Laser-assisted optical rotational cell analyser (L.O.R.C.A.); I. A new instrument for measurement of various structural hemorheological parameters

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hardeman, M.R. | Goedhart, P.T. | Dobbe, J.G.G. | Lettinga, K.P.

Affiliations: Dept. of Internal Medicine, Acad. Med. Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands | Dept. of Biomed. Engineering, Acad. Med. Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Abstract: The capacity of red blood cells to deform is of crucial importance for both macro and microcirculation. A satisfying technique for the measurement of this parameter is lacking so far. We have developed and tested in various studies an instrument for automatic measurement of red cell deformability by laser diffractometry. Recently, it appeared that the applicability of the instrument could be extended for measuring another structural hemorheological parameter, red blood cell aggregation. In this communication, a description of the Laser-assisted Optical Rotational Cell Analyser (LORCA) is followed by the general methodology for the measurement of both red blood cell deformability and aggregation, demonstrating the practical versatility of this instrument in the field of hemorheology.

Keywords: Erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, instrumentation, ektacytometry

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1994-14416

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 605-618, 1994