Viscosity measuring apparatus and method of use

A system for effecting the measurement of the viscosity of circulating blood of a living being at plural shear rates, said system comprising a column having a liquid therein, a capillary tube, a sensing device and viscosity calculation means, said liquid in said column having a top surface, said capillary tube being arranged to be inserted into the vascular system of the being for providing blood from the being to cause said liquid in said column to assume an initial level, said column being operative so that said liquid in said column is enabled to change from said initial level to a different level, said sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid level in said column changes and for providing electrical signals indicative thereof, said calculation means being coupled to said sensing device for receiving said electrical signals to calculate the viscosity of the being's blood.

A system for effecting the measurement of the viscosity of the blood of a living being at plural shear rates, said system comprising a column having a liquid therein, said column being arranged to have blood from the being coupled thereto, said liquid in said column having a top surface, said column being operative so that said liquid in said column is enabled to change from an initial level to a different level, a sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid level in said column changes and for providing electrical signals indicative thereof, and calculation means coupled to said sensing device for receiving said electrical signals to calculate the viscosity of the being's blood.

A method for medically diagnosing the physiological conditions of a living being comprising measuring the being's blood viscosity at plural shear rates by detecting a changing pressure differential of the being's blood through a known geometry, without using a pressure sensor.

A system for effecting the measurement of the viscosity of circulating blood of a living being at plural shear rates, said system comprising a column having a liquid therein, a capillary tube, a sensing device and viscosity calculator, said liquid in said column having a top surface, said capillary tube being arranged to be inserted into the vascular system of the being for providing blood from the being to cause said liquid in said column to assume an initial level, said column being operative so that said liquid in said column is enabled to change from said initial level to a different level, said sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid level in said column changes and for providing electrical signals indicative thereof, said calculator being coupled to said sensing device for receiving said electrical signals to calculate the viscosity of the being's blood.

A system for effecting the measurement of the viscosity of the blood of a living being at plural shear rates, said system comprising a column having a liquid therein, said column being arranged to have blood from the being coupled thereto, said liquid in said column having a top surface, said column being operative so that said liquid in said column is enabled to change from an initial level to a different level, a sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid level in said column changes and for providing electrical signals indicative thereof, and a calculator coupled to said sensing device for receiving said electrical signals to calculate the viscosity of the being's blood.

Apparatus for determining the viscosity of circulating blood of a living being at plural shear rates, said apparatus comprising a capillary tube, a second elongated tube, a sensor, and computer, said capillary tube being arranged to be coupled to the interior of a blood vessel of the living being, whereupon blood may flow into said capillary tube, said second tube being coupled to said capillary tube and being arranged for receipt of a second flowable material, the second flowable material forming a fluid column in said second tube, said fluid column being adapted to change in height, said sensor being arranged to monitor the height of said fluid column at plural points along the length of said second tube as said fluid column changes in height and for providing a first signal indicative thereof, said computer being responsive to said first signal for calculating the viscosity of the circulating blood at plural shear rates within said capillary tube and to provide a output signal representative thereof.

A method for diagnosing a physiological condition of a living being comprising:

• (a) accessing a portion of the being's circulating blood;
• and
• (b) measuring the being's blood viscosity at plural shear rates substantially contemporaneously with said access by detecting a changing pressure differential of the being's blood through a known geometry and without sensing pressure directly.

Apparatus for determining the viscosity of circulating blood of a living being, said apparatus comprising a device for diverting a portion of the circulating blood from the being's body and an analyzer coupled to said device, said analyzer being responsive to said diverted portion of the circulating blood to sense at least one parameter thereof, other than pressure, substantially contemporaneously with said diversion and to determine the viscosity of the being's blood based on said at least one parameter.