Measurements of RBC deformability and its effect on blood viscosity

적혈구 변형성의 측정과 혈액 점도와의 상관관계 연구

A slit-flow apparatus with laser diffraction method has been developed with significant advances in ektacytometry design, operation and data analysis. In the slit-flow ektacytometry (or laser-diffractometry), the deformation of red blood cells subjected to continuously decreasing shear stress in slit flow is measured. A laser beam traverses a diluted blood suspension flowing through a slit and is diffracted by RBCs in the volume. The diffraction patterns are captured by a CCD-video camera, linked to a frame grabber integrated with a computer, while the differential pressure variation is measured by a pressure transducer. Both measurements of laser-diffraction image and pressure with respect to time enable to determine deformation index and the shear stress. The range of shear stress of 0 ${\sim}$ 35 Pa and measuring time is less than 2 min. When deforming under decreasing shear stress, RBCs change gradually from the prolate ellipsoid towards a circular biconcave morphology. The Deformation Index (DI) as a measure of RBC deformability is determined from an isointensity curve in the diffraction pattern using an ellipse-fitting program. The advantages of this design are simplicity, i.e., ease of operation and no moving parts, low cost, short operating time, and the disposable kit which is contacted with blood sample.