US4747685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Biological microparticle inspection apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1986-03-20
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Granted: 1988-05-31
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Expires: 2006-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A biological microparticle inspection apparatus has a reactor in which blood containing T cells is mixed with latex-labeled antibodies and T cells are coupled with the antibodies to form complexes. A particle size measurement unit is provided for measuring the size of the particles contained in the blood, including the complexes. A signal processing unit processes the measured sizes of the particles outputting signals only when the measured sizes fall within a range of the size of the complex, and counts the number of the output signals. The number of the output signals corresponds to the number of the complexes and hence the T cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinori Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1433; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/38; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/5302; G01N33/569; G01N33/56966; G01N33/56972; G01N15/01; G01N2015/016; G01N2015/1024; G01N2015/1029; G01N2015/1486; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A biological microparticle inspection apparatus comprising: first means for mixing coupling bodies capable of coupling specifically with specified biological microparticles and labeled with particles having substantially the same size, together with a sample containing biological microparticles including said specified biological microparticles, thereby coupling said labeled coupling body with said specified biological microparticles to form complexes; and second means for selectively counting the number of said complexes, said second means comprising a particle size measurement unit for detecting the size of said complexes, and a signal processing unit for processing a signal from said particle size measurement unit and for counting the number of said complexes having a size falling within a predetermined size range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A biological microparticle inspection apparatus comprising: first means for mixing coupling bodies capable of coupling specifically with specified biological microparticles and labeled with particles having substantially the same size, together with a sample containing biological microparticles including said specified biological microparticles, thereby coupling said labeled coupling body with said specified biological microparticles to form complexes; and second means for selectively counting the number of said complexes, said second means comprising a particle size measurement unit for detecting the size of said complexes, and a signal processing unit for processing a signal from said particle size measurement unit and for counting the number of said complexes having a size falling within a predetermined size range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said particle size measurement unit comprises a flow cell with an orifice of a transparent material, through which a sample containing said complexes is allowed to pass; and a unit for irradiating the sample passing through said orifice with light and detecting forward scattered light from the sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein particle size measurement unit comprises a flow cell with an orifice of a transparent material such as glass, through which a sample containing said complexes is allowed to pass; and a unit for detecting, by electrodes before and after the sample passes through said orifice, a change in the electrical resistance of the sample passing through said orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a forward/side scattered light measurement unit for irradiating said complexes with light and detecting forward and side scattered light intensities; and a signal processing system for processing a signal from said forward/side scattered light measurement unit and for counting the number of said complexes corresponding, within a specific range, to the forward and side scattered light intensities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling body is an antibody or a receptor which is specifically coupled to a specific type of biological microparticle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particles for labeling the coupling body are synthetic resin particles having a uniform particle size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particles for labeling the coupling body have different sizes in accordance with the type of biological microparticle to be measured.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the labeled coupling body and the sample are diluted before being mixed together.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of detecting and counting specified biological microparticles, comprising: mixing coupling bodies capable of coupling specifically with specified biological microparticles and labeled with particles having substantially the same size, together with a sample containing biological microparticles including said specified biological microparticles, thereby coupling said labeled coupling body with said specified biological microparticles to form complexes; and selectively detecting and counting the number of said complexes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of detecting and counting specified biological microparticles, comprising: mixing coupling bodies capable of coupling specifically with specified biological microparticles and labeled with particles having substantially the same size, together with a sample containing biological microparticles including said specified biological microparticles, thereby coupling said labeled coupling body with said specified biological microparticles to form complexes; and selectively detecting and counting the number of said complexes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of detecting and counting comprises: irradiating the mixture containing the complex with light to obtain forward and side scattered light, detecting intensities of the forward and side scattered light, and counting the number of the complexes in accordance with the intensities of the forward and side scattered light within a specific range.
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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) | 1991-05-31 | 1991-11-30 | 1992-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-31 | 1995-11-30 | 1996-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-31 | 1999-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |