Automated microscopic cell analysis
US11478789B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/101666
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting blood cells in biological samples. A small unmeasured quantity of a biological sample such as whole blood is placed in the disposable test cartridge which is then inserted into the cell analyzer. The analyzer isolates a precise volume of the biological sample, mixes it with self-contained reagents and transfers the entire volume to an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping, when it is transferred into the imaging chamber. Images of essentially all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are analyzed to obtain counts per unit volume. The devices, apparatus and methods described may be used to analyze a small quantity of whole blood to obtain counts per unit volume of red blood cells, white blood cells, including sub-groups of white cells, platelets and measurements related to these bodies.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.