US Patent 7790410 Method and apparatus for determining hemocompatibility

Provided herein are techniques for screening materials for hemocompatibility. Hemocompatible materials may be advantageous when incorporated into devices that may come into direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Such techniques take advantage of conformational changes in fibrinogen when adsorbed onto certain materials. As a result of conformational changes, the fibrinogen has altered responsiveness to cleavage by thrombin. Accordingly, the products of thrombin cleavage of fibrinogen may be assessed to determine the hemocompatibility of a material.