Method and apparatus for determining markers of health by analysis of blood

Abstract

Biomarkers of high blood pressure are measured to identify high blood pressure of the subject based on one or more biomarkers. In many embodiments, the response of the biomarker to blood pressure occurs over the course of at least an hour, such that the high blood pressure identification is based on a cumulative effect of physiology of the subject over a period of time. The methods and apparatus of identifying high blood pressure with biomarkers have the advantage of providing improved treatment of the subject, as the identified biomarker can be related to an effect of the high blood pressure on the subject, such as a biomarker corresponding to central blood pressure. The sample can be subjected to increases in one or more of pressure or temperatures, and changes in the blood sample measured over time.

1 .- 180 . (canceled) 
     
     
         181 . An apparatus to evaluate a health marker from blood of a subject, comprising:
 a sample container to receive a blood sample of the subject, the sample container extending a distance in a vertical direction to gravimetrically separate red blood cells within the sample to a first component of the sample and a second component of the sample, wherein the first component comprises red blood cells and the second component comprises serum;   at least one light source to illuminate the sample with light;   a spectrometer comprising one or more optics to couple to the container to receive the light and measure a first spectrum from the first component of the sample and to measure a second spectrum from the second component of the sample comprising a decreased amount of red blood cells in relation to the sample; and   a processor comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to evaluate the health marker of the subject in response to detecting, between the first spectrum and the second spectrum, a shift of one or more of an Amide I peak, an Amide II peak, a Carboxylate peak, or an Amide III band of the blood sample of the subject.   
     
     
         182 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein health marker comprises a plaque biomarker and the instructions further comprise instructions to identify the plaque biomarker of the blood sample. 
     
     
         183 . An apparatus as in  claim 182 , wherein the plaque biomarker comprises a material of one or more of a foam-cell rich plaque, a lipid-rich plaque, or a collagen-rich plaque. 
     
     
         184 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the processor comprises instructions to identify the health marker in response to an evanescent wave measurement of the sample on a measurement surface. 
     
     
         185 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the processor comprises instructions to identify the health marker in response to a transmission measurement of the sample. 
     
     
         186 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the first component comprises red blood cells and the second component comprises one or more of serum or plasma. 
     
     
         187 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the processor is configured to measure the first component of the blood sample with one or more of a first evanescent wave measurement or a first optical transmission measurement and to measure the second component with one or more of a second evanescent wave measurement or a second optical transmission measurement. 
     
     
         188 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the processor is configured to measure the first component of the blood sample the first optical transmission measurement and to measure the second component with the second optical transmission measurement. 
     
     
         189 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the apparatus is configured to measure the blood sample in the presence of an anticoagulant in order to permit the sample to separate gravimetrically. 
     
     
         190 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the processor comprises instructions to pressurize the sample and to identify the health marker. 
     
     
         191 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the health marker is correlated with clinical measurement obtained from a plurality of patients. 
     
     
         192 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the processor further comprises instructions to perform one or more of transforming or calibrating health marker data based on the first spectrum and the second spectrum in response to measured health data of a plurality of subjects. 
     
     
         193 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the health marker comprises one or more of adenosine triphosphate, one or more transmembrane proteins, one or more proteins of a membrane skeleton, one or more lipids of a red blood cell membrane, a relative ratio of the one or more lipids of the red blood cell membrane, or biomaterial deposited on a surface of the red blood cell membrane. 
     
     
         194 . An apparatus as in  claim 181 , wherein the health marker of the blood sample comprises a plurality of biomarkers comprising a spectral signal and wherein the instructions comprise instructions to identify the plurality of biomarkers in response to the shift of one or more of an Amide I peak, an Amide II peak, a Carboxylate peak, or an Amide III band of the blood sample of the subject.