Bulk acoustic wave sensor for investigating hemorheological characteristics of plasma and its coagulation

A method of using a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) device to study the hemorheological phenomena is proposed. By measuring the resonant resistance of a BAW device, the dependence of the plasma viscosity on its composition is investigated. It has been found that during the process of the plasma coagulation, the frequency response of a BAW device is dominated by the change in plasma viscoelasticity, and useful information such as the coagulation time and the viscoelasticity of coagulated plasma can be obtained from the curve of frequency response. Based on the BAW quartz detection system, effects of fibrinogen, thrombin and some drugs on the plasma coagulation are investigated. The results show that the BAW device based on the oscillator method possesses some advantages, such as high sensitivity, simplicity of use, cost effectiveness and small sample volume for clinical hemorheological study.