METHOD TO ANALYZE THE CLUSTER FORMATION PROCESS IN A BIOLOGICAL FLUID AND CORRESPONDING ANALYSIS APPARATUS

摘要

Method to analyze the cluster formation process in a biological fluid, such as blood or hematic fluids, comprising at least a step in which the biological fluid is made to flow through at least a micro-channel (33) of a perfusion chamber (1 l)s there being a reactive substrate, such as a cyto-adhesive substrate, present in the micro-channel (33) to stimulate a clustering process in the biological fluid, and an optical acquisition step using an optical acquisition device (12), during which images relating to the formation of clusters are acquired in at least one investigation area (34) of the micro-channel (33).The method comprises an impedance assessment step associated to the optical acquisition step, during which, by means of impedance assessment means (35) disposed in correspondence to the investigation area (34) of the micro-channel (33), a measurement is carried out over time of the impedance of the biological fluid, the impedance being correlated to the formation of clusters, and a processing step during which the volume of the clusters which form in the investigation area (34) is determined, correlating, over time, information relating to the images acquired in the optical acquisition step with impedance data of the biological fluid acquired in the impedance assessment step.