US 10,059,978 B2 · Methods and devices for diagnosis of particles in biological fluids

Abstract

Methods for determining whether certain compounds, in particular crystals, are present in a sample of a biological fluid that indicates an individual has a particular disease or condition, such as but not limited to gout, pseudogout or urinary tract stones. In some embodiments, the methods include the steps of digestion and filtration of a sample of synovial fluid in order to isolate, if present, monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU), calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD), or calcium phosphate crystals from the sample, wherein the filtrate is analyzed with a Raman device to ascertain the presence and type of the crystals. Devices for performing steps of the method are disclosed.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for diagnosing tor one or more of kidney stones, gout and pseudogout, comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a sample of a biological fluid;
b) performing digestion of the fluid to release crystals or particles in the fluid;
c) filtering the digested fluid to recover the released crystals or the particles;
d) analyzing the released and filtered crystals or the particles with a diagnostic device, and
e) determining if gout-causing or pseudogout-causing crystals or kidney stones are present, wherein analyzing the crystals comprises the use of a Raman device, wherein the Raman device acquires spectra from a plurality of different points on the released crystals, and wherein the spectrum acquired at each point is processed to remove background fluorescence, subtract a filter related peak and identify crystal species present.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and devices for diagnosis of particles in biological fluids

Life of this patent

Methods and devices for diagnosis of particles in biological fluids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10