Method and apparatus for making a rapid measurement of the hematocrit of blood

摘要

The method includes the steps of: placing blood in a transparent tubing; passing intense, coherent light through the tubing and blood; sensing the light passed through the tubing and blood; and, producing a signal related to the amount of transmitted light sensed and indicative of the hematocrit of the blood. The apparatus includes a laser light source for generating the intense, coherent light beam at a wavelength in the red spectrum and an optical photodetector including a silicon diode positioned to receive the transmitted light and an amplifier circuit.