Laser Speckle Correlation for Whole Blood Coagulation Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring blood coagulation time are limited as they require plasma samples, are complex, expensive, and not suitable for whole blood, necessitating laboratory-based fractionation and involving unsatisfactory signal-to-noise ratios and inaccurate coagulation time determination.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing coherent light to illuminate a blood sample, acquiring a time series of speckle pattern images, and processing these images by analyzing pixel-by-pixel variations between successive images to calculate a function representative of the speckle pattern change, enabling accurate coagulation and sedimentation dynamics measurement, suitable for both whole blood and plasma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical methods are used to measure coagulation time, then measurement can be performed on plasma samples, but the method is not suitable for whole blood due to opacity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from direct light transmission intensity to speckle pattern correlation. By illuminating the sample with coherent laser light and analyzing the temporal variations in speckle patterns, the method overcomes the opacity problem of whole blood while maintaining measurement precision. The speckle correlation technique is insensitive to overall light intensity changes, allowing accurate coagulation time measurement in opaque whole blood samples.
2Measurement precision
If plasma fractionation is performed in a specialized laboratory, then coagulation time can be measured with conventional methods, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential measurement function from the complex laboratory process. Instead of requiring plasma fractionation and multiple reagent additions, the device directly measures coagulation time in whole blood using laser speckle correlation. This eliminates the need for complex sample preparation while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the speckle technique works directly with intact blood samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the measurement system to work directly with whole blood samples without requiring external plasma fractionation services. The laser speckle correlation method is self-sufficient in handling opaque samples, eliminating the need for specialized laboratory infrastructure and manual plasma separation procedures.
3Ease of operation
If magnetic bead methods are used to measure coagulation time, then the measurement can be performed optically, but the signal-to-noise ratio is unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses optical copying of the speckle pattern rather than direct detection of magnetic bead positions. The laser speckle pattern serves as an optical copy of the blood sample's internal structure and dynamics. By analyzing temporal correlations in this optical copy, the method achieves high signal-to-noise ratio without requiring physical magnetic beads or complex optical detection systems.
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
This approach provides more accurate results, is simpler and less expensive, and allows for on-site measurement of coagulation dynamics, eliminating the need for plasma fractionation and enabling miniaturization of the device for whole blood analysis.
Implementation Method 1
illuminating a sample of said fluid with a beam of coherent light; acquiring a time series of images of a speckle pattern generated by interaction between said sample and said spatially coherent light beam
Implementation Method 2
the particles (platelets, proteins) in suspension in the plasma diffract and diffuse light
Implementation Method 3
the particles (platelets, proteins) in suspension in the plasma diffract and diffuse light
Data Source
AI summary
A method of characterizing the coagulation or sedimentation dynamics of a fluid such as whole blood, a blood fraction, or blood plasma is provided. The method includes illuminating a sample of the fluid with a beam of coherent light; acquiring a time series of images of a speckle pattern generated by interaction between the sample and the spatially coherent light beam; and processing the time series of images. The processing step includes calculating a function representative of the variation in the speckle pattern between two or more images of the series. The invention also provides a device for implementing such a method.