Assembly for rapid measurement of cell layers
US5889584A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/047
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sample of anticoagulated whole blood contained in a transparent tube is centrifuged so as to gravimetrically separate the various blood cell and other components by specific gravity. The tube may contain an insert or float which serves to elongate certain of the separated component layers. The various component layers may be periodically measured during the centrifugation step by a linear image dissector which can detect differential fluorescence in the several component layers. The blood component layers are caused to fluoresce by flashes of light which are directed toward the blood sample tube as the latter is being centrifuged. The gravimetric separation and quantification of blood sample constituent layers are thus both performed while the sample remains in the centrifuge. The ultimate degree of constituent layer compaction may be measured during centrifugation directly, or it can be extrapolated from a plurality of sequential preliminary measurements which are made during centrifugation prior to ultimate compaction being achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.