A new device for the routine measurement of erythrocyte deformability

We present a device for the routine measurement of the deformability of individual red blood cells, the so called Single-Erythrocyte-Rigidometer (SER). The time required for individual erythrocytes to traverse a single pore membrane (pore diameter = 5 micron, pore length = 25 micron) is taken as an index of red cell deformability. For example we present the results from patients with insult, polyneuropathy and morbus binswanger. Compared to the results of erythrocytes of healthy probands a significantly increased rigidity of the RBC of the patients can be diagnosed.