Blood gas analyzers are used in emergency, intensive care, neonatal and surgical environments to measure critical parameters which determine the ability of the cardiopulmonary system to function. Sampling is typically performed by trained technicians or by physicians in highly stressful emergency and critical care environments.

The threat of AIDS and hepatitis have made blood sampling particularly dangerous, exacerbated by the stressful nature of the environment. The client came to us for help in the rapid development of a new line of blood gas analyzers which would protect users from accidental exposure to blood and incorporate the proven technology of its previous generation of products. They sought to create a modular system of five instruments requiring a minimum of benchtop space, introducing greater operator safety and convenience, and allowing users to upgrade their system capabilities with other modules as their needs grew.

In a previous program for the client, we had conducted an extensive analysis of blood gas sampling in an international environment. Our designers visited surgical theaters, neonatal and intensive care units and central laboratories in Japan, Europe and Germany, videotaped procedures in progress and conducted time/motion studies to determine the optimal feature set for blood sampling instruments. This research was leveraged for the 1600 program.

The Series 1600 offers operators a simple, straightforward, reliable and safe method for sampling. This is accomplished through the use of intuitive menus and commands, permitting users to learn basic operation of the system within minutes. The instruments undergo continuous internal calibration, ensuring that the systems are always ready to accept a sample.

The Series 1600 system is designed to minimize direct exposure to blood or biohazardous waste during operation. The instruments include a self cleaning sample probe which eliminates the need to manually clean the tip after sampling, and a protected sampling area. (We were required to address user safety issues without the freedom to modify the system electronics or software. The sampling scheme to protect the user from exposure to blood was accomplished entirely through the mechanical design of the instrument). The 1-liter waste bottle offers double the capacity provided by other analyzers, meaning that it is handled less often and thereby reduces potential user exposure to the contents. The inexpensive container is designed to be disposable or reusable, according to user preference.

Finally, the instrument designs are vertically oriented, resulting in compact footprints which provide more usable space in the laboratory or testing area. The use of shared components throughout the 1600 line minimizes the number of parts that must be manufactured and allows for just in time manufacturing and lower production costs.