US 12,339,274 B2
Blood coagulometer and method
Brijesh S. Gill, Houston, TX (US); Kevin Aroom, Houston, TX (US); and Charles Cox, Jr., Bellaire, TX (US)
Assigned to THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, Austin, TX (US)
Appl. No. 16/076,605
Filed by The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 8, 2017, PCT No. PCT/US2017/017030
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 8, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/139384, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 17, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/293,120, filed on Feb. 9, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0190758 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 33/49 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/4905 (2013.01) 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus (10) for use in determining the capacity of a blood sample (50) to clot, comprising:
a well (30) to receive the blood sample;
a probe support (29) fixed relative to the well;
a probe (20) supported within the well on the probe support, the probe including a wetted portion (24) proximal to the well;
a deformable spring element (35) coupled intermediate the wetted portion of the probe and the probe support; and
a microelectromechanical displacement sensor (19) disposed on the apparatus to measure movement of the probe (20) the microelectromechanical displacement sensor being in engagement with the probe to detect and measure the displacing force imparted to the probe as a result of the contraction of the blood sample within the well;
wherein the introduction of a volume of a blood sample (50) into the well (30) contacts the wetted portion (24) of the probe with the blood sample; and
wherein the clotting and contraction of the blood sample (50) imparts a displacing force to the wetted portion of the probe and results in a displacement of the probe relative to the probe support.