Blood rheological characterization using the thickness-shear mode resonator

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rheology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Thickness-shear mode (TSM) resonators are established for characterizing static rheological properties.
• Existing methods for blood analysis can be time-consuming or require sample manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate simple and rapid TSM resonator techniques for blood analysis.
• To characterize rheological properties of plasma and whole blood.
• To explore potential clinical and in vivo applications of TSM resonators.

Main Methods:

• Utilized TSM resonators for blood sample analysis.
• Developed techniques for determining plasma viscosity without cell separation.
• Measured erythrocyte sedimentation rate and tracked blood coagulation.
• Applied mathematical models for surface-loaded resonators to extract material properties.

Main Results:

• Successfully measured plasma viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and blood coagulation.
• Extracted non-Newtonian and viscoelastic properties of blood layers during sedimentation and coagulation.
• Demonstrated the utility of TSM resonators for various clinical applications.

Conclusions:

• TSM resonators provide a versatile and efficient platform for blood rheology characterization.
• The technology holds promise for point-of-care diagnostics and in vivo monitoring.
• Miniaturization opens avenues for implantable or intravascular sensing devices.