Disposable cartridge for investigating physical properties of blood

A disposable cartridge for measuring .›.the.!. properties of blood comprising:

• a waste compartment for receiving blood samples which have been subject to measuring;
• a platform supported on said waste compartment including first and second fluidic couplings , which receive .›.the.!. front tip s of first and second syringes which contain blood samples, .›.connecting.!. wherein said fluidic couplings connect said platform and syringes together.›., forming.!. to form a leak-proof assembly, said fluidic couplings providing a pressurizing fluid to said syringes and each having an outlet for delivering pressurized blood;
• first guide means for supporting said syringes in alignment with said fluidic couplings;
• first and second blood-carrying tubes mounted along a routing path on a surface, connected to each of said outlets;
• a punching mechanism comprising:
• a ram operated punching needle, said needle being positioned during a punching operation by a second guide means to punch an opening in said first blood carrying tube, permitting blood to exit through said opening;
• a first domed chamber receiving .›.the.!. an end of said first blood-carrying tube, and receiving a first pressurizing fluid from a first source of pressurizing fluid .›.for.!. , said receipt of said first pressurizing fluid displacing air through a restricted orifice, .›.and for.!. said first source of pressurizing fluid providing a pressure transducer connection which measures changes in blood pressure occurring during a flow of blood through said first blood-carrying tube into said first domed chamber, said flow of blood displacing first pressurizing fluid through said restrictive orifice into said waste compartment;
• and
• a second domed chamber receiving .›.the.!. a distal end of said second blood carrying tube, and receiving a second pressurizing fluid .›.for.!. from a second source of pressurizing fluid said receipt of said second pressurizing fluid displacing air through a restricted orifice in said second domed chamber, .›.as well as.!. said second source of pressurizing fluid providing a connection to a pressure transducer for measuring changes in blood pressure in said second blood-carrying tube from blood flowing through said second domed chamber , said blood flow displacing said second pressurizing fluid through said restrictive orifice into said waste compartment.