METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NEWTONIAN AND NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS

摘要

Method, apparatus and micro-rheometer for measuring rheological properties of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The micro-rheometer (1) comprises a microchannel (2) with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5); and a sensor array arranged along the microchannel (2) to measure rheological properties of a fluid (7) flowing through the microchannel (2). The sensor array comprises a plurality of pairs of electrodes (8, 8'), the two electrodes of each pair of electrodes being placed face to face within the microchannel (2) to function as an electronic switch when the fluid (7) flows through them. The micro-rheometer (1) of the invention is a small portable device useful for medical diagnosis in diseases associated to changes in blood viscosity, operating in a wide range of shear rates.