Blood coagulometer and method
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas Systems
InventorsBrijesh S. Gill, Kevin Aroom, Charles Cox, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for determining blood clotting capacity comprises an actuator to cyclically move a member within a sample of blood received in a well in a tray and one of a deflection sensor and a position sensor to determine the position of the wetted member upon being acted upon by the actuator. The theoretical position of the wetted member, as determined using a known actuator force and wetted member physical data, is compared to the sensed deflection or position of the wetted member, and the resistance to movement of the wetted member caused by the blood is determined and correlated to a clotting capacity.
Claims21
An apparatus to measure clotting in a blood sample, comprising:
- a tray;
- a well in the tray to receive a sample of the blood;
- a support beam connected at a first end to the tray and connected at a second end to a wetted member to support the wetted member at least partially within the well;
- a linear motor connected between the tray and the support beam and activatable by application of an electrical current to impart a force, corresponding in magnitude to the applied current, on the support beam to move the support beam relative to the tray and to thereby move the wetted member within the well;
- and
- a deflection sensor coupled to the tray to measure the deflection of the support beam resulting from resistance to movement of the wetted member imparted by the sample of blood received in the well;
- wherein the measured deflection of the support beam resulting from the resistance to movement of the wetted member within the sample of blood in the well is correlated to a capacity of the blood to clot.
An apparatus to measure clotting in a blood sample, comprising:
- a tray;
- a well in the tray to receive a sample of the blood;
- a carriage, having a first end, a second end, a magnetic material and a wetted member movably supported on the tray to support at least a portion of the wetted member within the well;
- an electrically-powered motor comprising:
- at least a first electromagnet connectable to an electrical current source;
- wherein energizing the first electromagnet creates a magnetic field that imparts a corresponding force on the magnetic material of the carriage to move the carriage and to thereby move the wetted member within the well, and
- a deflection sensor coupled to the tray to measure the deflection of the carriage resulting from resistance to movement of the wetted member imparted by the sample of blood received in the well;
- wherein the measured deflection of the carriage resulting from the resistance to movement of the wetted member within the sample of blood in the well is correlated to a capacity of the blood to clot.
A method of testing a sample of blood to determine the clotting capacity of the blood, comprising:
- providing a tray having a well;
- receiving, into the well, a sample of the blood to be analyzed;
- connecting, a wetted member to a first portion of a support member;
- movably supporting the support member on the tray and above an interface between the sample of blood and air to dispose at least a portion of the wetted member within the sample of blood and below the interface;
- imparting a known force to the support member to substantially linearly displace the portion of the support member, and the wetted member connected thereto, relative to the well to move the wetted member within the sample of blood;
- determining a theoretical displacement of the wetted member corresponding to the known force imparted to the support member;
- measuring the displacement of the wetted member as a result of the known force imparted to the support member;
- comparing the measured displacement of the wetted member within the sample of blood to the theoretical displacement to determine a resistance to displacement of the wetted member attributable to the sample of blood;
- and
- correlating the resistance to displacement of the wetted member to a clotting capacity of the sample of blood.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.