DEVELOPMENT OF A WHOLE-BLOOD PLATELET AGGREGOMETER

这要求研究和开发一种评估血小板功能的诊断工具;该仪器将利用激光散射法检测血液中的血小板聚集体。目前的血小板聚集仪在不含红细胞的介质中评估血小板聚集，或者使用间接方法来外推与血小板聚集相关的信息。申请人已经测试了在所有血细胞（全血）存在下利用光散射概念检测血小板聚集体的可行性。初步结果所显示的前景促使人们努力开发全血凝集仪。几乎所有配备合理的止血实验室都可以找到血小板聚集仪;它们被广泛用于检查异常止血患者血液中的血小板功能。申请人预期，光散射全血凝集仪将极大地促进凝集试验的性能，它将更具成本效益，并最大限度地减少操作员接触血液的风险。它将在更生理相关的条件下评估血小板功能，并且它在检测血小板异常的能力方面具有更灵敏的潜力。这项工作将需要开发一个合适的样品室，优化信号检测方案和适当的数据处理和显示结果的算法。拟议的商业应用：本研究将导致开发一种在临床实验室中应用的器械。该设备将测试血小板的功能状态，并帮助识别这些细胞的异常。该器械将允许评估未稀释全血中的血小板功能;这是现有凝集仪无法实现的。

This a request for investigation and development of a diagnostic tool to assess platelet function; the instrument will utilize a laser light.scattering method to detect platelet aggregates in blood. Current platelet aggregometers assess platelet aggregation either in media free of erythrocytes, or an indirect approach is used to extrapolate information relating to platelet aggregation. The applicants have tested the feasibility of utilizing the light-scattering concept for detection of platelet aggregates in the presence of all blood cells (whole blood). The promise shown by preliminary results has prompted the efforts for development of a whole blood aggregometer. Platelet aggregometers can be found in nearly all reasonably equipped hemostasis laboratories; they are widely used to examine platelet function in the blood of patients with abnormal hemostasis. The applicants anticipate that the light-scattering whole blood aggregometer will greatly facilitate the performance of aggregation tests, it will be more cost-effective, and minimize the risk of operator contact with blood. It will assess platelet function in more physiologically relevant conditions and it has the potential of being more sensitive in its ability to detect platelet abnormalities. The work will entail development of a suitable sample chamber, optimization of signal detection scheme and proper algorithms for data processing and display of results. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This research will lead to the development of a device which will have applications in clinical laboratories. The device will test the functional status of blood platelets and help in identifying abnormalities in these cells. The device will permit assessment of platelet function in undiluted whole blood; this is not possible with the existing aggregometers.