Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of measuring the deformation and deformation capacity of microscopic objects in suspension in a liquid comprising the steps of : placing said suspension between inner and outer transparent coaxial walls having a common axis of rotation ; directing a beam of light through said liquid substantially normal to the common axis of said coaxial walls causing diffraction rings to form on a screen ; measuring the characteristic dimensions of the diffraction rings while said walls are at rest ; rotating said inner and outer coaxial walls at different speeds of rotation relative to their common axis of rotation ; measuring the characteristic dimensions of the diffraction rings while said walls are rotating relative to each other ; and determining the deformation and the deformation capacity of said microscopic objects as a function of the relative speed of rotation of the two walls.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of measuring the deformation and deformation capacity of microscopic objects in suspension in a liquid comprising the steps of : placing said suspension between inner and outer transparent coaxial walls having a common axis of rotation ; directing a beam of light through said liquid substantially normal to the common axis of said coaxial walls causing diffraction rings to form on a screen ; measuring the characteristic dimensions of the diffraction rings while said walls are at rest ; rotating said inner and outer coaxial walls at different speeds of rotation relative to their common axis of rotation ; measuring the characteristic dimensions of the diffraction rings while said walls are rotating relative to each other ; and determining the deformation and the deformation capacity of said microscopic objects as a function of the relative speed of rotation of the two walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an inert macromolecule such as dextran is added to said suspension to increase its viscosity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said microscopic objects are red blood corpuscles
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner wall is immobile when said outer wall is rotating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
A device implementing the method according to claim 1 comprising : an outer cylindrical wall ; an inner cylindrical wall disposed with said outer cylindrical wall, and coaxial with said outer wall, the distance between walls forming an annular space ; rotating means connected to said outer and inner cylindrical walls for driving said walls at different rotational speeds with respect to their common axis : a light source disposed adjacent to said outer and inner walls ; directing means connected to one of said walls for directing the light beams from said light source through said suspension in a parallel light beam substantially normal to the common axis of said walls; and imaging means adjacent to said walls for observing the pattern of diffraction of said light beam after if passes through said suspension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 5 further including recording means for recording the diffraction pattern of said microscopic objects.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the radial thickness of said annular space is ≦ 1 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said light source is a laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said microscopic objects are red blood corpuscles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said walls are transparent.