Method of and apparatus for classifying biological cells
US4122348A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 1977 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/6445
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Cells in a population labelled with a lipid soluble fluorescent dye and excited with a beam of polarized light can be classified according to the distribution of the state of polarization of fluorescence emitted by a cell. The intensities of fluorescence, polarized in directions parallel and perpendicular to the direction of polarization of the excitation beam, are measured simultaneously to obtain the state of polarization. The state of polarization, so determined, bears a functional relationship to the fluidity of the plasma membrane of the cell and is thus a measure of the cell's function. Consequently, classification of cells in a population by the distribution of the state of polarization of the fluorescence emitted in response to their excitation enables different types of cells to be distinguished according to biological function. For example, white blood cells can be differentially analyzed using the method of the present invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.