Hemotec, Inc.

Peter Whitfield Cherry

John H Altshuler

Walter Jacob Braun

An apparatus and method for accelerating the coagulation of blood and the components thereof uses the injection of an additive and gas to trigger coagulation. The appartus is designed to include a disposable multi-cell pack for minimizing manual handling of the blood and for minimizing exposure thereof to foreign surfaces with each cell containing a specimen of blood disposed above, but separated from, a predetermined amount of additive by means of a releasable cap. The cell pack containing the multiplicity of cells is inserted over a corresponding multiplicity of gas injection nozzles which effect the release of the caps in each cell for injecting the additive and the gas into the blood. As the gas passes through the blood, bubbles that are continually formed in the space above the blood burst and blood transported therein refluxes back into the blood below until coagulation occurs. A first photocell detector determines whether bubbles are formed above the surface of the blood and generates a signal if no bubbles exist due to a gas flow failure. When the blood commences to coagulate, the blood transported in the bubbles becomes gel-like and the transported blood rather than refluxing downwardly becomes trapped in a gauze disposed in the space above the main body of blood. In response to the collection, the level of the main body of blood drops which is detected by a second photocell detector thereby signalling the event of coagulation.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Peter Whitfield Cherry