US3790760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for counting, differentiating and sorting particles according to their microstructure variations
Assignee: Calspan Corp
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for counting and sorting the formed elements of blood, comprising the phase illumination of sample flow through a microcapillary passage, photodetectors responsive to the microstructure of the formed elements, a signal analyzer responsive to the photodetectors, a logic network for generating control signals, a sorter responsive to the control signals for separating and collecting the formed elements.
Inventors
- 👤 P Stiller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/08; G06M1/10; G06M1/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a. first means for containing a sample of fluid, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof, b. said first means having at least a portion thereof that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, c. means for irradiating said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein with electromagnetic radiation, d. optical means for a magnifying the image of said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein and for converting small invisible optical phase differences between the microstructure components of each particulate constituent of said sample fluid to visible intensity differences, e. detection means responsive to the electromagnetic radiation passing through said first means for developing a varying output signal indicative of the varying intensity of said electromagnetic radiation, f. means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal for developing a plurality of control signals each indicative of a specific particulate constituent of said sample fluid, g. at least two collecting means adapted for fluid communication with said first means downstream of said portion therEof, and h. control means responsive to said control signals for placing predetermined individual collecting means in fluid communication with said first meanst.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a. first means for containing a sample of fluid, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof, b. said first means having at least a portion thereof that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, c. means for irradiating said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein with electromagnetic radiation, d. optical means for a magnifying the image of said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein and for converting small invisible optical phase differences between the microstructure components of each particulate constituent of said sample fluid to visible intensity differences, e. detection means responsive to the electromagnetic radiation passing through said first means for developing a varying output signal indicative of the varying intensity of said electromagnetic radiation, f. means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal for developing a plurality of control signals each indicative of a specific particulate constituent of said sample fluid, g. at least two collecting means adapted for fluid communication with said first means downstream of said portion therEof, and h. control means responsive to said control signals for placing predetermined individual collecting means in fluid communication with said first meanst.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; i. the number of said collecting means corresponds to the number of different particulate constituents of said sample fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; i. said first means is so sized relative to said particulate sizes that the particles are substantially sequentially arranged in said portion thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; i. said detection means has a radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particle impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the particle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein; j. said first means is so sized relative to said particulate sizes that the particles are substantially sequentially arranged in said portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein; k. said optical means includes means for shifting the phase of the radiation passing through said microstructure components with respect to the radiation passing therebetween by substantially a quarter of a wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein; l. said means for illuminating comprises a substantially monochromatic source of radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein; m. said means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal comprises a plurality of narrow band-width filters and a binary logic network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein; n. said collecting means comprises a plurality of movable tubes, each spaced from an end of said conduit means, and o. said control means comprises motive devices for moving said tubes into axially alignment with said first means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein; p. said motive devices elongate in response to said control signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherin; i. said optical means includes means for shifting the phase of the radiation passing through said microstructure components with respect to the radiation passing therebetween by substantially a quarter of a wavelength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein; j. said means for illuminating comprises a substantially monochromatic source of radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; i. said collecting means comprises a plurality of movable tubes, each spaced from an end of said conduit means, and j. said control means comprises motive devices for moving said tubes in axial alignment with said conduit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein; k. said motive devices elongate in response to said control signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; i. said means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal comprises a plurality of narrow band-width filters responsive to said varying output signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein; j. said means for analyzing and processing further comprises a plurality of thresholding circuits responsive to the output from said narrow band-width filters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein; k. said means for analyzing and processing further comprises a binary logic network responsive to the output from said thresholding circuits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein; l. said narrow band-width filters respond to frequencies contained within said varying output signal from said detection means substantially in the ratio of one, six and ten, and m. said binary logic network is of the three-bit type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising; i. a quantity of sample fluid in said first means, the coNstituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein; j. said sample fluid comprises blood and said particles comprise the formed elements thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising; i. counting means responsive to said control signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; i. said detection means has a radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particle impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the particle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means, and there is further provided; j. second detection means located adjacent said first mentioned detection means, said second detection means has a radiation sensitive area so sized to span a slice of the image of said first means that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein; k. said second detection means is located upstream of said first mentioned detection means with respect to the direction relative of sample fluid flow.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising; l. means responsive to predetermined output signals from said second detection means for delivering outputs indicative thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising; m. counting means responsive to said control signals and to said outputs from said last mentioned means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising; m. enabling means for rendering said first mentioned detection means operative in response to a signal derived from said second detection means that differs from said predetermined output signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising; n. a quantity of sample fluid in said first means, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein; o. said sample fluid comprises blood and said particles comprise the formed elements thereof, and wherein; p. said predetermined output signals are indicative of the erythrocytes and the platelets, respectively.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a. first means for containing a sample of fluid, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof, b. said first means having at least a portion thereof that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, c. means for irradiating said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein with electromagnetic radiation, d. optical means for magnifying the image of said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein for converting small invisible phase differences between the microstructure components of each particulate constitutent of said sample fluid visible to intensity differences, e. detection means responsive to the radiation passing through said first means for developing a varying output signal indicative of the varying intensity of said electromagnetic radiation, and f. means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal for developing a plurality of output signals each indicative of a specific particulate constituent of said sample fluid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a. first means for containing a sample of fluid, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof, b. said first means having at least a portion thereof that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, c. means for irradiating said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein with electromagnetic radiation, d. optical means for magnifying the image of said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein for converting small invisible phase differences between the microstructure components of each particulate constitutent of said sample fluid visible to intensity differences, e. detection means responsive to the radiation passing through said first means for developing a varying output signal indicative of the varying intensity of said electromagnetic radiation, and f. means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal for developing a plurality of output signals each indicative of a specific particulate constituent of said sample fluid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein; g. said first means is so sized relative to said particulate sizes that the particles are substantially sequentially arranged in said portion thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein; h. said detection means has a radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particle impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the particle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein; i. said optical means includes means for shifting the phase of the radiation passing through said microstructure components with respect to the radiation passing therebetween by substantially a quarter of a wavelength.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein; j. said means for illuminating comprises a substantially monochromatic source of radiation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein; k. said means for anlayzing and processing said varying output signal comprises a plurality of a narrow band-width electronic filters and a binary logic network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein; g. said detection means has a radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particle impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the particle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein; g. said optical means includes means for shifting the phase of the radiation passing through said microstructure components with respect to the radiation passing therebetween by substantially a quarter of a wavelength.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein; h. said means for illuminating comprises a substantially monochromatic source of radiation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising; g. counting means responsive to said output signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein; g. said detection means has a radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particle impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the particle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means, and there is further provided; h. second detection means located adjacent said first mentioned detection means, said second detection means has an electromagnetic radiation sensitive area so sized to span a slice of the image of said first means that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising: i. means responsive to predetermined output signals from said second detection means for delivering outputs indicative thereof.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising; j. counting means responsive to said control signals and to said outputs from said last mentioned means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising; j. enabling means for rendering said first mentioned detection means operative in response to a signal derived from said second detection means that differs from said predetermined output signals.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein; g. said optical means include phase illumination optics.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein; g. said means for analyzing performs a spectrum analysis of said varying output signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a. first means for containing a sample of fluid, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof, b . said first means having at least a portion thereof that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, c. means for irradiating said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein with electromagnetic radiation, d. optical means for magnifying the image of said portion of said first means, e. detection means responsive to the electromagnetic radiation passing through said first means for developing a varying output signal indicative of the varying intensity of said electromagnetic radiation, said detection means having an electromagnetic radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particles impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the parTicle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means, and f. means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal for developing a plurality of output signals each indicative of a specific particulate constituent of said sample fluid.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a. first means for containing a sample of fluid, the constituents of which include particles each having a microstructure indicative of the identity thereof, b . said first means having at least a portion thereof that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, c. means for irradiating said portion of said first means and the sample fluid therein with electromagnetic radiation, d. optical means for magnifying the image of said portion of said first means, e. detection means responsive to the electromagnetic radiation passing through said first means for developing a varying output signal indicative of the varying intensity of said electromagnetic radiation, said detection means having an electromagnetic radiation sensitive area that is much smaller than the image of the particles impinging thereupon whereby only a thin cross-sectional slice of the parTicle image traverses said sensitive area as said particle moves with respect to said detection means, and f. means for analyzing and processing said varying output signal for developing a plurality of output signals each indicative of a specific particulate constituent of said sample fluid.
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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |