title: A new rheometer with special features designed for bronchial mucus analysis in clinical practice.
abstract: Changes in production and in physico-chemical properties of bronchial mucus is a common denominator of many pulmonary diseases. A rheometer with innovative features aimed at bronchial mucus routine investigation in clinical practice at the bedside of the patient has been designed. Searle-type configuration with a coaxial cylinder sensor system and the Mooney-Ewart geometry has been adopted. Another new feature is that bob and cup are disposable. Dynamic viscoelasticity is calculated through a microprocessor with specific software and by means of a magnetic torque--motor electronically driven by the microprocessor. The self-zeroing procedure and the autorange greatly simplify the measuring-cycle which is driven by only one switch. Data (eta and G') are automatically printed on paper. The whole measuring-cycle at the bedside of the patient takes 3-5 min, so that in 1h about 12 samples can be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Center for Respiratory Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dall'Oglio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mocchi
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013183:Sputum / Q000502:physiology*