US3919050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microparticle analysis
Assignee: Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for analyzing the dimensional characteristics of micron or submicron-sized bodies such as particles, cells, organisms, and the like, by using particle detecting means to produce an electrical primary pulse as a function of a dimensional index of the bodies, and thereafter feeding the primary pulse to secondary pulse-producing means, which means are triggered at different time intervals during the duration of the primary pulse or during the duration of a number of primary pulses generated by the same type of bodies such that a plurality of secondary pulses are produced. These secondary pulses, each having an amplitude reflecting the relative amplitude of the primary pulse at the time of triggering, are produced for subsequent use to reflect the shape of the primary pulse such that a characterization of the bodies being analyzed can thereby be obtained. The secondary pulses not only can be used either to profile the primary pulse or to permit the area integration thereof, but the technique of a multi-point triggering of secondary pulses is useful also in biological particle total count and size distribution assay methods in that the ''''signature'''' of the particle population being studied is meaningfully emphasized even if only a singlepass sample run is employed.
Inventors
- 👤 William A Curby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1031; G01N15/12; G01N15/131; G01N15/132; G01N2015/1019; G01N2015/1024; G01N2015/103; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/808; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A METHOD FOR ANALYZING MICRON- AND SUBMISSION-SIZED BODIES SUCH AS PARTICLES, CELLS, AND ORGANISMS, TO DETERMINE VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS SIZES, SHAPES, AND NUMBER, AND FOR STUDING THE DYNAMICS OF CELLULAR GROWTH AND CHANGES AND RATES OF CHANGES IN SIZE, SHAPES, AND NUMBER OF CELLS IN LIVING POPULATIONS OF ORGANISMS WHICH COMPRISES: PASSING A GIVEN SAMPLE OF SAID BODIES IN A FLUID SUSPENSION THROUGH PARTICLE-DETECTING MEANS TO PRODUCE A PRIMARY VOLTAGE PULSE AS A FUNCTION OF DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH BODY DETECTED THEREBY, FEEDING EACH OF SAID PRIMARY PULSES TO SECONDARY PULSE PRODUCING MEANS, ACTUATING TRIGGER MEANS IN SAID SECONDARY PULSE PRODUCING MEANS DURING THE DURATION OF EACH OF SAID PRIMARY PULSES TO PRODUCE SECONDARY VOLTAGE PULSES WHOSE AMPLITUDE REFLECTS THE RELATIVE AMPLITUDE AT THE TIME OF SAID TRIGGERING OF SAID PRIMARY PULSE ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, AND INDICATING THE AMPLITUDE OF SAID SECONDARY PULSE WHEREBY INDICATIONS OF SAID AMPLIUDES OF SAID SECONDARY PULSES CAN BE USED TO REFLECT THE SHAPE OF SAID ASSOCIATED PRIMARY PULSES AT THE TIME OF SAID TRIGGERINGS SUCH THAT THE BODIES BEING ANALYZED CAN BE CHARACERIZED.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A METHOD FOR ANALYZING MICRON- AND SUBMISSION-SIZED BODIES SUCH AS PARTICLES, CELLS, AND ORGANISMS, TO DETERMINE VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS SIZES, SHAPES, AND NUMBER, AND FOR STUDING THE DYNAMICS OF CELLULAR GROWTH AND CHANGES AND RATES OF CHANGES IN SIZE, SHAPES, AND NUMBER OF CELLS IN LIVING POPULATIONS OF ORGANISMS WHICH COMPRISES: PASSING A GIVEN SAMPLE OF SAID BODIES IN A FLUID SUSPENSION THROUGH PARTICLE-DETECTING MEANS TO PRODUCE A PRIMARY VOLTAGE PULSE AS A FUNCTION OF DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH BODY DETECTED THEREBY, FEEDING EACH OF SAID PRIMARY PULSES TO SECONDARY PULSE PRODUCING MEANS, ACTUATING TRIGGER MEANS IN SAID SECONDARY PULSE PRODUCING MEANS DURING THE DURATION OF EACH OF SAID PRIMARY PULSES TO PRODUCE SECONDARY VOLTAGE PULSES WHOSE AMPLITUDE REFLECTS THE RELATIVE AMPLITUDE AT THE TIME OF SAID TRIGGERING OF SAID PRIMARY PULSE ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, AND INDICATING THE AMPLITUDE OF SAID SECONDARY PULSE WHEREBY INDICATIONS OF SAID AMPLIUDES OF SAID SECONDARY PULSES CAN BE USED TO REFLECT THE SHAPE OF SAID ASSOCIATED PRIMARY PULSES AT THE TIME OF SAID TRIGGERINGS SUCH THAT THE BODIES BEING ANALYZED CAN BE CHARACERIZED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a pulse height analyzer across the output of the detecting means is employed to obtain indications of the total number of bodies and their size distribution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the primary pulse produced by the detecting means is a function of the size of the bodies, the diameter and length of the aperture, the flow rate of the fluid suspension, and the path of said bodies through said aperture, and wherein the secondary pulses are fixed duration, uniformly shaped pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid suspension is drawn through the aperture by a pressure differential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the given sample is passed through the particle-detecting means at least twice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the time of triggering of the secondary pulses into the primary pulse of each of the successive passages of the sample through the particle detecting means is varied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the given sample is passed successively at predetermined time intervals through the detecting means and wherein the indications obtained from said successive passages of said sample are compared to identify changes in the bodies therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger means are set to trigger at least twice during the duration of each of the primary pulses such that at least first and second secondary pulses are produced for each of the associated primary pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the time of triggering of the secondary pulses into the primary pulse of each of the successive passages of the sample through the particle detecting means is varied.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein indications of the amplitudes of the secondary pulses are compared to thereby provide an analysis of the shape of the associated primary pulses which can be used to characterize the bodies being analyzed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger means are set to trigger a multiplicity of times at fixed intervals and wherein the multiplicity of triggerings produce a number of secondary pulses sufficient to profile the assocaited primary pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the area under each of the secondary pulses is integrated anD the areas of said secondary pulses of each associated primary pulse are then summed such that the volume of each of the bodies being sampled can be obtained.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particle detecting means is an electrical sensor and wherein the fluid suspension is electrically conductive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particle detecting means is an electric field which is provided by passing a current between two electrodes in the conductive fluid suspension spaced from one another in electrically insulated vessels which communicate with each other by means of an aperture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particle detecting means is an optoelectronic sensor and wherein the fluid suspension comprises a fluid transparent to the wavelength of the radiation utilized in said sensor.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of clam 15 wherein the sensor comprises a radiation source which directs radiation into a sensing zone through which the given samples of bodies are passed and photodetection means which produce the primary pulse as a function of the interaction of said bodies with said radiation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of clam 15 wherein the sensor comprises a radiation source which directs radiation into a sensing zone through which the given samples of bodies are passed and photodetection means which produce the primary pulse as a function of the interaction of said bodies with said radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the radiation source is a laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the interaction of the bodies with the radiation is by optical refraction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the interaction of the bodies with the radiation is by optical absorption.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the radiation source is a lamp having an incoherent output.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the interaction of the bodies with the radiation is by optical reflection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3804720A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |