A blood viscosity measuring system and methods for measuring blood viscosity
monitors
the change in height of one of two, oppositely-moving, columns of blood from the
circulating blood of a patient and, given the dimensions of a capillary tube through
which the blood flows and by detecting a single blood position of the other oppositely-moving
column, determines the blood viscosity over a range of shears, especially low shears.
The system includes a tube set (disposable or non-disposable) that includes a pair
of riser tubes, a capillary tube of predetermined dimensions that is coupled between
the riser tubes (or that forms a portion of one riser tube) and a valve mechanism
for controlling the circulating flow of blood from the patient into the riser tubes.
A sensor monitors the movement of one of the columns of blood in one of the riser
tubes and a single point detector detects a single blood position of the other
column of blood and an associated microprocessor analyzes this movement and single
point, along with the predetermined dimensions of the capillary tube, to determine
the viscosity of the patient's circulating blood.
