Patent ID: 8647886

Claim:
An apparatus for determining the aggregation rate of red blood cells, comprising: a) mixer device configured for mixing a blood sample within a collection tube; b) a needle configured for insertion within the collection tube for withdrawal of a portion of the blood sample, the needle connected to a hydraulic circuit for transporting the blood sample portion using a pump; c) a reading cell container operationally connected to the hydraulic circuit configured for receipt of the blood sample portion; d) a light emitter source positioned about the reading cell to pass light through the blood sample portion; e) an optical receiver positioned opposite the light emitter source and about the reading cell to detect scattered light passing through the blood sample portion; f) a disruption mechanism connected to the reading cell container for disruption of the red blood cells within the blood sample portion to assist in recording the disruption rate; and g) a main controller operationally connected to the disruption mechanism, the main controller configured to activate the disruption mechanism for the disruption of the red blood cells within the blood sample portion until scattered light detected stops decreasing indicating the complete disruption of aggregates within the blood sample portion, whereby, in a method of using the apparatus, after the disruption mechanism is stopped, an aggregation rate of the blood sample portion for a predetermined time is recorded based upon detected scattered light variation.