US3857033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Detecting malignant cells
Assignee: UNITED STATES TRUST Co
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Filing: 1972-04-26
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1992-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Techniques for detecting malignant cells, especially useful in Papanicolau smear analysis, comprise placing the scrapings of epithelial cells from the cervix or oral cavity, obtained either as fresh samples or samples previously fixed in alcohol, formalin, Bouin''s solution, or other standard fixatives (provided that fixatives which may react with the gallium be removed from the cells by washing prior to use) in a solution containing gallium chloride, gallium citrate or another gallium salt and allowing the gallium to be absorbed by the cells. After an equilibration period of 20 minutes to 24 hours, so that gallium pickup by malignant cells is complete, excess gallium is removed by repeated washing of the cellular material. According to one aspect of the invention, the treated cells are used to prepare a smear on a slide which may be stained. The total number of cells present, or the mass of the smear is determined by a separate measurement, such as weighing. The gallium present may then be determined by radioactive counting techniques or by fluorescent techniques. These techniques may embrace one or both of integrated measurement or point-by-point scanning. According to another aspect of the invention, the treated cells may be examined one by one for gallium content in a capillary flow apparatus using either the nuclear radiation of a gallium isotope to detect the gallium present in the individual cells or the treated cells may be subjected to a secondary treatment with a dye such as 8-hydroxyquinoline which has a high specific fluorescence when combined with gallium and the gallium content of individual cells determined by a fluorescent detection method.
Inventors
- 👤 C Cobb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/5005; G01N33/5091; G01N33/58; G01N33/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of detecting malignant cells which method includes the steps of gathering a sample of exfoliated cells that may include malignant cells, placing the cells in a solution containing a gallium compound and allowing the gallium to be absorbed from the solution by the cells, washing out the gallium from the solution except for that absorbed by the cells, and detecting the gallium in the cells in said solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of detecting malignant cells which method includes the steps of gathering a sample of exfoliated cells that may include malignant cells, placing the cells in a solution containing a gallium compound and allowing the gallium to be absorbed from the solution by the cells, washing out the gallium from the solution except for that absorbed by the cells, and detecting the gallium in the cells in said solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 1 and further including the step of relatively displacing the cells and the means for detecting to provide an indication of the gallium absorbed by each cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 1 and further including the steps of precipitating a gallium compound through reaction with said cells and detecting radiant energy associated with said precipitate of intensity related to the quantity of gallium there.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiant energy originates from a light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiant energy originates from a radioactive substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 5 wherein said Gallium is Ga67.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 5 and further including the step of tagging said Gallium compound with a radioactive element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 7 wherein said radioactive element is from the group consisting of S35 and C14.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 8 wherein said precipitate is subjected to 8-hydroxyquinoline 5-sulfonic acid tagged with S35.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 3 wherein said precipitate is subjected to a material from the group consisting of 8-hydroxyquinoline and 8-hydroxyquinoline 6-sulfonic acid tagged with S35.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiant energy originates from both a light source and a radioactive substance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 3 and further including the steps of passing said cells through a capillary tube, and sensing the radiation from each cell as it passes an inspection point.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 7 wherein said sensing the radiation step comprises counting the radioactivity of each cell as it passes said inspection point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 13 and further including the steps of observing the light scattered by each cell as it passes through a microscopically wide light beam just before reaching said test point to provide a scattered light pulse, and gating a radioactivity counter with said scattered light pulse to accept counts only when a call is at said inspection point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 4 and further including the step of selectively detecting radiation from the group of spectral lines consisting of substantially 3,650A and 4,358A.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 15 and further including the step of attenuating scattered light energy of wavelengths outside that of the spectral line being detected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cells remain in said solution for an equilibration period of substantially 1/2 to 24 hours so that gallium pickup by malignant cells is substantially complete and further including the steps of preparing a smear of said cells after said washing out step, measuring said smear to provide an indication of the number of cells therein, and measuring radiant energy from said smear.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 17 and further including the steps of following said washing out step by dyeing said cells with a dye having a high specific fluorescence when combined with gallium, illuminating said smear with ultraviolet energy, and measuring the fluorescence of said smear in response to being illuminated with said ultraviolet energy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 18 wherein said dye comprises 8-hydroxyquinoline.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 1 wherein said compound is a gallium salt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 20 wherein said salt is from the group consisting of gallium citrate and gallium chloride.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for detecting malignant cells comprising, a solution containing a gallium compound, means for combining a sample of exfoliated cells that may include malignant cells with said solution for transferring gallium from said solution to said cells for absorption thereby, means for washing said cells to remove substantially all gallium except that absorbed by said cells, radiant energy means combinable with cells for emitting radiant energy from cells in an amount related to gallium absorption by said cells, and means for detecting radiation from said cells to provide an indication of the amount of gallium absorbed thereby.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for detecting malignant cells comprising, a solution containing a gallium compound, means for combining a sample of exfoliated cells that may include malignant cells with said solution for transferring gallium from said solution to said cells for absorption thereby, means for washing said cells to remove substantially all gallium except that absorbed by said cells, radiant energy means combinable with cells for emitting radiant energy from cells in an amount related to gallium absorption by said cells, and means for detecting radiation from said cells to provide an indication of the amount of gallium absorbed thereby.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus for detecting malignant cells in accordance with said claim 22 and said radiant energy means comprising means for providing radioactive material to said cells in relation to the amount of gallium absorbed thereby, said means for detecting comprising means for counting the radioactivity of said cells.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus for detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 22 and said radiant energy means comprising means for dyeing the washed cells with a dye having a high specific fluorescence when combined with gallium, and means for illuminating the dyed cells with ultraviolet energy to produce a fluorescence of intensity related to the amount of gallium absorbed thereby, said means for detecting comprising means for measuring said intensity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 22 and further comprising, means for passing the washed cells one-by-one past an inspection point, said detecting means positioned adjacent said inspection point for detecting radiation from each cell as it passes said inspection point.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 1 and further including the step in fixing the exfoliated cells in a fixing agent shortly after gathering them from a human being so that they may be processed according to the remaining steps for malignancy detection.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of detecting malignant cells in accordance with claim 26 wherein said fixing agent comprises alcohol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |