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US 4,072,045 AGranted
Viscometer for indicating rheological properties of fluids having high and low viscosity components
AssigneeOvutime, Inc.
InventorLouis Kopito
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AssigneeOvutime, Inc.
InventorLouis Kopito
Estimating the term…
A fluid having high and low viscosity components is introduced into the test region between a pair of bearing members which are biased for relative motion and which are characterized by at least one porous bearing surface. The low viscosity component is absorbed by the porous bearing surface. The high viscosity component remains in the test region to establish characteristics which are indicated by the relative motion between the bearing members. The rheological properties of the high viscosity component are a function of these characteristics.
A device for association with means for testing fluid samples, said device comprising a first bearing means and second bearing means, constrained for relative motion with respect to each other, at least one of said bearing means presenting a porous surface, and bias means tending to cause relative motion between said bearing means.
Means for association with means for testing fluid samples, said first-mentioned means comprising a first bearing means and a second bearing means adapted for rotational motion with respect to each other, said first bearing means and said second bearing means presenting porous bearing surfaces, support means affixed to said first bearing means, and bias means affixed to said second bearing means.
A process for tesing a fluid sample having at least a high viscosity component and at least a low viscosity component, said process comprising the steps of interposing a fluid sample between a first bearing means and a second bearing means, at least one of said bearing means presenting a porous surface, absorbing said low viscosity component into said porous surface, biasing said first bearing means and said second bearing means with respect to each other, and means for indicating the relative motion of said first bearing means with respect to said second bearing means as an indication of the characteristics of said fluid sample.
A device for testing a fluid sample, said device comprising a first bearing means and a second bearing means, constrained for rotary motion with respect to each other, bias means tending to cause relative motion between said bearing means, said bearing means establishing a test region therebetween, said first bearing means and said second bearing means having contiguous porous surfaces, and means for indicating said rotary motion as a function of the characteristics of said fluid sample.
A device for testing biological samples, said device comprising a first bearing means and a second bearing means for reciprocal motion with respect to each other, said first bearing means comprising a plurality of parallel ridges and said second bearing means having a plurality of parallel ridges, said first bearing means and said second bearing means having contiguous porous surfaces, and means related to said motion for indicating the characteristics of said biological samples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Investigating flow properties of materials
Instruments for taking body samples for diagnostic purposes ; Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis, sex…:…
Instruments for taking body samples for diagnostic purposes ; Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis, sex…:…
Ovulation-period determination: based on measurement of viscosity or visco-elasticity
Term ended 7 Feb 1995 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present application is related to copending application Ser. No. 523,047, filed Nov. 12, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,423, issued Sept. 28, 1976 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 462,298, filed Apr. 19, 1974, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 433,767, filed Jan. 16, 1974, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 300,187, filed Oct. 24, 1972. The present application also is related to application Ser. No. 629,700, filed Nov. 7, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,066, issued Mar. 22, 1977, which is a continuation-in-part of earlier application Ser. No. 472,611, filed May 23, 1974, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of aforesaid application Ser. No. 300,187, filed Oct. 24, 1972. The present invention also is related to copending application Ser. No. 637,830, filed Dec. 4, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,056, issued Jan. 11, 1977, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 558,247, filed Mar. 14, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,037 issued Dec. 16, 1975. The present application also is related to copending application Ser. No. 573,348, filed Apr. 30, 1975 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,945, issued Sept. 14, 1976. All of the foregoing applications and patents have a common assignee.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processes and devices for determining the rheological properties of fluids and, more particularly, to the estimation of differential rheological properties of heterogeneous fluids, particularly biological fluids such as saliva, ejaculates, cervical mucus and blood. Such fluids usually are composed of several liquid fractions of different chemical compositions, molecular weights and rheological properties.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and scope of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed specification, which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the components of the product of FIG. 1;
One embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises an inner bearing assemblage 20 and an outer bearing assemblage 22, between which a specimen is tested in accordance with the present invention; a support assemblage 24 for carrying inner bearing assemblage 20; and a bias assemblage 26 for causing or not causing relative motion between the inner and outer bearing assemblages during testing of a fluid therebetween
As shown, inner bearing assemblage 20 includes an inner bearing ring 28 having an outer cylindrical bearing surface, which is porous in accordance with the present invention. Bearing ring 28 has an inner cylindrical surface with a keyway. Bearing assemblage 22 also includes a cylindrical mount 30 that has an outer cylindrical surface with a key. Ring 28 and mount 30 snugly mate with each other so that they can be fitted together manually, retained in mated condition frictionally, or separated from each other manually as desired.
As shown, outer bearing assemblage 22 includes an outer bearing ring 32 having an inner bearing surface which is porous in accordance with the present invention. Bearing ring 32 has an outer cylindrical surface with a keyway. Bearing assemblage 22 also includes an annular mount 34 that has an inner cylindrical surface with a key. Ring 32 and mount 34 mate with each other so that they can be fitted together manually, retained in mated condition frictionally, or separated from each other manually as desired.