlet of said valve means and a second outlet from said valve means; and means within said meter means for causing blood to flow from said lumen to said first outlet when the blood hematocrit level is above a preselected value and to flow from said lumen to said second outlet when the blood hematocrit is below said preselected value.

Claim 12

A device for monitoring the level of blood hematocrit in a moving column of blood comprising: an infra-red light source means; an infra-red sensitive photo-transistor detector means opposing said light source means, said detector being selected so as to produce a change in voltage dependent upon the amount of light impinging thereupon and having a spectral sensitivity at the wavelength of the light source means; housing means containing said light source and detector means; tube means for conveying blood to said housing and away therefrom; lumen means within said housing and disposed intermediate said light source and detector means, said lumen means being coupled at each end to said tube means and having a pair of parallel optically transparent window means at the portion of said lumen means intermediate said light source and detector means; locating means on the exterior of said lumen means and means within said housing for engaging said locating means whereby said lumen means is located within said housing means only in a position where the light emitted from said light source is directed perpendicularly through said window means toward said detector means; and meter means coupled to said detector means and being responsive to the voltage emitted from said detector means for indicating the quantity of hematocrit within a moving column of blood when said column is passed through said lumen means.

Claim 13

A device for monitoring the level of blood hematocrit in a moving column of blood comprising: an infra-red light source means; an infra-red sensitive photo-transistor detector means opposing said light source means, said detector being selected so as to produce a change in voltage dependent upon the amount of light impinging thereupon and having a spectral sensitivity at the wavelength of the light source means; housing means containing said light source and detector means; tube means for conveying blood to said housing and away therefrom; lumen means within said housing and disposed intermediate said light source and detector means, said lumen means being coupled at each end to said tube means and having a pair of parallel optically transparent window means at the portion of said lumen means intermediate said light source and detector means; locating means on the exterior of said lumen means and means within said housing for engaging said locating means whereby said lumen means is located within said housing means only in a position where the light emitted from said light source is directed perpendicularly through said window means toward said detector means; and meter means coupled to said detector means and being responsive to the voltage emitted from said detector means for indicating the quantity of hematocrit within a moving column of blood when said column is passed through said lumen means.