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Methods and devices for point of care determination of heparin concentration in blood are described. Cartridges including protamine ion sensitive electrodes (ISEs) and reference electrodes and systems for automatically determining heparin concentration in the cartridges are provided. Some systems add blood to a protamine bolus sufficient to bind all heparin, leaving excess protamine. The excess protamine concentration can be determined by measuring the initial slope of the electrode potential rate of change, and comparing the slope to known protamine concentration slope values In some cartridges, an oscillating pressure source moves the blood-protamine mixture back and forth across the protamine ISE. Some systems also use a second blood sample having the heparin removed or degraded to create a blank reference sample. Protamine ISEs can include polyurethane polymer, DNNS ionophore, and NPOE plasticizer. The polyurethane may include hard segments and soft segments, where both hard and soft segments may include cyclic and straight chain aliphatic moieties having essentially no ester or ether groups. Some hard segments may include methylene diphenyl groups. Some reference electrodes have the same polymer, plasticizer, and ionophore as the measurement electrode, but with a different concentration of ionophore.
1. A heparin concentration determination system comprising:
a first sample chamber having a first pair of electrodes including a first protamine Ion Selective Electrode and a first means for mixing;
a second sample chamber having a second pair of electrodes including a second protamine Ion Selective Electrode and a second means for mixing:
a first sample delivery channel for delivering a first sample into the first sample chamber;
a second sample delivery channel for delivering a second sample into the second sample chamber; and
a heparin remover in communication with the first delivery channel for binding, degrading, and/or inactivating heparin entering the first sample chamber.
2. The system of
3. The system of
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/572,071, filed May 17, 2004, entitled, "Point of Care Heparin Determination System" (the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein).
The present invention is related generally to medical patient care systems. More specifically, the present invention is related to systems for measuring polyion levels in a solution. Even more specifically, the present invention is related to systems for measuring heparin (including low molecular weight and unfractionated) levels in blood or other fluids such as plasma or buffer.
Heparin is an anti-coagulant commonly used in some surgical procedures. Heparin is used in high doses in most open-chest heart procedures. The two most common types of open-chest heart procedures are the arrested heart surgical procedure, in which the patient is put on a heart-lung bypass machine, and the beating heart surgical procedure. The heparin significantly reduces clotting or coagulation of the patient's blood.
At the end of a procedure, the normal clotting of the blood is once again desirable. In order to effectively remove the heparin from the patient's blood, protamine is added. The protamine binds to the heparin, deactivating the heparin. The heparin-protamine complex is then cleared from the body by the liver.
It is necessary to determine the amount of heparin in the patient's blood at several points in time. As some patients may have heparin already in their system, an initial determination of the baseline heparin concentration may be required. After heparin is added, the heparin concentration is determined to insure that the heparin has been properly added. While the patient is heparinized, the heparin concentration is monitored to insure that the heparin concentration is maintained above a threshold level. In order to determine the proper amount of protamine to add to deactivate heparin, the concentration of heparin should be determined. After protamine is added, the heparin concentration may again be determined to insure that the heparin has been properly deactivated.
Several methods of determining or inferring heparin concentrations are currently used. In one method, the patient's blood is drawn and sent to a laboratory. In the laboratory, the heparin may be titrated with protamine until the heparin has been entirely bound to protamine. The concentration of heparin may then be determined as a function of the stoichiometry of the protamine titrant used. The stoichiometry of the protamine may be determined by titration against standard heparin samples. The method is far from ideal for use in providing timely feedback to the treating physician, due to the time lag in obtaining results.
A more commonly used method for heparin measurement in the central lab setting is a colorimetric anti-Factor Xa (FXa) assay. This assay is a standard feature on several analyzers and is performed on plasma samples. It uses the principle of heparin-mediated inhibition of FXa. The drawback of this assay is that it needs to be corrected for hematocrit (since it is performed on plasma) as well as the source of heparin (if it is a variable). This assay is more suited for testing high number of samples and is not conducive for testing a few samples. Another significant drawback is a high turnaround time, since this is a central lab test)
In another method, an Activated Clotting Time (ACT) test is used. In this test, the time required for the patient's blood to clot is measured and used to infer a likely heparin level. This method is indirect, and may produce misleading results, as the ACT values may be affected by hemodilution and hypothermia. This method does not directly measure heparin and has limited accuracy.
In still another method, the heparin concentration is localized to a range using multiple protamine samples by using a property of the heparin-protamine interaction. The time required for the heparin and protamine to bind is minimized when the amount of protamine approximates the stoichiometric amount needed to exactly bind the heparin. Insufficient or excess protamine results in longer clotting times. The HEPCON Hemostasis Management System (HMS) available from Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.) makes use of this property.
The HMS assay system is based on a protamine titration and uses clot formation for end-point detection. The assay is performed in a cartridge containing four to six channels that contain different amounts of protamine as well as dilute thromboplastin (to accelerate clot formation). The end-point of the titration is the detection of clot formation, which is determined by measuring the rate of fall of a plunger mechanism in each cartridge. The channel containing the smallest quantity of protamine that completely neutralizes the heparin exhibits the shortest clotting time. The heparin concentration is measured from the quantity of protamine in that channel (on the basis of the heparin-protamine stoichiometry). Each Hepcon cartridge thus tests a limited range of blood concentrations.
The HMS system can utilize up to 12 different cartridges having differing, known protamine amounts within. The treating physician can estimate the expected range of heparin and select a limited number of cartridges in this range, nominally two from the range of cartridges. A syringe filled with blood is inserted into a machine that injects the blood into the selected cartridge. Clot formation is used for end point detection. Within a few minutes, the cartridge having the proper amount of protamine is automatically indicated, along with a heparin concentration. Use of this device requires the initial correct estimation of heparin, requires a few minutes to run, and has accuracy limited to a discrete range of heparin concentrations based on the resolution of the protamine titration. Numerous cartridges must be stocked if the entire range of possible heparin concentrations is to be measurable. The cartridges have a limited shelf life and must be discarded if not used within the shelf life.
The titration of heparin with protamine has been studied in academic, laboratory settings, but has not resulted in any patient point of care devices that could be used to provide timely heparin concentrations to a treating physician. Several obstacles should be overcome in order to provide the ideal point of care heparin measuring device. A rapid and accurate measurement sensor, an accurate reference or baseline determining system, suitable disposable cartridges, and systems for handling and analyzing all of the above would be desirable and have not yet been developed.
The present invention provides methods and devices for automatically determining heparin (including low molecular weight and unfractionated heparin) concentration in fluids such as blood. The devices and methods of the present invention can be used in a point of care device, providing rapid determination of a patient's blood heparin concentration automatically.
Cartridges including protamine ion sensitive electrodes (ISEs) and reference electrodes and systems for automatically determining heparin concentration in the cartridges are provided. Some systems add blood to a protamine bolus sufficient to bind all heparin, leaving excess protamine. The excess protamine concentration can be determined by measuring the initial slope of the electrode potential rate of change, and comparing the slope to known protamine concentration slope values. In some cartridges, an oscillating pressure source moves the blood-protamine mixture back and forth across the protamine ISE.
In one method according to the present invention, a known volume of the blood sample is drawn or injected into a cartridge sample port, where the cartridge has been preloaded with a known quantity or bolus of excess protamine sufficient to bind all the heparin expected in the blood sample. The protamine can be positioned in the sample port or fluid path such that the protamine is mixed with the blood. The mixing is effected in some methods by applying a varying or oscillating pressure to the cartridge fluid path through a pressure port, which may be the same port or a different port as the sample port. This varying pressure can be applied through a motor driven syringe to vary vacuum and/or positive pressure to the fluid path, which can move the blood sample and protamine back and forth in the column to achieve mixing.
The blood-protamine combination can be moved to the protamine ISE region of the fluid path in the cartridge through application of pressure or vacuum, and allowed to wet the protamine ISE. The back and forth movement of the fluid column can be begun again, and the change in EMF measured for about one minute in some methods. A few EMF measurements can be taken starting a few seconds after the renewed fluid movement, and the slope of the EMF vs. time determined. A previous set of calibration values taken for known concentrations of heparin using a similar cartridge and method can then be used to obtain the unknown heparin concentration.
In one method, blood samples having known heparin concentrations have the initial slope measured using the apparatus. A plot of the log of the initial slope vs. the heparin concentration yields a substantially straight line. The higher heparin concentrations leave lower remaining protamine concentrations which produce a smaller protamine ISE EMF rate of change (lower curve slope). A calibration log plot of the initial slopes produces a substantially straight line relating the log of the initial slope to heparin concentration. Thus, taking the log of the initial slope can provide the heparin concentration for an unknown, by using the calibration data.
Protamine ISEs can include polyurethane polymer, DNNS ionophore, and NPOE plasticizer. The polyurethane may include hard segments and soft segments, where both hard and soft segments may include cyclic and straight chain aliphatic moieties having essentially no ester or ether groups. Some hard segments may include methylene diphenyl groups. Some reference electrodes have the same polymer, plasticizer, and ionophore as the measurement electrode, but with a different concentration of ionophore.
In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for more rapidly performing an automatic titration of heparin with protamine. One such method includes dispensing protamine drop wise at a first rate into a heparin-containing sample while measuring an output from an ion selective electrode responsive to the protamine concentration. The protamine can be dispensed at a second rate that is less than the first rate after the electrode output exceeds a first threshold. The dispensing can be stopped when a stop condition is met, and the total amount of protamine dispensed into the sample determined, typically for a time prior to the stop point time. The heparin concentration can be determined as a function of the total protamine dispensed into the sample. The stop condition is often the determination that an inflection point or maximum rate of change of potential with respect to time has been passed.
One method further includes dispensing protamine into the sample at a third rate that is less than the second rate, after the electrode output exceeds a second threshold. In some methods, a rate of change in electrode output per time is determined and the maximum rate of change is tracked. Once this maximum rate of change has been passed and the rate of change has dropped below a change threshold, below the maximum rate of change, titration can be stopped. In some methods, the dispensing includes dispensing drops of protamine and counting the drops.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for determining an initial heparin concentration in a sample, not requiring titration. In this method, a bolus of protamine is added to the sample sufficient to bind all the expected heparin in the sample. The heparin and protamine can be mixed and allowed to bind to each other. The amount of protamine remaining in the sample can then be determined using the electrical potential from a protamine ion selective electrode. The initial heparin concentration in the sample can be calculated using the protamine binding stoichiometry, the protamine remaining, the protamine consumed, and the initial amount of protamine. The protamine remaining is determined by measuring the slope of the voltage read from the electrochemical sensor, after a suitable time is allowed for stabilization of the sensor membrane EMF.
In another method, the sample can be divided into a plurality of samples, and several different protamine concentrations added to the plurality of samples. The electrode potential from a plurality of ion selective protamine sensitive electrodes in communication with the samples can be obtained. An electrode can then be selected having an intermediate output as between the plurality of electrode measurements. The heparin concentration in the original sample can be determined at least in part as a function of this electrode output. In one method, the electrode is selected that has the closest value to the mid-point between the maximum and the minimum electrode outputs observed.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a more accurate measurement of the heparin concentration is obtained by creating a sample blank using the blood sample to be measured. In this method, essentially all of the heparin in the blood sample is neutralized, bound, or degraded to create a reference sample. The output of a first ion selective electrode pair is measured after exposing the first electrode pair to the reference sample. A second ion selective electrode pair is exposed to the blood sample not having the heparin inactivated, bound, or degraded. In one inactivating method, the inactivating includes binding the heparin to polycations immobilized on to a solid matrix, for example, sepharose beads or magnetic beads.
The original heparin concentration is determined by correcting the second electrode pair output using the first electrode pair output. The original blood sample may be split into two streams, one with heparin and one without, and both measured at about the same time. This method can improve the accuracy of the heparin measurement by correcting for non-heparin contributions to the ion selective electrode. This aspect of the present invention can compensate for matrix related effects (e.g. hemodilution), which could cause variations in the end-points measured by the electrode pair.
In a related method, the second electrode pair is exposed to a subsequent blood sample containing a different blood sample than the first electrode pair. In this method, a reference, baseline signal may be obtained first for the patient's blood having the heparin removed or inactivated, followed by a series of subsequent heparin determining measurements that are corrected using the first, blank sample measurement. Such measurements can include binding the heparin using an immobilized protamine, poly(lysine), polymer A (cross-linked PEI (polyethyleneimine)), or the like (other polycations that are capable of strong binding to heparin such as polybrene). In a variation of this method, the heparin may be degraded using the enzyme heparinase.
In still another aspect of the present invention, an improved reference electrode design is used. A polyion selective electrode pair can be used including a first electrode having an ion sensitive membrane comprising a polymer, a plasticizer, and an ionophore present in a first, non-negligible concentration. A second electrode is also included, having an ion sensitive membrane comprising the polymer, the plasticizer, and the ionophore present in a second concentration that is higher than the first ionophore concentration. The electrode containing the ionophore present in the higher concentration can be used as the reference electrode, and used to correct the potential drift resulted from the sample matrix effect. In some ion selective electrode pairs, the polymer is a polyurethane, the ionophore includes dinonyl naphthalene sulfonate (DNNS), and the plasticizer includes 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE).
The improved reference electrode can be used in a method including exposing a first electrode to the solution and obtaining a first electrical potential. The second, reference electrode can also be exposed to the solution to obtain a second electrical potential. The polyion concentration can be determined by the potential difference between the two electrodes. There is typically only one electrode potential measured—the difference between the working electrode and the reference electrode.
The present invention can include use of an ion selective electrode (ISE) sensitive to protamine that includes alternating hard and soft polyurethane segments. In some polymers, the soft segment includes straight chain aliphatic groups and cyclic aliphatic groups joined by the urethane groups. The straight chain aliphatic groups and the cyclic aliphatic groups preferably have no ether or ester groups, creating a lipophyllic backbone. In one such polyurethane soft segment, the soft segment is formed as a reaction product of dimer diisocyanate, with butanediol and/or dimer diol.
The polyurethane hard segment can include alternating methylene diphenylisocyanate portions and diols, for example, butanediol and/or dimer diol. The hard segment regions between the isocynate derived groups can thus be either hydrogen or straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbons or cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons which may have hydrogen or straight chain aliphatic groups pendent from the cyclic portions.
In some embodiments, this polyurethane having the above-described hard and soft segments can be mixed or blended together with one or more other polyurethanes, e.g., Pellethane. A polymer blend may provide improved performance relative to the each of the blended polyurethanes alone. In still another embodiment, a co-polymer formed of the above-described soft segments and hard segments, as well as segments found in one or more other polyurethanes, e.g., Pellethane, can provide a single polymer backbone that has the desired properties.
An ion selective electrode (ISE) that is sensitive to protamine can comprise one or more of the specialized polyurethane polymers described above. Some electrodes may include the plasticizer NPOE and/or the ionophore DNNS.
In yet another aspect of the invention a fluid column agitation and mixing method, and a related cartridge, is used to mix the titrant and the sample across the measuring electrode pair. In one embodiment, an analyte sample cartridge includes a body, a sample chamber disposed within the body, and an ion selective electrode disposed within the body and in communication with the sample chamber. A reference electrode is also disposed within the body and in communication with the sample chamber. The chamber can have a blind cavity disposed on a first side of the sample chamber and containing a compressible fluid. The chamber can further have a port disposed on a second side of the sample chamber opposite the blind cavity. This port can be coupled to an oscillating pressure source. The oscillating pressure source can cause the liquid sample placed between the oscillating pressure source and the blind cavity to move back and forth over the electrodes in the sample chamber responsive to the oscillating pressure source. An air column can be used for the oscillating pressure source. The fluid column agitation can be used to replace the magnetic stirring bar or magnetic stirring beads in some devices according to the present invention. Additionally, the fluid column agitation could be used jointly with a moving mechanical element like a stirring bar or beads in order to increase the amount of stirring activity.
In another aspect of the invention, a protamine titrant dispenser is provided for accurately and repeatedly dispensing the protamine titrant, for example, in a drop-by-drop manner. A flexible pouch containing a protamine solution can be disposed within a rigid housing hermetically sealed about the pouch. A volatile liquid can be disposed within the housing and outside of the pouch. A dispensing tube can be provided that is in communication with the pouch and extending through a gas tight seal in the housing. The volatile liquid will provide a vapor pressure in the hermetically sealed housing against the liquid containing pouch. The vapor pressure of the liquid will be a function of the temperature of the liquid. A controllable heating device for heating the housing can be provided and coupled to a controller. In this way, heating the housing increases liquid vapor pressure, which increases pressure on the pouch, which increases the fluid pressure through the dispensing tube. The measured pressure of the dispensing tube, the pressure within the hermetically sealed housing, and/or the inside or outside temperature of the hermetically sealed housing can be used to provide feedback control to the heating element disposed against the hermetically sealed housing. A controlled pressure can be used in conjunction with a Lee valve to drop wise dispense titrant. Use of such a vapor pressure source can replace syringe pumps currently in use for some titrations.
In one device according to the present invention, numerous several dried protamine aliquots which may each have the same concentration, are provided at several points along a tubular path. Dried protamine may be used as the aliquot. The quantity of dried protamine in each aliquot corresponds to the amount required to neutralize a known amount of heparin (e.g. each aliquot may correspond to 5 ug protamine which is sufficient to neutralize 0.5 units of heparin). The numerous aliquots of protamine can have ion selective electrodes positioned between the aliquots in the path, where the ion selective electrodes are sensitive to protamine. A predetermined volume of blood sample can be forced through the path, encountering in sequence, first a first protamine aliquot and mixing the blood sample (containing heparin) with this protamine aliquot. The blood sample, now having some of the heparin bound to the dissolved protamine, continues over the first protamine measuring electrode pair. The response of the electrode pair is proportional to the concentration of the free protamine in the sample. A negligible electrode response is seen if the quantity of protamine is insufficient to completely neutralize the heparin in the sample. The blood sample can then continue to the second protamine aliquot and mix with the next aliquot, further binding more of the heparin in the blood sample. The blood sample having the initial heparin further bound by protamine from the second aliquot can then continue to a second protamine sensor where the response is again measured. This may continue until the blood sample has flowed through all of the numerous protamine aliquots, mixing with the aliquots, and passing across all of the protamine measuring electrodes, recording the responses of each of the sensors in sequence.
The electrical potentials from all of the numerous protamine sensitive electrodes can be analyzed. The electrode having an intermediate value between the extremely low and extremely high values can be used to approximate the similar point which would be found in the titration of the heparin containing blood sample with sequential aliquots of protamine. In one method, the electrode having the value most closely approximating the mid-point between the highest and lowest electrical potential outputs is used as the inflection point in this "titration."
In another method, the blood sample can be split into numerous equal volume streams in parallel, with each stream each passing through and mixing with a different aliquot of protamine at essentially the same time. Each stream thus encounters a different, sequentially increasing, known predetermined amount of protamine. In some methods, this protamine is dried protamine that has been preloaded into the flow channels of the measurement cartridge. Each flow channel, after mixing with the respective protamine aliquot, then encounters an electrode pair disposed within the respective flow channel. The values from all the numerous protamine sensitive electrode pairs can be analyzed in parallel, with the electrode pair having an intermediate value between the extremely high and extremely low values used to approximate the potential at the titration "inflection point." The amount of protamine within this flow channel can be used to determine the initial heparin concentration in the sample through the normal heparin-protamine stoichiometric relationship known for that protamine sample heparin type.
In still another method, a device having a single electrode pair and numerous protamine aliquots along a tortuous path is used. Each of the protamine aliquots has the same concentration. A heparin-containing sample can be admitted through a sample port and pushed/pulled (e.g. through application of positive/negative pressure) to advance across the electrode pair. After a baseline reading is measured, the sample can be advanced across a first protamine slug, with back and forth movement to help mix in the protamine in the sample. The dissolved protamine from the slug neutralizes the heparin in the sample having the first protamine slug dissolved within and is retracted to the electrode pair and measured again. A potentiometric response is noted to the extent of free protamine in the sample. If the amount of protamine is insufficient to neutralize the heparin in the sample, no change from the baseline response is seen. This is repeated for each subsequent protamine slug, and stopped when the last slug is reached, until the inflection point is reached, or until a plateau is reached, depending on the method used.
In one method, dried protamine is preloaded into the sample chamber. Heparin containing fluid is later added and the initial change in electrical potential between the working ISE and the reference electrode is measured. A linear relationship between heparin concentration in the sample and the logarithm of the change in electrical potential/time i.e. log(dEMF/dt), can be used to determine the amount of heparin in the sample. The system can be calibrated by using samples containing known amounts of heparin and measuring the change in differential electrical potential with time, using similar electrode pairs to those that will be used to measure the unknown samples.
Some electrode pairs according to the present utilize a different protamine ISE composition. The membrane can include heparin in the polymeric material of the working ISE. Heparin binds very efficiently to protamine and can be used instead of the DNNS. Also, protamine can be used in a heparin ISE to bind the heparin and generate an electrical potential in response. The protamine and heparin can be used as ion exchangers for polyanion and polycation assays, respectively. The protamine and heparin can be immobilized in the polymeric matrix, and may be coupled to the polymeric backbone, for example, to polyurethane, in some embodiments.
System 50 includes a controller 52 coupled to a display device 53. Controller 52 can be a hard-wired, electronic device formed of discrete analog and digital components in some embodiments. In other embodiments, controller 52 is a microprocessor-based, programmable device having at least one microprocessor therein. In yet another embodiment, controller 52 is a general purpose computer, for example, a desk top computer, running control algorithms to implement the present invention. One such controller is a general purpose computer executing the Lab View� computer program. Display 53 can be a dedicated, special purpose display on the device or it can be a general purpose computer display, for example, a CRT or LCD monitor. Various other input devices, for example, buttons, switches, knobs, keyboards, curser control devices, and the like may also be coupled to controller 52, but are not shown in
System 50 includes a cartridge 54 which may also be viewed as a sample chamber or a reaction chamber. Cartridge 54 is preferably a single use, disposable cartridge that can be readily coupled to the non-disposable portions of system 50. System 50 also includes a titrant source 58, a titrant control valve 68, and a titrant pressure source 60. The titrant is commonly protamine used at a pre-determined, fixed concentration. Valve 68 is a Lee� valve (or any such precision fluid dispensing valve) in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a syringe pump or other precision fluid-metering device may be substituted for titrant pressure source 60, and titrant source 58. Cartridge 54 typically contains a measurement electrode 62, a reference electrode 64, and a mixing element 66. Electrodes 62 and 64 as well as mixing element 66 can be electrically coupled to controller 52, for example, by wires 70. One component coupled to controller 52 is a high input impedance buffer amplifier, which enables it to perform a potentiometric measurement of the difference in the electromotive force (EMF) between the measurement electrode 62 and the reference electrode 64. A blood source 56 is also illustrated, to be fed into cartridge 54. For the purpose of titration, it is normally important that the volume of the blood sample be constant.
In one, highly diagrammatic use of one embodiment of the invention, a known, weight or volume of blood is injected into cartridge 54. The blood may be mixed with other, non-titrant chemicals such as sodium citrate, and disodium EDTA (ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid). These two chemicals are anticoagulant chemicals to prevent the blood sample from clotting, useful when heparinized fresh whole blood is used as the sample, typically in liquid form. Mixing element 66 can be activated to mix the blood and the non-titrant chemicals, as well as the titrant, to be added later.
In a protamine titration of heparin, controller 52 can regulate the addition of protamine titrant at a fixed rate through valve 68, and monitor the difference in potential output from electrodes 62 and 64. In a general heparin-protamine titration, the protamine can be added until the inflection point in the sigmoidal titration curve has been passed. The amount (concentration) of protamine added at the inflection point of the titration curve can be determined by knowing the titrant (protamine) concentration, its infusion rate, and the sample volume. The amount of protamine required to reach the inflection point of the titration and neutralize the heparin is a function of the amount of heparin in the original sample. Since protamine binds to heparin with a fixed stoichiometry, the heparin concentration in the sample can be calculated from the protamine concentration required to reach the inflection point. Therefore, knowing the amount of protamine required to neutralize the heparin allows the calculation of the heparin in the sample.
In common practice, the titrant can be added at a constant rate, until the inflection point in the electrical potential has been passed and surpassed. To enable a rapid measurement of heparin in the sample, a gradient infusion of protamine may be employed. In such a method, the protamine titrant may be added rapidly until a first level of potential is reached, followed by a slower addition rate above that potential threshold. In another such method, the protamine titrant is added at a third, even slower rate after a second threshold has been surpassed. By using slower protamine infusion rates close to the end-point of the titration, better resolution of heparin concentrations may be achieved. In addition, it allows a more rapid determination of the heparin concentration in the sample.
Heparin measurement in clinical samples may be "absolute" or "differential." In the absolute measurement of heparin levels, only one titration is performed with the sample. No correction is applied for any non-heparin contributions (matrix effects) to the end-point. In the "differential approach", the blood is split into at least two streams, with one stream having the heparin completely removed, neutralized or bound prior to entering a cartridge. A blood "blank" can thus be titrated in parallel with the blood still having the heparin, allowing for the potential to be corrected for non-heparin contributions. Different methods, described below, offer variations on the general method described above. In one method, pressure source 60 is a controlled, gas pressure source used to force titrant 58 through a valve at a known pressure and therefore a known rate, often in drop wise fashion. In some systems, the liquid is pushed through a narrow orifice. In one method, pressure source 60 is a vapor pump, formed of a titrant in a closed bladder disposed within a rigid canister having a volatile liquid-vapor mixture disposed outside of the bladder but within the rigid structure. Controlling the temperature of the rigid structure thus controls the vapor pressure of the liquid-vapor mixture and controls the pressure brought to bear on the bladder, which controls the pressure source of the titrant.
In some methods, mixing element 66 is a magnetically driven bead or other element. In some methods, mixing element 66 is an air column mixing device, described further below.
In one method, different from the titration method previously described, a bolus of titrant is added to cartridge 54, sufficient to totally neutralize the expected heparin in the blood. The concentration of protamine remaining is determined from electrodes 62 and 64, with the consumed protamine calculated and used to determine the initial amount of heparin present in the blood. This bolus method is described in greater detail below
In use, the cartridge can be formed of a vacutainer tube of fixed volume and having a sensor and reference electrode embedded in the cap or septum and into the body. The blood sample can be delivered by piercing the cap using a needle. The vacuum can draw in the exact sample volume through suction. The cartridge can be placed in the instrument such that the electrodes make contact with the system and mixing initiated with a mixing element 112 to mix the heparin, protamine, and blood mixture. The protamine syringe can then pierce the cap and protamine injection commences the titration. In cartridge 100, the protamine pressure source previously discussed is the protamine syringe 110.
Continuing upward, conductive metallic strips may be deposited on the substrate, with a first conducted strip 133 deposited for the protamine sensitive electrode and a second electrically conductive strip 134 deposited for the reference electrode. Electrically conductive strips 133 and 134 may be formed of silver/silver chloride. The conductive strips may be deposited by appropriate techniques such as screen-printing, sputtering or chemical vapor deposition. An insulating layer 135 can be deposited over the electrical strips to electrically isolate them. The leads can be left exposed for electrical contacts 133 and 134 to interface with the data acquisition equipment. A protamine-sensitive polymer membrane 137 can be deposited over conductor 133 to serve as the working electrode. The portion 138 can be left as Ag/AgCl over conductor 134 to serve as the reference electrode.
In practice, sensor 130 may be incorporated as a side of an enclosed receptacle or sample chamber 139, illustrated in
Reference electrode 144 varies with the various embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in
Some embodiments of the invention have no membrane or polymeric layer over the AgCl layer in the reference electrode. Some embodiments of the invention do include an ionophore in a membrane or polymer layer over the AgCl layer in the reference electrode, but in a substantially different concentration than present in the measurement electrode, as is discussed in more detail below.
Sensor 140 is a multi-analyte sensor. In the example illustrated, sensor 140 includes a reference electrode 150, a pH sensor 151, a sodium sensor 152, a potassium sensor 153, and protamine sensor or electrode 148. Other analyte sensors and electrodes can also be included in sensor 140. The sensors can be deposited in a cavity, in calibrant channel 147. The sensors other than the protamine sensor can be previously calibrated for their response slope prior to use.
Sensor 140 can include an actuator 155 to deliver the calibrant through calibrant channel 147, and a protamine actuator 156 to deliver protamine through protamine channel 146. The other protamine delivery sources discussed elsewhere in the present application may be used to deliver protamine in some systems.
In use, prior to sample introduction, a calibrant solution, containing known concentrations of each ion having a sensor, can be delivered through calibrant channel 147 and passed over the sensors. The volume of the calibrant solution can be much less than the sample volume, for example, less than 5% of the sample volume. This can serve to establish a baseline response for the sensors. Once the sensors have reached a steady reading, the sensor values can be noted and recorded.
Sample can then be introduced into the cartridge to contact the bottom portion 142 of the sensor, with mixing using methods and devices described elsewhere in the present application. The sensor output changes, other than the protamine sensor, are based on the analyte concentrations, with the response change being proportional to the analyte concentration, such that the Nernst equation can be used to calculate the analyte concentration. The response of the protamine sensor, and any other polyion sensors, can be analyzed as described elsewhere in the present application. Protamine titration (or bolus infusion) can be initiated, and the response of the protamine sensor output analyzed to determine the protamine concentration as before. Sample mixing should be continued during titration, to ensure the mixing of the protamine from channel 146 with the sample, to be sensed in the region of the sensors.
In use, upon initiation of titration, linear actuator 188 can push pouch 187 into barb 185, puncturing the pouch. The protamine can be expelled as a function of the needle gauge and the pressure exerted against the pouch. The pouch should have a reasonable thickness to prevent it from bursting.
Similarly, second sample chamber 192 includes a protamine sensor 200, a reference sensor 202, and a rotary or planar stirrer 203. Chamber 191 and 192 can each be vented through Teflon� membrane plugs 216 and 215, respectively. This design allows for a self-regulating method for sample fill. As the user pushes the sample through the air or gas in the sample chamber, the air or gas is vented through the Teflon plug. When the liquid sample hits the plug, further introduction of liquid is made difficult due to the nature of the plug. The Teflon plug is typically in the form of a thin membrane or tape. In this configuration, it is typically microporous and functions as a good gas vent. The low wetability of Teflon and its small pore size prevents liquid from going through. By contrast, solid Teflon does not have this property.
A blood entry port 205 is coupled through a first channel 206 feeding first sample chamber 191 directly. A second channel 207 extends from blood entry port 205 through a heparin removal or inactivating chamber 208 which leads to the second sample chamber 192. Heparin removal or inactivating chamber 208 can include bound heparinase, mobile heparinase, bound poly(lysine) or bound protamine, poly-arginine, polybrene or other heparin-binding polycations, which can all remove, inactivate, degrade, or neutralize the heparin prior to the entry of blood into second sample chamber 192. The heparinase or poly(lysine) may be immobilized on a suitable support, for example, cellulose or other suitable porous matrix that offers low resistance to sample flow.
A protamine solution source 212 is similarly coupled to the first sample chamber through channel 213, and second sample chamber through channel 214. In another embodiment, there is no tee coupling, having instead a separate protamine infusion channel from each pressurized protamine source. A linear actuator or other pressure source 210 can be used to force the protamine solution into the first and second sample chambers. Such differential measurement techniques employing a blank sample in conjunction with a heparinized sample provides a more accurate measure of the heparin concentration in the sample, because it accounts for the sensor response variations caused by matrix effects. The use of the heparin containing blood sample chamber and the blank sample chamber can be used to provide more accurate heparin measurements by adjusting the electrode potentials for the non-heparin contributions.
System 222 may be viewed as performing a stepwise titration of the blood sample with aliquots of protamine. In this stepwise titration, the initial protamine aliquots will be likely totally consumed in binding to the heparin. The electrical potential across the initial protamine sensors should thus be very low. As more protamine aliquots are added, at some point the protamine added will exceed that needed to bind to the heparin and will result in a rise in the electrical potential from the protamine measuring sensor. Further additions of protamine will result in progressively higher responses of successive protamine sensors and will finally result in essentially a plateau of the measurements response changes from the protamine sensors. Measurements from the protamine sensors having an intermediate value may be used to bracket the heparin concentration in the blood. While the inflection point of the titration or the maximum change in potential with time may not be located exactly, this location may be localized to within one or two segments of the multiple segment sensor system. The amount of total protamine added from the several aliquots prior to the protamine sensor having the intermediate potential value may be used to determine the total protamine entered up to that point. The stoichiometric binding ratio of the protamine may then be used to determine the heparin concentration in the initial sample.
In use, a fixed volume of sample can be introduced into the sample inlet port. The volume of blood may be controlled with a suction device in conjunction with valves. The blood sample is advanced over the first sensor pad. The response difference between the working and reference electrode is noted. The response of the first sensor pad is the baseline response, as no protamine is present in the blood sample at this point. In some methods, the sample is moved back and forth over the first sensor pad to allow the sensor to be exposed to a more representative sample.
The sample may then be advanced over the first protamine slug. The protamine can dissolve in the sample and neutralize any heparin present, to the extent possible by the limited amount of protamine present. Again, the sample may be moved back and forth over the slug to obtain better mixing. The sample can then be advanced over to the second sensor pad, and the differential response between working and reference electrode noted. The sample may be moved back and forth over any or all protamine slugs or sensor pads, depending on the embodiment. This advancement of the sample can be repeated until the sample is past the last sensor, until saturation is noted, or until an inflection point is found, again depending on the embodiment.
The titration curve for a second blood sample having higher heparin concentration may be seen at in 242. The lack of a response in the sensors 1 through 4 indicates that all protamine is utilized to neutralize heparin. The observation of a response at the fifth sensor indicates that the protamine introduced in aliquot 5 is in excess after neutralizing all the heparin in the sample. At the fifth sensor, some protamine remains. A maximum slope at the sixth protamine sensor is seen at 243. Subsequent protamine addition causes the responses from sensors 8-10 to be saturated and essentially results in the plateau seen at 245. The heparin concentration in the sample is proportional to the sensor near the greatest rate of change of differential potential versus sensor number. System 220 may allow disposing of eliminates the need for a syringe pump as sample advance may be accomplished by suction applied downstream of the sensors. In some systems, both positive and negative pressures may be used to move the sample back and forth over the sensors.
A wash reservoir 328 may be seen which can contain wash fluid used to clean measurement chamber 318 in-between samples and between use of the advancing new sensors 316. A waste reservoir 332 can be used to hold the used wash fluid from wash reservoir 328.
In one embodiment, sample inlet port 340, waste port 346, and titrant/wash port 344 are all located in bottom part of the sample chamber. Sample manipulation port 342 is located in the top part of the sample chamber. Electrical contact with the sensors may be made from the back of the sensors, with the electrical interface contained in the capstan mechanism 320, which also helps position the sensors 316 over the window 336.
In use, prior to starting the assay, the sensors can be positioned in the sample chamber window and the chamber window is sealed. In some devices, the seal is effected with the sensor tape being pushed into the window by capstan 320. Protamine sensor 316 is shown pressed against the window 336. The sample inlet valves and suction/blowing valves can be opened to actuate the sample.
Suction can be initiated through the suction port to draw the sample into the sample chamber. The sample volume can be controlled by the valve open time, metering, suction volume, or other suitable methods. The valves can be closed after the sample is drawn into the chamber. The valve on the titrant/wash port can then be opened to begin protamine titration. The linear actuator or other source dispenses protamine into the sample chamber and performs the titration. Once the titration is complete, the valve on the titrant/wash port can be closed. The tested sample solution can then be pushed to waste reservoir 332. This can be done by opening valves on the waste and suction/blowing ports and purging the sample chamber. Pressure can be applied from the blowing port to push the sample out of the chamber. Valves on suction/blowing port and titrant/wash ports can then be opened to wash the chamber. Suction can be applied through the suction port to draw wash solution into the sample chamber. The stir bar or other mixing element may be turned on to help in the wash process. The sample chamber may then be purged of the wash solution and dried by performing the same actions used to purge the sample chamber, with the wash solution being pushed into the waste reservoir 332. The sensor interfacing mechanism can then retract, thereby pulling the sensor away. The sensor spool can then advance to position the next sensor pad in the window to seal the chamber.
The suction/blowing port 334 of
System 310 can thus provide a reusable well for containing sample and an advancing spool that contains single use sensors. A cassette can hold the wash and waste solutions and can be activated by a suction or blowing mechanism actuated by valves that open sequentially. This design is adaptable for inline sampling and multiple sample handling. Sensor capabilities can also be extended as necessary.
In use, sample is introduced in the sample port 361. A fixed volume of sample is drawn into channel 369. Sample flows over the sensor pad 363 and a measurement, baseline response, is taken. Sample 364 is advanced to the first protamine slug 365, where the protamine dissolves in the sample. Protamine neutralizes any heparin in the sample (if present). The sample slug may be manipulated appropriately to ensure good mixing. The sample is pushed back to sensor pad 363 and a measurement is taken. If the amount of protamine is more than the amount of heparin in the sample, the sensor may show a response above the baseline. The sample is then advanced to the second protamine slug 366 and mixed. The process is repeated and the sample is brought back to the sensor pad for measurement. The process of pull/push is repeated. At every slug, more protamine dissolves in the sample. Eventually the protamine exceeds the heparin in the sample. The titration curve plots the response (dE) vs. the number of slugs that the sample has been exposed to. The titration curve for this design is similar to that of system 220 of
In a first step, sample introduction and mixing step, all the channels are filled with a fixed volume of the sample which dissolves the protamine aliquots in each channel in the sample. In a second step, there is the sequential passage of the sample over the sensor. In this process the "protamine-dissolved" sample from channel-1 is first passed over the sensor and the response is recorded. Following this, the sample from channel-2 is passed and its response measured and so on. The order of passage of the samples is in the order of increasing protamine concentrations. As with the previous designs, once the protamine aliquot in a certain channel exceeds the heparin in the sample, the sensor shows a response corresponding to the free protamine in that channel (and increasing responses for the subsequent channels). This process is akin to the addition of incremental amounts of protamine to the sample.
Each channel can also have a gas permeable vent 383 which may include Teflon. The top of system 380 can include a valve manifold 385 having several individually addressable and controllable valves 384, so allow sample to be pulled into an individual channel to contact a protamine aliquot. System 380 is similar to system 280 of
In system 380, the protamine slugs increase in concentration across each channel. The cartridge may be designed to have a vent plug that is gas permeable but liquid impermeable. A Teflon film could achieve this effect. This feature ensures that a fixed volume of sample is filled in each channel. Alternatively, the pump may be used to draw sample into each channel. Each of the channels are individually addressable using a system of valves (in the instrument). Suction/pressure can be used to manipulate the sample. A single sensor pad 381 is present at the confluence of these channels. This contains a protamine sensor and a reference electrode.
In use, the sample is dispensed in the sample inlet port 381. A fixed volume of the sample is drawn (or pushed) into each channel. The sample mixes with protamine in each of the channels. Mixing may be enhanced with appropriate aids. Each channel is individually addressed to push the sample over the sensor pad. The channels are pushed in order of increasing protamine concentration. The response of the sensor is recorded. The titration is performed by successively pushing each (protamine dissolved) sample over the sensor and measuring the response. Plotting the sensor responses vs. the channel gives the titration curve. The heparin in the sample corresponds to the channel at which the inflection point is observed. This method enables the sample to be measured in a relatively short period of time.
As previously discussed, heparin can be measured in blood by using protamine to titrate heparin with the protamine-binding followed by using a protamine sensitive electrochemical sensor to monitor the titration endpoint. In this detection method, protamine is gradually introduced into the sample solution, with stirring sufficient to ensure a homogenous binding between the introduced protamine and the heparin in the sample. A relatively complex system would be required to infuse/dispense the protamine titrate, mix the heparin and protamine, and follow the titration progress.
In an alternate method, a bolus of protamine is preloaded into a cartridge. This protamine bolus should include a sufficient amount of protamine to completely neutralize the maximum expected heparin in the blood sample. The protamine bolus can be preloaded into a sealed cartridge, for example, and a known quantity of blood injected through the seal and shaken or otherwise mixed. After a suitable time period, the heparin-protamine containing solution can be injected into a second cartridge including a protamine sensitive electrode. The mixing and reaction can thus be done apart and away from the ion selective electrodes used to measure the protamine concentration.
Calibration can be accomplished using methods described elsewhere in the present application. For example, time to maximum rate of change of differential electrical potential, maximum rate of change of electrical potential, and the log of the initial rate of change of electrical potential can be used in conjunction with previously obtained calibration values for samples having known concentrations of protamine or heparin, depending on the method.
Thus, the starting protamine concentration, the final remaining protamine concentration, and the known stoichiometry of the protamine solution can be used to determine the heparin that bound the initial protamine. This bolus method can also be used where the mixing member is near the protamine sensitive electrode, by preloading or injecting a known excess quantity of protamine into the cartridge holding the protamine ion sensitive electrode.
With the use of preloaded dry protamine, the complex protamine infusing/dispensing system can be eliminated, thus dramatically simplifying the instrumentation. This method may also provide improved sensitivity. Since the sensor response depends on diffusion, a bolus of analyte will contribute more diffusion flux than small incremental analyte additions in more typical titrations. Thus applicants believe the bolus method will be more sensitive.
With the improvement of sensitivity, as long as an excess of high concentration of protamine remains after the heparin is neutralized, there would be enough flux into the sensor to provide a meaningful signal even without sample stirring. Therefore the stir system may be eliminated, thus further miniaturizing the sensor system.
This method can also be used to conduct multiple tests on the same cartridge and therefore on board calibration and parallel tests can be performed. If a stir bar or stir element is removed from the design, then any need to control each stir bar the same for each chamber may be removed. The reduced chamber or channel size may make parallel tests more practical.
Titration systems using a solenoid valve based liquid dispenser require an accurate pressure source to provide the driving force to dispense the liquid. Under the same valve opening parameters and constant pressure, accurate liquid droplet volumes down to the nanoliter can be dispensed. An easy to use, low maintenance, and low cost pressure source would be valuable for this application. In the present invention, this system can be used in heparin titration by precisely controlling the amount of protamine titrant that is dispensed. Current devices or titration volume dispensing often use a syringe pump. Others have used a liquid containing titrant pouch in a pressurized gas chamber, where the gas pressure is maintained by a gas pump. An easier to use, lower cost and easier to control titrant pressure source would be advantageous. In particular, a system not requiring a controlled syringe pump would be beneficial.
The pressure within tube 468 can be controlled directly or indirectly in several ways, depending on the embodiment of the invention utilized. A pressure transmitter or pressure transducer 474 can be used to directly measure the pressure of the titrant being delivered. Alternatively, a pressure transducer 476 can be disposed within the hermetically sealed housing to directly measure the pressure within the hermetically sealed housing. The pressure signal can also be passed hermetically through the housing. In yet another method, the temperature either inside the housing or of the housing itself may be measured by a temperature transducer 478. In any case, the delivery rate of the titrant should be used to calibrate the system, whether pressure or temperature measurements are used to control the delivery rate. It is expected that a drop wise delivery system for the titrant can be used in conjunction with system 460.
A saturated vapor pressure can be generated by heating a liquid reservoir above its boiling point. The saturated vapor will reach equilibrium with its liquid phase in the same chamber. Self adjustment of the vapor volume will occur if the volume to be dispensed from the liquid pouch is reduced by dispensing. Hence a constant driving pressure is always present.
Potentiometric sensors have been widely used in clinical laboratories to measure potassium, sodium, chloride, and ph, etc. Sensor performance, such as precision, accuracy, and useful life depends very much upon the reference electrode. In particular, the stability and useful life of the reference electrode. When applying potentiometric sensors in whole blood tests, protein absorption on both working electrode and reference electrode will cause potential drift on both electrodes, even though the potential difference is measured between the working electrode and the reference electrode, and both electrodes will normally be different in material and design. However, the potential drift will not be cancelled out. For a polyion potentiometric sensor, even though it is a special type of potentiometric sensor, good performance depends very much upon the reference electrode performance.
The signal via differential measurement between the working electrode and the reference electrode will be a combination of the contribution by the true analyte activity/concentration difference and also by the contribution from the unmatched protein absorption, cell adhesion, and electrode hydration, etc. This contribution by protein absorption and cell adhesion is generally uncontrollable and irreproducible in most situations.
In another aspect of the present invention, this unmatched drift component between working and reference electrode is considered and at least in part accounted for by taking advantage of the unique response mechanism of the polyion potentiometric sensor. Surprisingly, the polyion sensor response time will be significantly different if the ion selective membrane is doped with a different amount of ion exchanger. The higher the ion exchanger concentration, the more time delay is observed in response to the same amount of polyion analyte in the sample solution. In prior art systems, if we start with a pair of identical sensor substrates, for example, two identical silver/silver chloride traces on polyester in current practice, only the working silver/silver chloride electrode contains the ion sensitive polymer membrane containing the ion exchanger.
In this aspect of the present invention, both the working and the reference electrodes are coated with the same polymer cocktail, but contain different concentrations of the ion exchanger. The reference electrode is preferably coated with the solution that has a higher concentration of ion exchanger, which will therefore be significantly delayed in response to the same amount of analyte in sample solution. Since by doing this, surface material of the working and reference electrode will be almost identical, i.e., having the same polymer and plasticizer, protein absorption and cell adhesion will be almost identical, and they can be cancelled out. The sensor hydration process will also be similar for both working and reference electrodes using this design. For comparison, under the previous design and fabrication, a significant potential drift will result owing to surface material difference between working and reference electrodes. Another property of this aspect of the invention is that any variation or variables in fabrication, especially in polymer membrane deposition, will likely be cancelled out by depositing the similar polymer cocktail on both electrodes.
In various embodiments, the ionophore concentration in the reference electrode is at least four, five, or ten times the concentration in the working or measurement electrode, depending on the embodiment.
The present invention provides an automatic, digitized titration control system for automatically determining the heparin concentration in a blood sample through titration with protamine using a protamine ion selective electrode to determine the titration end point. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an automatic heparin protamine titration system having a reduced titration time while maintaining or improving accuracy. This system may be visualized with respect to
Beginning at step 502, the DPS (drops per second) counter is cleared. In step 504, if the data acquisition is to start step 506 is executed, otherwise the program loops at step 504 waiting for data acquisition to start. In step 506, baseline data is collected, for example, the beginning flat portion of the electrical differential plot.
Proceeding to step 508, titration is started if indicated. In one example, after a preset time has elapsed, for example 5 seconds, then titration may be begun. With execution proceeding to step 510, titration is started, for example at 10 drops per second, and the DPS counter begins counting droplets. In step 512, monitoring of the differential electrical potential between the working or measurement electrode and the reference electrode is monitored. The rate of change of the differential potential is tracked as well. Thus, both the absolute differential measurement and the rate of change of the differential measurement with respect to time are tracked. Proceeding to step 514, if the sensor response indicates a differential potential of at least 10 millivolts, then the titration rate is slowed at step 516 to 5 drops per second. If the differential electrical potential is not yet at 10 millivolts, then step 512 is executed again. In step 518, monitoring is continued, both of the differential electrical potential and the rate of change with time. At step 520, if the differential potential is at least 15 millivolts, then the titration rate is further dropped to 2 drops per second, otherwise step 518 is executed again.
In step 524, monitoring is continued, both of the differential electrical potential and the rate of change.
At step 526, if the differential electrical potential is at least 20 millivolts, then the titration rate is decreased to one drop per second at step 528, otherwise step 524 is executed again. At step 530, monitoring of the sensor response and the rate of change of the sensor is continued. The rate of change of the differential electrical potential can be monitored and stored, in various ways. In one, potentially noisy method, the rate of change is taken as the rate of change over two successive points. In another, less noisy method, a sliding window can be slid over a number of successive points, with the rate of change taken to be the rate of change from the first point in the window to the last point in the window over the time length of the sliding window. A number of filtering algorithms may be used as well. At some point, the rate of change will peak and then decrease. The maximum rate of change can be stored in memory. When the current rate of change has dropped to a threshold value below that of the maximum rate of change, the titration can be stopped. Capturing the peak or maximum rate of change is seen at 532. In step 534, when the rate of change reaches 30% below the peak value, the titration is stopped. In step 536, the time at the peak rate of change can be used to determine the total amount of protamine added at this peak time. In one method, the total number of drops is stored at each time interval along with the differential measurement for that time slot as well as the rate of change of measurement with time for that time slot. Given the total amount of protamine at the peak rate of change, the stoichiometry binding properties of the protamine may be used to determine the heparin bound at that peak. This determines the amount of heparin in the sample.
By using the present system, the titration of heparin at high concentration can be done within two minutes. Data analysis and display is simplified by correlating the sensor response, micro dispenser dispensing rate, and by counting the number of drops dispensed. By comparing the results obtained with the fixed high rate dispensing rate, the varied dispensing rate scheme can provide more accurate results.
Currently, for polyion sensors, the polymer membranes are doped with appropriate lipophilic anion or cation exchangers, such as tridodecylmethylammonium (TDMA) for polyanions and dinonyinapthalene sulfonate (DNNS) for polycations. The sensor response is based on the electrostatic interactions between DNNS or TDMA and polyions inside the membrane. However, these bindings are not effective, and the total voltage change is relatively small. One aspect of the present invention includes a new kind of ion-exchanger. Immobilized polyions such as protamine and heparin, for example, in the backbone of the polymer matrix molecule, can be used as ion exchangers for polyanion and polycation assays, respectively, which increase the total potential change and decrease the detection limit.
Compared with DNNS or TDMA, this new type of ion-exchanger may offer several features. First of all, the interaction between immobilized protamine or heparin and other polyions are very strong with high binding constants. This would increase the total potential change of the polyion sensor. Secondly, since the ion exchanger is immobilized in the polymer matrix, the diffusion coefficient of ion-pair in the membrane will be decreased so that a low detection limit can be obtained. Due to the large binding constants, this new kind of sensor will show a high voltage change and increase the signal to noise ratio for polyion measurement in whole blood samples.
In previous methods, various amounts of heparin were first spiked separately into 1 milliliter of phosphate buffer in disposable cups containing protamine sensitive sensors. Then protamine titrations were done by using drop by drop protamine injection into the cups. In the new method, various amounts of protamine were mixed with 1 milliliter of phosphate buffer in disposable cups first, then the sensors were put into the cups. This mimics a real application scenario, where a known amount of protamine will mix with the sample containing an unknown amount of heparin first, then the sensor is applied to measure the reduction of the protamine in quantity. This is referred to elsewhere as the bolus method in the present application.
The highest concentration protamine, 14 micrograms in 1 milliliter of phosphate buffer, is seen at 650. This achieves the most rapid rise in electrical potential. The slowest rise in electrical potential is seen with the protamine ion sensitive electrode inserted into the most dilute protamine sample of 5 micrograms per 1 mil. of phosphate buffer, seen at 660. The 14 microgram, concentrated protamine sample may be seen to achieve a maximum rate of change at about 15 seconds, with the most dilute, 5 microgram protamine sample achieving the maximum rate of change at about 100 seconds.
The peak rate of change is also shown on
An inset plot 670 may be seen in
This method, for determining protamine concentration, can be used to determine heparin concentration. This can be done using the "bolus" method of the present invention. A known bolus of protamine can be added, sufficient to completely bind the heparin expected in a sample, sufficient to leave excess protamine in solution.
The protamine ion selective electrode can be exposed to the excess protamine and the time to peak potential rate of change noted. This time can be used in conjunction with a calibration curve such as 670 to obtain the remaining protamine in the sample. Using the initial, known protamine, and the stoichiometric binding of the known protamine to the heparin, the heparin concentration in the sample can be calculated. This method would require no titration. This method could also be used in conjunction with a sample cartridge having a known protamine amount preloaded into a cartridge, ready to receive a heparin sample injected into the cartridge.
By way of introduction, detection of heparin can be accomplished with automated potentiometric titrations of heparin, using continuous addition of a standard protamine solution into a sample solution using a dispensing system, for example having a pressure pump and a micro-valve. However, the instrumentation is complex and may not easily be miniaturized.
To eliminate the dispensing system, applicants developed a method including pre-loading a fixed amount of dry protamine in the cartridge to neutralize heparin in the sample, and measuring the electrode potential response of the extra free protamine. In this method, the response process is recorded and the time required to achieve the maximum response rate is used for heparin quantization. However, this quantitative method may be time consuming, in order to get enough of the response curve, especially for samples containing high concentrations of heparin. In addition, there is no linear relationship between the endpoint time measured and the heparin concentration in the sample (see
Here we describe a new quantitative method for the dry protamine bolus concept. In this method, the initial potential response rate (dEMF/dt) is measured (see
With this method, there is no need to wait for the whole response process; but only the initial response may need to be recorded, so the whole analysis can be rapidly completed. In addition, applicants believe that the optimum linear range for heparin measurement can be readily adjusted by changing the sample stir rate. Higher stir rates show a narrow linear range, but with a high resolution, for low concentrations of heparin, which is suitable for use in a Catheter Lab; while low stir rates show a wide linear range with a relative low resolution and can be used in CVOR.
Cartridge 750 includes a cartridge body 752 containing a fluid path 756. Fluid path 756 extends from a sample chamber or sample port 754, past a first sensor chamber 758, past an optional second sample chamber 759, to a pressure port 760. Fluid path 756 includes a first portion 720 disposed between sample port 754 and sensor chambers 758 and 759, and a second portion 722 disposed between the sensor chambers and pressure port 760. A first sensor 762 is shown inserted into sensor chamber 758 to bring the ISE or ISEs into contact with fluid path 756. In some systems, the ISE is screen printed on a polyester substrate, and the sensor chamber is initially open to the bottom. The ISE can be adhesively applied to the sensor chamber bottom, sealing the sensor chamber. The ISE may include a protamine ISE and a reference ISE, and may includes a second ISE and corresponding reference ISE, where the second ISE may be used to measure a different analyte. Sample chamber 758 may contain an amount of dried protamine sufficient to neutralize the largest amount of heparin anticipated to be in the sample.
Bi-directional pump 730 may be attached through a pressure line 734 to pressure port 760 at the most distal point of the fluid path. The bidirectional pump may be controllable in discrete increments of linear travel, indicated at 732, by a pump motor 736. Pump motor 736 can be controlled by a motor controller circuit 738, which is in turn connected by a motor controller cable 739 in some systems, to a lab instrument interface circuit installed in computer 728.
Sensor chamber 758 may be located midway through cartridge fluid path 756, and may contain a protamine-sensitive sensor 762. The sensor may be connected through a sensor connector 708 to a sensor amplifier 724, which can buffer and amplify the signal from the high-impedance sensor. Sensor amplifier 724 may be connected by a sensor amplifier cable 726 to a lab instrument interface circuit installed in computer 728. Computer 728 is used to represent a data acquisition and control device generally. Such a device can be used to drive pump 730 and monitor sensor 762. Any suitable dedicated device, programmable device, or microcontroller may used as this device.
A metered volume of sample containing heparin can be introduced into sample chamber or port 754 using a sample applicator 740. The bidirectional pump 730 may be activated to repeatedly draw the sample from the chamber into fluid path 756, and then push the sample back into the chamber, in order to agitate and dissolve the protamine into the sample. This action could be started either automatically by a sensor, or by a user's key press.
After the protamine is dissolved into the sample, bidirectional pump 730 may draw the sample into sensor chamber 754. The sample may be stationary in the sensor chamber for approximately 30 seconds to "wet" the sensor membrane in sensor 762, with the computer monitoring the sensor signal. Bidirectional pump 730 may then move the sample in a back-and-forth oscillation across the sample chamber 758 while the computer continues to monitor the sensor signal. The oscillation facilitates the diffusion of ions into the sensor membrane while the computer measures the sensor response, and the heparin concentration may be determined from the slope of the response curve to free protamine within the first minute or two after oscillation begins.
One procedure for heparin measurement using a cartridge system with preloaded dry protamine and citrate bolus is given below. This example utilized a Labview program running in a computer program interfaced to a bread boarded, prototype embodiment according to the present invention. A system similar to that of
1. When the blood sample (0.15 mL) is added to the sample reservoir, the operator can click "Start Measurement" on the keyboard to start the program. The piston of the syringe pump can draw the sample into the cartridge channel and move the sample back and forth for about 1 min to mix with dry protamine and citrate preloaded in the channel.
2. Then the resulting sample solution can be drawn into the sensor chamber and the Labview program will be activated to record the potentials of sensor membrane (measuring every second). The sample solution will be held on the sensor surface for a wetting period of 30 sec.
3. After wetting, the pump starts oscillation, and the membrane potentials increase dramatically due to the rapid protamine diffusion into membrane phase.
4. The oscillation takes 30 sec, and then the measurement is finished.
5. The pump piston will be reversed to its original position for the next measurement.
6. The initial response rate (dEMF/dt, the slope of the linear curve) can be calculated by using 5 potentials measured at 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37 sec. In some methods, the initial response slope is measured in the portion defined by three points in which the line segments on either side of the middle point are closest to the line between the two outer points, or the minimum distance between the middle point and a line drawn through the two points on either side of the middle point. In other methods, the average of the slope of the line segments between the measured points is used as the initial slope.
7. Higher concentrations of heparin in blood neutralize more protamine in the cartridge, and therefore show less response. See
An advantage to the bidirectional pump system over a rotationally-stirred sample chamber is that the pump system is positive-displacement, and should be relatively insensitive to changes in viscosity of whole blood due to varying hematocrit and hemodilution. If viscosity must be taken into account for greatest precision, this could be done by using an additional separate sensor and fluid path, where the fluid path dimensions cause capillary flow of the sample, and the time for the sample to travel a known fluid path length to reach the sensor is measured and used to calculate the relative viscosity of the sample.
Several methods can be used to enhance the performance of the Heparin Assay Cartridge System.
A method could be incorporated into the cartridge to automatically meter the sample volume. This could be implemented by using a gas-permeable vent in combination with the bidirectional pump. Alternatively, an arrangement using valves or two pumps could be used to isolate and transport a metered volume.
An anticoagulant such as sodium citrate or disodium EDTA can be combined into the sample to increase the sensitivity of the system when used with whole blood. This can be done either prior to introduction of the sample into the sample chamber, or as an initial step within the sample chamber.
Two separate settings for bidirectional pump speed could be used for optimizing sensitivity vs. range for the differing requirements of the Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR) and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. These could be used in combination with cartridges containing two different amounts of protamine, and could be selected either automatically by a code on the cartridge, or manually by the user. Alternatively, an adaptive algorithm could be used to monitor the initial slope, and then automatically change the pump speed setting for best combination of sensitivity and range.
Separate settings could be selected by the user to apply different slope-to-concentration algorithms for different types of low-molecular-weight heparin as well as unfractionated heparin. For low-molecular-weight heparin, the results could be displayed in various units including anti-Xa correlation. Alternatively, an algorithm could be selected to measure the combined effect of multiple heparin types contained within the sample.
The sample chamber could contain liquid protamine instead of dried protamine. The protamine could be held within the chamber by a thin-stretched film over the chamber top, and the sample applicator could be used to simultaneously penetrate the film and introduce the sample into the chamber.
The above embodiments make use of a protamine sensor to measure the amount of heparin through stoichiometry. A heparin sensor has also been developed that responds directly to the heparin in the sample. When a heparin sensitive electrode is used in the heparin assay cartridge system, there is no need to place protamine in the cartridge, and accurate sample volume may not be required. The heparin is directly measured and the response slope can be directly converted into the heparin concentration. The use of a sample blank, having the heparin inactivated, may be useful in this method.
Another embodiment of the heparin assay disposable and its instrument interface would produce a low-cost laminated test strip with no moving part required in the instrument. This embodiment uses a direct heparin sensor in combination with disposable designed to produce capillary flow of the sample to the sample chamber after the user deposits the sample on the disposable. Additionally, this embodiment does not require a bidirectional pump to stir the sample across the sensor. Instead, a voltage is applied to the sensor to facilitate ion exchange across the sensor membrane. This method might use alternating time periods of current drive and sensor monitoring, or a compensated sensor circuit might be devised to provide simultaneous current drive and sensor monitoring.
Unlike many other electrochemical potentiometric sensors, protamine ion selective electrode sensors have a unique response that is not a typical Nernst response. Instead, it relies on the non-equilibrium steady state ion exchange process occurring at the interface between the sensor's polymer membrane and the sample solution. The protamine sensitive sensor response is determined by both the protamine diffusion in the sample phase and the diffusion of the protamine-ion exchange complex inside the polymer membrane phase. The sensor's low detection limit can be significantly improved by rotating the sensor at a high speed, for example, 3,000 RPM, which may or may not be practicable when used in conjunction with various embodiments of the present invention.
In one method according to the present invention, diffusion is enhanced inside the polymer membrane by changing the boundary condition from constant concentration change/flux (as in a previous method) to a constant concentration. Diffusion enhancement inside the membrane phase is confirmed by theoretical simulation. Specifically, a theoretical simulation shows that in a constant boundary concentration case, there is a higher analyte concentration inside of the membrane phase than that in the constant flux case. This means a higher potential change of the sensor, which means improved sensitivity.
Thus, compared with the previous titration method, the new bolus method is more sensitive and doesn't need protamine to be dispensed during the test. Hence, instrumentation can be simplified. Also, simultaneous calibration can be possible after filtering or otherwise removing heparin from the sample separately, since multiple tests can be done on the same disposable cartridge without using multiple dispensing units. Lower detection limits and improved resolution can enable this sensor to monitor therapeutic level heparin (both high and low molecular weight heparins).
The present invention can utilize generally a polymeric membrane forming an ion selective electrode that is selective for protamine. Generally, this ion selective electrode may include a polymer, an ionophore or ion exchanger that preferentially binds protamine, and zero, one or more plasticizers that facilitate or enhance diffusion of protamine into the membrane. Various polymers, ionophores, and plasticizers and/or additives, if so desired or necessary, can be used, with varying degrees of success, in the present invention. In one embodiment of the invention, a specialized polyurethane is used as at least one polymer in the polymeric matrix. This specialized polymer includes alternating blocks of so-called "soft" or rubbery segments (having easy segmental rotations at ambient temperature) and "hard" (crystalline, semi-crystalline or glassy) segments. The hard and soft segments may separate from each other, thereby forming hard and soft segment micro-domains. The first step of synthesis of this specialized polymer, which is a thermoplastic elastomer, is the production of a pre-polymer in which the ends of the polymer chain is terminated by isocyanate groups (—N═C═O) or hydroxyl groups (—OH). The production of the prepolymer may involve the use of a preformed chain terminated by hydroxyl groups, for example a polyester glycol, polyether glycol, hydrocarbon glycol, polydimethylsiloxane glycol, or a polycarbonate glycol. The glycol chain is then reacted with one or more diisocyanates, for example methylene-4,4′-diphenyl isocyanate (MDI), dimer isocyanate, methylene-4,4′-dicycloxyl isocyanate (H12-MDI), hexylmethylene diisocyanate, or any other suitable diisocyanate. The resulting pre-polymer is then reacted with one or more diols and/or diamines, for example ethylene diamine and/or butane diol, to link the ends of the prepolymer chains together and thus generate the polymer chains of the thermoplastic elastomer.
One polyurethane used according to one embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
Polyurethanes that can be used in the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,308, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
One example of how to prepare an ion selective electrode polymer solution to be used in the production of a protamine sensor follows:
Combine 21.0 mg of dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate (DNNS) from King Industries, Norwalk, Conn. with 300 mg of 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) from Fluka Chemika Biochemika, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. in a glass container. Then add 3.0 mg of tetradodecylammonium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate (ETH500) from Fluka Chemika Biochemika, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. and 80 mg of Terpolymer (PVC/PVA/polyhydroxypropyl acrylate) from Scientific Polymer Products, Ontario, N.Y. into the same glass container. Next add 197 mg of the polyurethane described elsewhere in the present application and 395 mg of Pellethane 2363-AE from Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich. into the same glass container. Then add 5.68 ml cyclohexanone solvent and stir using a stirrer bar and a magnetic stirrer. Allow components to dissolve completely. Preferably, the resultant polymer solution will have no solids present and will have a viscosity of about 450 cp. If the viscosity of the polymer solution is too low, the polymer solution can be concentrated to raise the viscosity. If the viscosity of the polymer solution is too high, solvent can be added to the polymer solution to lower the viscosity.
The silver leads of a sensor are treated with 0.1 M 0.1 M FeCl3 solution containing 0.5 M HCl for 5 min to form Ag/AgCl electrodes. The electrodes are then washed with de-ionized water and dried overnight in a fume hood at room temperature. One drop (3 μL) of the polymer solution is then applied on one electrode, for example the right hand side electrode. The other electrode or left hand side electrode is not coated and serves as a reference electrode. The polymer-covered sensors are placed in the fume hood and dried for 3 hours at room temperature. Additional applications of the polymer solution to the electrode followed by drying may be repeated as desired to achieve a desired membrane thickness. Following application of the last polymer coating step the electrodes are thoroughly dried, for example by placing the electrodes in fume hood at room temperature for 24 hours.
Preferably, the tip of the silver is completely covered by the membrane. The performance of the sensors is not affected if the side of the membrane coating (not the silver) is cut or has small bubbles. If the viscosity of the polymer solution is too low, the polymer may spread into a larger area and cover the reference electrode so that the sensor may be scrapped. On the other hand, if the viscosity of the polymer solution is too high, it will be difficult to get an optimum sized droplet. The sensors are generally acceptable if the tip of the silver is completely covered by the polymer membrane and the polymer does not cover the reference electrode.
Concentration ranges (in terms of weight percent) of membrane components for various embodiments of the protamine sensor are given below. The "specialized polyurethane" is the polyurethane illustrated in
First Composition:
Second Composition:
Third Composition:
In one aspect of the invention, in an alternative embodiment, the ISE membrane/polymer is self-plasticizing. Plasticizers are typically used in ISE membranes and may form a considerable portion of (e.g. even half) of the membrane weight. The plasticizer allows the analyte to migrate through the ISE membrane. In some ISE membranes according to the present invention, there is no, or essential no unbound plasticizers in the ISE membranes. The membrane may be formulated from a polymer with a backbone, which may be an acrylate backbone and have a plurality of pendant lipophilic plasticizing groups.
The membrane can be formulated from a polymer having an acrylate backbone and a plurality of pendant lipophilic plasticizing groups to provide the polymer with a Tg of −10� C. or less. The Tg of the polymer can be measured directly using any suitable apparatus. The polymer Tg lies in the range from −10� C. to −70� C., or from −30� C. to −60� C., in some embodiments. The lipophilic plasticizing groups are C3-7 alkyl groups in some polymers used in the present invention. Use of C3-7 alkyl acrylates in the polymer can provide a polymer that is inherently soft and does not require added plasticizer, i.e. the polymer is in effect self-plasticizing.
Materials such as ceramics, metal-oxides, glass, and polymers could be used as part of the membrane carrying the ionophore in some alternate embodiments. In a less preferred embodiment, if porous glass or ceramic were used, the pores may be loaded with ion-selective cocktail or polymer solution. Some polymers can include polyurethane, PVC, and silicone rubber. Some polymers may not require a separate, added plasticizer. The polymer used according to the invention may have an acrylate backbone and may be a polymer or copolymer of one or more of the following monomers: propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, pentyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, heptyl acrylate. The polymer may be a homopolymer or may be a co-polymer including two or more different monomer units. The different monomer units may be derived from C3-7 alkyl acrylates as described above.
Heparin solutions containing 1,000 U/mL and 100 U/mL of heparin are prepared by serial dilution with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH=7.4) of a heparin USP stock solution containing 10,000 U/mL. The 100 U/mL heparin stock solution is used to prepare the heparin samples required for titration in buffer, whole blood or pooled plasma (2, 4, 6 U/mL, etc.). A protamine solution is then prepared in saline (0.9%) from a stock solution of Protamine Sulfate USP Injectable, which contains 250 mg activity per 25 ml of solution. The final concentration of the protamine solution is 10 mg/ml. The stock solution is refrigerated. The protamine test solution is usually stable at room temperature for one week. PBS buffer solution is prepared by dissolving 1 foil pouch of dry PBS powder (Sigma-Aldrich) into 1 liter of de-ionized water. Citrated whole blood is prepared by mixing 5 ml of 3.4% sodium citrate per 50 ml of whole blood. Plasma is prepared by centrifuging citrated whole blood. Plasma (about 150 ml) may be stored at −20� C. in 10 mL centrifuge test tubes. The frozen plasma is generally stable for 24 weeks.
The sensor is connected to the appropriate hardware, e.g., an electric circuit board from Alberta Printed Circuits and an electronic control circuit from National Instruments. Make sure the electrode is placed in the correct position. Following connection of the sensor to the appropriate hardware and software, the sensor may be calibrated. When ready to calibrate the sensor, start running the data acquisition or control software (e.g., Labview Software) on an appropriate computer, e.g., a Toshiba satellite 2065 CDS laptop computer, connected to the appropriate hardware. The control software implements algorithms described in the present application. Alternatively, the titration could be performed manually. While running Labview, click on "STARTDAQ". The potential (EMF) response of the sensor will be shown in the window. The green line indicates the EMF change with time, while the red line shows the first differential of the EMF response (dEMF) change with time. When the baseline is stable, click "Start LEE-VALVE". The protamine will be dispensed into the sample as a titrant at 1 drop per second from a microdispensing valve with an integral nozzle (part number: INKA2437210H, VHS-LT valve, Lee Co., Essex, Conn.). The dispensing rate can be multiplied by 2, 5- or 10 times if clicking "S0", "S1" or both of them. Click "STOP DISPENSE", when the response curve reaches a stable maximum potential. Click "SAVE DATA" and give an appropriate file name. Repeat the steps for another titration. Exit LABVIEW when all the measurements are completed. The concentration of the heparin present in the solution and the amount of protamine needed to neutralize the heparin can be calculated by the calibration time and the response time from the heparin unknowns using the same Excel work sheet.
A calibration curve is made for each of the samples used, such as buffer, plasma or whole blood. The calibration time for plasma and whole blood is greater than that of the buffer solution. A minimum of 2 calibration curves/titration curves can be taken for each of the samples tested. The samples used for the calibration do not have any heparin in it. The time in seconds to reach the end point is used to calculate the heparin concentration of the unknown samples. One (1) minute incubation time is given for each of the sensors tested before running the experiment in whole blood or pooled plasma (no incubation time for buffer solution).
For a titration experiment, pipette one (1) ml of the fresh sample solution into a sample cup. Add a magnetic stirrer bar into the sample solution. The sample solution is then stirred at a constant speed (e.g. 600 rpm) using a magnetic stirrer (American Scientific Products) in order to achieve a rapid mixing of the solution. It is preferable to maintain a constant speed of mixing to get reliable data. Make sure the sensor is connected to the electric circuit board. Double check to confirm the electrode is placed in the correct position. Place the membrane end of the sensor in the sample solution. It should be placed in such a way that the sensor does not touch the magnetic stirrer and the polymer membrane is in the sample solution. Start an air pump (DP0105, Nitto Kohki, Co. Ltd.) and apply an air pressure of 300 mmHg (˜5.9 psi) using a pressure regulator (Type 100, Controlair Inc.) around the liquid protamine pouch. In this case, the volume of one drop of protamine solution dispensed through Lee valve is 25 nL. Follow the procedures described above.
Each unit of heparin present in the sample solution prolongs the response time. (e.g.: Beef lung heparin I U/ml Heparin ˜30 seconds, Porcine Mucosa Heparin ˜25 seconds, LMWH Fragmin ˜22.5 seconds, LMWH Normiflow ˜35 seconds, LMWH Lovenox ˜40 seconds The concentration of heparin present is calculated using the calibration time, titration end point for the unknown samples and the type of heparin. The amount of protamine required to neutralize the heparin can be calculated using the heparin—protamine binding stoichiometry (1 mg of protamine reacts with 100 U of heparin).
All publications, patents and patent documents are incorporated by reference herein, as though individually incorporated by reference. The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many various modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.
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