Abstract: A method for maintaining clear passageways in an extracorporeal blood flow system. The method comprises intermittently providing one or more anti-clotting agents to a passageway of the extracorporeal blood flow system. Also disclosed is an extracorporeal blood flow system. The system comprises a passageway, and a device operatively connected to provide one or more anti-clotting agents to a least a portion of said passageway.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for determining analyte concentration in a sample such as bodily fluid. Systems and methods disclosed herein can also include a treatment dosing system to infuse or inject a treatment drug (e.g. insulin or glucose) and provide glycemic control. The dose of the treatment drug may be based on the concentration of the analyte or the average value for the concentration of the analyte and/or the rate of change of the value of the concentration of the analyte.

Abstract: The volume of fluid removed from a patient during ultrafiltration is controlled automatically on the basis of central venous pressure (CVP) measurements. In one embodiment, a central venous catheter (CVC) is used for accessing blood during dialysis. A sensor located at the tip of the catheter or inside the dialysis machine is used to periodically measure CVP. CVP feedback data helps prevent the excessive removal of fluids from the patient.

Abstract: Volumetric accuracy in hemodialysis systems is provided by swapping pumps between the replacement fluid side and the output side for a hemofiltration system and between the return fluid side and the sorbent side for a closed-loop, sorbent-based system, such that same quantity of fluid is pumped at each point after the end of an even number of pump swaps. A method for calculating the time interval between swaps is provided based on an allowable difference in amount pumped in the two functions at any given time. A mechanism is provided for compensating for the differences in head pressure presented to the pumps for fluid coming from the replacement-fluid containers or the reservoir and that coming back from the patient through the dialyzer. The pump-swapping system provides an accurate means that can be inexpensively implemented, including using a disposable device.

Abstract: A fluid handling module is configured for removable engagement with a reusable main fluid handling instrument. The module includes a module housing and a first fluid passageway extending from the module housing. The first fluid passageway has a patient end remote from the housing. The first fluid passageway is configured to provide fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient. A fluid component separator is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway. The fluid component separator is configured to separate at least one component from a portion of the bodily fluid drawn from the patient. A spectroscopic sample cell is configured to hold at least a portion of the first component.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: An analyte detection system is configured to measure concentrations of at least first and second analytes in a single material sample supported by a sample element. The measurement of a second analyte can be conditioned on a quantitative or qualitative result of the first measurement. In one embodiment, the first analyte is glucose and the second analyte is a ketone. According to such an embodiment the ketone is measured if the result of the glucose measurement exceeds a previously-specified value or falls outside of a previously-specified range.

Abstract: A method determines an analyte concentration in a sample. The sample includes the analyte and a substance. The method includes providing absorption data of the sample. The method further includes providing reference absorption data of the substance. The method further includes calculating a substance contribution of the absorption data. The method further includes subtracting the substance contribution from the absorption data, thereby providing corrected absorption data substantially free of a contribution from the substance.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus and methods for determining information related to analyte(s) (e.g., concentration) in a sample such as biological fluid. An analysis system for determining information relating to at least one analyte in a sample of biological fluid can be configured to: withdraw the sample of biological fluid from the source of biological fluid; interrupt the flow of infusion fluid while the sample of biological fluid is withdrawn; analyze the withdrawn biological fluid to determine information relating to at least one analyte; and resume the flow of infusion fluid after the sample of biological fluid is withdrawn. A method of interrupting flow of an infusion fluid without triggering an alarm can comprise, while the flow of the infusion fluid is interrupted, diverting the flow of the infusion fluid from a fluid passageway to an expandable volume at a rate that maintains constant flow from an infusion pump.

Abstract: A method for maintaining clear passageways in an extracorporeal blood flow system. The method comprises intermittently providing one or more anti-clotting agents to a passageway of the extracorporeal blood flow system. Also disclosed is an extracorporeal blood flow system. The system comprises a passageway, and a device operatively connected to provide one or more anti-clotting agents to a least a portion of said passageway.

Abstract: A method of analyzing bodily fluids from a patient at the point of care for the patient is provided. The method comprises establishing fluid communication between an analyte detection system and a bodily fluid in the patient. A portion of the bodily fluid is drawn from the patient. The analyte detection system analyzes the bodily fluid to measure a concentration of an analyte. A test is performed on the analyte detection system according to a predetermined schedule to determine if the analyte detection system is properly calibrated. To perform the test a sample of a quality control solution is drawn into the analyte detection system and measured. The test results are compared to a reference range for the quality control solutions. If the measurements are within the reference range, the analyte detection system is permitted to resume analyzing the bodily fluids of the patient.

Abstract: An embodiment of an analyte detection system includes a fluid transport network having a patient end configured to provide fluid communication with a body fluid in a patient and a body fluid analyzer accessible via the fluid transport network. The body fluid analyzer is configured to determine a level of an analyte of interest. A pump unit is coupled to the fluid transport network and has a sample input mode and an infusion mode. In the sample input mode, the pump unit is operable to transport a sample of the body fluid from the patient end and toward the body fluid analyzer. In the infusion mode, the pump unit is operable to transport an infusion fluid toward and out the patient end. The analyte detection system also includes a user interface for communication with the body fluid analyzer. The user interface includes a trend display portion that includes a trend indicator, which depicts a trend in determined levels of the analyte of interest.

Abstract: An embodiment of an analyte detection system includes a fluid transport network having a patient end configured to provide fluid communication with a body fluid in a patient and a body fluid analyzer accessible via the fluid transport network. The body fluid analyzer is configured to measure a level of an analyte of interest in the body fluid. A pump unit is coupled to the fluid transport network. The pump unit has a sample input mode and an infusion mode. In the sample input mode, the pump unit is operable to transport a sample of the body fluid from the patient end and toward the body fluid analyzer. In the infusion mode, the pump unit is operable to transport an infusion fluid toward and out the patient end. The analyte detection system also includes a user interface for communication with the body fluid analyzer. The user interface includes an input element configured to accept user input corresponding to a patient health event.

Abstract: A method determines an analyte concentration in a sample. The sample includes the analyte and a substance. The method includes providing absorption data of the sample. The method further includes providing reference absorption data of the substance. The method further includes calculating a substance contribution of the absorption data. The method further includes subtracting the substance contribution from the absorption data, thereby providing corrected absorption data substantially free of a contribution from the substance.

Abstract: A method and infrared sensing device for determining the concentration of alveolar alcohol in a breath sample exhaled by a subject into an infrared sensing device. The presence of alcohol from the upper respiratory tract of the subject is detected by continuously monitoring alcohol and carbon dioxide, normalizing alcohol values with respect to carbon dioxide, calculating a difference between normalized alcohol concentration and carbon dioxide concentration over time, integrating (summing) the difference, and comparing the integrated difference with a threshold. This technique accurately and consistently detects the presence of mouth alcohol in the sample before the presence of carbon dioxide which originates in deep lung breath.

Abstract: A method determines an analyte concentration in a sample including the analyte and a substance. The method includes providing an absorption spectrum of the sample. The absorption spectrum has an absorption baseline. The method further includes shifting the absorption spectrum so that the absorption baseline approximately equals a selected absorption value in a selected absorption wavelength range. The method further includes subtracting a substance contribution from the absorption spectrum. Thus, the method provides a corrected absorption spectrum substantially free of a contribution from the substance.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A method uses spectroscopy to determine an analyte concentration in a sample. The method includes producing an absorbance spectrum of the sample. The method further includes shifting the absorbance spectrum to zero in a wavelength region. The method further includes subtracting a water or other substance contribution from the absorbance spectrum.

Abstract: A method of determining the analyte concentration of a test sample is described. A temperature gradient is introduced in the test sample and infrared radiation detectors measure radiation at selected analyte absorbance peak and reference wavelengths. Reference and analytical signals are detected. In the presence of the selected analyte, parameter differences between reference and analytical signals are detectable. These parameter differences, having a relationship to analyte concentration, are measured, correlated, and processed to determine analyte concentration in the test sample. Accuracy is enhanced by inducing a periodically modulated temperature gradient in the test sample. The analytical and reference signals may be measured continuously and the parameter difference integrated over the measurement period to determine analyte concentration.