Apparatus, systems and methods for non-contact rheological measurements of biological materials

1. A non-contact rheometry system for the elastic characterization of a single-drop biological sample, the system comprising:

a. an acoustic levitator comprising:

i. an acoustic reflector;

ii. a transducer;

iii. a light source; and

iv. a camera configured to record deformation of the biological sample including its quasistatic deformation;

b. at least one function generator; and

c. a data processing system comprising a computer in operational communication with the function generator and acoustic levitator,

wherein:

i. the levitator is constructed and arranged to levitate the biological sample at frequencies of between 28 kHz and about 40 kHz;

ii. the at least one function generator is configured to induce quasistatic deformation of the biological sample,

iii. the data processing system is configured to analyze, based on aspect ratio vs. location data, at least one mechanical elastic property of the biological sample undergoing quasistatic deformation as recorded by the camera, and

iv. the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, blood plasma, biological polymer solution, biological hydrogel clotting blood, and blood clots.

2. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 1 , wherein the function generator provides a carrier frequency of at least 10 kHz.

3. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 1 , further comprising a sample introduction device.

4. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 3 , wherein the sample introduction device is selected from the group consisting of a syringe with a needle and an automatic pipette.

5. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 1 , wherein at least one function generator is configured to provide amplitude modulation.

6. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 5 , wherein the function generator providing amplitude modulation is configured for step forcing.

7. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 6 , wherein the acoustic pressure amplitude is increased or decreased with a rise time of 1 ms.

8. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 5 , wherein the function generator providing amplitude modulation utilizes swept-frequency sine forcing.

9. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic property comprises relaxation time of the biological sample.

10. A non-contact mechanical rheometry system for the rheological measurement of a single drop of blood, the system comprising:

a. an acoustic levitator;

b. a camera configured to record deformation of the blood including its quasistatic deformation;

c. at least one function generator configured to generate a carrier wave; and

d. a data processing system comprising a computer in operational communication with the function generator and acoustic levitator;

wherein the acoustic levitator is configured to levitate the blood at a frequency of 28 kHz to about 40 kHz and induce quasistatic deformation in the blood and the data processing system is configured to measure and analyze the elastic properties of the blood over time based on aspect ratio vs. location data.

11. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 10 , further comprising a transducer.

12. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 11 , wherein the amplitude of carrier wave is modulated by a sine wave with frequency of at least 10 kHz.

13. The non-contact rheometry system of claim 12 , wherein the function generator modulates amplitude using ramp forcing.

14. A non-contact method of measuring the rheological properties of single drops of clotting blood, the method comprising:

a. transferring the clotting blood into an acoustic levitator;

b. modulating the amplitude of pressure within the acoustic levitator;

c. levitating the clotting blood using acoustic radiation at a frequency of between 28 kHz and about 40 kHz;

d. taking measurements of the quasistatic deformation of the clotting blood; and

e. analyzing the quasistatic deformation of the clotting blood to determine mechanical elastic properties based on aspect ratio vs. location data.

15. The non-contact method of claim 14 , wherein the acoustic levitator further comprises:

a. an acoustic reflector;

b. a transducer;

c. a light source;

d. a photodiode;

e. a camera;

f. at least one function generator configured to generate a carrier wave; and

g. a data processing system comprising a computer in operational communication with the function generator and acoustic levitator.

16. The non-contact method of claim 14 , comprising taking measurements of oscillatory and quasistatic deformation of the clotting blood in sequence.