Patent ID: 6736783
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically, repetitively sampling blood from a conscious animal, comprising:a) means for confining a conscious, catheterized animal; b) a cannula having first and second ends, said first end connected to the catheterized animal, said cannula being suitable for sampling blood from the animal; c) a cannula valve having first and second ends, said first end connected to the cannula, said cannula valve opening and closing being computer controlled; d) a cannula T-fitting having first, second and third ends, said first end connected to the second end of the cannula valve; e) an outlet valve having first and second ends, said first end connected, via tubing, to the second end of the cannula T-fitting, said outlet valve opening and closing being computer controlled; f) a dispensing tip having first and second ends, said first end connected to the second end of the outlet valve, said second end being suitable for discharging blood into a sample, collection vial; g) means for horizontal and vertical movement of the dispensing tip, said means for movement being computer controlled; h) an air T-fitting having first, second and third ends, said first end connected to the third end of the cannula T-fitting; i) an air valve having first and second ends, said first end connected to the second end of the cannula T-fitting, said second end connected to a check valve; j) a syringe pump suitable for transferring blood and saline solution through the apparatus, said pump having first and second ends, said first end connected, via tubing, to the third end of the air T-fitting, said pump being computer controlled; k) a rotary, programmable valve having four ports for receiving and discharging fluids, wherein the ports open and close by computer control, said first port being connected, via tubing, to the second end of the syringe pump; l) a heparinized saline source comprising a saline solution, said saline source being connected to the second port of the programmable valve; m) a fraction collector, comprising: i) a base having two horizontally opposed, parallel tracks, and a single track horizontally positioned above and perpendicular to the horizontally opposed, parallel tracks, ii) a temperature controlled rack in slidable contact with the horizontally opposed, parallel tracks, iii) means for sliding the rack along the tracks, said means being computer controlled, and iv) a plurality of sample, collection vials removably located in the rack, said vials being suitable for receiving samples from the dispensing tip; and n) computer means for accepting timing commands for collecting samples from the animal in coordination with the opening and closing of valves, sliding of the temperature controlled rack, pumping of the syringe pump, and dispensing samples into the collection vials, wherein samples can be collected at predetermined time intervals.