Analyzer employs chemical-sensing electrodes for determination of blood, gas, and ion concentrations. It is rugged, easily serviced, and comparatively simple to operate. System can analyze up to eight parameters and can be modified to measure other blood constituents including nonionic species, such as urea, glucose, and oxygen

Coleman, R. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA TECH BRIEF 
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center N j^kA
Automatic Blood Analyzer 
.
pri1 1975	 B75-10041 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Portable Automatic Blood Analyzer 
To meet the requirements of biomedical research in 
space, NASA's Johnson Space Center has sponsored 
the development of a compact and potentially-
portable, automatic blood-analysis system (see 
figure). Automatic blood analyzers are currently 
being used in large hospitals that require the fast and 
reliable determination of blood chemistry. A commer-
cial version of the compact system designed for the 
space program could make such services available on 
a much broader basis. The entire system occupies only 
a few cubic feet of space and can operate from a 
portable power supply. 
.
The automatic blood analyzer employs chemical-
sensing electrodes for the determination of blood gas 
and ion concentrations. It is rugged, easily serviced, 
and comparatively simple to operate. The system can 
analyze up to eight parameters. The design model 
automatically determines the levels of pH, pCO 2 (the 
negative log of CO 2 concentration), sodium (Na+), 
chloride (Cl-), potassium (K -i, ionized calcium 
(Ca++), and total calcium. The system can be 
modified to measure other blood constituents 
including nonionic species, such as urea, glucose, and 
oxygen.
Min i corn p uter 
Fluid Transport 
Sy ter	 Electronic 
Unit 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	
will be tree from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750000041 2020-03-19T20:01:47+00:00Z
The system consists of four major subsystems: a 
fluid transport system, an electronics unit, a 
controller (minicomputer), and a teletypewriter. The 
fluid transport subsystem contains all components 
necessary to standardize, inject, store, deliver, 
measure, and dispose of test samples and reference 
standards. These include standard solution bags, a 
septum inlet port, a chromatographic switching valve, 
a sample-holding loop, reagent bags, electrodes, 
pumps, and a waste bag. 
The fluid transport subsystem also includes eight 
amplifiers (one for each parameter), an eight-input 
multiplexer to select a specific amplifier output, and 
temperature measurement and control circuits. All of 
this circuitry is on a single printed-circuit board and is 
included in the fluid transport system because it 
should be kept close to the sensing electrodes. The 
remaining circuitry is included in the electronics unit. 
The electronics unit contains most of the logic and 
control functions required for interface with a digital 
computer. Control signals from the computer are 
converted to the appropriate driving voltages for 
valves, the pump, the mixer, and the multiplexer in 
the fluid transfer system. The electronics unit also 
provides power for itself and the fluid transport 
system and digitizes all system-status data from the 
fluid _transport _unit to feed back to the computer. 
The controller and the teletypewriter comprise the 
operating system. The controller is a general-purpose 
minicomputer with a 12-bit-word digital processor, 
two 4096-word memory banks, and an internal, 
adaptable interface system. Analyses of part or all of
the system-analyzable components of' a test sample 
may be selected in any order, and results are printed 
on the teletypewriter. 
This rugged compact system is easy to operate 
because all reference solutions are automatically 
restandardized every sample cycle, eliminating the 
need for continued adjustments by the operator. In 
addition, all reagents and waste receptacles are 
contained within the system, and snap-in modules 
and leak-free connectors are used for Convenient 
servicing. 
Note: 
This method is described in the following report: 
"Automated Potentiometric Electrolyte Analy-
sis System" 
Reference NASA CR-134373 (N74-30491). 
This report maybe obtained from: 
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $7.00 
(or microfiche $2.25) 
Patent status: 
NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
Source: R. L. Coleman of 
Orion Research, Inc. 
under contract to

Johnson Space Center
(MSC-14627)
. 
. 
Categorie: 05 (Life Sciences) 
B75-10041
	 02 (Electronics Systems)


Portable automatic blood analyzer

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