# US 2014/0154733 A1 · Apparatus, method, system for the determination of the aggregation rate of red blood cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154733 A1 - Document ID: US20140154733A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,307 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-13 - Assignees: Alcor Scientific, Inc. - Applicants: Alcor Scientific, Inc. - Inventors: Peter Sacchetti; Francesco Frappa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154733A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/4905: {Determining clotting time of blood (by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/56)} - G01N 15/05: in blood - G01N 21/51: inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule (G01N21/53 takes precedence) - G01N 33/4915: {using flow cells (flow cytometry G01N15/14)} - G01N 2015/0092: {Monitoring flocculation or agglomeration} - G01N 2015/012: {Red blood cells} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, method, system for the determination of the aggregation rate of red blood cells. More specifically, the invention concerns a method, system, and the relative apparatus used to determine the aggregation rate of red blood cells, and other parameters related to these, such as viscosity, deformability, elasticity, density, in the field of in vitro medical analyses, using optical systems after or during inducted forces for red blood cell disruption and redistribution generated by ultrasound waves. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for determining the aggregation rate of red blood cells, comprising: a) a hydraulic circuit for transporting the blood sample portion using a pump; b) a reading cell container operationally connected to the hydraulic circuit configured for receipt of the blood sample portion; c) a light emitter source positioned about the reading cell to pass light through the blood sample portion; d) an optical receiver positioned opposite the light emitter source and about the reading cell to detect light passing through the blood sample portion; e) a disruption mechanism connected to the reading cell container for disruption of the red blood cells within the blood sample portion to assist in recording the disruption rate; f) a main controller operationally connected to the disruption mechanism, the main controller configured to activate the disruption mechanism for the disruption of the red blood cells within the blood sample portion until light detected stops decreasing indicating the disruption of aggregate within the blood sample portion, whereby after the disruption mechanism is stopped, an aggregation rate of the blood sample portion for a predetermined time is recorded based upon detected light variation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid reservoir connected to the reading cell container for receipt of an evacuated blood sample portion from the reading cell container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an evacuation mechanism to evacuate the evacuated blood sample portion from the reading cell container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the evacuation mechanism is configured to provide ultrasound stress to the reading cell container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus determines an aggregation index of the red blood cells for the subsequent estimation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate comparable with Westergren method. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus determines a disruption index of the red blood cells as rheological parameters usable for pathologic detection purposes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus determines a mean red blood cells shape recovery ability. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus determines the plasma viscosity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reading cell container is configured for the optical detection of aggregation reaction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disruption mechanism is an actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disruption mechanism is an ultrasonic inducted mechanism for the disruption of red blood cells aggregates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disruption mechanism is electric power applied to a piezoceramic material which is initially ramped up to a level where cell emulsification is detected through the optical reading. ### Claim 15 A method of measuring the disruption rate and the aggregation rate of a sample of red blood cells, comprising: delivering the blood sample portion into a reading cell container; disrupting the blood sample portion within the reading cell container to distribute and re-suspend the red blood cells; passing light through the blood sample portion within the reading cell container; receiving and detecting light emitted from the reading cell container; recording a disruption rate of the red blood cells within the blood sample portion based upon the light variation; discontinuing the disruption of the blood sample portion within the reading cell until the variation in light detected stops decreasing indicating the disruption of aggregates within the blood sample portion; recording an aggregation rate of the blood sample portion for a predetermined time based upon detected light variation; and evacuating the blood sample portion from the reading cell container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein disrupting the blood sample portion comprises applying electric power to a piezoceramic material initially ramped up to a level where cell emulsification is detected through the optical reading.