INSTRUMENTATION AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING CLOT ELASTIC MODULUS, FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ERYTHROCYTE FLEXIBILITY DURING CLOTTING AND DISSOLUTION

摘要

Intermittent application and removal of a compressive force on a blood sampl e (8) positioned between a pair of plates (12 and 14) throughout clot formation and dissolution provides a standard for using voltage output from a transducer (22) to determine force and elastic modulus parameters. Force development arises fro m the internal actions of the platelets during clot retraction. Elastic modulus provides a measure of the stiffness of the clot. Clotting can be measured as an increase in force development and clot elastic modulus. Clot dissolution can be determined by a dramatic decrease in force development and in elastic modulus. Providing the blood sample with a clot dissolving agent such as tPA allows determining the fibrinolytic potential of whole blood and, thus, aids in identifying patients at risk for thrombosis d ue to a decreased ability to dissolve clots. Clot elastic modulus provides a measure of erythrocyte flexibility.