Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining new anticoagulant therapy factors for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. The inventive methods and apparatus provide an International Normalization Ratio (INR) based on a coagulation reaction with a blood sample of a living being. Embodiments include methods and apparatus for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor without requiring use of a mean normal prothrombin time determination or an ISI, and may be carried out with the patient sample and a coagulation reagent, where the coagulation reagent may be selected from a number of coagulation reagents.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved spectrometric devices useful for measuring optical quantities of a component, including a solid state LED emitter, having at least one wavelength that is matched to the wavelength that is useful for the spectral analysis of the component of interest, a photodetection cell and an optimizing configuration and permits control of the LED emitter and the detector sensitivity to provide a range of detection for the signals corresponding to the optical density of a sample being analyzed and that affords sensitivity for a desired component of a sample by minimizing the error associated with electronic components and signals. Preferred embodiments also include configurations for determining an anticoagulant therapy value that may be used to determine treatment for a patient.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining new anticoagulant therapy factors for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. The inventive methods and apparatus provide an International Normalization Ratio (INR) based on a coagulation reaction with a blood sample of a living being. Embodiments include methods and apparatus for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor without requiring use of a mean normal prothrombin time determination or an ISI, and may be carried out with the patient sample and a coagulation reagent, where the coagulation reagent may be selected from a number of coagulation reagents.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining a new anticoagulant therapy factors for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. New anticoagulant therapy factors maybe based upon the time to maximum acceleration from the time of reagent injection (TX) into a plasma sample, Embodiments include methods and apparatus for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor without requiring use of a mean normal prothrombin time determination or ISI, and may be carried out with the patient sample and a coagulation reagent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining a prothombotic condition, including a condition of hypercoagulability. The determination is based on the clotting of a sample of blood or blood components which involves reacting the sample with a clotting agent and recording time and absorbance values. A slope determination is utilized to determine an indicator for a prothrombotic condition. The indicator according to embodiments, may be determined through the derivation of an angle in conjunction with the clotting analysis and slope.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining a new anticoagulant therapy factors for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. New anticoagulant therapy factors maybe based upon the time to maximum acceleration from the time of reagent injection (TX) into a plasma sample, Embodiments include methods and apparatus for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor without requiring use of a mean normal prothrombin time determination or ISI, and may be carried out with the patient sample and a coagulation reagent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining a new anticoagulant therapy factor (nATF) for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. In one embodiment, the new anticoagulant therapy factor is based upon a determination of a new fibrinogen transformation rate (nFTR) which, in turn, is dependent on a maximum acceleration point (MAP) for fibrinogen (FBG) conversion. The new anticoagulant therapy factor quantity is also based upon the time to maximum acceleration from the time of reagent injection (TX) into a plasma sample, but does not require the difficulty of obtaining prior art International Normalized Ratio (INR) and International Sensitivity Index (ISI) parameters. Other embodiments provide methods and apparatus for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor without requiring use of a mean normal prothrombin time determination or ISI.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a new anticoagulant therapy factor (nATF) for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. The new anticoagulant therapy factor (nATF) is based upon a determination of the new fibrinogen transformation rate (nFTR) which, in turn, is dependent on a maximum acceleration point (MAP) for fibrinogen (FBG) conversion. The nATF quantity is also based upon the time to maximum acceleration from the time of reagent injection (TX) into a plasma sample, but does not require the difficulty of obtaining prior art International Normalized Ratio (INR) and International Sensitivity Index (ISI) parameters. The International Normalized Ratio (INR) was created to relate all species' clotting material to human clotting material, and nATF can replace INR in anticoagulant therapy management.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing coagulation studies, chemistry procedures and the like, the apparatus including a container having a space for containing a body fluid sample therein, a covered opening and being provided with optically clear sides and a uniform cross-sectional configuration over at least a portion of the container, the cover being pierceable to permit the selective addition of reagents to be delivered into the container space, and the apparatus and method facilitating carrying out analytical procedures on body fluid sample when it is contained in the container. The apparatus further including instrumentation for optically reading and analyzing the fluid sample and adding appropriate reagents while the sample it is in the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses are disclosed for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor (ATF), a corrected anticoagulant therapy factor (CATF), and a modified anticoagulant therapy factor (MATF), all selectively used for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. The anticoagulant therapy factor (ATF), the corrected anticoagulant therapy factor (CATF), and a modified anticoagulant therapy factor (MATF) are based upon disclosed methods for determining the fibrinogen transformation rate (FTR) which, in turn, is dependent on a maximum acceleration point for fibrinogen (FBG) conversion. The ATF, CATF, and MATF quantities are also based upon the prothrombin time (PT), but have no need for the difficulty to obtain prior art International Normalized Ratio (INR) and International Sensitivity Index (ISI) parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for measuring the concentration of fibrinogen that contributes to the clotting of blood. The apparatus utilizes a potentiophotometer that provides an output which is directly indicative of the fibrinogen concentration in the blood sample. The present invention takes into account the prothrombin time which is defined as the time between the injection of a reagent into a sample of the blood being measured and the time of the clotting or coagulation. The present invention relies on the knowledge that a specified minimum amount of fibrinogen needs to be present in the blood sample in order to detect the forming of a clot. After the detection of the specified minimum amount, the invention then relies on monitors for the fibrinogen concentration to decrease to a value which is less than the specified minimum amount.

Abstract: The fibrinogen concentration of a blood plasma sample is measured and simultaneously the prothrombin time is determined. Potentiophotometric apparatus is used in which the output signal is applied to an analog/digital converter and digital recorder. Digital voltage values are developed and then printed in an array. A computer records digital voltage values produced by the apparatus with a plasma sample in the test tube before injection of thromboplastin. The time of the injection is identified by a substantial change in the recorded voltage values. After a short time delay the digital voltage value is noted and thereafter this voltage value is compared with a second voltage value. A difference of three or more identifies the beginning of clotting. The first of the two voltage numbers is identified x and is compared with the voltage value 60 seconds later, which is identified y. The delta voltage value is y-x.