Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for measuring the end point of blood coagulation time comprising the steps of providing a mixture of a blood sample and a reagent, irradiating the mixture with light. detecting the amount of light scattered from the irradiated mixture and producing an electrical signal representative thereof, and determining from said electrical signal a first time at which the most rapid change in the electrical signal is occurring and then determining as the end point at a time prior to said first time the time at which a change which is 1/n that of the most rapid change occurred, where n is greater than 1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for measuring the end point of blood coagulation time comprising the steps of providing a mixture of a blood sample and a reagent, irradiating the mixture with light. detecting the amount of light scattered from the irradiated mixture and producing an electrical signal representative thereof, and determining from said electrical signal a first time at which the most rapid change in the electrical signal is occurring and then determining as the end point at a time prior to said first time the time at which a change which is 1/n that of the most rapid change occurred, where n is greater than 1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting further comprises converting said electrical signal into digital signals at successive time intervals and storing the digital signals at succesive time intervals and storing the digital signals, and the step of determining comprises comparing successively stored digital signals to determine the maximum difference between two successively stored digital signals as said first time at which the most rapid change is taking place.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein n is an integer of 2 or more.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for measuring the end point of blood coagulation time comprising: a cell for containing a mixture of blood plasma and a reagent, means for irradiating the mixture with an amount of light, means for detecting the amount of light scattered by the irradiated mixture and producing an electrical output signal representative thereof, means for measuring at predetermined times the rate of change of said output signal corresponding to the rate of change of the scattered light, means for determining a first time at which the maximum rate of change of the output signal takes place and for determining as the end point of the coagulation a time prior to said first time at which the rate of change of the output signal is 1/n that of the maximum rate of change, where n is greater than 1.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for measuring the end point of blood coagulation time comprising: a cell for containing a mixture of blood plasma and a reagent, means for irradiating the mixture with an amount of light, means for detecting the amount of light scattered by the irradiated mixture and producing an electrical output signal representative thereof, means for measuring at predetermined times the rate of change of said output signal corresponding to the rate of change of the scattered light, means for determining a first time at which the maximum rate of change of the output signal takes place and for determining as the end point of the coagulation a time prior to said first time at which the rate of change of the output signal is 1/n that of the maximum rate of change, where n is greater than 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as in claim 4 where n is an integer in the range of 2 to 5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said measuring means comprises means for converting said output signal at said predetermined times into digital signals, means for storing said digital signals, said determining means comparing successive stored digitial signals to determine said first time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 6 wherein said determining means includes means for determining from the stored digital signals the time when the rate of change of the output signal is 1/n that of the maximum rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 4 further comprising switch means operatively related to said cell for starting the measuring upon placing the reagent into the cell.