Method and apparatus for timing intermittent illumination of a sample tube positioned on a centrifuge platen and for calibrating a sample tube-imaging system
US6384906B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/045
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Centrifuged material layer volumes are measured and quantified during centrifugation of the material layers contained in a sample tube in a centrifuge assembly, which sample tube is disposed on a centrifuge platen. The material layers in the sample tube are periodically illuminated during centrifugation by a pulsed light source which differentially excites one or more fluorescent dyes or stains which are admixed with the sample being analyzed. This kinetic procedure is particularly useful in performing differential blood cell and platelet counts. A fluorscent target reference device is positioned on the centrifuge platen along with a detectable platen position sensor. The centrifuge assembly includes a processor controller which receives information from the platen position sensor, and from the target reference device, and which controls operation of the light source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.