Detection of chronic and acute pulmonary inflammation
US8501425B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 2010 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2800/12
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for analyzing a sputum cytology preparation. The sputum sample is fixed on a microscope slide and analyzed by a microscope combined with an image acquisition system and a computer having an image recognition system. The image recognition system detects mobile cells that are implicated in the body's inflammatory response and counts how many of such cells are on the slide. The computer generates an absolute number of such cells and percentage values for such cells out the total number of mobile cells classified. The computer then utilizes the absolute numbers, the ratios of mobile cells with respect to each other—or a combination of both to generate a score. The score represents a probabilistic determination of inflammation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.