US3924947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for preservation and identification of particles analyzed by flow-through apparatus
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1974-08-09
•
Granted: 1975-12-09
•
Expires: 1994-08-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for identifying particles in a liquid suspension with respect to certain measured characteristics and matching the actual particles captured on a suitable substrate or the like member with their previously measured characteristics. One or more selected gross physical characteristics of individual particles are measured as the particles flow one by one in suspension through the sensing zone of a particle sensing device. The portion of the sample suspension which passes through the sensing zone subsequently is laid upon a substrate by a simple direct method which preserves the time relationships between the particles as they passed through the zone, there being a relative movement between the stream of the suspension and substrate. Since the portion of sample suspension which passes through the particle sensing zone carries the particles with it, these particles will be laid down upon the substrate in a scanning pattern wherein the sequence of temporal relationships between individual particles determines the sequence of spatial relationships between the individual particles in the scanning patterns. Assuming that a record is preserved of the time relationships between the sensed particles, it is feasible to measure the spaces between the particles laid onto the substrate and match the spatial relationships with the temporal relationships for locating the precise particles which produced certain measurements. In this manner observations of any captured particle can be added to characteristics measured on the identical particle to derive a substantial amount of information concerning that particle.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter R Hogg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1433; G01N15/149; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/2813; G01N2001/282; G01N2015/1019; G01N2015/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for obtaining information on the characteristics of pArticles in a liquid suspension comprising the steps of A. laying a stream of the suspension upon a substrate in a pattern of spaced apart particles whereby the sequence of temporal relationships between individual particles of the stream as they are being laid out determines the sequence of spatial relationships between the individual particles in the laid-out pattern; B. measuring the spatial relationships of the laid-out particles between individual particles for a plurality of particles to derive a first sequence of measurements; C. measuring at least one characteristic of each particle in the stream before it reaches the substrate and the temporal relationship of that particle with at least one other individual particle prior to laying down of the particles for a plurality of particles to derive a second sequence of measurements including both those related to temporal relationships and those related to the characteristics of the individual particles; and D. correlating the first sequence of measurements with the temporal relationships portion of the second sequence of measurements to identify a particular particle in the laid-out pattern with its at least one measured characteristic contained in said second sequence of measurements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for obtaining information on the characteristics of pArticles in a liquid suspension comprising the steps of A. laying a stream of the suspension upon a substrate in a pattern of spaced apart particles whereby the sequence of temporal relationships between individual particles of the stream as they are being laid out determines the sequence of spatial relationships between the individual particles in the laid-out pattern; B. measuring the spatial relationships of the laid-out particles between individual particles for a plurality of particles to derive a first sequence of measurements; C. measuring at least one characteristic of each particle in the stream before it reaches the substrate and the temporal relationship of that particle with at least one other individual particle prior to laying down of the particles for a plurality of particles to derive a second sequence of measurements including both those related to temporal relationships and those related to the characteristics of the individual particles; and D. correlating the first sequence of measurements with the temporal relationships portion of the second sequence of measurements to identify a particular particle in the laid-out pattern with its at least one measured characteristic contained in said second sequence of measurements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which at least another characteristic of each particle of the laid-out particles is measured independently of the measurement of said at least one characteristic in addition to the measurement of spatial relationships as a portion of the first sequence of measurements whereby the indentification of each particle through said correlation of the first and second sequence of measurements provides the combination of independently obtained characteristics describing said last mentioned particle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the stream is in the form of droplets with the particles carried in the droplets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 in which the dilution is made with a ratio of particles to liquid such that substantially no droplet contains more than one particle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the substrate and stream are moved relative to one another in a movement to produce a track on the substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 in which the track is substantially rectilinear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 in which the track is non-rectilinear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 7 in which the track is serpentine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the stream is in the form of droplets with the particles carried in the droplets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 in which the dilution is made with a ratio of particles to liquid such that substantially no droplet contains more than one particle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the substrate and stream are moved relative to one another in a movement to produce a track on the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 11 in which the track is substantially rectilinear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 11 in which the track is non-rectilinear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the track is surpentine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 in which the substrate and stream are moved relative to one another in a movement to produce a track on the substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 15 in which the track is substantially rectilinear.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 15 in which the track is non-rectilinear.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 in which the track is serpentine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the correlating is effected on a continuous basis as the stream is laid upon the substrate
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the correlating and the measurement of said at least another characteristic are effected on a continuous basis as the stream is laid upon the substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the stream is brOken into droplets before being laid out, the dilution is such that substantially no droplet carries more than one particle, in which an electric charge is induced in each droplet after it is formed and the droplets are passed through an electric field prior to engaging the substrate whereby to effect a relative movement between substrate and stream.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the stream is broken into droplets before being laid out, the dilution is such that substantially no droplet carries more than one particle, in which an electric charge is induced in each droplet after it is formed and the droplets are passed through an electric field prior to engaging the substrate whereby to effect a relative movement between substrate and stream.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the liquid of the stream impinging on the substrate is removed from the substrate immediately after engagement if not simultaneously with engagement to leave the particles on the substrate substantially free of liquid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the liquid of the stream impinging on the substrate is removed from the substrate immediately after engagement if not simultaneously with engagement to leave the particles on the substrate substantially free of liquid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 23 in which the liquid is removed by capillary action.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 24 in which the liquid is removed by capillary action.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 23 in which the liquid is removed by vacuum applied to the substrate, said substrate being foraminous.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 24 in which the liquid is removed by vacuum applied to the substrate, said substrate being foraminous.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as claimed in claim 19 in which the correlating is effected by scanning the substrate along a viewing axis, and the viewing axis and substrate are moved relative to one another according to a movement having a known relationship with the relative movement of substrate and stream as the stream is laid on the substrate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the correlating is effected by scanning the substrate along a viewing axis, and the viewing axis and substrate are moved relative to one another according to a movement having a known relationship with the relative movement of substrate and stream as the stream is laid on the substrate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 29 in which the known relationship is identical.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 30 in which the known relationship is identical.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the one characteristic is size.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the one characteristic is size.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the particles are biological and the one characteristic is chromatic.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the particles are biological and the one characteristic is chromatic.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for identifying particles in a liquid suspension comprising the steps of: detecting the arrival of each of said particles in a sensing zone measuring at least a characteristic of each of said particles in said sensing zone, the sequence of said arrivals of said particles in said sensing zone having temporal relatinships which forms a first pattern, preserving said first pattern, laying said suspension upon a substrate in a second pattern, said second pattern having a spatial relationship between said particles, preserving the second pattern, scanning said second pattern with a scanning device to measure the spatial relationships between particles in said second pattern, correlating the temporal relationships in said first pattern with a proportionately identical pattern of spatial relationships in said second patten, and identifying each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern with its representative measured characteristic in sAid first pattern.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for identifying particles in a liquid suspension comprising the steps of: detecting the arrival of each of said particles in a sensing zone measuring at least a characteristic of each of said particles in said sensing zone, the sequence of said arrivals of said particles in said sensing zone having temporal relatinships which forms a first pattern, preserving said first pattern, laying said suspension upon a substrate in a second pattern, said second pattern having a spatial relationship between said particles, preserving the second pattern, scanning said second pattern with a scanning device to measure the spatial relationships between particles in said second pattern, correlating the temporal relationships in said first pattern with a proportionately identical pattern of spatial relationships in said second patten, and identifying each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern with its representative measured characteristic in sAid first pattern.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 37 including the step of moving said substrate in a plane transverse to the direction of flow of suspension to form the second pattern.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 37 including the step of: synchronizing the motion of said scanning device with said second pattern of said particles on said substrate.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for identifying particles in a liquid suspension comprising: droplet generating means for forming droplets of the liquid suspension such that the number of droplets containing more than one particle of interest for identifying is substantially zero; means for measuring at least one characteristic of each of said particles as said particles are passed through said measuring means, the sequence of said characteristics of said particles having a temporal relationship which forms a first pattern; means for laying said droplets upon a substrate in a second pattern whereby the particles in said second pattern have a spatial relationship and said spatial relationship is preserved; preserving means for preserving said first and second patterns; and correlating means for correlating the temporal relationship in the first pattern with a sequence of the spatial relationships between particles in the second pattern to locate a sequence in said first pattern that is proportionately identical to a sequence in said second pattern such that each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern is matched with its said at least one measured characteristic resulting from its passage through said droplet generating means.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for identifying particles in a liquid suspension comprising: droplet generating means for forming droplets of the liquid suspension such that the number of droplets containing more than one particle of interest for identifying is substantially zero; means for measuring at least one characteristic of each of said particles as said particles are passed through said measuring means, the sequence of said characteristics of said particles having a temporal relationship which forms a first pattern; means for laying said droplets upon a substrate in a second pattern whereby the particles in said second pattern have a spatial relationship and said spatial relationship is preserved; preserving means for preserving said first and second patterns; and correlating means for correlating the temporal relationship in the first pattern with a sequence of the spatial relationships between particles in the second pattern to locate a sequence in said first pattern that is proportionately identical to a sequence in said second pattern such that each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern is matched with its said at least one measured characteristic resulting from its passage through said droplet generating means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as described in claim 40 wherein said preserving means includes a first memory device for preserving said temporal relationships in said first pattern and a second memory device for preserving the spatial relationships between particles in second pattern.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as described in claim 40 wherein said means for laying said droplets include means for deflecting said droplets such that said droplets form said second pattern upon said substrate.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as described in claim 42 wherein: said deflecting means include a plurality of plates across which an electric field is produced to deflect said droplets in a first direction and a substrate mount is provided to move said substrate in a second direction so as to form said second pattern.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as described in claim 43 in which there are sample preparation means and said substrate mount is arranged to pass said substrate through said sample preparation means for preparing said second pattern.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 43 wherein said deflecting means include: waste means for discarding unwanted droplets not having a high probability of comprising at least a particle of interest; and means coupled to said waste means for directing said unwanted droplets into said waste means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
108 words
An apparatus as described in claim 40 wherein said correlating means includes: a microscope for viewing each individual particle in said second pattern; scanning means coupled to said microscope for providing electrical signals representative of said second pattern as seen by said microscope; computing means coupled to said measuring means and said scanning means for correlating the temporal relationship in said first pattern with the sequence of the spatial relationships in said second pattern, and said computing means including means for utilizing pattern recognition techniques whereby each individual particle is accurately matched with said at least one measured charcteristic resulting from its passage through said droplet generating means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as described in claim 46 wherein said correlating means include means mounted to said microscope for guiding said microscope along said second pattern whereby each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern passes under said microscope.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as described in claim 46 wherein said correlating means include means mounted to said substrate for guiding said substrate such that each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern passes under said microscope.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as described in claim 46 wherein said correlating means including means for producing relative motion between said substrate and said droplet generating means such that each individual particle in at least a portion of said second pattern passes under said microscope.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as described in claim 46 wherein said means for laying said droplets includes means for moving said substrate surface transverse to the direction of droplet trajectories such that said droplets are laid upon said substrate in said second pattern and suction means are provided for removing excess suspending liquid.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus as described in claim 50 wherein said substrate is a slide and said droplet generating means and said microscope are pivotally mounted upon a common base such that said microscope is pivoted to a position over said slide once said slide has said second pattern formed thereon; and said means for moving said substrate coupled to move said slide such that each particle in at least a portion of said second pattern passes under said microscope.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for obtaining information on the characteristics of particles in a liquid suspension which comprises: A. a particle scanning device comprising i. means for containing a quantity of suspension carrying particles, ii. a sensing zone responding to passage of particles to produce a signal representing at least one physical characteristic of each particle for each particle passing. iii. means to move the suspension in a stream through the sensing zone such that the particles generate a temporal pattern and out of the particle scanning device with the particles contained in the stream and spaced along the length thereof in a spatial pattern, B. means preserving the temporal pattern and the signals with each signal indentified in said temporal pattern with the particle producing same on account of its position in the temporal pattern, C. a substrate arranged to intercept the stream emerging from the scanning device, D. means for effecting a relative movement between the substrate and stream in accordance with a predetermined law whereby to lay the stream down in a track upon a surface of the substrate with the particles spaced along the track with the spatial pattern preserved on the substrate surface, and E. means for correlating the temporal pattern with the spatial pattern taking said law into account whereby to match each of the particles of the laid-down track with the preserved signals of their respective counterpart measurements made on each particle during the generation of the temporal pattern.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for obtaining information on the characteristics of particles in a liquid suspension which comprises: A. a particle scanning device comprising i. means for containing a quantity of suspension carrying particles, ii. a sensing zone responding to passage of particles to produce a signal representing at least one physical characteristic of each particle for each particle passing. iii. means to move the suspension in a stream through the sensing zone such that the particles generate a temporal pattern and out of the particle scanning device with the particles contained in the stream and spaced along the length thereof in a spatial pattern, B. means preserving the temporal pattern and the signals with each signal indentified in said temporal pattern with the particle producing same on account of its position in the temporal pattern, C. a substrate arranged to intercept the stream emerging from the scanning device, D. means for effecting a relative movement between the substrate and stream in accordance with a predetermined law whereby to lay the stream down in a track upon a surface of the substrate with the particles spaced along the track with the spatial pattern preserved on the substrate surface, and E. means for correlating the temporal pattern with the spatial pattern taking said law into account whereby to match each of the particles of the laid-down track with the preserved signals of their respective counterpart measurements made on each particle during the generation of the temporal pattern.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 52 in which means are provided for measuring at least a second physical characteristic of each particle on said track and combining each latter measurement with the previous measurement of said first characteristic of said each particle to acquire increased information concerning said each particle.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as claimed in claim 53 in which the liquid of the stream is substantially removed by deflecting to waste those droplets containing no particles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3710933A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |