1. A disposable blood analysis cartridge comprising:
a sample introduction port;
a sample collection reservoir for receiving a blood sample from the sample introduction port;
an absorbance measurement channel including a cuvette, with a first gas permeable membrane located downstream of the cuvette;
an optical scattering measurement channel including a hydrodynamic focusing region, with a second gas permeable membrane located upstream of the hydrodynamic focusing region;
one or more valves disposed between the sample collection reservoir, and the absorbance measurement channel and the optical scattering measurement channel;
one or more vacuum ports in fluid communication with the absorbance measurement channel through the first gas permeable membrane, and in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel through the second gas permeable membrane; and
wherein when a negative pressure is applied to the one or more vacuum ports, at least part of the blood sample is drawn from the sample collection reservoir, through the one or more valves and at least partially into the absorbance measurement channel and the optical scattering measurement channel.
2. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein there is a common valve disposed between the sample collection reservoir, and the absorbance measurement channel and the optical scattering measurement channel.
3. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 2, wherein the common valve comprises a pinch valve that includes a flexible outer wall, where pressure applied to the flexible outer wall moves the common valve from the open state to the closed state.
4. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 3, wherein the pinch valve is situated between the sample collection reservoir and the absorbance measurement channel and between the sample collection reservoir and the optical scattering measurement channel, such that when the pinch valve is compressed, the common valve prevents backflow of the blood sample from the absorbance measurement channel and backflow of the blood sample from the optical scattering measurement channel back into the sample collection reservoir.
5. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 4, further comprising a reagent introduction port in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel.
6. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 4, further comprising a sheath fluid introduction port in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel.
7. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 6, wherein the disposable blood analysis cartridge defines a two or more parallel pathways from the sheath fluid introduction port to the hydrodynamic focusing region of the optical scattering measurement channel.
8. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein the optical scattering measurement channel includes a channel that forms a loop, with one end of the loop in fluid communication with the second gas permeable membrane and the other end of the loop also in fluid communication with the second gas permeable membrane, wherein when a negative pressure is applied to the one or more vacuum ports, at least part of the blood sample is drawn from the sample collection reservoir, through the one or more valves and filling the loop.
9. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein there is a common vacuum port in fluid communication with the absorbance measurement channel through the first gas permeable membrane, and in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel through the second gas permeable membrane.
10. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein a first vacuum port is in fluid communication with the absorbance measurement channel through the first gas permeable membrane, and a second vacuum port is in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel through the second gas permeable membrane.
11. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sample collection reservoir has converging side walls.
12. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sample collection reservoir has a reservoir volume that is greater than a sample volume required for analysis of the blood sample by the disposable blood analysis cartridge.
13. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, wherein the optical scattering measurement channel includes a mixing region upstream of the hydrodynamic focusing region, wherein the mixing region includes one or more U-shaped bends, wherein at least a portion of the blood sample is mixed with a reagent in the mixing region to produce a diluted blood sample.
14. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an on-card waste storage reservoir for receiving waste fluids produced by the disposable blood analysis cartridge.
15. The disposable blood analysis cartridge of claim 14, wherein the on-card waste storage reservoir comprises at least two segments, wherein at least a first segment comprises one or more ribs extending from a bottom surface thereof.
16. A method of analyzing a blood sample in a cartridge, the method comprising:
receiving a blood sample via a blood sample introduction port of the cartridge, the blood sample being drawn into a sample collection reservoir by capillary action;
applying a negative pressure to one or more vacuum ports of the cartridge, the negative pressure causing the blood sample to be drawn from the sample collection reservoir, through one or more open valves, and into a cuvette of an absorbance measurement channel and into at least part of an optical scattering measurement channel having a hydrodynamic focusing region;
closing the one or more valves;
receiving a reagent via a reagent introduction port, the reagent mixing with the blood sample in the optical scattering measurement channel upstream of the hydrodynamic focusing region;
receiving a sheath fluid via a sheath fluid introduction port, the sheath fluid being injected at or near the hydrodynamic focusing region of the optical scattering measurement channel;
performing an optical scatter measurement using a window that is adjacent the hydrodynamic focusing region of the optical scattering measurement channel; and
performing an absorbance measurement using the cuvette of the absorbance measurement channel.
17. A method of analyzing a blood sample in a cartridge, the method comprising:
receiving a blood sample via a blood sample introduction port of the cartridge, the blood sample being drawn into a sample collection reservoir by capillary action;
applying a negative pressure to a vacuum port of the cartridge to draw at least a portion the blood sample from sample collection reservoir and into a sample loading channel;
closing a valve to prevent backflow of the blood sample from the sample loading channel back into the blood sample introduction port;
using a positive pressure to pushing the blood sample from the sample loading channel to at least one other region of the cartridge for analysis; and
analyzing the blood sample.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein pushing at least a portion of the blood sample from the sample loading channel comprises introducing a pusher fluid into the cartridge to push at least a portion of the blood sample from the sample loading channel to at least one other region of the cartridge for analysis.
19. A disposable blood analysis cartridge comprising:
a sample introduction port;
a sample collection reservoir for receiving a blood sample from the sample introduction port;
an absorbance measurement channel including a cuvette, with a first gas permeable membrane located downstream of the cuvette;
an optical scattering measurement channel including a hydrodynamic focusing region, with a second gas permeable membrane located upstream of the hydrodynamic focusing region;
one or more valves disposed between the sample collection reservoir, and the absorbance measurement channel and the optical scattering measurement channel;
one or more vacuum ports in fluid communication with the absorbance measurement channel through the first gas permeable membrane, and in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel through the second gas permeable membrane;
wherein when a negative pressure is applied to the one or more vacuum ports, at least part of the blood sample is drawn from the sample collection reservoir, through the one or more valves and at least partially into the absorbance measurement channel and the optical scattering measurement channel;
a reagent introduction port in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel; and
a sheath fluid introduction port in fluid communication with the optical scattering measurement channel.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least about 50 mg to about 600 mg of cyamemazine in combination with an atypical neuroleptic selected from the group consisting of sertindole, quetiapine and ziprasidone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein cyamemazine is present in an amount of from about 75 mg to about 500 mg.
3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is sertindole.
4. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is quetiapine.
5. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is ziprasidone.
6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is sertindole.
7. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is quetiapine.
8. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is ziprasidone.
9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein cyamemazine and the atypical neuroleptic are in pure state or in the presence of any compatible and pharmaceutically acceptable diluent adjuvant.
10. A method for preparing a composition as defined in claim 1 comprising the step of mixing at least about 50 mg of cyamemazine with a suitable amount of an atypical neuroleptic selected from the group consisting of sertindole, quetiapine and ziprasidone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
11. A method for treating a patient suffering from schizophrenic disorders comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a combination of cyamemazine and an atypical neuroleptic selected from the group consisting of sertindole, quetiapine and ziprasidone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein cyameniazine is present in an amount of from about 50 mg to about 600 mg.
13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the atypical nenroleptic is sertindole.
14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is quetiapine.
15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the atypical neuroleptic is ziprasidone.
16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the patient is suffering from acute episodes of schizophrenia.
17. The method according to claim 11 wherein cyamemazine and the neuroleptic are administered simultaneously or separately or in a manner spread out over time.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein cyamemazine and the neuroleptic are administered simultaneously.
19. The method according to claim 17 wherein cyamemazine and the neuroleptic are administered separately.
20. The method according to claim 17 wherein cyamemazine and the neuroleptic are administered in a manner spread out over time.