Patent ID: 6019735
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
Apparatus for effecting the in-vivo measurement of the viscosity of the blood of a living being, said apparatus comprising:blood sampling means and calculation means, at least a portion of said blood sampling means being arranged to be located in the body of the being for exposure to the being's blood, said calculation means being coupled to said blood sampling means and arranged to determine the viscosity of the being's blood at plural shear rates;said blood sampling means comprising blood receiving means for receiving the blood, said blood receiving means being arranged to be introduced into the body of the being to an internal situs to enable blood to flow into said blood receiving means at said situs; andsaid blood receiving means comprising a catheter into which the blood of the being is enabled to flow, and wherein said calculation means comprises a column of fluid and monitoring means, said fluid of said column and said blood in said catheter being arranged to be coupled together so that said flow of blood in said catheter causes said column of fluid to change in height, said monitoring means being arranged to monitor the height of said column of fluid at plural points along the length thereof to calculate the viscosity of the blood.