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US3819271A
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Method and apparatus for measuring agglutination of cells in a carrier liquid
Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften eV
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Filing: 1972-11-13
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-11-13
Abstract
Abstract The agglutination of cells in carrier liquids is measured by enclosing the cell-carrying liquids in cuvettes having two opposite sides of flat glass and moving the cuvettes in a circular path while they are set into circumferential notches of a wheel rotated at uniform velocity. The cuvettes pass between a light source and a photoelectric cell equipped with slotted aperture plates in such a manner that the output of the photoelectric cell is a measure of the light scattered by the contents of each cuvette, and therefore of the number of cell aggregates in the carrier liquid. The light measurements may be made while the wheel rotates or after the wheel is stopped.
Inventors
- 👤 H Beug
- 👤 G Gerisch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/251; G01N21/253
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of measuring the agglutination of suspended cells in a carrier liquid which comprises: a. enclosing a suspension of said cells in said liquid in a container having a volume greater than the volume of said suspension; b. moving said container during a predetermined period in a circular upright path at a uniform velocity, whereby said cells are subjected to constant shear forces; c. thereafter passing a beam of light through said suspension; and d. determining the amount of light scattered by pAssage through said suspension as a measure of the agglutination of said cells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of measuring the agglutination of suspended cells in a carrier liquid which comprises: a. enclosing a suspension of said cells in said liquid in a container having a volume greater than the volume of said suspension; b. moving said container during a predetermined period in a circular upright path at a uniform velocity, whereby said cells are subjected to constant shear forces; c. thereafter passing a beam of light through said suspension; and d. determining the amount of light scattered by pAssage through said suspension as a measure of the agglutination of said cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said velocity is sufficient to cause all walls of said cavity to be wetted by said liquid during each movement of said container through said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam of light is passed through said suspension during said moving of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is stopped after repeatedly moving through said path, and said beam of light is passed through the suspension in the stopped container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for measuring the agglutination of cells suspended in a liquid carrier which comprises: a. a cuvette holder having a horizontally extending axis of rotation and formed with a plurality of recesses angularly distributed along a circle about said axis and open in a radially outward direction; b. drive means for rotating said cuvette holder about said axis at a uniform speed; c. a plurality of cuvettes respectively secured in said recesses, each cuvette defining a cavity therein and having two axially opposite, transparent walls for passage of a light beam through said cuvette in an axial direction; and d. measuring means for measuring the scattering of said light beam by the contents of the cavity of each cuvette, said measuring means including a light source arranged on one side of said circle, and photoelectric means responsive to the energy of the beam passed from said source through each cell and received by said photoelectric means for generating an electric signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for measuring the agglutination of cells suspended in a liquid carrier which comprises: a. a cuvette holder having a horizontally extending axis of rotation and formed with a plurality of recesses angularly distributed along a circle about said axis and open in a radially outward direction; b. drive means for rotating said cuvette holder about said axis at a uniform speed; c. a plurality of cuvettes respectively secured in said recesses, each cuvette defining a cavity therein and having two axially opposite, transparent walls for passage of a light beam through said cuvette in an axial direction; and d. measuring means for measuring the scattering of said light beam by the contents of the cavity of each cuvette, said measuring means including a light source arranged on one side of said circle, and photoelectric means responsive to the energy of the beam passed from said source through each cell and received by said photoelectric means for generating an electric signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein each cuvette includes a frame member having two opposite faces and formed with an opening therethrough between said faces, two plate members of transparent material sealed to said faces respectively and closing said opening, said opening constituting said cavity, said frame member being formed with a conduit communicating with said cavity and having an outer orifice, and plug means releasably sealing said orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said faces are parallel, and said opening is of elongated shape in a plane parallel to said faces, said frame member having two longitudinal wall portions and two transverse wall portions bounding said opening, said longitudinal wall portions being planar and parallel to each other, and said transverse wall portions being arcuate and connecting said longitudinal wall portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said transverse wall portions are substantially semi-cyindrical about respective axes of curvature transverse to said plane, said conduit having an inner orifice in one of said transverse walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said measuring means further include two aperture plates formed with respective slots elongated in a common direction transverse to said beam, said slots being aligned in the direction of said beam, one of said aperture plates being interposed between said source and said cuvette, and the other aperture plate being interposed between said cuvette and said photoelectric means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said speed is sufficient to cause all walls of each cavity to be wetted by a liquid occupying approximately one half of the volume of said cavity.
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) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |