Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of collecting and analyzing a sample of blood when monitoring heparin therapy, comprising the steps of: drawing a sample of blood from the patient; collecting the sample as it is drawn in a collection medium which includes a calcium chelating agent; mixing an inhibitor with the blood sample approximately simultaneously with collection of the sample, the inhibitor being effective to inhibit a platelet-related procoagulant activity which otherwise normally occurs and substantially concludes within approximately thirty minutes after drawing the blood sample from the patient; and thereafter performing a recalcified activated clotting time test on the blood sample to obtain data useful in monitoring the amount of heparin to be administered.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of collecting and analyzing a sample of blood when monitoring heparin therapy, comprising the steps of: drawing a sample of blood from the patient; collecting the sample as it is drawn in a collection medium which includes a calcium chelating agent; mixing an inhibitor with the blood sample approximately simultaneously with collection of the sample, the inhibitor being effective to inhibit a platelet-related procoagulant activity which otherwise normally occurs and substantially concludes within approximately thirty minutes after drawing the blood sample from the patient; and thereafter performing a recalcified activated clotting time test on the blood sample to obtain data useful in monitoring the amount of heparin to be administered.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the recalcified activated clotting time test is performed more than thirty minutes after the sample of blood was drawn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the inhibitor is one of the group consisting of a prostaglandin or an inhibitor of thromboxane A2 synthesis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the inhibitor is a prostaglandin and the prostaglandin is a prostacyclin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as defined in claim 4 wherein: the prostacyclin is present in the collection medium in an approximate concentration of 10 nanograms per milliliter of blood to be collected, and the calcium chelating agent is sodium citrate present in the collection medium in an approximate concentration of 3.8% mg per 100 ml of water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the inhibitor is an inhibitor of thromboxane A2 synthesis and said inhibitor is imidazole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein: the imidazole is present in the collection medium in the approximate concentration of 50 mM, and the calcium chelating agent is sodium citrate present in the collection medium in an approximate concentration of 3.8% mg per 100 ml of water.