Methods for monitoring tight clot formation
AssigneeT2 Biosystems, Inc.
InventorsWalter W. MASSEFSKI, JR., Thomas Jay LOWERY, JR., Lynell R. SKEWIS
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Abstract
The invention features a method of monitoring a clotting process by measuring a signal characteristic of the NMR relaxation of water in a sample undergoing clotting to produce NMR relaxation data and determining from the NMR relaxation data a magnetic resonance parameter of water in the sample characteristic of the clots being formed.
Claims55
A method of monitoring a clotting or dissolution process in a first blood sample comprising:
- (i) making a series of magnetic resonance relaxation rate measurements of water in said blood sample;
- (ii) transforming said measurements using an algorithm that distinguishes two or more separate water populations within said first blood sample, wherein each separate water population is characterized by one or more magnetic resonance parameters having one or more values;
- and
- (iii) on the basis of the results of step (ii), determining whether a tightly bound clot is formed or dissolved during said process.
A method of monitoring a clotting or dissolution process in a first blood sample comprising:
- (i) making a series of magnetic resonance relaxation rate measurements of water in said blood sample in a sample tube having an inner surface in contact with the blood sample;
- (ii) transforming said measurements using an algorithm that distinguishes two or more separate water populations within said first blood sample, wherein each separate water population is characterized by one or more magnetic resonance parameters having one or more values;
- and
- (iii) on the basis of the results of step (ii), determining whether a clot is formed or dissolved during said process,
- wherein the inner surface of the sample tube controls fibrin adhesion.
A method of monitoring a clotting process in a blood sample comprising (a) adding a clotting initiator to said blood sample in a sample tube having an inner surface in contact with the blood sample;
- and (b) determining whether a clot is formed during said process, wherein the inner surface of the sample tube controls fibrin adhesion.
A sample tube having an inner surface that controls fibrin adhesion.
A system comprising:
- (a) a disposable sample tube defining a well for holding a blood sample and having an RF coil contained within the disposable sample tube and disposed about the well, the RF coil configured to detect a signal produced by exposing the blood sample to a bias magnetic field created using the permanent magnet and an RF pulse sequence, wherein the disposable sample holder comprises one or more fusible links;
- and
- (b) an MR reader comprising (b1) a permanent magnet defining a magnetic field;
- (b2) an RF pulse sequence and detection coil;
- (b3) one or more electrical elements in communication with the RF coil, the electrical elements configured to amplify, rectify, transmit, and/or digitize the signal;
- and (b4) one or more electrical elements in communication with the fusible link and configured to apply excess current to the fusible link, causing the link to break and rendering the coil inoperable following a predetermined working lifetime,
- wherein the disposable sample tube is a sample tube of any one of claims 59-74.
A method of evaluating a blood sample from a subject comprising:
- (i) making a series of magnetic resonance relaxation rate measurements of water in one or more aliquots of the blood sample, wherein at least one of the one or more aliquots is combined with a clotting initiator;
- (ii) transforming said measurements using an algorithm that distinguishes two or more separate water populations within the one or more aliquots of the blood sample;
- and
- (iii) making the following measurements:
- (a) measuring a hematocrit for the blood sample, (b) measuring a fibrinogen level for the blood sample, (c) measuring a clotting time for the blood sample, and (d) measuring the platelet activity of the blood sample, wherein the measuring platelet activity comprises monitoring the formation of a tightly bound clot in the blood sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.