Method and apparatus for analyzing blood

Claim 1

A blood analyzing device, which comprises: a blood gas analyzer; a conduit comprising a passageway constructed so as to collect and hold blood, said conduit being further formed with an inlet constructed so as to provide blood flow from a patient to said passageway, an outlet and a seating surface defining an aperture therethrough; an annular-shaped adapter comprising a periphery which defines an opening therethrough, said periphery comprising an outer surface threadably engaged with said conduit and having a threaded inner surface engaged with said analyzer; a replaceable membrane comprising a first side and a second side, said membrane being removably held between said periphery of said adapter and said seating surface of said conduit to removably cover said aperture with said first side being exposed to said passageway to define part of said passageway and to provide surface contact with the collected blood, said second side of said membrane exposed to contact said analyzer and establish an electrical contact therebetween to analyze the blood in said passageway; and means engaged with said conduit outlet constructed so as to draw blood from the patient into said passageway through said inlet to bring blood into contact with said first side of said membrane.

Claim 6

A method for analyzing blood, which comprises: (a) engaging a syringe with a blood collecting chamber which comprises an annular shaped adapter defining a periphery, said periphery comprising a threaded inner surface and a threaded outer surface and forming an opening therethrough, a replaceable electrically conductive membrane to removably cover said opening; a conduit forming said chamber and comprising a fluid passageway therethrough, said conduit further comprising an inlet constructed so as to provide blood flow from a patient to said passageway, an outlet, and a seating surface defining an aperture therethrough, said conduit threadably engaged with the outer surface of said adapter removably holding said membrane between said periphery of said adapter and said seating surface of said conduit to define part of said chamber; and an electrode electrically connected to a blood gas analyzer, said analyzer having means threadably engaged with the inner surface of said adapter to hold said electrode against said membrane to establish electro-chemical contact with said membrane; (b) manipulating said syringe to draw blood into said passageway through said inlet; and (c) energizing said analyzer to analyze the blood in said passageway.

Claim 7

A method for analyzing blood, which comprises: (a) engaging a syringe with a blood collecting chamber which comprises an annular shaped adapter defining a periphery, said periphery comprising a threaded inner surface and a threaded outer surface and forming an opening therethrough, a replaceable electrically conductive membrane to removably cover said opening; a conduit forming said chamber and comprising a fluid passageway therethrough, said conduit further comprising an inlet constructed so as to provide blood flow from a patient to said passageway, an outlet, and a seating surface defining an aperture therethrough, said conduit threadably engaged with the outer surface of said adapter removably holding said membrane between said periphery of said adapter and said seating surface of said conduit to define part of said chamber; and an electrode electrically connected to a blood gas analyzer, said analyzer having means threadably engaged with the inner surface of said adapter to hold said electrode against said membrane to establish electro-chemical contact with said membrane; (b) manipulating said syringe to draw blood into said passageway through said inlet; and (c) energizing said analyzer to analyze the blood in said passageway.