Apparatus for measuring the viscosity of a fluid (e.g. blood)

摘要

An apparatus for use in measuring the viscosity of blood (30) circulating within a living being (28), the apparatus comprising: i) means (26) for placing the circulating blood (30) into contact with a second fluid (42) in an elongate container (44) whereby the length of the fluid changes as a result of the contact; ii) signal generating means (50) arranged to generate a signal according to movement of the length; and iii) calculating means (52) arranged to calculate the viscosity of the blood from the generated signals. Also described is an apparatus for determining the viscosity of a first fluid at plural shear rates, the apparatus comprising: i) a first tube (26) through which the first fluid flows; ii) a supply (38) of a second fluid communicating with a second tube (34) which has a riser tube (44) arranged to form a column (42) of the second fluid; iii) sensors (50) for determining the height of the fluid column (42) in the riser tube (44) and to generate signals according to the height sensed; iv) computing means (52) arranged to calculate the viscosity from the signals.