Abstract: A method for calculating a coagulation characteristic of a sample of blood, a blood fraction, or a control comprises generating an output signal indicative of coagulation of the sample, sampling the output signal at a sampling rate for a predetermined time to provide a plurality of sampled signal values, storing the sampled signal values, rectifying the stored sampled signal values to provide a plurality of envelope values, and storing the envelope values. The stored envelope values are examined in reverse time order to determine a slope of the envelope at each of the stored envelope values. All relative maxima in the stored envelope values are identified. A range of stored envelope values corresponding to each relative maximum is determined. The identified relative maxima are compared to locate an absolute maximum in the stored envelope values.

Abstract: A disposable device for making an incision in the skin of a human or animal by a retracting blade member that selfretracts after the incision is completed for bleeding time determinations, is disclosed. The device comprises a housing, a hammer mechanism pivotably positioned within the housing and including a cam surface, and a selfretracting shuttle supported within the housing and including a cam follower surface, the shuttle operative to travel in a vertical direction by (i) the movement of the cam surface along the cam follower surface and (ii) the force exerted on the shuttle by a first spring extending from the shuttle. Secured on the shuttle is a cutting surface {(blade(s)} operative to move out of the housing to make the incision and then selfretract into the housing.

Abstract: A profile analysis reaction pack and related apparatus are disclosed, along with a method for simultaneously mixing, heating and reacting selected test reagents with multiple dilutions of a sample of body fluid to obtain a profile of the physiological condition of a given organ system. Each pack takes the form of a laminated card having a relatively rigid flat panel of transparent material secured to an opaque resilient panel, the resilient panel being preformed to define a plurality of generally semi-cylindrical reaction chambers disposed between the respective panels. During a profile test procedure, a sample of the body fluid to be tested is withdrawn from a storage chamber in the same pack and each reaction chamber is then injected with a diluted portion of the sample fluid. Temperature control is achieved by bracing the rigid panel of the pack against a fixed heated platen and by contacting the generally semi-cylindrical wall portion of each reaction chamber with a movable heated platen.