US3740143A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic apparatus for determining the percentage population of particulates in a medium
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-30
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1990-10-30
Abstract
Abstract New and improved automatic method and apparatus for differentiating and determining the respective populations of specific particulates in a medium, for example, leukocytes in a whole blood sample comprises means for treating a number of phased quotient streams, each containing a portion of such blood sample, so as to stain either a specific type or a specific class of leukocytes, and passing each quotient stream through a corresponding viewing chamber. The number of stained leukocytes to the number of both stained and unstained leukocytes in each sample portion passing through the corresponding viewing chamber are counted concurrently by photometric means, the ratio of such numbers indicating the population of such specific leukocytes or such specific class of leukocytes in the corresponding sample portion. Preferably, the counting of both stained and unstained leukocytes in the sample portions in the different quotient streams are counted to a same predetermined reference, whereby the respective populations of the specific types or specific classes of leukocytes are directly related and recorded in correlated fashion, and any variations in either the flow rate or the volume of the sample portions in the different quotient streams are only incidental. Also, when particular leukocytes of a same quotient stream are stained and counted as a class, comparison-type logical operations determine the respective populations of the individual leukocytes in such class.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren Groner
- 👤 Jacob Kusnetz
- 👤 Alexander M Saunders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1456; G01N15/1459; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/30; G01N1/31; G01N1/312; G01N15/01; G01N2015/016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for determining the percentage population of a selected type of particulate within a group of particulates contained in a sample comprising means for treating said sample to alter the characteristics of a selected type of particulate, means for viewing at least a portion of said treated sample, first means responsive to said viewing means for counting a predetermined number of particulates in said treated sample portion having either altered or unaltered characteristics to define a reference within which to count the population of said selected particulates, second means responsive to said viewing means for discriminating said selected particulates on the basis of said altered characteristics and for counting said selected particulates in said treated sample portion within said reference, and means for relating the respective counts of said first and second counting means for determining the percentage population of said selected particulates in said sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for determining the percentage population of a selected type of particulate within a group of particulates contained in a sample comprising means for treating said sample to alter the characteristics of a selected type of particulate, means for viewing at least a portion of said treated sample, first means responsive to said viewing means for counting a predetermined number of particulates in said treated sample portion having either altered or unaltered characteristics to define a reference within which to count the population of said selected particulates, second means responsive to said viewing means for discriminating said selected particulates on the basis of said altered characteristics and for counting said selected particulates in said treated sample portion within said reference, and means for relating the respective counts of said first and second counting means for determining the percentage population of said selected particulates in said sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sample is a liquid containing a suspension of particulates, and further including means for passing said treated liquid sample as a stream along a viewing chamber, said treating means being operative to alter the spectral characteristics of said selected particulates, said viewing means including means for directing a transverse light beam through said viewing chamber, said first and second means being responsive to said light beam directed through said viewing chamber to count said particulates having altered or unaltered characteristics and to count said particulates having altered characteristics, respectively, while passing along said viewing chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first means includes means for detecting the passage along said viewing chamber of said particulates having altered or unaltered spectral characteristics with respect to a characteristic common to said altered and unaltered particulates, and said second means includes means for detecting the passage along said viewing chamber of said selected particulates with respect to their altered spectral charactEristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first and second means are operative with respect to particulates being passed through a same portion of said viewing chamber, said first and second means being operative concurrently to count particulates having altered or unaltered characteristics and to count said particulates having altered characteristics, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first means is limited at a predetermined count and further including means for inhibiting said second means when said predetermined count has been attained by said first means, whereby the count attained by said second means indicates the population of said selected particulate within said predetermined count.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein, said first and second means, include first and second generating means, respectively, to provide an indication upon the detection of a particulate passing along said viewing chamber, first and second counter means for counting indications provided by said first and second generating means, respectively, said second counter means being operative to count indications provided by said second generating means only on the coincidence of an indication being provided to said first counter by said first generating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further including pressure means for passing said liquid through said viewing chamber, said pressure means including a high flow-resistance coil in fluid flow communication with said viewing chamber and said pressure means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium is a liquid sample containing a suspension of particulates, means for passing said liquid sample as a stream, said passing means including further means for dividing said liquid sample into a plurality of quotient streams, said treating means being operative to treat each of said quotient streams on an individual basis for altering the characteristics of a different selected type of particulates in each of said quotient streams and while retaining the respective characteristics of other particulates in each of said quotient streams substantially unaltered, said viewing means being operative to view at least a portion of each of said treated quotient streams, said first means being operative to detect and count particulates in each of said quotient streams having either altered or unaltered characteristics to define a reference corresponding to said each quotient stream, said second means being operative to discriminate said selected particulates in said each of said quotient streams on the basis of said altered characteristics and to count said selected particulates in said each quotient stream within said corresponding reference, and means for relating the respective counts of said first and second means corresponding to said each quotient stream for determining the percentage populations of said selected particulates in said liquid sample, said defined references for each of said quotient streams being related, whereby the respective percentage populations of each of said selected particulates in said lIquid sample are related.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for determining the percentage population of a selected type of leukocyte in a blood sample, comprising means for treating a blood sample to selectively stain, at least, a selected type of leukocyte therein, means for viewing at least a portion of said treated sample to discriminate and detect stained leukocytes and, also, to detect stained and unstained leukocytes in said portion, first means responsive to said viewing means for counting said detected stained leukocytes in said portion of said blood sample to provide a first count, second means responsive to said viewing means for counting each of said detected stained and unstained leukocytes in portion of said blood sample to provide a second count, the ratio of said first and second counts being indicative to the percentAge population of said selected type of leukocyte in said blood sample.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for determining the percentage population of a selected type of leukocyte in a blood sample, comprising means for treating a blood sample to selectively stain, at least, a selected type of leukocyte therein, means for viewing at least a portion of said treated sample to discriminate and detect stained leukocytes and, also, to detect stained and unstained leukocytes in said portion, first means responsive to said viewing means for counting said detected stained leukocytes in said portion of said blood sample to provide a first count, second means responsive to said viewing means for counting each of said detected stained and unstained leukocytes in portion of said blood sample to provide a second count, the ratio of said first and second counts being indicative to the percentAge population of said selected type of leukocyte in said blood sample.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second counting means is limited at a predetermined number, and further including means responsive to said second counting means for inhibiting said first counting means when said predetermined number has been counted by said second counting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further including means for operating said first counting means only in concurrence with the operation of said second counting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further including means for passing said treated blood sample as a flowing stream through a viewing chamber, and said viewing means including optical means associated with said viewing chamber for discriminating and detecting said stained leukocytes and for detecting stained and unstained leukocytes passing in said flowing stream along at least a portion of said viewing chamber, said first and second counting means being responsive to said optical means, said optical means including means for passing light transversely through said portion of said viewing chamber ; first means for detecting absorption of said light beam to indicate passage of said stained leukocytes along said portion of said viewing chamber; and second means for detecting scattering of said light beam to indicate passage of stained and unstained leukocytes along said portion of said viewing chamber, said first and second counting means being responsive to said first and second detecting means, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for determining the respective percentage populations of selected leukocytes in whole blood samples, comprising, means for passing successive blood samples as a continuous stream means for dividing said continuous stream into a plurality of quotient streams, each of said quotient streams including portions of each of said successive samples, means for treating each of said quotient streams to detectably alter the characteristics of different selected ones of said leukocytes in said quotient streams, means for viewing at least a portion of each of said treated quotient streams, said viewing means including first means for discriminating and counting selected leukocytes on the basis of said altered characteristics in each of said sample portions contained in said quotient streams, so as to provide a first count for each sample portion, said viewing means further including second means for detecting and counting leukocytes having altered and unaltered characteristics in each of said sample portions contained in said quotient streams, so as to provide a second count for each sample portion, the ratio of said first and second counts corresponding to a sample portion in said quotient streams indicating the respective percentage population of said selected leukocytes in the original blood, and means for correlating the respective percentage populations of said selected leukocytes in said corresponding portions of said original blood sample.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for determining the respective percentage populations of selected leukocytes in whole blood samples, comprising, means for passing successive blood samples as a continuous stream means for dividing said continuous stream into a plurality of quotient streams, each of said quotient streams including portions of each of said successive samples, means for treating each of said quotient streams to detectably alter the characteristics of different selected ones of said leukocytes in said quotient streams, means for viewing at least a portion of each of said treated quotient streams, said viewing means including first means for discriminating and counting selected leukocytes on the basis of said altered characteristics in each of said sample portions contained in said quotient streams, so as to provide a first count for each sample portion, said viewing means further including second means for detecting and counting leukocytes having altered and unaltered characteristics in each of said sample portions contained in said quotient streams, so as to provide a second count for each sample portion, the ratio of said first and second counts corresponding to a sample portion in said quotient streams indicating the respective percentage population of said selected leukocytes in the original blood, and means for correlating the respective percentage populations of said selected leukocytes in said corresponding portions of said original blood sample.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, further including means for separating said portions of each of said successive samples along said quotient streams by an inert fluid segment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said treating means includes means for detectably altering the characteristics of leukocytes in a selected class of leukocytes in at least one of said quotient streams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first means are operative to discriminate and count individual leukocytes in said selected class in said one quotient stream on the basis of said altered characteristics, so as to provide a third count, the ratio of said third count and said second count provided by said second means indicating the percentage population of said selected class of leukocytes in said original blood sample.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein particular ones of said leukocytes in said selected class have been treatEd in another of said quotient streams, and further including means for substracting the percentage population of said particular leukocytes from the percentage population of said selected class of leukocytes, so as to indicate the percentage population in said original blood sample of remaining leukocytes in said selected class.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second means, as associated with at least one of said quotient streams, includes means for discriminating and counting particular leukocytes in said one stream on the basis of an unaltered characteristic of said particular leukocytes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said treating means are operative to stain so as to change the spectral characteristics of a class of leukocytes along at least one quotient stream, while leaving remaining leukocytes in said one quotient stream substantially unchanged, and further including means for passing said one quotient stream along a viewing chamber having an unobstructed light passageway, means for passing light along said passageway, said first means being responsive to an absorption of said light beam by each of said leukocytes having changed spectral characteristics and said second means being responsive to a scattering of light by said stained and unstained leukocytes, the scattering of light being a direct function of the cellular size of a leukocyte, and third means responsive to said second means for discriminating and identifying particular unstained ones of said leukocytes in said class according to the magnitude of the scattered light signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, further including means responsive to said third means for counting said particular unstained leukocytes, the ratio of the respective counts of said third means and said second means associated with said one quotient stream being indicative of the percentage population of said particular unstained leukocyte in said original blood sample.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, further including gating means connecting said second means responsive to a scattering of light and said third means for counting said particular unstained leukocytes, said gating means being inhibitive by said first means during detection of a stained leukocyte by said first means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |