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EP0134976A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of analyzing particles in a fluid sample

Assignee: Iris International Inc
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Filing: 1984-07-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-05
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Abstract

Abstract A method for analyzing particles and particularly sediments of urine is accomplished by distributing the sample over an extended area. A plurality of optical still images is taken of the sample. with each image representing a different portion of the area. Each optical image is converted into an electronic image, with the images of the particles in the electronic images. The images of the particles are extracted from the electronic images. The images of the particles are displayed in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fred H. Deindoerfer Ph.D.
  • 👤 Sherman E. Deforest
  • 👤 Gunnar Bolz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 09:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1468; G01N15/147; G16; G16H; G16H10/00; G16H10/40; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1433; G16H15/00; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/63

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A method of analyzing particles from a fluid sample containing said particles comprising: distributing said fluid sample over an extended area with substantially no particle overlapping other particles; forming a plurality of optical still images of said sample over said area, with each optical image representing a different portion of said area; converting each of said optical still images to an electronic image with the images of said particles in said electronic images; compositing said electronic images by extracting therefrom images of said particles; and displaying said images of said particles in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 101 words
A method of analyzing particles from a fluid sample containing said particles comprising: distributing said fluid sample over an extended area with substantially no particle overlapping other particles; forming a plurality of optical still images of said sample over said area, with each optical image representing a different portion of said area; converting each of said optical still images to an electronic image with the images of said particles in said electronic images; compositing said electronic images by extracting therefrom images of said particles; and displaying said images of said particles in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of Claim 1 further comprising the step of editing said display of said images of said particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of Claim 2 further comprising the steps of: counting the number of particles in each class of visually discernible characteristic; and recounting the number of particles in each class of visually discernible characteristic based upon said editing step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of Claim 3, wherein said recounting step further comprises multiplying the count of the number of particles by a fraction whose denominator is the number of images of particles displayed and whose numerator is the number of images of particles which remain displayed after the editing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of Claim 1 further comprising the step of processing each of said electronic images prior to said compositing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of Claim 1 further comprising the step of processing each of the images of said particles after said'compositing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein said compositing step further comprises: forming a resultant image comprising a plurality of images of said particles in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics; and said displaying step comprising: displaying said resultant image.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 136 words
A method of analyzing particles from a moving fluid sample containing said particles comprising: moving said sample in a direction of flow; distributing said fluid sample over an extended area having a width and a thickness both measured perpendicular to the direction of flow, with the width many times the thickness and with substantially no particle overlapping other particles; illuminating said fluid at a predetermined location in the direction of flow, with said illumination directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow; forming a plurality of optical still images of said fluid sample at said location; converting each of said optical still images to an electronic image with the images of said particles in said electronic images; displaying said images of said particles in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 136 words
A method of analyzing particles from a moving fluid sample containing said particles comprising: moving said sample in a direction of flow; distributing said fluid sample over an extended area having a width and a thickness both measured perpendicular to the direction of flow, with the width many times the thickness and with substantially no particle overlapping other particles; illuminating said fluid at a predetermined location in the direction of flow, with said illumination directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow; forming a plurality of optical still images of said fluid sample at said location; converting each of said optical still images to an electronic image with the images of said particles in said electronic images; displaying said images of said particles in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of Claim 6 further comprising the steps of: counting the number of particles in each class of visually discernible characteristic; and recounting the number of particles in each class of visually discernible characteristic based upon said editing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of Claim 9, wherein said recounting step further comprises multiplying the: count of the number of particles by a fraction whose denominator is the number of images of particles displayed and whose numerator is the number of images of particles which remain displayed after the editing step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of Claim 8 further comprising the step of processing each of said electronic images prior to said compositing step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of Claim 8 further comprising the step of processing each of the images of said particles after said compositing step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 44 words
13 . The method of Claim 8 wherein said compositing step further comprising: forming a resultant image comprising a plurality of images of said particles in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics; and said displaying step comprising: displaying said resultant image.

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