Patent ID: 7687272

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring diffusion of oxygen across a red blood cell membrane, the apparatus comprising: an oxygen level detector, a gas exchange system, and a red blood cell transport system; the red blood cell transport system being adapted and configured for transporting red blood cells through the gas exchange system and the oxygen level detector; the gas exchange system being adapted and configured to exchange gasses with the red blood cell; the oxygen level detector being adapted and configured for detecting oxygen levels in a red blood cell or in fluid surrounding a red blood cell; and a modular transport system; the modular transport system comprising a sampling apparatus, a pump, a diffusion apparatus, and a transparent optical system; the modular transport system being adapted and configured for reversibly coupling to a main body of the apparatus which comprises a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a pump motor, a measuring system, and a control system, wherein the measuring system measures a) an amount of oxygen inside of a red blood cell, b) an amount of oxygen outside of a red blood cell, or c) an amount of oxygen inside and outside of a red blood cell; the sampling apparatus being adapted and configured for introducing a fluid containing red blood cells into the red blood cell transport system; the pump being adapted and configured for moving a fluid containing red blood cells into and through the red blood cell transport system, and through the diffusion apparatus and the transparent optical system; the diffusion apparatus being adapted and configured for providing contact between a gas and a red blood cell; and the transparent optical system being adapted and configured for providing a generally transparent pathway for light to access the fluid containing red blood cells.