Patent ID: 7770436

Claim:
A rheometer for measuring flow characteristics of a micro sample of liquid comprising: a substantially rigid flow channel having opposite ends with a sample inlet at one end and a sample outlet at the opposite end and having at least one geometry change along the channel which forms a contraction region in the flow channel; a plurality of pressure sensors located along the flow channel and positioned with respect to the at least one geometry change to measure a pressure of the sample exerted against the pressure sensors as a result of the geometry change; wherein said flow channel is formed by combining a hard substrate having an open three sided channel with a planar sensor array plate having monolithically integrated pressure sensors therein to close the open side of the three sided channel and position the sensors along the flow channel; and wherein the plurality of pressure sensors is at least two pressure sensors positioned in the contraction region whereby a measurement of a characteristic of the liquid sample related to the liquid sample behavior through the contraction region can be determined.