Blood coagulation test cartridge, system, and method

A method of performing a test on a biologic test sample and determining a coagulation test time comprising:

• providing a test cartridge formed of a cartridge housing having at least one closed test chamber therein into which the test sample is deposited to be tested and an agitator mounted at a pivot point in the test chamber and having an agitator vane located entirely within the test chamber as the agitator rotates, the agitator vane adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber;
• filling the test chamber with the test sample;
• inserting the test cartridge into a cartridge receptacle of a test instrument;
• and operating the test instrument to:
• sweep the agitator vane about the pivot point through the test sample;
• detect a reduction of sweeping movement of the agitator vane;
• and determine a test time elapsed from the commencement of sweeping of the agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement.

A test cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing comprising:
• a closed test chamber;
• a filling channel communicating with the test chamber, wherein the channel is adapted for introduction of a test sample into the test chamber;
• a port communicating with the filling channel, the port adapted to receive a test sample dispenser;
• and
• an air vent communicating with the test chamber;
• wherein an agitator is mounted at a test chamber pivot element in the test chamber, the agitator having an agitator vane located entirely within the test chamber as the agitator rotates and adapted to be swept about the pivot element and through the test sample in the test chamber, whereby a coagulation test time from the commencement of sweeping of the agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement is determinable.

A system that performs tests on biologic test samples to determine coagulation test times comprising:

• a test cartridge formed of a cartridge housing having at least two test chambers therein to receive test samples to be tested, each test chamber having an agitator mounted at a pivot point in the test chamber, the agitator having an agitator vane located entirely within the test chamber as the agitator rotates and adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber;
• and a test instrument having an instrument housing including a cartridge receptacle for supporting the test cartridge, the test instrument further comprising sweeping means for sweeping the agitator vanes about the pivot points through the test samples;
• detecting means for detecting a reduction of sweeping movement of each agitator vane;
• and timing means for timing coagulation test times elapsed from the commencement of sweeping of each agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement.

A method of performing a test on a plurality of biologic test samples and determining coagulation test times comprising:

• providing a test cartridge formed of a cartridge housing having at least two closed test chambers therein to receive test samples to be tested, each test chamber having an agitator mounted at a pivot point in the test chamber, the agitator having an agitator vane located entirely within the test chamber as the agitator rotates and adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber;
• filling the test chambers with test samples;
• inserting the test cartridge into a cartridge receptacle of a test instrument;
• and operating the test instrument to:
• sweep each agitator vane about its respective pivot point through the test sample;
• detect a reduction of sweeping movement of each agitator vane;
• and time a coagulation test time of the test sample in each test chamber elapsed from the commencement of sweeping of each agitator vane until the detection of reduction of the sweeping movement.

A method of performing a test on a biologic test sample and determining a coagulation test time comprising:

• providing a test cartridge formed of a cartridge housing having at least one closed test chamber therein into which a test sample is deposited to be tested and an agitator mounted at a pivot point in the test chamber, the agitator having an agitator vane located entirely within the test chamber as the agitator rotates and adapted to be swept about the pivot point and through the test sample in the test chamber;
• filling the test chamber with a test sample;
• inserting the test cartridge into a cartridge receptacle of a test instrument;
• and operating the test instrument to:
• sweep the agitator vane about the pivot point through the test sample;
• detect the sweeping movement of the agitator vane;
• and display an image of the sweeping movement of the agitator vane, whereby changes in the sweeping movement due to coagulation and dissolution of coagulation are presented.