Point-of-care blood testing and cardiac output measurement in the intensive care unit

A blood monitor is a device that measures blood analytes without removing blood permanently from the patient and without additional cost for serial measurements. Blood monitors will be utilized in 2010 to provide blood gas values, electrolytes, and other values including, but not limited to, blood glucose, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, lactate, coagulation studies, myocardial injury markers, and specific inflammatory response markers. These devices will require an arterial catheter and consist of: a) interchangeable modular sensor cassettes placed in series with the arterial catheter; b) a pump capable of withdrawing and reinfusing blood at specific rates and intervals; c) a mechanism for "wasting" a small aliquot of blood when a specific analysis renders the sample unfit for reinfusion; d) computer capability allowing for self-calibration and trouble shooting; e) ion-specific dilution cardiac output capability; f) cardiac output beat-by-beat computer capability; and g) the capability to display and integrate the information to the bedside medical information system.