Patent ID: 8197770

Claim:
A system for analyzing non-flowing blood plasma, the system comprising: an analysis system configured to determine the concentration of an analyte in plasma; a fluid controller configured to: withdraw blood from a patient; divide a sample portion from said withdrawn blood; and direct the sample portion toward a fluid handling element; the fluid handling element comprising a fluid interface and a sample element comprising a sample cell having a sample measurement location coinciding with an analysis region of the analysis system, the sample cell comprising a sample chamber for containing a first sample, an input fluid passageway for communicating the first sample into the sample chamber, and an output fluid passageway for communicating the first sample out of the sample chamber, the output fluid passageway adapted to permit a subsequent sample to be admitted into the sample chamber, the fluid handling element configured to prepare the sample portion for analysis by: removing non-plasma from plasma in the sample portion; positioning at least a portion of the remaining plasma at the sample measurement location; aligning the sample measurement location with the analysis region of the analysis system; and holding at least the plasma in a non-flowing state while the plasma at the sample measurement location is analyzed by the analysis system; wherein said fluid controller is further configured to transfer the sample portion through the fluid interface into the sample element and, after analysis, allow the flow of a flush fluid into the sample element through the fluid interface to prepare the fluid handling element to analyze a subsequent sample portion.