Patent ID: 6043871
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for assessing the function of platelets in a sample of whole blood, the apparatus comprising:means for holding the sample, wherein the sample comprises whole blood;means for causing flow of the whole blood through a scattering volume;means for introducing an aggregating agent into the sample of whole blood such that platelet aggregation occurs;means for illuminating the whole blood within the scattering volume;means for detecting the light scattered by the whole blood in the scattering volume and generating a scattering signal; andmeans for processing the scattering signal and displaying at least one platelet aggregation parameter in a humanly perceptible manner whereby the volume of the means for holding the sample is such that the light scattered is not attenuated below that needed for detection and analysis of platelet aggregation within the sample.