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 drop from said initial level to a lower level, said sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid drops in said column 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;

• and
• wherein a fluid is located above said top surface of said liquid in said column, and wherein said top surface and said fluid define a machine determinable interface therebetween.

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 drop from said initial level to a lower level, said sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid drops in said column 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:

• and
• additionally comprising a valve for selectively isolating said fluid in said column from atmospheric pressure.

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 drop from an initial level to a lower level, a sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid drops in said column 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 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 drop from an initial level to a lower level, a sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points alone the column as said liquid drops in said column 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;

• and
• wherein said liquid is not the blood of the being.

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 ton surface, said column being operative so that said liquid in said column is enabled to drop from an initial level to a lower level, a sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid drops in said column 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;

• further comprising a capillary tube 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 said initial level;
• and
• wherein said liquid is not the blood of the being.

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 drop from an initial level to a lower level, a sensing device for monitoring the height of the liquid in the column at plural points along the column as said liquid drops in said column 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;

• further comprising a capillary tube 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 said initial
• additionally comprising a valve for selectively isolating said fluid in said column from atmospheric pressure.