Handheld Optical Thromboelastography for Rapid Coagulation Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coagulation monitoring methods are inadequate for rapidly changing coagulation conditions in critically ill or injured patients, leading to delays in managing bleeding and thrombosis, and there is a lack of tools for effective point-of-care monitoring of blood coagulation status.
Innovation Solution
An optical thromboelastography system that uses laser speckle analysis to measure viscoelastic properties of blood, providing rapid and comprehensive coagulation metrics such as clotting time, clot strength, fibrinolysis, and platelet function, using a portable device with disposable cartridges that allow for simultaneous multi-parametric measurement of coagulation parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laboratory-based coagulation testing is used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical laboratory testing methods with an optical measurement system. The optical thromboelastography system uses light scattering and speckle pattern analysis to measure blood coagulation properties, eliminating the need for traditional mechanical mixing and chemical reagent-based testing while maintaining measurement accuracy and significantly reducing testing time to provide real-time results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from traditional mechanical/chemical properties to optical properties. By measuring light scattering patterns and speckle fluctuations in blood samples, the system derives coagulation metrics such as clot formation time, clot strength, and fibrinolysis rate, providing comprehensive coagulation assessment through optical parameter changes.
2Loss of information
If multiple coagulation parameters are measured simultaneously, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal optical measurement platform that can simultaneously measure multiple coagulation parameters including clotting time, clot strength, fibrinolysis, and platelet function. The single optical detection system analyzes different aspects of blood coagulation through comprehensive speckle pattern analysis, eliminating the need for separate testing devices for each parameter and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coagulation measurement process into distinct analytical components within the optical system. Different algorithms process specific aspects of the speckle data to extract various coagulation metrics independently, allowing simultaneous measurement of multiple parameters while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular data processing.
3Measurement precision
If conventional laboratory testing is used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical laboratory testing procedures with rapid optical measurement. The optical thromboelastography system captures speckle patterns continuously and processes them in real-time, providing accurate coagulation results without the delays inherent in traditional sample preparation, mechanical mixing, and manual analysis procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous optical monitoring of blood coagulation throughout the entire clotting process. Unlike discrete laboratory testing that samples at specific time points, the optical system continuously captures speckle patterns from blood samples, providing uninterrupted real-time data on clot formation, maturation, and breakdown, thereby increasing testing throughput and productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, accurate, and cost-effective monitoring of coagulation status at the point of care, improving patient outcomes by identifying coagulation defects and tailoring interventions for bleeding or thrombosis, with results comparable to conventional laboratory tests.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detector unit configured to receive light that has been delivered from a source of coherent light into the analysis chambers of the plurality of operationally-parallel read-out channels simultaneously and that has interacted with a portion of the blood samples contained therein
Implementation Method 2
a source of coherent light
Implementation Method 3
optical data including a time-varying series of speckle images from each analysis chamber, each speckle image obtained from the interaction between the light and particles within the blood sample
Implementation Method 4
each speckle image obtained from the interaction between the light and particles within the blood sample contained in the respective analysis chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
Hand-held optical thromboelastographic sensor and method of using the same for simultaneous assessment of multiple parameters of blood coagulation at a point-of-care. The sensor includes an optical system registering laser speckle intensities associated with portions of a blood sample delivered through a fluid switch to analysis chambers of a cartridge of the sensor, and data-processing circuitiy programmed to derive the multiple parameters from speckle intensity. The circuitry may be part of a mobile device configured to operate without communication with a central server and/or data storage.