Method and apparatus for determination of medical diagnostics utilizing biological fluids

• US 7,350,402 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARIA Analytics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ARIA Analytics Incorporated
• Inventors: Dowell, Michael B., Yakhno, Vladimir Grigorievich, Sanin, Anatoly Gennadievich, Vacca, Christina V., Goutorova, Valentina B., Yakhno, Tatjana Anatoljevna, Pelushenko, Artem S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US11/098,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 736/49, 73/645.3, 73/530.4, 73/617.3, 735/74, 73/540.7, 73/617.4, 73/542.4, 73/240.1, 733/350.3, 733/350.6, 73/614.5, 73/617.7, 73/617.9
• US Class Current: 73/64.53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0094 Visco-elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02466 Biological material, e.g. blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0258 Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02827 Elastic parameters, strength or force
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0421 Longitudinal waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0422 Shear waves, transverse waves, horizontally polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/028 by measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/032 by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/48 by amplitude comparison
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 Food
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/04 Dairy products
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/14 Beverages

Abstract

A method for measuring changes in the composition of fluids, for medical diagnostics or quality control of fluids, comprising:

• • One) placing a drop of fluid upon a quartz crystal;
  • Two) generating ultrasonic vibrations of a predetermined frequency in the crystal; with the vibrating wave directed into the drop of fluid in a vertical direction relative to the area of the crystal upon which the drop is placed;
  • Three) measuring voltage changes over a bridge circuit connected to the crystal, over a time period during which total or partial evaporation of the liquid occurs;
  • Four) comparing the measurement result to previously obtained results or to predetermined data;
  • Five) detecting changes in the composition of the fluid, from the results. detecting changes in the composition of the fluid, from said results.

Claims

1. A method for measuring changes in the composition of a fluid, useful for medical diagnostics or quality control of fluids, comprising the steps

a. placing a drop of fluid upon a predetermined area of a quartz crystal;

b. generating ultrasonic vibrations of a predetermined frequency in said crystal;

wherein the vibrating wave is directed into the drop of fluid in a vertical direction relative to the area of said crystal upon which the drop is placed;

c. measuring voltage changes over a bridge circuit connected to the crystal, over a time period during which total or partial evaporation of the liquid occurs;

d. comparing the results of said measurements to previously obtained results or to predetermined data; and

e. detecting changes in the composition of said fluid, from said results.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is a bodily fluid.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said bodily fluid is selected from blood, a blood component, saliva, sputum, urine, feces, semen, or sweat.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is a fossil fuel.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said is an alcohol.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the said drop of said fluid has a volume of 5 microliters.

7. A method for measuring changes in the composition of a fluid, useful for medical diagnostics or quality control of fluids, said method comprising the steps:

a. Selecting an electro-acoustic resonator having a first side opposite a second side along a longitudinal axis;

b. Placing a drop of multi-component fluid on said first side;

c. Imparting an oscillation on said resonator along said longitudinal axis at said second side; and

d. Measuring the changes caused in the acoustical mechanical impedance caused to said resonator as said drop dries.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said imparted oscillation is a shear oscillation imparted at a constant frequency.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said imparted oscillation is of a sinusoidal form.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said imparted oscillation corresponds to a frequency of the first longitudinal resonance of said resonator.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said resonator comprises a rectangular plate of quartz.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said measuring comprises:

a. Applying an electric field to said resonator in a direction perpendicular to said imparted oscillation;

b. Tracking the electric conductance of said resonator as said drop dries;

c. Generating an amplitude curve from said tracking that corresponds to the modulus of the acoustic-mechanical impedance of said resonator-drop combination;

d. Mapping said amplitude curve; and

e. Analyzing the particular geometry of said amplitude curve.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said analyzing of said particular geometry of said amplitude curve includes comparing said mapped amplitude curve against a known amplitude curve.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said analyzing of the particular geometry of said amplitude.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said spatio-temporal development and phase transitions is used for integral estimation of medical diagnostics and biological fluid quality.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the dynamics of said acoustal-mechanical impedance of the drying drops that reflects the variation in their viscoelastic properties is used as an identifying characteristic of a biological liquid.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein said resonator comprises:

a rectangular plate of quartz capable of receiving a drop of biological fluid at one end;

a plurality of electrical conductors affixed tot he center of said rectangular plate and in electrical communication with an excitation voltage;

means for imparting longitudinal mechanical oscillation to said rectangular plate; and

means for measuring the changes in the excitation voltage;

wherein changes in the excitation voltage caused by the drying of said drop on said plate corresponds to said acoustal-mechanical impedance of said plate-drop combination.