# US 11,994,460 B2 · Methods and devices for monitoring blood

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- Number: US 11,994,460 B2
- Document ID: US11994460B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/545,620
- Filed: 2021-12-08
- Published: 2022-03-31
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-08
- Assignees: Sorin Group Italia S.r.l.
- Applicants: Sorin Group Italia S.r.l.
- Inventors: Andrea Galavotti; Gabriele Tommasi; Giampaolo Simonini; Marco Luppi; Andrea Zaniboni; Paola Capriati
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994460B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/0303: {Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment (G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/14557: {specially adapted to extracorporeal circuits}
- G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters}
- A61B 5/150992: {Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; Blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings or valves}
- G01N 2021/0367: {Supports of cells, e.g. pivotable}
- G01N 2021/6432: {Quenching}
- G01N 2021/6482: {Sample cells, cuvettes}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A system includes a cuvette including a cuvette body forming a substantially planar exterior surface and having a sensor window defined within the substantially planar exterior surface. The cuvette further includes a probe retention structure extending from the cuvette body. The system includes a probe with a probe body and a protrusion that is removably coupled to the probe retention structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cuvette comprising:
a cuvette body having a first end, a second end, an aperture positioned between the first end and the second end, and a central bore extending from the first end to the second end to permit blood flow therethrough, wherein the aperture extends through a side wall of the cuvette body; and
a sensor window formed separate from the cuvette body and thereafter being positioned within the aperture of the cuvette body, the sensor window providing visual and/or sensor access to blood within the central bore while preventing blood flow through the aperture;
wherein the sensor window includes a fluorescent coating sensitive to blood oxygen partial pressures.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cuvette of claim 1, further comprising a sensor window frame extending around the aperture, the sensor window disposed in the sensor window frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cuvette of claim 2, further comprising a window retainer mechanically coupling the sensor window to the cuvette body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cuvette of claim 3, wherein the cuvette body forms at least two teeth mechanically coupled to the window retainer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The cuvette of claim 3, wherein the window retainer is U-shaped and defines a circular aperture formed in a surface of the window retainer configured to be aligned with the sensor window to permit optical and/or sensor access to blood in the cuvette.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cuvette of claim 5, wherein the window retainer includes legs extending generally perpendicular to the surface and forming window retainer apertures that assist with coupling the window retainer to the cuvette body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The cuvette of claim 6, wherein the cuvette body includes teeth configured to engage the window retainer apertures to couple the window retainer to the cuvette body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cuvette of claim 7, wherein the window retainer is configured to slip over the teeth such that the teeth extend into the window retainer apertures to secure the window retainer to the cuvette body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The cuvette of claim 2, further comprising an O-ring positioned between the sensor window and the sensor window frame.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cuvette of claim 1, wherein the sensor window comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The cuvette of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent coating faces the central bore formed by the cuvette body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The cuvette of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent coating is disposed in contact with blood passing through the central bore of the cuvette body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The cuvette of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent coating changes colors or shades in response to varying oxygen partial pressures.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The cuvette of claim 1, wherein the cuvette body includes a substantially planar exterior surface configured to engage a probe, the probe having at least one sensor disposed therein.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The cuvette of claim 14, wherein the aperture is defined in the substantially planar exterior surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The cuvette of claim 14, wherein the probe is configured to releasably couple to the cuvette body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The cuvette of claim 14, further comprising a probe retention structure extending outward from the cuvette body and a plurality of pins extending outward from the cuvette body.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The cuvette of claim 17, wherein the probe includes a probe body having a first end configured to releasably engage the plurality of pins and a second end configured to releasably engage the probe retention structure to releasably couple the probe of the cuvette body.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The cuvette of claim 18, wherein the probe includes an optical sensor disposed between the first end and the second end, the optical sensor being positioned in alignment with the sensor window when the probe is coupled to the cuvette body.

### Claim 20

A system comprising:
a cuvette comprising:
a cuvette body including a first cuvette end, a second cuvette end, an aperture positioned between the first cuvette end and the second cuvette end, and a central bore extending from the first cuvette end to the second cuvette end to permit blood flow therethrough, wherein the aperture extends completely through a side wall of the cuvette body;
a sensor window formed separate from the cuvette body and thereafter being positioned within the aperture of the cuvette body, the sensor window providing visual and/or sensor access to blood within the central bore while preventing blood flow through the aperture;
a first probe retention structure positioned near the first cuvette end; and
a second probe retention structure extending from the cuvette body and positioned near the second cuvette end;
wherein the sensor window includes a fluorescent coating sensitive to blood oxygen partial pressures; and
a probe comprising:
a probe body having a first probe end and a second probe end;
a first cuvette engaging structure near the first probe end capable of removably engaging the first probe retention structure; and
a second cuvette engaging structure near the second probe end capable of engaging the second probe retention structure.