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US4476231A
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Method of analyzing the distribution of a reagent between particles and liquid in a suspension
Assignee: K R ASSOCIATES Inc
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Filing: 1981-07-22
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2001-07-22
Abstract
Abstract In an immunoassay procedure, an analyte in a solution is reacted with a reagent with a label. The reagent is segregated into solid phase (particles) and liquid phase (liquid) with the unreacted reagent ion one phase and the reacted reagent in another phase. An image of the suspension is then taken. The image is converted into electrical signal representation and is stored in digital form. The image is processed by locating and quantifying the labels. The distribution of the labels is representative of the distribution of the reagent between the particles and the liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred H. Deindoerfer
- 👤 James R. Gangwer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1468; G01N15/147; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/58; G01N33/582; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/80; Y10S436/804; Y10S436/805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of analyzing the distribution of a dissolved immuno-specific reagent between particles and liquid in a suspension, wherein said distribution is caused by an immuno reaction and said reagent has a spectrally distinguishable label, said method comprising: forming an image of said suspension; converting said image to an electrical signal representation; storing said electrical signal representation in digital form; processing said image in said digital form by locating the particles and by measuring the intensity of the spectrally distinguishable labels between the particles and the liquid; determining the distribution of the labels between the particles and the liquid; and wherein the distribution of said labels is respresentative of the distribution of the reagent between said particles and said liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of analyzing the distribution of a dissolved immuno-specific reagent between particles and liquid in a suspension, wherein said distribution is caused by an immuno reaction and said reagent has a spectrally distinguishable label, said method comprising: forming an image of said suspension; converting said image to an electrical signal representation; storing said electrical signal representation in digital form; processing said image in said digital form by locating the particles and by measuring the intensity of the spectrally distinguishable labels between the particles and the liquid; determining the distribution of the labels between the particles and the liquid; and wherein the distribution of said labels is respresentative of the distribution of the reagent between said particles and said liquid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of determining the amount of analyte in a solution by reacting a reagent having a label with said solution, said reagent reacting specifically with said analyte, forming a suspension composed of a mixture of two phases: particles and liquid (liquid phase) with said reagents reacted with said analyte in one phase and the unreacted reagent dissolved in the other phase, the method comprising forming an image of said suspension; converting said image to an electrical signal representation; storing said electrical signal representation in digital form; processing said image by quantifying the intensity of the spectrally distinguishable labels associated with said particles or associated with said liquid; and calculating the amount of analyte based on said quantification.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of determining the amount of analyte in a solution by reacting a reagent having a label with said solution, said reagent reacting specifically with said analyte, forming a suspension composed of a mixture of two phases: particles and liquid (liquid phase) with said reagents reacted with said analyte in one phase and the unreacted reagent dissolved in the other phase, the method comprising forming an image of said suspension; converting said image to an electrical signal representation; storing said electrical signal representation in digital form; processing said image by quantifying the intensity of the spectrally distinguishable labels associated with said particles or associated with said liquid; and calculating the amount of analyte based on said quantification.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 further comprising flowing said suspension through a flow chamber; and wherein said image formed is at said chamber.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
11 words
The method of claims 3 wherein said label is visually detectable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said flow chamber has a width and a thickness and said image formed is in a direction substantially parallel to said thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of adjusting the thickness of said suspension in said flow chamber to adjust the particle-to-liquid ratio where said image is formed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said converting step further comprising: segmenting said electrical signal representation into a plurality of pixels; and digitizing the amplitude of each pixel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said label is a material adapted to fluoresce.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of irradiating said reacted fluid to cause fluorescence by said label.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said label is a material adapted to emit radioactivity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of converting said radioactivity to electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is visible light.
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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) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |