Optical method and apparatus for measuring carbon monoxide in non-hemolyzed blood
US6084661A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/3148
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas which causes asphyxiation by combining with a strong affinity to blood hemoglobin. Unless a patient is quickly identified as having CO poisoning, the patient could face severe medical consequences including death. This patent describes a reagentless optical method for measuring carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) in a whole undiluted blood sample that can be obtained from a fingerstick. A battery-operated triple wavelength device measures light transmission at frequencies of 548 nm, 810 nm and 950 nm through a 40 .mu.L sample of undiluted whole blood placed in standard disposable glass capillary tube. Having a portable point-of-care device, for uses by paramedics during an emergency situation, in the emergency room, or in a physician's office, can provide accurate immediate confirmation of CO poisoning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.