Mobile rheometer device and method for medical diagnosis of human, animal, or plant specimens.

Abstract

This invention provides a mobile rheometer apparatus and method that overcomes, at least partially, the drawbacks of conventional devices. [Solution] The present invention relates to a mobile rheometer device (1) for medical diagnosis of human, animal, or plant samples. Such a mobile rheometer device (1) comprises a rheological measuring instrument (2), an evaluation program (5), an evaluation unit (4) connected to the rheological measuring instrument (2), and an output unit (6) connected to the evaluation unit (4). The evaluation unit (4), having the evaluation program (5), is designed to classify rheological parameters measured in a human, animal, or plant sample with respect to at least one medical diagnosis, or to classify them into a group of relevant parameters for medical diagnosis, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device (1) to be provided with a subdivided display of the sample by the output unit (6). Furthermore, a corresponding method is disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile rheometer device and method for medical diagnosis of samples in humans, animals, or plants.

Background Art

[0002] In order to obtain more detailed information about samples from humans, animals, or plants, these are often analyzed laboriously in a laboratory after being taken from the living body. Alternatively, it is also known to examine tissues or liquids associated with the living body to be examined.

[0003] Thus, for example, a sample is taken from a human by a medical expert during a biopsy or surgery and then sent to the pathology department. In the pathology department, histological examinations involving tissue staining and subsequent pathological diagnosis are usually performed. Tissue samples can also be prepared by tissue sections for further analysis of each section thereafter.

[0004] Instead of histological examinations using staining and microscopy equipment, rheology techniques can also be utilized to perform, for example, medical diagnoses. These techniques can include, for example, rotational rheometers or capillary rheometers. A falling ball viscometer or a microfluidic device can also be used. Pathological tissues are different from the physiological state in terms of properties such as viscosity, viscoelasticity, or elasticity.

[0005] For example, by such methods, diseases such as stenosis or similar diseases can be examined in more detail. Body fluids such as saliva and blood also have different properties such as viscosity, viscoelasticity, or elasticity when changes occur. This phenomenon is known, for example, in relation to sickle cell anemia. Therefore, knowledge regarding the rheological properties of physiological or pathological characteristics can be used for diagnosis.

[0006] In this case, one or more rheological quantities can be measured, such as (shear) viscosity, extensional viscosity, shear stress, viscoelastic properties, storage modulus, and loss modulus. Such measurements may include absolute or relative values. Typically, each sample is vibrated or oscillated. Alternatively, motion in the form of rotation or flow is also conceivable. With respect to the sample, vibration, oscillation, rotation, or flow may already be occurring due to biological conditions, and therefore this condition can also be utilized in the rheological method.

[0007] Approaches utilizing the technologies described above require a certain amount of time and effort. Furthermore, the transportation of samples requires specific logistical infrastructure to prevent damage to fragile samples. In this regard, even with all precautions taken, changes in samples can occur and cannot be completely eliminated. Generally, biological sample materials change rapidly, making subsequent testing or analysis difficult. Moreover, especially with biological samples, there is a risk of unintended infection if contact is made with the sample during collection or transportation.

[0008] In the case of intraoperative biopsies and tissue collection as described above, the necessary medical infrastructure is often only available at advanced comprehensive medical institutions. Therefore, medical support and diagnosis can be difficult in remote areas such as high mountains or the open sea, because the necessary medical infrastructure is difficult to provide or simply does not exist. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] In view of the above-mentioned background circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a mobile rheometer device and method that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks at least partially. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This problem is solved by a mobile rheometer device having the features described in claim 1 and a method having the features described in claim 10.

[0011] Accordingly, a mobile rheometer device for medical diagnosis of human, animal, or plant samples is provided. Such a mobile rheometer device comprises a rheological measuring instrument, an evaluation program, an evaluation unit connected to the rheological measuring instrument, and an output unit connected to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit, having an evaluation program, is designed to classify rheological parameters measured in a human, animal, or plant sample with respect to at least one medical diagnosis, or to classify them into a group of relevant parameters for medical diagnosis, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device to be provided with a subdivided display of the sample by the output unit.

[0012] Furthermore, a method for medically diagnosing human, animal, or plant samples is provided. Such a method includes the following steps: preparing and activating a mobile rheometer device according to the present invention; measuring a human, animal, or plant sample with the mobile rheometer device; classifying the results of the rheological measurement with respect to at least one medical diagnosis with respect to the mobile rheometer device; and outputting the classified results with respect to the mobile rheometer device, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device to provide a detailed display of the sample.

[0013] One of the fundamental ideas behind this invention is to provide a mobile, on-site, and directly usable technical solution that allows immediate access to measurement results of the sample being analyzed. The mobile rheometer device according to this invention has the advantage of being easily movable to each location of use, and a specially designed evaluation unit allows for direct on-site classification of measurement values. This eliminates the need for cumbersome transportation and lengthy inspection methods. In particular, it enables better and more stable analysis of samples that change rapidly over time and may therefore become unusable for the desired analysis.

[0014] By eliminating the need for the complex infrastructure required in advanced comprehensive medical institutions, pathological or general medical diagnoses become accessible to more people. Individuals who need to track the course of their illness can do so, for example, at home, and receive medical care remotely as needed, resulting in less contact with medical professionals, or contact only when necessary. The mobile rheometer device according to the present invention can be advantageously used in a wide range of applications in relation to the earliest possible diagnosis, and therefore a better outlook regarding the healing process or prevention in general.

[0015] Therefore, mobile rheometer devices and corresponding methods can be advantageously used not only as part of the equipment in operating rooms and clinics, but also in mobile medical facilities or units. Personal use by laypeople, such as patients themselves, is also conceivable, in which case the mobile rheometer device can be advantageously used as a mobile solution for medical diagnostic activities, for example, like a personal everyday item.

[0016] According to an embodiment of a mobile rheometer device, the evaluation unit having an evaluation program is envisioned to be connectable to, or to include, at least one database for making medical diagnoses based on rheological parameters of human, animal, or plant samples for classification purposes.

[0017] This enables particularly rapid and comprehensive classification. Depending on the database used, the application range of the mobile rheometer device of the present invention can also be expanded. Furthermore, when the mobile rheometer device of the present invention is used in more remote locations, it is more likely to be considered sufficient for sufficiently stable analysis.

[0018] In this case, for example, rheological properties can be compared with a database (or multiple databases) containing information on rheological properties of physiological or pathological characteristics. This comparison allows the rheometer to provide one or more suggestions for diagnosis (or for medical professionals) regarding the condition of the sample. General suggestions can also be derived in the form of parameters, which are easily understandable and accessible even to laypeople.

[0019] Thus, the mobile rheometer device and corresponding method of the present invention make it possible to perform rheological examinations related to medical diagnosis on human, animal, or plant samples in spatial and temporal proximity. These rheological examinations allow for measurements under physiological conditions as much as possible regarding further parameters such as pH value, specific temperature, ion concentration, present enzymes, or body fluids.

[0020] In one configuration of a mobile rheometer device, the evaluation program is expected to be adjustable by at least one user-defined input, thereby enabling the individual use of each database.

[0021] This allows for the direct execution of more specialized evaluation routines in the field. In this case, since the evaluation program is adjustable with extremely simple inputs, the mobile rheometer device according to the present invention may be able to make better use of the connected database. This may, for example, allow for correction of the influence of factors that are not necessarily or solely related to the disease to be diagnosed, and then facilitate comparison with information in the database or multiple databases. In this regard, a general algorithm can be envisioned as an optional part of an artificial intelligence-based evaluation program or as an optional part of an evaluation program based on a general machine learning program. In particular, the evaluation program can be envisioned to be designed to process a large number of inputs. This ensures clear assignment in the spirit of the present invention, namely, the clearest possible classification with respect to the diagnosis or parameters related to the diagnosis.

[0022] According to one configuration of a mobile rheometer device, it is assumed that at least one user-defined input is selected from inputs that take gender into account, nutritional information about the human or animal subject being examined, drug intake of the human or animal subject being examined, fertilizer application to the plant subject being examined, pesticide application to the plant subject being examined, at least one piece of information about the correlated effects of drugs and pathological changes in at least one living organism, a suspected diagnosis, at least one piece of information from a patient registry in at least one country, and at least one piece of information about the medical history of the living organism being examined.

[0023] Thus, each of these inputs can be used to improve classification and comparison with a database or multiple databases. In particular, gender-sensitive inputs can be advantageous in achieving more accurate descriptions or classifications, because they allow for the direct integration of gender differences into the evaluation process.

[0024] At least one piece of information regarding the correlated effects of a drug and pathological changes in at least one organism may exist, for example, as evidence of the relationship between the administration of diclofenac to useful animals and the mass death of vultures in India. Specifically, the administration of diclofenac to useful animals led to the drug being taken up by vultures through the ingestion of carrion, and the mass death was caused by its harmful effects on the vultures.

[0025] According to embodiments of mobile rheometer devices, rheological measuring instruments are assumed to be designed to measure rheological parameters of human, animal, or plant samples, either in isolation or in vivo.

[0026] As a result, a mobile rheometer device that can be used particularly flexibly is obtained. The device can be directly used on the living body to be sampled without significantly affecting the living body. This has the advantage that it is not necessary to destroy the sample, that is, the area of the living body to be examined, and it remains substantially in the same state even after the examination. This is particularly desirable in the case of tissue sections having tumorous changes in the body of a human or animal in that it does not inadvertently allow the altered tissue to invade the circulatory system of the remainder of the living body. In other words, the mobile rheometer device according to the present invention can be used in or on a tissue, for example, before actually collecting a tissue or a general material sample. Therefore, the tissue remains intact and is surgically removed only when it is determined to be necessary based on a medical diagnosis. Similarly, in the case of plants, for example, it is possible to determine which parts and to what extent should be removed due to the invasion of fungi or pests.

[0027] Alternatively, the device can be placed in proximity to the living body to be sampled, so that the collected sample can be immediately examined. For example, this sample can be a tissue sample of a human or animal collected during a biopsy or surgery. This sample can also be a part collected from a plant body or a plant living body.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the mobile rheometer device, it is assumed that the mobile rheometer device is provided with an energy system designed to supply electrical energy to this mobile rheometer device autonomously or by an external energy supply network.

[0029] The energy system can include, for example, a rechargeable battery system, etc., so that both a battery-driven mode and a network (power supply) mode can be realized. Therefore, the mobile rheometer device can be used more flexibly.

[0030] According to one configuration of a mobile rheometer device, the mobile rheometer device substantially comprises exterior materials, particularly special steel or titanium, which are suitable for sterilization methods, especially gamma ray sterilization, thereby enabling the mobile rheometer device to be used in the operating room after sterilization, or at the time of manufacture, or by medical device sterilization service providers.

[0031] Therefore, mobile rheometer devices can be configured or designed hygienically and are advantageously usable in strictly sterile environments such as operating rooms. In this context, exterior materials refer, in particular, to materials and areas that shield or at least partially enclose the substantially internal main components of the device from the outside world. In this case, complete enclosure is also conceivable.

[0032] According to the example of a mobile rheometer device, it is assumed that the mobile rheometer device is designed to measure and classify multiple samples simultaneously.

[0033] This allows mobile rheometer devices to be used more efficiently, and therefore the cost of each sample being examined can be reduced.

[0034] According to the embodiment of the mobile rheometer device, it is assumed that the mobile rheometer device is designed to be controlled by at least one external device that can be coupled with the mobile rheometer device. Such an external device may be, for example, a smartphone, tablet, or similar mobile terminal device.

[0035] For these purposes, the evaluation program can be extended into a format that can be installed on external devices, such as in the form of an application. In other words, the evaluation program can provide this application, which can be transferred to external devices, for example by download, so that the mobile rheometer device can be controlled by the connectable external device. In this regard, it is also conceivable that the evaluation program is designed to provide this functionality in conjunction with or through a corresponding cloud approach. Furthermore, the external device can be envisioned as at least partially a cloud-based technical solution.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the method of the present invention, the following further method steps are included: connecting an evaluation unit having an evaluation program in a mobile rheometer device to at least one database for making medical diagnoses based on rheological parameters of a human, animal, or plant sample; and adjusting the evaluation program by at least one user-defined input, thereby making the connected external database available for individual use.

[0037] The advantages described above also apply to this modification of the method according to the present invention, to the extent applicable. In particular, the method according to the present invention can, in principle, be advantageously used to enable gender-sensitive evaluation, thereby supporting gender-sensitive medical research.

[0038] In the figures, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals indicate the same or functionally the same component.

[0039] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0040] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a mobile rheometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a schematic diagram showing a user scenario for a mobile rheometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating further user scenarios for a mobile rheometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram illustrating further user scenarios for a mobile rheometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram illustrating further user scenarios for a mobile rheometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram illustrating further user scenarios for a mobile rheometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0041] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile rheometer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the illustrated device is a mobile rheometer device 1 for medical diagnosis of human, animal, or plant samples. The sample may be, for example, a human tissue sample.

[0042] The illustrated mobile rheometer device 1 is shown in the drawing with a rheology measuring instrument 2 located below the main body 3 of the mobile rheometer device 1. In modified embodiments of the mobile rheometer device 1 according to the present invention (not shown in detail), it is conceivable that the rheology measuring instrument 2 is located at least partially or completely within the main body 3. Partially lateral or completely lateral arrangement is also conceivable. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the rheology measuring instrument 2 is provided separately and connected to the main body 3 and its components by wired or wireless connection. Accordingly, in further embodiments, it is conceivable that an evaluation unit 4 having an evaluation program 5 is additionally or generally held, installed, or located in a mobile terminal device (if wireless connection technology etc. exists), or generally held, or provided or located virtually or physically as a separate subunit in the mobile rheometer device 1 through technical complementation.

[0043] The main body 3 of the mobile rheometer device 1 shows an evaluation unit 4 having an evaluation program 5. This evaluation unit 4 having the evaluation program 5 is connected to a rheology measuring instrument 2 (not shown in detail) via a connecting means, thereby enabling each measurement value measured by the rheology measuring instrument 2 to be transmitted to the evaluation unit 4 having the evaluation program 5.

[0044] The evaluation unit 4, which has evaluation program 5, is designed to classify the measured rheological parameters of a human, animal, or plant sample with respect to at least one medical diagnosis, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device 1 to be provided with a subdivided display of the sample by the output unit 6 connected to the evaluation unit 4 with evaluation program 5.

[0045] The illustrated output unit 6 is provided in the form of a monitor having a display surface 7 suitable for displaying classification results. This display surface 7 is designed to provide two-dimensional or three-dimensional color images and is schematically shown in Figure 1 as a quarter-circle symbol and a rectangle.

[0046] In this case, based on the classification, the 3 / 4 circular symbol can be considered to represent healthy tissue, and the rectangle can be considered to represent abnormal tissue. The output unit 6 is connected via the first connection line 8 to the main body 3 of the mobile rheometer device 1, and therefore to the evaluation unit 4 having the evaluation program 5, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device 1 to be provided with a subdivided display of the sample by the output unit 6.

[0047] Optionally, the mobile rheometer device 1 can be designed for use with a large number of samples to be evaluated simultaneously, for example, to improve the statistical significance of the test.

[0048] At least one database (not shown in detail) can be connected to the mobile rheometer device 1 by any connection means, e.g., wired or wireless technology. This at least one database (not shown in detail) can also be envisioned to be at least partially part of the mobile rheometer device 1. Thus, for example, the at least one database (not shown in detail) may be a sub-region of the evaluation unit 4 having at least partially the evaluation program 5. The at least one database (not shown in detail) can also be a separate unit of the mobile rheometer device 1, in which case it can be envisioned to be located within the device in conjunction with other components of the mobile rheometer device.

[0049] Thus, at least one database (not shown in detail) may be an integral component of the mobile rheometer device 1, or it may be connected to the mobile rheometer device 1 via an interface. In either case, at least one database directly enables medical professionals to evaluate rheological parameters and make related diagnoses during or after rheological measurements.

[0050] As described above, at least one database can be supplemented with additional inputs, such as information on patient nutrition or medication, i.e., additional data, which enables correlation processing and correction. Together with these new inputs, an individualized form of at least one database can be realized. This allows for correction of the influence of factors that are not necessarily related to the diagnosed disease, either individually or in isolation. The mobile rheometer device 1 can perform gender-sensitive assessments and thus can support medical research that takes gender differences into account.

[0051] A specially designed shape for the mobile rheometer device 1, such as a disposable shape, can be provided, thereby enabling standardized sample application to the mobile rheometer device 1.

[0052] In one embodiment (not shown in detail), the mobile rheometer device 1 may be equipped with a mechanism in the form of software or an application that standardizes the procedures for sample collection, sample application, measurement and evaluation, particularly classification, thereby minimizing individual differences among operators or personnel.

[0053] As described above, the mobile rheometer device 1 can be designed to be portable. The mobile rheometer device 1 can be powered by a network (power supply) and a battery so that it can be used in both stationary and mobile configurations. Therefore, for example, the mobile rheometer device 1 can operate autonomously in remote locations. In this respect, the mobile rheometer device 1 according to the present invention is a portable medical device that can operate almost autonomously even in remote locations without developed infrastructure.

[0054] The mobile rheometer device 1 can be used on the body surface, allowing for sample collection without invasiveness to the body of a person, animal, or plant, and therefore can be performed even by a layperson. Such a procedure or application can focus on intrapersonal trends and communicate only indicators; that is, diagnosis is limited to medical professionals.

[0055] The mobile rheometer device 1 can be a handheld device in terms of its structure, particularly its spatial dimensions. In this respect, the mobile rheometer device 1 can be provided as a small device that can be comfortably held in one hand by the user without requiring much effort. Thus, since the mobile rheometer device 1 of the present invention has the advantage of being lightweight, it can be used as a mobile device in addition to a stationary device.

[0056] In one embodiment (not shown in detail), the mobile rheometer device 1 can be designed to be controlled from a smartphone, tablet, or similar mobile terminal device, or from the cloud.

[0057] The mobile rheometer device 1 can be considered, or may be referred to, as a special rheometer designed to enable immediate analysis by medical professionals and laypeople in conjunction with a pathology database.

[0058] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a user scenario for a mobile rheometer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This rheometer device may be, for example, the mobile rheometer device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0059] The illustrated mobile rheometer device 1 is in direct contact with patient 9. In this case, it is conceivable that the mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2 is positioned at least partially directly inside patient 9's body, or only on patient 9's body surface. In other words, the diagnosis can be performed directly inside or on the body surface, and in this case, the mobile rheometer device 1 and its corresponding components are designed to accommodate both variations.

[0060] In one modified example, a mobile rheometer device 1 is placed on the body surface of the patient 9 before tissue sample collection, so that when the sample is collected, it can be directly diagnosed by the mobile rheometer device 1.

[0061] On the right side of the drawing, a user 10 of the mobile rheometer device 1 is shown. This user 10 may be a medical professional such as a surgeon.

[0062] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a further user scenario for the mobile rheometer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This rheometer device may be, for example, the mobile rheometer device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0063] The illustrated mobile rheometer device 1 is not in direct contact with the patient 9, but is positioned near the patient 9. Since the mobile rheometer device 1 is installed, for example, in the same operating room as the patient 9, the mobile rheometer device 1 is positioned near the body of the patient 9 to be examined during surgery.

[0064] In this respect, since the mobile rheometer device 1 is located in a spatially close proximity, it can be used immediately after, for example, a sample such as a tissue sample has been collected.

[0065] Figure 4 shows a schematic flowchart of method M for medical diagnosis of human, animal, or plant samples according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] In step M1 of the first method, the mobile rheometer device 1 according to the present invention is prepared and activated. In step M2 of the second method, a sample of a person, animal, or plant is measured using the mobile rheometer device 1 according to the present invention.

[0067] In step M3 of the third method, the rheological measurement results are classified with respect to at least one medical diagnosis by the mobile rheometer device 1 according to the present invention. In step M4 of the fourth method, the classified results are output by the mobile rheometer device 1 according to the present invention, thereby providing the user of the mobile rheometer device with a subdivided display of the sample by the mobile rheometer device.

[0068] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a further user scenario for the mobile rheometer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This rheometer device may be, for example, the mobile rheometer device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0069] The illustrated mobile rheometer device 1 is in direct contact with the patient 9. In this case, it is conceivable that the mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2 is positioned at least partially directly inside the patient 9's body, or only on the body surface. In other words, the diagnosis can be performed directly inside or on the body surface, and in this case, the mobile rheometer device 1 and its corresponding components are designed to accommodate both variations.

[0070] Unlike in Figure 2, the incision site 11 is shown at the level of the patient's abdomen. In other words, the patient's body is incised, and then the sample is characterized (characterized) or measured at the incision site 11. This characterization or measurement can be performed, for example, by mechanically contacting solid tissue, fluid, digestion intermediates or final products.

[0071] On the right side of the drawing, a user 10 of the mobile rheometer device 1 is shown. This user 10 may be a medical professional such as a surgeon.

[0072] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a further user scenario for the mobile rheometer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This rheometer device may be, for example, the mobile rheometer device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0073] The illustrated mobile rheometer device 1 is in direct contact with patient 9. In this case, it is conceivable that the mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2 is positioned at least partially directly inside patient 9's body, or only on patient 9's body surface. In other words, the diagnosis can be performed directly inside or on the body surface, and in this case, the mobile rheometer device 1 and its corresponding components are designed to accommodate both variations.

[0074] Unlike in Figure 5, the incision site 11 on the body is not shown at the level of the patient's abdomen 9.

[0075] The mobile rheometer device 1 or related rheological measuring instrument 2 is applied only to the surface of the patient's body 9. This can be performed, for example, with a small normal force. In other words, the mobile rheometer device 1 or related rheological measuring instrument 2 is held with a small normal force. Then, for example, vibration measurements of skin tissue can be performed.

[0076] On the right side of the drawing, a user 10 of the mobile rheometer device 1 is shown. This user 10 may be a medical professional such as a surgeon.

[0077] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a further user scenario for the mobile rheometer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This rheometer device may be, for example, the mobile rheometer device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0078] The illustrated mobile rheometer device 1 is in direct contact with patient 9. In this case, it is conceivable that the mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2 is positioned at least partially directly inside patient 9's body, or only on patient 9's body surface. In other words, the diagnosis can be performed directly inside or on the body surface, and in this case, the mobile rheometer device 1 and associated components are designed to accommodate both variations.

[0079] Unlike in Figure 5, the incision site 11 on the body is not shown at the level of the patient's abdomen. The mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2 is applied only to the surface of the patient's body.

[0080] Prior to the actual rheological measurement, the patient's tissue or fluid in this region is stained with a contrast agent. Then, at least one result is obtained, for example, based on flow behavior or viscoelastic behavior, using tomography or other methods. Regarding flow behavior, for example, a flow profile can be measured. This is illustrated in Figure 7 by appropriately stained blood vessels 12 (which are schematically depicted).

[0081] Therefore, it is conceivable that the blood flow profile within the blood vessel 12 can be measured using a mobile rheometer device 1 or an associated rheological measuring instrument 2. The viscoelastic behavior of the sample can be measured using the mobile rheometer device 1 or an associated rheological measuring instrument 2. This measurement can be performed, for example, by moving the tissue structure or general structure of the sample, particularly by applying a temporary electromagnetic field, thereby measuring the corresponding rheological characteristics (rheological properties).

[0082] On the right side of the drawing, a user 10 of the mobile rheometer device 1 is shown. This user 10 may be a medical professional such as a surgeon.

[0083] In one embodiment (not shown in detail), it is conceivable that a sample of patient 9, such as synovial fluid, blood, pericardial fluid, or cerebrospinal fluid, is collected from outside the body for examination and then returned to the body. A mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2 can be specially designed for these purposes.

[0084] For example, a mobile rheometer device 1 or an associated rheological measuring instrument 2 may be equipped with means for receiving an inlet tube containing a substantially liquid sample, passing it through the mobile rheometer device 1 or associated rheological measuring instrument 2, and then returning it to the patient's body 9 via a further tube. Other transport devices may be used instead of tubes, but in this case, a tube made of, for example, substantially plastic is advantageous because it can be flexibly bent in space during the above operation, thereby providing a comfortable-to-use device 1.

[0085] In this regard, it is conceivable that the collected liquid or substantially liquid sample may be disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations without subsequently returning it to the body. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 1. Mobile rheometer device 2. Rheology measuring instruments 3 Main unit 4 Evaluation Units 5. Evaluation Program 6 Output Units 7 Display surface 8. First connection line 9 patients 10 User 11 Incision sites 12 Blood vessels М Method M1 First Method Step M2 Second Method Step M3 Third Method Step M4 Method Step 4

Claims

1. A mobile rheometer device (1) for medical diagnosis of human, animal, or plant samples, comprising a rheology measuring instrument (2), an evaluation unit (4) having an evaluation program (5) and connected to the rheology measuring instrument (2), and an output unit (6) connected to the evaluation unit (4), A mobile rheometer device characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) having an evaluation program (5) is designed to classify rheological parameters measured in a human, animal, or plant sample with respect to at least one medical diagnosis, or to classify them into a group of relevant parameters for a medical diagnosis, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device (1) to be provided with a subdivided display of the sample by the output unit (6).

2. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit (4) having an evaluation program (5) is connectable to or includes at least one database for making medical diagnoses based on rheological parameters of human, animal, or plant samples for classification purposes.

3. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation program (5) is adjustable by at least one user-defined input, thereby enabling individual use of each of the databases.

4. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one user-defined input is selected from input considering gender, nutritional information about a human or animal subject to be examined, drug intake of a human or animal subject to be examined, fertilizer application to a plant subject to be examined, pesticide application to a plant subject to be examined, at least one piece of information about the correlational effects of drugs and pathological changes in at least one living organism, suspected diagnosis, at least one piece of information from a patient registry in at least one country, and at least one piece of information about the medical history of the living organism subject to be examined.

5. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rheological measuring instrument (2) is designed to measure the rheological parameters of the sample of a person, animal, or plant, either in isolation or in vivo.

6. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mobile rheometer device (1) is equipped with an energy system designed to supply electrical energy to the mobile rheometer device (1) autonomously or by an external energy supply network.

7. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the mobile rheometer device (1) substantially comprises an exterior material, in particular special steel or titanium, the material being suitable for sterilization, in particular gamma ray sterilization, so that the mobile rheometer device (1) can be used in an operating room after sterilization, or already at the time of manufacture, or by a medical device sterilization service provider.

8. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mobile rheometer device (1) is designed to measure and classify multiple samples simultaneously.

9. A mobile rheometer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the mobile rheometer device (1) is designed to be controlled by at least one external device that can be coupled with the mobile rheometer device (1).

10. A method for making a medical diagnosis of a human, animal, or plant sample, the method being: - The steps include preparing and starting up the mobile rheometer device (1) described in any one of claims 1 to 9, - The steps of measuring a human, animal, or plant sample using the mobile rheometer device (1), - A step of classifying the results of rheological measurements with respect to at least one medical diagnosis using the mobile rheometer device (1), - The mobile rheometer device (1) outputs the classification results, thereby enabling the user of the mobile rheometer device (1) to provide a detailed display of the sample. Methods that include...

11. The method according to claim 10, the method further, - The step of connecting the evaluation unit (4) having an evaluation program (5) in the mobile rheometer device (1) to at least one database for making medical diagnoses based on the rheological parameters of a human, animal, or plant sample, - The evaluation program (5) is adjusted by at least one user-defined input, thereby enabling the connected external database to be used individually. Methods that include...

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