US 10,598,598 B2Granted

Cell counter

AssigneeDeNovix Inc.

InventorsFernando F. Kielhorn, Daniel A. Schieffer, David L. Ash, Kevin Kelley, Andrew William Jones

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Cell counters and methods of their use are disclosed herein. The cell counters include a sample mounting system that includes a base, which includes a mounted lower sample surface and a cover having a mounted upper sample surface; a bright-field light source incorporated in the cover; an objective lens mounted below the sample mounting system; optionally, a fluorescence excitation source in optical communication with the sample mounting system; and an imaging system in optical communication with the bright-field light source and the objective lens. The mounted sample surfaces are configured for repeated use, such that disposable sample cartridges are not needed.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A device for measuring cells or particles in a suspension, comprising:

(i) a bright-field light source;
(ii) an imaging system;
and
(iii) a sample mounting system comprising upper and lower sample surfaces configured for direct receipt of a sample comprising a suspension of cells or particles, the system comprising:
(A) a base having a base top side, a base bottom side, and an objective lens cavity located on the base so as to align with and receive one or more objective lenses of the imaging system;
(B) a hinge fixed to the base;
(C) a movable arm fixed to the hinge, said movable arm having a movable arm top side, a movable arm bottom side, and a bright-field light source cavity located on a portion of the movable atm distal to the hinge and configured to receive the bright-field light source;
(D) the lower sample surface mounted to the base top side in a position configured to receive bright-field light from the bright-field light source when the movable arm is in a closed position;
and
(E) the upper sample surface mounted to the movable arm bottom side of the movable arm in a position configured to receive bright-field light from the bright field light source;
wherein a distance between the lower sample surface and the upper sample surface when the moveable arm is in the closed position is adjustable to accommodate variable volumes of samples deposited between the upper and lower sample surfaces;
wherein the system is re-usable by moving the movable arm to an open position and cleaning the sample surfaces.

9 more elements

A method of measuring cells or particles in a suspension, comprising:

(a) providing a device comprising:
(i) a bright-field light source;
(ii) at least one optional fluorescence excitation source;
(iii) an imaging system;
and
(iv) a sample mounting system for samples of the suspension of cells or particles, comprising:
(A) a base having a base top side, a base bottom side, and an objective lens cavity located on the base so as to align with and receive one or more objective lenses of the imaging system;
and
(B) a hinge fixed to the base;
(C) a movable arm fixed to the hinge, said movable arm having a movable arm top side, a movable arm bottom side, and a bright-field light source cavity located on a portion of the movable atm distal to the hinge and configured to receive the bright-field light source;
(D) a lower sample surface mounted to the base top side in a position configured to receive bright-field light from the bright-field light source when the movable arm is in a closed position;
and
(E) an upper sample surface mounted to the movable arm bottom side of the movable arm in a position configured to receive bright-field light from the bright field light source;
wherein a distance between the lower sample surface and the upper sample surface when the movable arm is in the closed position is adjustable to accommodate variable volumes of liquid sample deposited between the upper and lower sample surfaces;
(b) loading a sample of known volume of the suspension of cells or particles onto the lower sample surface;
(c) before, after, or simultaneously with step (b), moving the movable arm to the closed position relative to the base;
(d) illuminating the sample via the bright-field light source, the at least one optional fluorescence excitation source if present, or a combination thereof;
(e) detecting and measuring the cells or particles via the imaging system to produce measurement data;
(f) before, after or simultaneously with step (b), (c), (d) or (e), adjusting the distance between the lower sample surface and the upper sample surface to accommodate the volume of sample loaded onto the lower sample surface;
and
(g) preparing the device for repeating steps (b)-(f) by moving the movable arm into an open position relative to the base and removing the sample from the upper and lower sample surfaces.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/392,030Filed 23 Apr 2019 · continuation
Priority: 22 Jun 2016
Published: US 2019/0310197 A110 Oct 2019
Granted: 24 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G01N 15/1468
Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry: with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle
G01N 15/1434
Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry: optical arrangements
G01N 21/6456
Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters: spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
G01N 21/6458
Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging: fluorescence microscopy

Family

Application62/353,226Us provisional application · filed 22 Jun 2016
Application62/489,181Us provisional application · filed 24 Apr 2017
Application15/628,394Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jun 2017
US 2019/0310197 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Oct 2019
US 10,302,568 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2017/0370848 A1Published application
US 10,598,598 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.