MAGNETOELASTIC SENSOR ELEMENT HAVING A LIQUID-SOLID INTERFACE WITH A ROUGHENED NANO/MICROSTRUCTURE

摘要

An analyzer-unit and method that uses information obtained from at least one, yet adapted for a plurality of, magnetoelastic sensor element in contact with a liquid sample (e.g., blood from a patient) for automatically quantifying one or more parameters thereof. The sensor element compriese a liquid-solid interface having a roughened nano/ micro-structure. Information obtained from emissions measured from each sensor element is uniquely processed to determine a quantification about a patient's blood, such as, quantifying platelet aggregation to determine platelet contribution toward clot formation; quantifying fibrin network contribution toward clot formation; quantifying platelet-fibrin clot interactions; quantifying kinetics of thrombin clot generation; quantifying platelet-fibrin clot strength; etc. Structural aspects of unit include: a cartridge having at least one bay within which a sensor element is positioned; each bay in fluid communication with an entry port for injecting a first blood sample, and a gas vent.