US3777172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for measuring the clumping of platelets in whole blood
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-29
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of measuring clumping of platelets in whole blood uses a centrifuge having at least one transparent treatment chamber, radiation sensing means for sensing light transmission through the chamber and agitation means giving a reproduceable amount, and number of cycles of, agitation to the contents of the or one chamber, a comparison being made between the measurement on an agitated and centrifuged test sample and the measurement on a centrifuged reference sample.
Inventors
- 👤 N Clarke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/4905; G01N15/00; G01N15/04; G01N15/042; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/07; G01N2015/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of measuring the clumping of platelets in samples of whole blood, wherein each sample is subjected to the following steps: a. making a reference measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample by the following three operations (1) to (3) whilst substantially maintaining throughout said operations the initial amount of clumping of platelets in said sample material, said operations being, (1) centrifuging said sample, (2) passing radiation which is affected by the presence of platelets into said sample in a plasma zone thereof from which particles of blood travel outwardly during centrifuging and (3) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said sample; and b. making a test measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample, in the same way for each sample, by the following four operations (4) to (7), said operations being (4) treating said sample material by means comprising agitation so as to cause clumping of platelets, (5) centrifuging the thus treated sample material, (6) passing said radiation into the plasma zone in said treated sample material, and (7) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said treated sample material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of measuring the clumping of platelets in samples of whole blood, wherein each sample is subjected to the following steps: a. making a reference measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample by the following three operations (1) to (3) whilst substantially maintaining throughout said operations the initial amount of clumping of platelets in said sample material, said operations being, (1) centrifuging said sample, (2) passing radiation which is affected by the presence of platelets into said sample in a plasma zone thereof from which particles of blood travel outwardly during centrifuging and (3) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said sample; and b. making a test measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample, in the same way for each sample, by the following four operations (4) to (7), said operations being (4) treating said sample material by means comprising agitation so as to cause clumping of platelets, (5) centrifuging the thus treated sample material, (6) passing said radiation into the plasma zone in said treated sample material, and (7) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said treated sample material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said operation (4), clumping is produced in said sample material by agitating said material in a centrifuge chamber in which it is subsequently centrifuged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein clumping is assisted by adding an additive to said sample material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reference and test measurements are effected successively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said measurements are effected on the same sample material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said measurements are effected on different portions of each of said samples.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said effects on said radiation are compared with each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radiation is light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the same source of said radiation is used for both of said portions of each sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein centrifuging is effected in at least one chamber having radiation transmissive walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, including the step of pumping said sample material into said centrifuge chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for measuring the clumping of platelets in samples of whole blood comprising: a radiation source, the radiation of which is of a kind which is influenced by the presence of platelets in the path of said radiation; a treatment chamber having radiation transmissive portions by which said radiation can be passed into and out of said chamber; means and repeatedly and automatically subjecting said chamber to a predetermined amount of agitation, in each case by accelerations and decelerations of said chamber, to cause clumping of platelets in said sample; means for rotating said chamber to centrifuge its contents; and means for detecting the amount of said radiation passing out of said chamber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for measuring the clumping of platelets in samples of whole blood comprising: a radiation source, the radiation of which is of a kind which is influenced by the presence of platelets in the path of said radiation; a treatment chamber having radiation transmissive portions by which said radiation can be passed into and out of said chamber; means and repeatedly and automatically subjecting said chamber to a predetermined amount of agitation, in each case by accelerations and decelerations of said chamber, to cause clumping of platelets in said sample; means for rotating said chamber to centrifuge its contents; and means for detecting the amount of said radiation passing out of said chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, and comprising a second, treatment chamber having radiation transmissive portions by which said radiation from said source can be passed into and out of said secondchamber, detecting means for detecting the amount of radiation passing out of said second chamber, and means for rotating said second chamber to centrifuge its contents.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a pump is connected to feed said chambers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said radiation is light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said agitation means and said rotating means comprise a motor coupled to said chamber by a drive clutch, and a braking clutch coupled to said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said agitation means comprises a pulse generator for supplying to said clutches respective pulse trains each having a predetermined number of pulses with a predetermined mark/space ratio.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said generator comprises a bistable trigger circuit having two stages connected to respective ones of said clutches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said generator comprises adjusting means for adjusting said ratio and said number.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of measuring the clumping of platelets in samples of whole blood, wherein each sample is subjected to the following steps: a. making a reference measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample by the following four operations (1) to (4), said operations being (1) treating said sample material to a clumping operation to produce clumping of substantially all platelets, (2) centrifuging said sample material, (3) passing radiation which is affected by the presence of platelets into said sample in a plasma zone thereof from which particles of blood travel outwardly during centrifuging and (4) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said sample material; and b. making a test measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample, in the same way for each sample, by the following four operations (5) to (8), said operations being (5) treating said sample material by means comprising agitation so as to cause clumping of platelets, (6) centrifuging the thus treated sample material, (7) passing said radiation into the plasma zone in said treated sample material, and (8) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said treated sample material.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of measuring the clumping of platelets in samples of whole blood, wherein each sample is subjected to the following steps: a. making a reference measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample by the following four operations (1) to (4), said operations being (1) treating said sample material to a clumping operation to produce clumping of substantially all platelets, (2) centrifuging said sample material, (3) passing radiation which is affected by the presence of platelets into said sample in a plasma zone thereof from which particles of blood travel outwardly during centrifuging and (4) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said sample material; and b. making a test measurement upon sample material constituting at least a part of said sample, in the same way for each sample, by the following four operations (5) to (8), said operations being (5) treating said sample material by means comprising agitation so as to cause clumping of platelets, (6) centrifuging the thus treated sample material, (7) passing said radiation into the plasma zone in said treated sample material, and (8) sensing the effect on said radiation, in said plasma zone, of said treated sample material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operation (1) of said reference measurement is effected with the aid of a clumping additive and with agitation to produce clumping of substantially all platelets prior to said operation (2) of centrifuging.
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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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |