Apparatus, Systems And Methods For Integrative Photo-Optical/Mechanical Test For Noncontact Measurement Of Polymerization

Abstract

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to ATPA technology that provides a method for the real-time assessment of the polymerization of a sample, e.g., whole blood or blood plasma coagulation, by a non-contact acoustic tweezing device. The acoustic tweezing technology integrates photo-optical tests used in plasma coagulation assays with mechanical (viscoelastic) tests used in whole blood analysis. Its key disruptive features are the increased reliability and accuracy due to non-contact measurement, low sample volume requirement, relatively short procedure time (less than 10 minutes), and the ability to assess the level of Factor XIII function from measurements of the fibrin network formation time.

1 . A noncontact, acoustic-tweezing method of measuring time-dependent rheological and polymerization properties of a sample comprising:
 a. levitating the sample;   b. modulating the amplitude of acoustic pressure applied to the sample so as to induce deformation;   c. capturing at least one image of the sample;   d. collecting at least one photo-optical measurement and at least one mechanical measurement from the captured images of the levitating sample during deformation; and   e. determining at least one rheological property of the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deformation is quasi-static or oscillatory. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining at least one kinetic property of sample polymerization. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rheological property is coagulation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one photo-optical measurement is selected from the group consisting of: light intensity, laser scattering intensity and turbidity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical measurement is elasticity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one image is a photographic or a laser scattering image. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one image is. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising executing data analysis on the collected at least one photo-optical measurement and at least one mechanical measurement. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is a biological material selected from the group consisting of: whole blood, blood plasma, mucus, sperm, lymph, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and soft biological tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of: a polymer, a polymer gel and a polymeric liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one photo-optical measurement is selected from the group consisting of: average light intensity through central area of the sample and turbidity of the sample over time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mechanical measurements are determined from quasi-static and oscillatory deformation of the sample for different acoustic pressure amplitudes at different times. 
     
     
         14 . A noncontact, acoustic-tweezing system for measuring time-dependent rheological and polymerization properties of a sample comprising:
 a. levitator configured to levitate the sample;   b. an amplitude modulator configured to modulate acoustic pressure applied to the sample so as to induce deformation;   c. a camera configured to capture at least one image of the sample and generate captured images; and   d. a data acquisition system configured to:
 i. collect:
 A. at least one photo-optical measurement of the sample; and 
 B. at least one mechanical measurement of the sample during deformation from the captured images, and 
 
 ii. determine at least one rheological property of the sample. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the deformation is quasi-static or oscillatory. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the data acquisition system is configured to determine at least one kinetic property of sample polymerization. 
     
     
         17 . A noncontact, acoustic-tweezing system for measuring time-dependent rheological and polymerization properties of a sample comprising:
 a. levitator configured to levitate the sample;   b. a camera configured to capture at least one image of the sample and generate captured images; and   c. a data acquisition system configured to collect at least one photo-optical measurement of the sample and determine at least one rheological property of the sample.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the data acquisition system is configured to collect at least one mechanical measurement of the sample. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the data acquisition system is configured to generate a mechanical tweezograph. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the data acquisition system is configured to generate a photo-optical tweezograph.