Methods and apparatus for non-invasive determination of patient's blood conditions

Abstract

A method and apparatus are presented for non-invasive determination of blood clotting related and blood circulation related parameters of a mammal. At least one stimulus ST is non-invasively induced in a blood containing medium in the mammal for a preset period of time t ST . This at least one stimulus is selected to cause at least one of the following to occur: (a) inducing at least two of three Virchow's triad elements including abnormalities of blood flow; abnormalities of blood constituents and abnormalities of the blood vessel wall, and (b) inducing a change in red blood cell (RBC) aggregation or local blood viscosity. Measurements are non-invasively performed at a measurement location in the mammal by applying an external field thereto for a preset time period t m , a response of the measurement location to the applied field is detected, and measured data indicative thereof generated. At least a portion of the measured data and stimulus related data are processed so as to determine a relation between a time function of the at least one stimulus ST(t) and a time function of the measured data OR(t). This relation is indicative of at least one blood circulation and blood coagulation related parameter of the mammal.

1 . A non-invasive method for determination of blood clotting related and blood circulation related parameters of a mammal, the method comprising:
 (i) non-invasively inducing at least one stimulus ST in a blood containing medium in the mammal for a preset period of time t ST , said at least one stimulus being selected to cause at least one of the following to occur:
 (a) inducing at least two of three Virchow's triad elements including abnormalities of blood flow; abnormalities of blood constituents and abnormalities of the blood vessel wall, and 
 (b) inducing a change in red blood cell (RBC) aggregation or local blood viscosity; 
   (ii) performing non-invasive measurements at a measurement location in the mammal by applying an external field thereto for a preset time period t M ; detecting a response of the measurement location to the applied field; and generating measured data indicative thereof; and   (iii) processing at least a portion of the measured data and processing stimulus related data so as to determine a relation between a time function of said at least one stimulus ST(t) and a time function of the measured data OR(t), said relation being indicative of at least one blood circulation and blood coagulation related parameter of the mammal.