Hemostasis analyzer and method

1. An apparatus for measuring hemostasis comprising:

a container adapted to hold a blood sample such that a surface of the blood sample is substantially unconstrained in one direction;

a shaker adapted to displace the container in order to cause an excitation of the blood sample and corresponding resonant displacement of the surface along the one direction; and

a sensor adapted to determine the resonant displacement of the surface along the one direction, wherein the direction is vertical and the surface is a bottom surface of the blood sample.

2. A method for measuring hemostasis comprising:

providing a blood sample;

exciting the blood sample to a resonant state by displacing the blood sample to create displacement of a surface of the blood sample in a direction;

observing the amplitude and frequency of the displacement of the surface of the blood sample;

determining a resonant frequency of the blood sample to provide a plurality of resonant frequencies of the blood sample based upon the observed amplitude and frequency of the surface; and

deriving a hemostasis characteristic of the blood sample from the plurality of resonant frequencies of the blood sample.

3. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising displacing the blood sample at a frequency, and incrementally varying the frequency until a resonant frequency of the blood sample is determined.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein displacing the blood sample comprises displacing the blood sample a at displacement frequency, the method further comprising incrementally varying the displacement frequency to determine the plurality of resonant frequencies of the blood sample before, during and after hemostasis of the blood sample, wherein the plurality of the resonant frequencies are indicative of the hemostasis characteristics of the blood sample.

5. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

displacing the blood sample with a frequency function, the frequency function having frequency components, and the frequency components being selected from a range of frequencies; and

determining a plurality of resonant frequencies of the blood sample before, during and after hemostasis of the blood sample;

wherein the plurality of the resonant frequencies are indicative of the hemostasis characteristics of the blood sample.

6. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the blood sample is supported in a column, the surface comprising a bottom surface of the column and step of displacing the sample comprises displacing the sample along an axis of the column.

7. A method according to claim 2 , comprising placing the blood sample in a container by injecting the blood into the container through a self-sealing port on the container.

8. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the determining a resonant frequency of the blood sample comprises either continuously determining a change in resonant frequency with time or periodically determining the resonant frequency.