WO2017121555A1

WO2017121555A1 - Cartridge for coagulation measurement

Info

Publication number: WO2017121555A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080489
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Schulz; Uwe Taborski
Original assignee: Jürgen Schulz; Uwe Taborski
Priority date: 2016-01-14
Filing date: 2016-12-09
Publication date: 2017-07-20

Abstract

Cartridge for inserting into a device for coagulation measurement, comprising a housing in which a sample space is formed to receive a sample fluid, and an oscillating element provided in the housing which comprises a longitudinal oscillating portion which is connected to the housing, projects from same into the sample space and is elastically bendable in at least one oscillating direction and a sample contact portion which is arranged on the free end of the oscillating portion and defines at least one adhesive surface for the sample fluid, wherein the oscillating portion is formed in the shape of a rod and has a particularly rectangular or circular cross-section contour, which has a width transverse to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating portion and transverse to the at least one oscillating direction of the oscillating portion, which width has a maximum ratio of 0.2, preferably of 0.1, with respect to a maximum width of the sample contact portion. The present invention further relates to a device for coagulation measurement by means of such a cartridge.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cartridge for a coagulation measurement

The present invention relates to a cartridge for insertion into a device for measuring coagulation, comprising a housing in which a sample space is formed for receiving a sample fluid, and a vibration element provided in the housing, one connected to the housing and from there into the housing Sample space projecting elongated, elastically bendable in at least one vibrating direction vibrating portion and arranged at the free end of the vibrating portion and at least one adhesive surface for the sample fluid defining sample contact portion. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device for measuring coagulation by means of a cartridge according to the invention.

Devices for coagulation measurement (coagulation measurement) are known in the prior art in different configurations and serve to determine the coagulation status of a patient and / or to monitor the extent of a therapeutically desired coagulation inhibition. Typically, such coagulation measurement devices are used to assess the blood clotting of a patient during medical procedures. During a surgical procedure, only about 10% of a patient's blood vessels opened during surgery are closed by the surgeon. The remaining 90% of the blood vessels must close themselves by blood coagulation. Accordingly, a medical operation succeeds only with sufficient coagulation ability of the blood of the patient, which must be ensured and brought about if necessary by appropriate medication. The blood coagulation can occur in the contact of the blood with foreign surfaces (exogenous blood coagulation) or in a violation of the blood vessel system in the contact of the blood with tissue thromboplastin (endogenous blood coagulation). In an early stage of the multistage coagulation process (platelet cascade), the platelets become active, thereby expressing platelet receptors and releasing platelet-derived ingredients that may affect or accelerate the further course of blood clotting. At the end of the coagulation cascade, a fibrin clot forms from the fibrinogen dissolved in the blood. By appropriate activation, a fibrin clot already formed in the course of blood coagulation can be brought back into solution (fibrinolysis).

Early methods for postoperative measurement of blood clotting were limited to chemically detecting the blood components required for the described coagulation cascade in a sample fluid from the patient's blood by adding a reagent. However, their mere existence - even in the required concentration - does not allow a reliable statement to what extent they can actually cause a functional blood coagulation, in order to connect separate vessels with each other or to seal open vessels mechanically loadable.

In an improved method, a device with a piston and a sample vessel is used to measure blood clotting. The piston is arranged relative to the sample vessel such that it projects into the sample vessel. The piston and / or the sample vessel is associated with a drive unit which moves the piston and the sample vessel relative to each other. To measure blood coagulation, a sample fluid from the patient's blood is introduced into the sample vessel, so that the piston is partially immersed in and surrounded by the sample fluid. Then, by means of the drive unit, the piston and the sample vessel are moved relative to one another. Nander mostly rotates, wherein the force required for this and exerted by the drive unit force is measured continuously. Because of the shearing forces on the sample fluid due to movement, a natural coagulation process begins which results in a gradually forming cross-linking between the piston and the sample vessel.

The increasingly stable connection between the piston and the sample vessel requires an equally increasing force to maintain the relative movement between the piston and the vessel. Applying the force required for the relative rotational movement against the measurement time results in a typical curve course (thrombelastogram, TEG) during normal blood clotting, while a disturbed blood coagulation leads to deviating measurement curves. However, this method is not very sensitive and in principle can not separate sufficiently distinguishable functional disorders of the blood coagulation from one another, whereby a targeted medication is difficult.

An alternative, further improved method measures the oscillation amplitude of a vibrating element instead of the driving force (resonance thrombelastography). A corresponding device comprises instead of a piston, a vibrating element, which is associated with an excitation unit. The vibrating element is partially immersed in a sample vessel filled with a sample fluid during the measurement, and is applied by the excitation unit with a periodic force such that it performs a forced vibration. The excitation frequency is just above the natural frequency of the immersed in ungeronnenes sample fluid vibrating element. The shear forces exerted on the sample fluid by the vibrating element trigger the natural coagulation process, whereby a gradually solidifying cross-linking is formed between the vibrating element and the sample vessel. Natural blood coagulation increases forth the strength of the immersed vibrating element and, accordingly, its natural frequency. When the natural frequency of the immersed vibrator approaches the excitation frequency from below, the amplitude of its vibration increases until it reaches its maximum value at a coincidence (resonance). If the natural frequency of the immersed vibrating element then moves upwards from the excitation frequency, the amplitude of the oscillation decreases again. By plotting the vibration amplitude as a function of the measurement time, one obtains a typical resonance curve.

The ratio between the resonant frequency of the immersed vibrating element and the frequency range within which the vibration of the immersed vibrating element is attenuated by less than 3 dB from the resonant amplitude is referred to as the quality of the immersed vibrating element. This quality, which corresponds to the temporal manifestation of the resonance curve in this method, can be influenced by the structural design of the vibrating element and the sample vessel such that with this method an extremely sensitive and precise measurement of blood coagulation and a meaningful representation in the form of a curve are possible ,

For a reliable measurement of blood clotting by this method, however, it is necessary to provide the volume of sample fluid in the sample vessel very precisely. This requires a long experience in handling high-precision pipettes. However, such is no longer in line with the market and in the operating room staff present sometimes not available and not desired. In addition, this method is not suitable for mobile emergency medical use. In order to overcome the last-mentioned disadvantage, instead of a sample vessel, a cartridge with a sample space formed therein can be used. the. For example, WO 00/31529 for ultrasound-based measurement of the viscosity of a sample fluid discloses a cartridge having an elongate vibrating element protruding into the sample space.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge of the type mentioned above and a device for coagulation, in which the cartridge can be used, which allow a cost-effective and reliable blood coagulation measurement and can also be used by untrained personnel ,

In order to achieve the object according to the invention, the present invention provides a cartridge of the aforementioned type in which the oscillating section is rod-shaped with a particularly rectangular or circular cross-sectional contour which has a width transversely to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating section and transversely to the at least one oscillating direction of the oscillating section which is to a maximum width of the sample contact portion in a ratio of at most 0.2, preferably at most 0.1.

The invention is based on the consideration, instead of a sample vessel to provide a cartridge, within which the sample fluid is taken during the measurement. For this purpose, the cartridge comprises a housing in which a sample space is formed, and a vibrating element, which is connected to the housing and can oscillate in the sample space. The vibrating member includes an elongated elastic vibrating portion extending into the sample space from the housing, and a sample contacting portion formed at the free end of the vibrating portion and disposed in the sample space. A rod-shaped oscillating section with a rectangular or even elliptical cross-sectional contour is suitable for a linear oscillation, in which the oscillating element moved exclusively within a plane. On the other hand, a circular cross-sectional contour allows a symmetrical two-dimensional oscillation, in which the oscillating element moves approximately on a conical surface, as in the case of a stirring movement. Transverse to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating section and transversely to the at least one oscillating direction, the oscillating section has a width that is at most one fifth, advantageously at most one tenth, of the corresponding width of the sample contact section. In other words, the vibrating portion is very thin relative to the sample contacting portion, which is accompanied with a small damping of the vibrating member in the sample fluid. Due to this design of the vibrating element, therefore, a correspondingly high quality can be achieved. The amount of a sample fluid received in the cartridge is determined when the sample fluid completely fills the sample space. In this way, the vibrating element is always surrounded by the same known amount of sample fluid, creating reproducible measuring conditions and error sources are excluded. In the sample room, the sample fluid is also protected against environmental influences. The handling of the cartridge is easily possible even inexperienced persons, since the sample space can be completely filled by means of a conventional syringe easily.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the vibrating element surrounded by the unspun sample fluid has a natural frequency which is in a range of 20 Hz to 80 Hz, advantageously between 30 Hz and 50 Hz, more preferably between 35 Hz and 45 Hz, and preferably 38 Hz, and / or a grade ranging from 5 to 45, and preferably at least 20. Natural frequencies in this range correspond particularly well to the natural conditions of the blood circulation in the blood vessels. Grades of 20 or above allow a sensitive and highly accurate measurement of coagulation. Advantageously, the sample contact portion is formed as a particular rectangular plate whose plate length extends in the longitudinal direction of the vibrating portion and its plate width transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vibrating portion and transversely to the at least one vibrating direction, and defines on its major surfaces two opposing adhesive surfaces, wherein the ratio of the plate width to the plate length is at least 1, advantageously at least 2. A plate-shaped sample contact section promotes a flat configuration of the cartridge. Further, a sample contact portion in a rectangular shape is easy to manufacture and provides a large surface area to exert shear forces on the sample fl uid and to promote adhesion of fibrin threads.

Alternatively, the sample contact portion is formed as a cylinder, the cylinder axis of which extends in the longitudinal direction of the swing portion and defines the adhesive surface on an outer side of the cylinder barrel, wherein the ratio of the cylinder length to the cylinder diameter is at least 1, preferably at least 2. A cylindrical sample contact section is particularly suitable in combination with a round-rod-shaped oscillating section when the oscillating element moves approximately like a stirring motion on a conical jacket.

In a variant according to the invention, the oscillating element is formed integrally with the housing. This leads to a simple structure and easy handling of the cartridge. For example, the vibrating element may be cast on the housing when the vibrating element and the housing are made of plastic. This opens up a transition to microchip technology. Alternatively, a holder may be formed on the housing in which a fixing portion of the swinging member, which is formed on the swinging portion of the swinging member, in particular opposite to the sample contact portion, can be fastened or fixed.

Preferably, the holder has a receptacle which is formed corresponding to the mounting portion of the vibrating element and in which the mounting portion of the vibrating element is received and positioned, and clamping means which fix the mounting portion in the receptacle. A holder with recording and clamping means allows easy attachment of the vibrating element to the housing of the cartridge. The receptacle and the clamping means ensure that the oscillating element is always fixed in relation to the housing in a certain position and maintains this position during the measurement.

According to an advantageous development of the cartridge, the housing comprises a housing body, in which the sample space and the holder are formed, and a cover closing the sample space and the receptacle, on which at least one clamping element, in particular a clamping projection projecting in the direction of the receptacle, is provided in such a way, in that the attachment portion of the vibrating member is clamped between a bottom of the receptacle and the clamping protrusion when the lid closes the case body, a maximum length of the cartridge being in the range of 20mm to 80mm, advantageously 40mm to 60mm, and preferably 50mm is. Such a housing allows the positioning of the mounting portion of the vibrating element in the receptacle before it is automatically clamped in the holder when closing the housing body with the lid. This is a particularly simple embodiment of a clamping connection, a cost-effective and easy to handle mounting of the vibrating element on the housing allowed. The specified linear expansion of the cartridge facilitates handling of the cartridge under conditions of use.

Preferably, the attachment portion of the vibrating element is plate-shaped and in particular has a rectangular shape. A plate-shaped design of the attachment portion allows a flat design of the cartridge. A mounting portion with a rectangular shape can also be particularly easily positioned in a receptacle of a holder. Such attachment portions are simple and inexpensive to produce, for example, from a steel sheet.

According to a development, an electrically conductive capacitor surface is formed on the sample contact section, which is electrically conductively connected to a contact region provided on an outer side of the housing. Such an electrically-suffering capacitor surface may be used to determine the position of the sample contact portion by a capacitance measurement together with capacitor plates arranged outside the cartridge. The required for connection to the contact surface electrical conductivity of the vibrating element can be made for example by vapor deposition with an electrically conductive material.

Preferably, the sample contact portion comprises magnetizable or magnetic material. Such a sample contact section can be stimulated to vibrate without contact by a magnetic alternating field and enables a simple and closed construction of the cartridge.

According to a variant of the cartridge, the sample contact section comprises steel or consists thereof. Steel is a magnetizable material that in Shape of steel sheet can be used easily and inexpensively for the production of plate-shaped sample contact sections.

A plastic coating may be provided on an adhesive surface of the sample contact section, which has better adhesion properties relative to the sample fluid than the material of the surface of the sample contact section. Such a coating promotes the adhesion of the clotting sample fluid.

Alternatively, the sample contact portion may be made of plastic and carry a permanent magnet. In this embodiment, therefore, the sample contact portion is provided with magnetic material in the form of a permanent magnet. But it would also be sufficient to provide magnetizable material.

According to a further development of the present invention, the oscillating element is divided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of vibrating element sections, wherein the vibrating element sections can be connected or connected to one another, in particular by a plug connection. This structure of a swinging member can simplify the manufacture of the swinging member.

Advantageously, the oscillating element sections comprise the oscillating section, the sample contact section and / or in particular the fastening section and are made of different materials. In this way, vibrating elements can be flexibly produced and assembled.

The housing preferably has a filling channel which, starting from a filling opening provided in a wall of the housing, enters into the product. benraum extends and a filling channel closure element, in particular a piercing valve is associated. A filling channel provided in the housing connects the outer side of the cartridge with the sample chamber in such a way that sample fluid can be supplied to the sample chamber through it simply by means of a syringe.

Preferably, the housing has an overflow channel, which extends from a provided in a wall of the housing overflow opening into the sample space, wherein the overflow channel an overflow channel closure element, in particular a hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit or a gas-permeable membrane is assigned. Through an overflow channel, the air contained in the cartridge can escape when blood is filled through the filling channel in the sample space. In contrast, the sample fluid is prevented from escaping from the cartridge by the overflow channel closure element.

Advantageously, the filling channel and the overflow channel open into opposite regions of the sample space. As a result, blood flows into the overflow channel when the sample space is completely filled with blood. Blood exiting the overflow channel may therefore indicate complete filling of the sample space with blood.

The overflow channel may advantageously have a particular meander-shaped control section, which is optically accessible from outside through a transparent section of the housing. When the sample fluid filled in the sample space enters the meandering section of the overflow channel, filling of the sample space with blood which is already sufficient at this time can be optically easily recognized and the filling of blood can be stopped without blood escaping from the overflow opening. One possibility is to visually monitor the control section by the person filling the sample fluid. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to use an optical fill level sensor which monitors the control section of a cartridge inserted into a device for coagulation measurement during filling of the sample fluid and sends a signal to the filling person as soon as sample fluid flows into the control section.

According to a development, a marking is provided on an outer side of the housing, which is designed in particular as a marking projection which projects outwardly from the housing. Such a marker may be used by a corresponding coagulation measurement device, for example, to mechanically or otherwise detect the presence of a cartridge and to automatically begin a measurement process when a cartridge is present. Alternatively or additionally, the marking together with further cartridge information can contribute to the quality assurance, for example by no longer accepting cartridges whose expiration date is exceeded by the device for coagulation measurement at the time of the measurement.

In a cartridge according to the invention, the marking projection may be formed on the mounting portion of the vibrating element, in particular opposite to the vibrating section, and penetrate a passage provided in the housing. A marking projection passing through the housing may be electrically conductively connected to the sample contact section of the oscillating element and serve as the electrical contact region of the cartridge for the capacitive measurement of the position of the sample contact area.

Preferably, the marking projection of the vibrating element at the same time forms the outside contact region of a at the sample contact region provided capacitor area. In this way, the marking of the cartridge can take over two functions simultaneously.

A reagent is advantageously provided inside the cartridge, in particular as a coating provided on the sample contact section of the vibrating element and / or on an edge surface of the sample chamber and soluble in the sample fluid and / or as a liquid miscible with the sample fluid, which is in one in the housing is formed and contained with the sample chamber associated reagent chamber is provided. Reagents may affect the sample fluid received in the sample space such that measurement of individual clotting functions and / or factors is possible. If the reagent is provided in liquid form, preferably as a lyophilisate in a reagent chamber, the reagent chamber can be designed, for example, as part of the filling channel such that the sample fluid flows through the reagent chamber during the filling and thereby mixes with the reagent. Of course, it is alternatively possible to fill a liquid reagent, for example by means of a syringe before or after the sample fluid through the filling opening in the sample space.

According to a development, at least one identification device is provided on an outer surface of the housing, which is designed in particular as a barcode or as an RFID chip. An identification device enables a simple identification of the cartridge provided therewith with regard to an origin of the sample fluid, such as, for example, the identity of a patient and / or reagents provided in the cartridge. A design of the identification device as a barcode allows a simple and inexpensive automatic identification of a cartridge to be measured by a corresponding device for coagulation, in which the cartridge is inserted. Furthermore, the present invention provides a device for measuring coagulation by means of a cartridge according to the invention, with at least one cartridge receptacle into which the cartridge can be inserted, an excitation unit which is designed and arranged to excite the vibrating element of a cartridge inserted into the cartridge receptacle to vibrate with a vibration amplitude a sensor unit which is designed and arranged to measure the oscillation amplitude of the oscillation element, wherein the excitation unit and the sensor unit are respectively assigned to the at least one cartridge receptacle and connected to a control unit for automatically performing a coagulation measurement, wherein the excitation unit is designed to generate excitation frequencies above the natural frequency of the vibrating element to be generated such that the difference between the excitation frequency and the natural frequency in a range of 1 Hz to 10 Hz, advantageously between 2 Hz and 6 Hz li egt and preferably 4 Hz, and vibration amplitudes of the vibrating element in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm, and preferably of 1, 5 mm cause.

The invention is based on the idea to provide a device for coagulation measurement according to the lab-on-the-chip concept, which is designed to measure the coagulation of a sample fluid contained in a cartridge. For this purpose, the device comprises at least one cartridge receptacle into which the cartridge can be inserted and to which an excitation unit and a sensor unit are assigned. The excitation unit excites the vibrating element arranged in the cartridge and surrounded by the sample fluid to a forced oscillation, while the sensor unit measures the amplitude of the oscillation. With progressive coagulation of the sample fluid, the vibration behavior of the vibrating element changes, which at constant excitation frequency, for example as Amplitude change of the vibration is measurable. In this case, the constant excitation frequency is chosen such that it is slightly above the natural frequency of the vibrating element. As coagulation of the sample fluid progresses, the natural frequency of the vibrating element increases, with the vibrational amplitude running through a maximum when the natural frequency coincides with the excitation frequency. The excitation intensity is chosen such that an oscillation amplitude of a few millimeters is established. Excitation frequencies and oscillation amplitudes of these orders of magnitude can particularly well simulate the natural conditions of the blood circulation in the blood vessels.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the excitation unit comprises at least two electrically energizable magnetic coils, which are formed and arranged adjacent to the at least one cartridge receptacle so that they selectively apply a magnetic force to the sample contact portion of the vibrating element of the inserted cartridge. The at least two electrically energizable magnetic coils generate an alternating magnetic field in which the magnetic or magnetizable material of the sample contact portion can be acted upon by a variable in direction and strength force.

According to a variant, the excitation unit comprises exactly two magnet coils, which are arranged on opposite sides of the cartridge receptacle. This arrangement exactly two magnetic coils is suitable for a linear excitation of the vibrating element.

Alternatively, the excitation unit may comprise exactly four magnetic coils which are arranged at equal angular intervals around the cartridge receptacle. In this way, the vibrating element in the cartridge can be made into a two-dimensional circular oscillatory motion similar to one Stimulate stirring in the sample fluid. Such a movement of the vibrating element has no reversal points and corresponds largely to the natural conditions in the blood vessels.

According to a development of the device according to the invention, the sensor unit comprises at least one capacitor plate which extends parallel to a sample contact portion of a vibrating element of a cartridge inserted into the cartridge receptacle. By the swinging motion of one of the sample contact portion, the distance between the capacitor plate and an electric wire plate formed on the sample contact portion changes. This causes a measurable capacitance change of the capacitor formed of the capacitor plate and the electric wire plate at the sample contact portion, which correlates directly with the swinging motion of the sample contact portion. According to a variant, two capacitor plates are arranged on opposite sides of the cartridge receptacle to form two capacitors whose capacitances change in opposite directions due to the oscillatory movement of the sample contact section, whereby the measurement accuracy can increase, in particular in the case of asymmetrical coagulation with respect to the oscillating movement of the oscillating element. Alternatively, the sensor unit may also include a reflex sensor or a Hall sensor to detect the oscillating movement of the vibrating element optically or magnetically.

The at least one cartridge receptacle is advantageously associated with a heating unit connected to the control unit, which is designed and arranged such that the sample fluid contained in an inserted cartridge reaches and / or maintains a specific temperature. Coagulation processes are very temperature dependent. For example, blood clotting typically occurs at body temperature. Accordingly a heating device to ensure a temperature of the blood of about 37 ° C.

Furthermore, the at least one cartridge receptacle may be associated with a filling control unit connected to the control unit, which is designed and arranged such that it particularly visually recognizes the filling of the cartridge. As a filling control unit, for example, a light-emitting diode and a photosensitive resistor can be arranged on opposite sides of the cartridge receptacle such that the light of the light diode shines through a transparent region of a housing of an inserted cartridge and makes the light transmission of the sample chamber of the cartridge or a control section of its overflow channel measurable.

According to a further embodiment, the at least one cartridge receptacle is associated with a detection unit connected to the control unit, which is designed and arranged such that it recognizes a recognition device of an inserted cartridge. In this way, for example, a coagulation measurement can be started automatically if a cartridge provided with a recognition device is inserted into the cartridge receptacle of the device.

According to a further development, the at least one cartridge receptacle is assigned at least one meter reading unit connected to the control unit, which unit is designed and arranged to read an identification unit attached to the inserted cartridge. The meter reading unit allows the automatic assignment of the sample fluid contained in the inserted cartridge to a specific patient.

A plurality of cartridge receptacles, in particular two cartridge receptacles, is advantageously provided, the apparatus special two cartridge shots can be expandable. A device with a plurality of cartridge receptacles, which can be expanded in particular by further cartridge receptacles, permits a simultaneous measurement of a plurality of sample fluids. This is necessary, for example, in order to measure a control fluid in addition to the sample fluid to be measured for control purposes.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of various embodiments of the cartridge according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In it is:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention without a lid; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention without a lid; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a vibrating element of a

A cartridge according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; an exploded perspective view of the vibrating element shown in Figure 7; an external perspective view of a device for coagulation measurement according to a first embodiment of the present invention; a perspective schematic interior view of the device shown in Figure 9 for coagulation measurement; an external perspective view of a device for coagulation measurement according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge shown in Figure 1 together with an excitation unit and a sensor unit of the in Figures 9 and 1 1 shown

Devices for measuring coagulation;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the cartridge shown in Figure 3 without cover together with an excitation unit and a sensor unit of two respective magnetic coils or capacitor plates;

14 is a perspective view of the Kartu shown in Figure 6 without cover, but with the vibrating element shown in Figures 7 and 8 together with an excitation unit of four magnetic coils. a perspective view of the with a filling control unit of the devices shown in Figures 9 and 1 1 for coagulation measurement;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of that shown in FIGS. 9 and 11

Devices for measuring coagulation;

Figure 17 is a schematic view of one with the in Figures 9 and

1 1 device shown measured according to a first method measured curve; FIG. 18 is a first measurement curve measured with the coagulation measurement device shown in FIGS. 9 and 11; a second measurement curve measured with the coagulation measurement apparatus shown in Figs. 9 and 11; and

Figure 20 is a schematic view of one with the in Figures 9 and

1 1 device shown measured according to a second method measured curve. Figures 1 to 8 show cartridges according to seven different embodiments of the present invention for insertion into a corresponding device for coagulation measurement.

1 shows a first embodiment of a cartridge 1 according to the invention. The cartridge 1 comprises an elongated housing 2 with a housing body 2a and a cover 2b, each having a length of approximately 50 mm. The length of the housing can be between 20 mm and 80 mm. In the housing 2, a sample space 3 for receiving a sample fluid is formed.

The housing body 2a has a filling channel 4, which extends from a filling opening 5 provided in a wall of the housing body 2a into the sample space 3. The filling channel 4 is assigned a piercing valve 6 as a filling channel closure element. The piercing valve 6 is designed such that it tightly encloses a needle 7 of a medical syringe 8, which is introduced into the filling channel 4.

Furthermore, the housing body 2a has an overflow channel 9, which extends from an overflow opening 10 provided in a wall of the housing body 2a into the sample space 3. The overflow channel 9 is associated with a hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1 as Überlaufkanalverschlus- selement, which is designed such that air, but not sample fluid from the sample chamber 3 can escape. As an alternative to the hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1, the overflow channel 9 may also be associated with a gas-permeable membrane. The filling channel 4 and the overflow channel 10 open into opposite regions of the sample space 3, so that sample fluid only enters the overflow channel 9 when the sample space 3 is completely filled with the sample fluid. The overflow channel 9 has a meandering control section 12. As a result, a large length of the overflow channel 9 is achieved, so that sample fluid does not immediately reach the overflow opening 10 when the sample space 3 is completely filled and further sample fluid is supplied. In the area of the meandering control section 12 of the overflow channel 9, the cover 2b and the housing body 2a have transparent sections in such a way that the control section 12 is optically accessible from the outside.

On an outer surface of the housing body 2a, which is arranged opposite to the filling opening 5 and the overflow opening 10, a bar code 13 is provided as an identification device. Alternatively or additionally, the identification device can also be designed as an RFID chip.

The cartridge 1 further comprises a vibrating element 14, which has an associated with the housing 2 and from this in the sample space 3 projecting elongated, elastically bendable in a vibrating direction vibrating portion 15. The vibrating section 15 of the vibrating element 14 has a rod-shaped configuration and has a rectangular cross-sectional contour transversely to its longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional contour has, across the longitudinal direction and transversely to the oscillation direction, a width which is in the ratio of approximately 0.2 to the maximum width of the sample contact section, which is associated with a low attenuation by the sample fluid and a correspondingly high quality of the oscillating element leads.

At the free end of the vibrating portion 15, a plate-shaped sample contact portion 16 is formed, which has an oval shape and defines two adhesive surfaces on its opposite major surfaces. Its width measured transversely to the direction of vibration and transverse to the longitudinal direction is approximately twice as large as its longitudinal dimension. long length. Opposite to the sample contact portion 16, a fixing portion 17 is formed on the swing portion 15. The attachment portion 17 is plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape. The vibrating portion 15, the sample contacting portion 16, and the fixing portion 17 of the vibrating member 14 are integrally made of steel, so that in particular the sample contact portion 16 is made of a magnetic material and forms an electrically conductive capacitor surface electrically connected to a contact portion provided on the outside of the case body 2a is conductively connected. The natural frequency of the oscillating element 14 surrounded by the non-sample fluid is about 38 Hz. The quality is about 20.

For attachment of the oscillating element 14, a holder 18 is formed in the housing 2, in which the mounting portion 17 is received and positioned. The holder 18 has a receiving portion 18a corresponding to the receiving portion 18a, which is formed in the housing body 2a and in which the mounting portion 17 of the vibrating element 14 is received and positioned. Further, the holder 18 has a clamping protrusion 18b provided on the lid 2b and protruding toward the receptacle 18a, so that the fixing portion 17 is clamped between a bottom of the receptacle 18a and the clamping member 18b when the lid 2b holds the sample space 3 and the receptacle 18a closes.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a cartridge 1 according to the invention, which has essentially the same structure as the cartridge shown in FIG. 1, but additionally has an adhesive coating 19 and a marking projection 20 as well as a passage 21. The cartridge 1 comprises an elongated housing 2 having a housing body 2a and a lid 2b, each having a length of about 50 mm. The length of the housing can be between 20 mm and 80 mm. In the housing 2, a sample space 3 for receiving a sample fluid is formed.

Furthermore, the housing body 2a has an overflow channel 9, which extends from an overflow opening 10 provided in a wall of the housing body 2a into the sample space 3. The overflow channel 9 is associated with a hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1 as Überlaufkanalverschlus- selement, which is designed such that air, but not sample fluid from the sample chamber 3 can escape. As an alternative to the hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1, the overflow channel 9 may also be associated with a gas-permeable membrane. The filling channel 4 and the overflow channel 10 open into opposite regions of the sample space 3, so that sample fluid only enters the overflow channel 9 when the sample space 3 is completely filled with the sample fluid. The overflow channel 9 has a meandering control section 12. As a result, a large length of the overflow channel 9 is achieved, so that sample fluid does not immediately reach the overflow opening 10 when the sample space 3 is completely filled and further sample fluid is supplied. In the region of the meandering control section 12 of the overflow channel 9, the cover 2b and the housing body 2a on transparent portions such that the control section 12 is optically accessible from the outside.

At the free end of the vibrating portion 15, a plate-shaped sample contact portion 16 is formed, which has a rectangular shape and defines two adhesive surfaces on its opposite major surfaces. Its width measured transversely to the direction of vibration and transverse to the longitudinal direction is approximately twice as large as its length measured in the longitudinal direction. Opposite to the sample contact portion 16, a fixing portion 17 is formed on the swing portion 15. The attachment portion 17 is plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape. The vibrating portion 15, the sample contacting portion 16, and the fixing portion 17 of the vibrating member 14 are integrally formed Made of steel, so that in particular the sample contact portion 16 is made of a magnetic material and forms an electrically conductive capacitor surface, which is electrically conductively connected to a provided on the outside of the housing body 2a contact area. On the adhesive surfaces of the sample contact portion 16, an adhesive coating 19 is formed of plastic, which has based on the sample fluid better adhesion properties than steel. The natural frequency of the oscillating element 14 surrounded by the non-sample fluid is about 38 Hz. The quality is about 20.

For attachment of the oscillating element 14, a holder 18 is formed in the housing 2, in which the mounting portion 17 is received and positioned. The holder 18 has a receiving portion 18a corresponding to the receiving portion 18a, which is formed in the housing body 2a and in which the mounting portion 17 of the vibrating element 14 is received and positioned. Further, the holder 18 has a clamping protrusion 18b provided on the lid 2b and protruding toward the receptacle 18a, so that the fixing portion 17 is clamped between a bottom of the receptacle 18a and the clamping member 18b when the lid 2b holds the sample space 3 and the receptacle 18a closes. At the attachment portion 17, opposite to the swing portion 15, there is formed a mark projection 20 penetrating a passage 21 provided in the case body 2a. The marking projection 20 simultaneously forms the contact area of the capacitor surface of the sample contact portion 16 on the outside of the housing 2.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a cartridge 1 according to the invention, which has essentially the same structure as the cartridges shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cartridge 1 comprises an elongate housing 2 with a housing body 2a and a lid 2b, each having a length of 50 mm. The length of the housing can be between 20 mm and 80 mm. In the housing 2, a sample space 3 for receiving a sample fluid is formed. At an edge surface of the sample space 3, a reagent is provided as a coating 22 soluble in the sample fluid.

Furthermore, the housing body 2a has an overflow channel 9, which extends from an overflow opening 10 provided in a wall of the housing body 2a into the sample space 3. The overflow channel 9 is associated with a hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1 as Überlaufkanalverschlus- selement, which is designed such that air, but not sample fluid from the sample chamber 3 can escape. As an alternative to the hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1, the overflow channel 9 may also be associated with a gas-permeable membrane. The filling channel 4 and the overflow channel 10 open into opposite regions of the sample space 3, so that sample fluid only enters the overflow channel 9 when the sample space 3 is completely filled with the sample fluid. The overflow channel 9 has a meandering control section 12. As a result, a large length of the overflow channel 9 is achieved, so that sample fluid does not immediately reach the overflow opening 10 when the sample space 3 is completely filled and further sample fluid is supplied. In the area of the meandering In the control section 12 of the overflow channel 9, the cover 2b and the housing body 2a have transparent sections in such a way that the control section 12 is optically accessible from the outside.

At the free end of the vibrating portion 15, a plate-shaped sample contact portion 16 is formed, which has a rectangular shape and defines two adhesive surfaces on its opposite major surfaces. Its width measured transversely to the direction of vibration and transverse to the longitudinal direction is approximately twice as large as its length measured in the longitudinal direction. Opposite to the sample contact portion 16, a fixing portion 17 is formed on the swing portion 15. The attachment portion 17 is plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape. The vibrating section 15, the sample contacting section 16 so like the attachment portion 17 of the vibrating member 14 are integrally made of plastic. The sample contact portion 16 comprises magnetic material in the form of a permanent magnet 23. An adhesion coating 19 made of plastic, which has better adhesion properties than the plastic of the sample contact section 16 with respect to the sample fluid, is formed on the adhesive surface of the sample contact section 16. The natural frequency of the oscillating element 14 surrounded by the non-sample fluid is about 38 Hz. The quality is about 20.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a cartridge 49 according to the invention, which has substantially the same structure as the previously described cartridges. However, the overflow channel 9 has no meandering control section. In addition, the receptacle 18 a is formed entirely as a passage 21.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of a cartridge 1 according to the invention, in which the oscillating element 14 is formed integrally with the housing 2. The cartridge 1 comprises an elongate housing 2 having a housing body 2a and a lid (not shown), each having a length of about 50 mm. The length of the housing can be between 20 mm and 80 mm. In the housing 2, a sample space 3 for receiving a sample fluid is formed.

Furthermore, the housing body 2a has an overflow channel (not shown) which extends from an overflow opening 10 provided in a wall of the housing body 2a into the sample space 3. The overflow channel is assigned a hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 11 as an overflow channel closure element, which is designed in such a way that air, but not sample fluid, can escape from the sample space 3 through it. As an alternative to the hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit 1 1, the overflow channel may also be assigned a gas-permeable membrane. The filling channel 4 and the overflow channel 10 open into opposite regions of the sample chamber 3, so that sample fluid only enters the overflow channel when the sample chamber 3 is completely filled with the sample fluid.

The cartridge 1 further comprises a vibrating element 14, which is connected to the housing 2 and has an oscillating longitudinally extending in the sample space 3, in an oscillating direction. section 15 has. The vibrating section 15 of the vibrating element 14 has a rod-shaped configuration and has a rectangular cross-sectional contour transversely to its longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional contour has, across the longitudinal direction and transversely to the oscillation direction, a width which is in the ratio of approximately 0.2 to the maximum width of the sample contact section, which is associated with a low attenuation by the sample fluid and a correspondingly high quality of the oscillating element leads. At the free end of the vibrating portion 15, a plate-shaped sample contact portion 16 is formed, which has a rectangular shape and defines two adhesive surfaces on its opposite major surfaces. Its width measured transversely to the direction of oscillation and transverse to the longitudinal direction is approximately twice as large as its length measured in the longitudinal direction. The vibrating portion 15 and the sample contacting portion 16 of the vibrating member 14 are integrally made of plastic. In this case, the vibrating element 14 is integrally formed with the housing 2, for example, cast on this. The sample contact portion 16 has a permanent magnet 23 as a magnetic material. An electrically conductive capacitor surface 24 is formed on the sample contact portion 16, which is connected by an electrical line 25 to a contact region provided on the outside of the housing body 2 a, which is simultaneously designed as a marking projection 20. The capacitor surface 24 and the electrical line 25 are made by vapor deposition of the vibrating element 14 with metal. Alternatively, however, other coating methods can also be used in order to form a capacitor surface 24 and an electrical line 25 on the oscillating element 14. The natural frequency of the oscillating element 14 surrounded by the non-sample fluid is about 38 Hz. The quality is about 20. FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of a cartridge 1 according to the invention, which has essentially the same structure as the previously shown cartridge. In contrast to this, it comprises a reagent chamber 26, a mixing channel 27 and a mixing opening 28.

In the housing body 2a of the cartridge 1, a reagent chamber 26 is formed which contains a reagent in the form of a liquid miscible with the sample fluid, preferably in the form of a lyophilisate. The reagent chamber 26 is provided in a mixing channel 27 which extends in a wall of the housing body 2a, starting from a mixing opening 28 into the sample space 3, so that sample fluid filled through the mixing opening 28 mixes with the reagent.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a seventh embodiment of a cartridge according to the invention. The oscillating element 14 comprises an elongate oscillating section 15, which is elastically bendable in each oscillating direction and which is of rod-shaped design and has a round cross-sectional contour. Formed on the oscillating section 15 is a plate-shaped sample contact section 16, which has a rectangular shape and defines two adhesive surfaces on its opposing main surfaces. Its width measured transversely to the direction of vibration and transverse to the longitudinal direction is approximately twice as large as its length measured in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to provide a sample contact section of a cylindrical shape which defines an adhesive surface on the outside of its cylinder jacket. Its cylinder diameter measured transversely to the direction of vibration and transverse to the longitudinal direction is approximately half the cylinder length measured in the longitudinal direction. Opposite to the sample contact portion 16, a plate-shaped attachment portion 17 is formed, which has a rectangular shape. The oscillating element 14 is subdivided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of oscillating element sections, which can be connected to one another by a plug connection. The vibrating element sections include the vibrating section 15, the alternative sample contacting sections 16 and the mounting section 17. Here, the vibrating section 15, the sample contacting sections 16 and the mounting section 17 are made of different materials, but may be made of the same material. In this embodiment, the vibrating element 14 can be flexibly combined. For example, instead of the plate-shaped sample contact section 16, a cylindrical sample contact section 16 can be attached to the oscillating section 15. Also with regard to the further vibrating element sections variants can be provided. The natural frequency of the oscillating element 14 surrounded by the non-sample fluid is about 38 Hz. The quality is about 20.

Figures 9 to 16 show coagulation measuring devices according to two different embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a device 29 for coagulation measurement according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The device 29 comprises two cartridge receptacles 30 for inserting a cartridge 1 according to the invention. At least two cartridge receptacles 30 are required in order to be able to measure a control fluid simultaneously with the sample fluid to be measured for control purposes. Further, the device 29 comprises a display unit 31, which allows the simultaneous display of four waveforms, as shown in Figures 17 to 20. The display unit accordingly comprises four quadrants associated with the cartridge receptacles 30. In the display unit 31, a touch screen control unit is further integrated. Furthermore, each cartridge receptacle 30 is associated with an excitation unit of two electrically energizable magnetic coils 32 and arranged relative to this so that they selectively apply a magnetic force to the sample contact portion 16 of a vibrating element 14 of the inserted cartridge 1. The excitation unit 32 is designed to generate an excitation frequency of 42 Hz, which is approximately 4 Hz above the natural frequency of the oscillation element 14 surrounded by an unspiked sample fluid. As a result of the magnetic force, the vibrating element 14 is excited to a vibration amplitude of approximately 1.5 mm, wherein the vibration amplitude of the vibrating element 14 can vary between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. Furthermore, each cartridge receptacle 30 is assigned a sensor unit which comprises two capacitor plates 33 which extend parallel to the sample contact portion 16 of the oscillating element 14 of the cartridge 1 inserted into the cartridge receptacle 30 and form two capacitors with a capacitor surface 24 of the oscillating element 14 in order to determine the position of the sensor Sample contact portion 16 to measure. FIGS. 12 and 13 each show an arrangement of a cartridge 1 inserted in a cartridge receptacle 30 between the magnet coils 32 and capacitor plates 33 assigned to the cartridge receptacle 30. According to an alternative variant, four magnet coils 32 and four capacitor plates 33 may also be arranged at equal angular intervals around the cartridge receptacle 30 be to excite the vibrating element of the inserted cartridge to a two-dimensional vibration in the form of a stirring movement and to measure them. Such an arrangement of four magnetic coils 32 is indicated schematically in FIG. 14, which correspondingly represents a cartridge 1 with a vibrating element 14, whose oscillating section 15 has a round cross-sectional contour. An alternative sensor unit may include reflex sensors or Hall sensors to measure the position of the sample contact portion 16 optically or magnetically.

Each cartridge receptacle 30 is also associated with a heating unit (not shown). The heating unit is designed and arranged such that the sample fluid contained in an inserted cartridge reaches and / or maintains a temperature of approximately 37 ° C. However, the heating unit can also provide deviating nominal temperatures of the sample fluid.

Further, each cartridge receptacle 30 is associated with a filling control unit 34 which is arranged so that it can measure the light transmittance of the sample space 3 or the control portion 12.

Furthermore, each cartridge receptacle 30 is associated with a detection unit (not shown), which is designed and arranged such that it detects a marking projection 20 of an inserted cartridge. At the same time, the detection unit has an electrically conductive contact region which electrically connects the contact region of the cartridge 1 to the control unit 35 such that the control unit 35 can determine the capacitances of the two capacitors formed from the capacitor plates 33 with the capacitor surface 24 during the measurement.

Finally, each cartridge receptacle 30 is associated with a reading unit (not shown) which is designed and arranged to read an identification device 13 provided on the inserted cartridge. The magnetic coils 32, capacitor plates 33, heating units, filling control units 34, reading units and recognition units assigned to the cartridge receptacles 30, like the display unit 31, are connected to a control unit 35 which is designed to perform an automatic coagulation measurement. The control unit 35 includes a clock (not shown) to determine the date and time of the start of a measurement and the measurement period since the start of the measurement. Of course, the control unit 35 is designed so flexible that cartridges according to different embodiments of the present invention are usable. A corresponding block diagram without Füllkontrolleinheiten, reading units, clock and recognition units is shown in Figure 16, which in addition to the already described units of the device 29, an interface unit 36 for connecting a personal computer (PC) 37 or the like and a printer 38 or the like. The control unit 35 is designed for the control of up to four cartridge receptacles 30 and thus allows the connection of an extension unit 39 with two further cartridge receptacles 30. FIG. 11 shows a device 29 for coagulation measurement according to a second embodiment of the present invention with four cartridge receptacles 30.

To measure the coagulation of a sample fluid, the sample fluid is introduced by means of a syringe 8 through the filling opening 5 or the mixing opening 28 of a cartridge 1 until the sample space 3 is completely filled with the sample fluid. The filling can be carried out outside the cartridge receptacle 30 and determine its completeness by means of visual inspection of the control section 12. Alternatively, the filling can be carried out after insertion into a cartridge receptacle 30, the completeness being detected by the filling control unit 34, which optionally controls the light transmission of the sample space 3 or the control section 12 measures. FIG. 15 shows a filling control unit 34 which measures the light permeability of the sample space 3.

The device 29 detects an inserted cartridge 1 on a marking projection 20. The device 29 automatically starts the measuring process when a cartridge 1 completely filled with sample fluid is inserted into a cartridge receptacle 30. If the identification device 13 of a cartridge provides information about its expiration date, the device 29 may refuse to start the measurement after a comparison with the current measurement time. Furthermore, the identification device 13 can provide information about the origin of the sample fluid and possibly contained reagents, which allows a precise assignment and interpretation of the determined measurement curves.

During the measurement (resonance thrombelastography), the magnetic coils 32 are supplied with alternating electrical current of a frequency of about 42 Hz, which is about 6 Hz above the natural frequency of the vibrating element in the still unpolluted sample fluid. The alternating magnetic field generated by them exerts on the magnetic material of the sample contact portion 17 of the oscillating element 14 of the inserted cartridge a time-variable alternating force of constant amplitude, which excites the vibrating element 14 to periodic oscillations in the sample fluid. During the progressive coagulation of the sample fluid, the natural frequency of the vibrating element 14 surrounded by it gradually increases. Accordingly, the vibration amplitude of the sample contacting portion 16 is peaked when the natural frequency is equal to the excitation frequency (resonance). When the sample contact portion 16 reciprocates between the associated capacitor plates 33, the capacitances of the two capacitors formed with the capacitor surface 24 change in opposite directions. The capacities correspond at each time of measurement, each time with the deflection of the sample contact portion 16, so that the amplitude of the capacitance variation of the capacitors correlates with the vibration amplitude of the vibrating element 14. Of course, it is sufficient that the sensor unit comprises a single capacitor plate 33. The measurement results in the measurement curves shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, in which the time T is plotted in the abscissa for each measurement time and the oscillation amplitude S is plotted in the ordinate.

In an alternative measurement (thrombelastography, TEG), the excitation intensity required to maintain a constant amplitude of vibration can also be measured. For the excitation, a constant excitation frequency is chosen to be slightly below the natural frequency of the oscillating element 14 surrounded by the non-nucleated sample fluid. As coagulation of the sample fluid progresses, i. increasing strength of the vibrating element 14, a correspondingly increasing excitation power is required to maintain the oscillation amplitude. If the required excitation intensity A is plotted over the time T, the result is a proper course of coagulation of the sample fluid, as shown schematically in FIG.

An essential advantage of the cartridge according to the invention and the corresponding device 29 according to the invention is that precise coagulation measurement is also possible for untrained personnel. The integration of a vibrating element 14 in a closed rehearsal room 3 of a cartridge 1 allows easy production of controlled measuring conditions and facilitates handling, which is particularly beneficial for mobile use in the context of emergency rescue. In addition, the sample fluid contained in the test room 3 is protected from environmental influences. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 cartridge

2 housings

2a housing body

2b cover

3 sample room

4 filling channel

5 filling opening

6 piercing valve

7 needle

8 syringe

9 overflow channel

10 overflow opening

1 1 frit

12 control section

13 barcode

14 oscillating element

15 oscillating section

16 sample contact section

17 attachment section

18 bracket

18a recording

18b clamping projection

19 adhesion coating

20 marking lead

21 passage

22 coating

23 permanent magnet

24 capacitor area 25 line

26 Reagent chamber

27 mixing channel

28 mixing opening

29 device

30 cartridge intake

31 display unit

32 magnetic coil

33 capacitor plate

34 filling control unit

35 control unit

36 interface unit

37 pcs

38 printer

39 extension unit

Claims

A cartridge (1) for insertion into a device (29) for coagulation measurement, comprising a housing (2) in which a sample space (3) for receiving a sample fluid is formed, and a vibrating element (14) provided in the housing (2) ), one with the housing (2) connected and of this in the sample space (3) projecting elongated, elastically bendable in at least one vibration direction oscillating portion (15) and one at the free end of the vibrating portion (15) and arranged at least one adhesive surface for the sample fluid portion defining the sample fluid (16), characterized in that the oscillating portion (15) is rod-shaped with a particular rectangular or circular cross-sectional contour which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating portion (15) and transversely to the at least one oscillating direction of the vibrating portion (15 ) has a width corresponding to a maximum width of the sample contact portion in a ratio of at most 0.2, preferably at most 0.1.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the oscillating element (14) surrounded by the non-sample fluid, a natural frequency in the range of 20 Hz to 80 Hz, advantageously between 30 Hz and 50 Hz, more preferably between 35 Hz and 45 Hz and is preferably 38 Hz, and / or has a quality which is in a range of 5 to 45 and preferably at least 20.

3. Cartridge according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sample contact portion (16) is formed as a particular rectangular plate whose plate length is in the longitudinal direction the vibrating portion (15) and the plate width thereof extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vibrating portion (15) and transversely of the at least one vibrating direction, and defining two adhering surfaces on oppositely disposed major surfaces, wherein the ratio of the plate width to the plate length is at least 1, advantageously at least 2 and in particular on the sample contact portion (16) an electrically conductive capacitor surface (24) is formed, which is electrically conductively connected to a provided on an outer side of the housing (2) contact area.

4. Cartridge according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sample contact portion (16) is formed as a cylinder whose cylinder axis extends in the longitudinal direction of the vibrating portion (15) and which defines the adhesive surface on an outer side of the cylinder jacket, wherein the Ratio of the cylinder length to the cylinder diameter at least 1, advantageously at least 2.

5. Cartridge according to one of the preceding sections, characterized in that the sample contact portion (16) consists of a magnetizable or magnetic material, in particular made of steel or made of plastic and carries a permanent magnet (23), wherein in particular at each adhesive surface of Sample contact portion (16) an adhesive coating (19) is provided made of plastic, which has based on the sample fluid better adhesion properties than the material of the sample contact portion (16).

6. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the housing (2) has a holder (18) is formed, in which a particular plate-shaped and in particular rectangular mounting portion (17) of the vibrating element (14), in particular in particular the holder (18) has a receptacle (18a) which corresponds to the fastening section (17) of the oscillating element (17) of the oscillating element (16) is formed on the oscillating section (15) of the oscillating element (14). 14) is formed and in which the fastening portion (17) of the oscillating element (14) is received and positioned, and clamping means (18b) which fix the mounting portion (17) in the receptacle (18a).

7. A cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing (2) has a housing body (2a) in which the sample space (3) and the receptacle (18a) are formed, and a sample space (3) and the receptacle (18a ) closing lid (2b) on which at least one clamping element (18b), in particular in the direction of the receptacle (18a) projecting clamping projection (18b) is provided such that the fixing portion (17) of the vibrating element (14) between a bottom of Receiving (18a) and the clamping element (18b) is clamped when the lid (2b) closes the housing body (2a), wherein a maximum length of the cartridge in the range of 20 mm to 80 mm, advantageously between 40 mm and 60 mm and preferably 50 mm.

8. Cartridge according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the oscillating element (14) is divided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of vibrating element sections, wherein the vibrating element sections are connected or connected to each other in particular by a plug connection, wherein in particular the vibrating element sections the oscillating section (15 ), the sample contact portion (16) and / or in particular the attachment portion (17) and / or are made of different materials.

9. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has a filling channel (4) extending from a in a wall of the housing (2) provided in the filling opening (5) in the sample chamber (3) and a Einfüllkanalverschluss- element (6), in particular a piercing valve is assigned, and / or an overflow channel (9) extending from a provided in a wall of the housing (2) overflow opening (10) in the sample chamber (3) and in particular a particular meander-shaped control section (12), which is optically accessible from the outside through a transparent section of the housing (2), and an overflow channel closure element (11), in particular a hydrophobic and / or hydrophilic frit or a gas-permeable membrane in particular, the filling channel (4) and the overflow channel (9) open into opposite regions of the sample space (3).

10. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on an outer side of the housing (2) a marking (20) which is in particular formed as a marking projection (20) which projects outwardly from the housing (2), wherein in particular the Marking projection (20) on the mounting portion (17) of the vibrating element (14) is formed in particular opposite to the vibrating portion (15) and through a passage (21) provided in the housing (2), and in particular the marking projection (20) of the vibrating element (14) simultaneously forms the outside contact region of the capacitor contact surface (24) provided on the sample contact section (16), and / or at least one identification device (13) is provided on an outer surface of the housing (2), in particular as a barcode or RFID chip is designed.

1 1. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that within the cartridge (1) a reagent is provided, in particular as a on the sample contact portion (16) of the vibrating element (14) and / or on an edge surface of the sample space (3 ) and in the sample fluid-soluble coating (23) and / or as a liquid mixable with the sample fluid (23), in a in the housing (2) formed and with the sample chamber (3) connected to the reagent chamber (26) is included is provided.

12. A device (29) for measuring coagulation by means of a cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one cartridge receptacle (30) into which the cartridge (1) can be inserted, an excitation unit (32) which is designed and arranged, to excite the oscillating element (14) of a cartridge (1) inserted into the cartridge receptacle (30) for oscillation with a vibration amplitude, a sensor unit (33), the sensor unit (33) is designed and arranged to control the oscillation amplitude of the excited oscillating element (14) wherein the excitation unit (32) and the sensor unit (33) are associated with the at least one cartridge receptacle (30) and are connected to a control unit (35) for automatically performing a coagulation measurement, characterized in that the excitation unit (32) is designed to to generate excitation frequencies above the natural frequency of the vibrating element such that the difference between the excitation frequency un d of the natural frequency is in a range of 1 Hz to 10 Hz, advantageously between 2 Hz and 6 Hz, and preferably 4 Hz, and oscillation amplitudes of the vibrating element (14) in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, advantageously between 1 mm and 2 mm and preferably of 1, 5 mm cause.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the excitation unit (32) at least two electrically energizable magnetic coils (32) which are formed and arranged adjacent to the at least one cartridge receptacle (30) in such a way that they selectively apply a magnetic force to the sample contact section (16) of the oscillating element (14) of the inserted cartridge (1), wherein in particular the excitation unit ( 32) comprises exactly two magnet coils (32) which are arranged on opposite sides of the cartridge receptacle (30), or the excitation unit (32) comprises exactly four magnet coils (32) which are arranged at equal angular intervals around the cartridge receptacle (30) and / or the sensor unit (33) comprises at least one, in particular exactly two capacitor plates (33) which extend parallel to the sample contact portion (16) of the oscillating element (14) of the cartridge (1) inserted into the cartridge receptacle (30).

14. Device according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the at least one cartridge receptacle (30) connected to the control unit (35) heating unit, which is designed and arranged such that in an inserted cartridge (1) contained sample fluid reaches and / or maintains a certain temperature, and / or associated with the control unit (35) filling control unit (34) which is designed and arranged such that it detects the filling of the cartridge (1) in particular optically, and / or associated with the control unit (35) detection unit is assigned, which is designed and arranged such that it detects a marking (20) of an inserted cartridge (1), and / or at least one associated with the control unit (35) reading unit is assigned which is designed and arranged to read an identification device (13) provided on the inserted cartridge (1).

15. Device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that a plurality of cartridge receptacles (30), in particular two cartridge receptacles (30) are provided, wherein the device (29) in particular by further, in particular two cartridge receptacles (30) is expandable.