Measurement of blood viscosity using mass-detecting sensor

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rheology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Conventional viscometers require anticoagulants (e.g., heparin, EDTA) for whole blood viscosity measurements, potentially altering native blood properties.
• Existing methods often involve complex procedures, multiple measurements, and are time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel mass-detecting capillary viscometer for measuring unadulterated whole blood viscosity.
• To demonstrate the device's capability to measure viscosity across a range of shear rates without anticoagulants in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• A mass-detecting capillary viscometer utilizing a load cell and capillary tube was developed.
• Liquid mass variation over time, m(t), was measured, replacing traditional flow rate and pressure drop calculations.
• Viscosity and shear rate were mathematically derived from the mass-time data.

Main Results:

• The mass-detecting capillary viscometer demonstrated excellent agreement with a commercial rotating viscometer for water and adulterated blood samples.
• The device successfully measured the viscosity of unadulterated whole blood without the need for heparin or EDTA.
• Measurements were completed in under 2 minutes, showcasing accuracy and consistency.

Conclusions:

• The mass-detecting capillary viscometer offers a simplified, cost-effective, and rapid method for measuring native whole blood viscosity.
• This technology overcomes the limitations of conventional viscometers, enabling reliable clinical viscosity assessments.
• The device's ease of operation, lack of moving parts, and disposability make it suitable for clinical application.