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The CORA System is intended for in vitro diagnostic use to provide semi-quantitative indications of the hemostasis state of a venous blood sample. The CORA System records the kinetic changes in a venous sample of 3.2% cirrated whole blood as the sample clots, and retracts in real time. The system output consists of a table of numerical values for parameters R, K, Angle, MA, and FLEV. The CORA System provides specific blood modifiers, in the form of reagents dried-in-place within CORA Cartridges. Results from the CORA analysis should not be the sole basis for a patient diagnosis, but should be evaluated together with the patient's medical history, the clinical picture and, if necessary, further hemostasis tests. The indication for CORA System use is with adult patients where an evaluation of their blood hemostasis properties is desired. Hemostasis evaluations are commonly used to assess clinical conditions in cardiology procedures to assess hemorrhage or thrombosis conditions before, during and following the procedure.

The CORA System consists of a four-channel diagnostic analyzer with integrated computer module, system reagents (CK, CRT, CKH, and CFF), and Abnormal Quality Control material and microfluidic test cartridges. To perform a test, a disposable CORA Cartridge is inserted into the analyzer. Blood or WQC material is added to an entry port on the cartridge and drawn into the cartridge under analyzer control. The amount of the sample drawn into the cartridge is automatically determined by the volume of the blood chambers in the cartridge. Once in the disposable, the sample is metered into as many as four separate analysis channels, depending upon the assays being performed. Reconstitution of reagents dried within the cartridge is accomplished by moving the sample back and forth through reagent chambers, under the control of microfluidic valves and bellows (pumps) within the cartridge. After each sample has been mixed with reagent, it is delivered to a test cell where it is monitored for visco-elastic changes due to coagulation. Excess sample material is moved under microfluidic control into an enclosed waste chamber within the cartridge. The CORA technology is based on a disposable containing up to four independent measurement cells. Each cell consists of a short vertically-oriented injection molded tube (ring) with a diameter of 2.5mm and a length of 4.5mm. Detection of clotting in the CORA System is performed optically. Under control of the analyzer, approximately 20ul of prepared sample is delivered to the tube, where a meniscus naturally forms at each end of the tube. The tube is positioned so that the lower meniscus partially blocks light traveling from a collimated source toward a photodiode. During testing, a piezoelectric actuator drives the measurement cell(s) through a motion profile composed of summed sinusoids at different frequencies. The profile has a maximum amplitude of under 10um and contains frequencies from 10-500Hz. Some, but not all, of the measurement cell motion will induce motion in the sample meniscus, which will be detected by the photodiode. The resulting motion of the meniscus is monitored optically and recorded by the analyzer to calculate the resonant frequency and modulus of elasticity (stiffness) of the sample. By performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on meniscus motion data, it is possible to determine the frequencies of input motion that caused the greatest deflection of the sample (these are called the resonant frequencies).

The CORA PlateletMapping System is intended for in vitro diagnostic use to provide qualitative assessment of platelet function. The CORA System records the kinetic changes in a sample of heparinized whole blood as the sample clots. The CORA System PlateletMapping Assay Cartridge provides four channels of dried-in-place reagents, HKH (Kaolin with Heparinase), Activator F, AA and ADP (one reagent in each channel). In combination, MA parameter results from these four reagents are used to calculate the parameters platelet % Inhibition and % Aggregation for AA and ADP. Results from the CORA analysis should not be the sole basis for a patient diagnosis, but should be evaluated together with the patient's medical history, the clinical picture and, if necessary, further hemostasis tests. The CORA System with CORA PlateletMapping Assay Cartridge is indicated for use with adult patients where an evaluation of their blood hemostasis properties is desired. Hemostasis evaluation with the CORA PlateletMapping System is used to assess clinical conditions in cardiovascular surgery and cardiology procedures to assess hemorrhage or thrombosis conditions.

The CORA PlateletMappingSystem consists of a four-channel diagnostic analyzer with integrated computer module, system reagents (ActF, AA, ADP and HKH) and microfluidic test cartridge. Reagents are dried-in-place within the cartridges during manufacturing. To perform a test, a disposable CORA PlateletMapping Assay Cartridge is inserted into the analyzer. Blood is added to an entry port on the cartridge and drawn into the cartridge under analyzer control. The amount of the sample drawn into the cartridge is automatically determined by the volume of the blood chambers in the cartridge. Once in the disposable, the sample is metered into as many as four separate analysis channels, depending upon the assay being performed. Reconstitution of reagents dried within the cartridge is accomplished by moving the sample back and forth through reagent chambers, under the control of microfluidic valves and bellows within the cartridge. After each sample has been mixed with reagent, it is delivered to a test cell where it is monitored for changes due to coagulation. Excess sample material is moved under microfluidic control into an enclosed waste chamber within the cartridge. The CORA technology is based on a disposable containing up to four independent measurement cells. Each cell consists of a short vertically-oriented injection molded tube (ring) with a diameter of 2.5mm and a length of 4.5mm. Detection of clotting in the CORA System is performed optically. Under control of the analyzer, approximately 20uL of prepared sample is delivered to the tube, where a meniscus naturally forms at each end of the tube. The tube is positioned so that the lower meniscus partially blocks light traveling from a collimated source toward a photodiode. During testing, a piezoelectric actuator drives the measurement cell(s) through a motion profile composed of summed sinusoids at different frequencies. The profile has a maximum amplitude of under 10um and contains frequencies from 10-500Hz. Some, but not all, of the measurement cell motion will induce motion in the sample meniscus, which will be detected by the photodiode. The resulting motion of the meniscus is monitored optically and analyzed by the analyzer to calculate the resonant frequency and modulus of elasticity (stiffness) of the sample. By performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on meniscus motion data, it is possible to determine the frequencies of input motion that caused the greatest deflection of the sample (these are called the resonant frequencies). Resonance is the tendency of a material or structure to oscillate with greater amplitude at some frequencies than others. The exact frequencies at which resonance occurs will depend on the stiffness and mass of the sample. Stiffness, in turn, is a function of a material's modulus of elasticity and the boundary conditions to which the material is exposed, such as the geometry and materials of a test cell. By holding these boundary conditions and sample mass constant from run to run, the CORA System allows direct comparison of elasticity between samples. In a typical test, blood that has been delivered to the measurement cell will not clot for several minutes. During this time the sample has no inherent stiffness except that provided by surface tension, and since this remains constant the measured resonant frequencies will not change. Once clotting begins, however, the elastic modulus and thus the resonant frequencies increase rapidly. In tests where clotting does not occur, the resonant frequency of the sample will not change. During coagulation, however, a clot will bind to the test tube (ring) and the resonant frequency will rise with increasing firmness of the clot. The CORA Analyzer collects meniscus motion data, tracks changing resonant frequencies and analyzes the frequency data to provide parameters describing the clot. Results are presented in a format identical to the TEG 5000.