Sample processing for microscopy
AssigneeAlentic Microscience Inc.
InventorAlan Marc Fine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some instances, an apparatus can include a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample, and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on top of the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising:
- a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample in contact with the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor;
- a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having an exposed surface facing toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor and configured to touch a portion of the fluid sample when the fluid sample is in contact with the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor and between the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor and the body;
- and
- a carrier configured to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the exposed surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample and then to become supported by the fluid sample, wherein the carrier is configured such that, as the body becomes supported by the fluid sample, the body becomes unsupported by the carrier and separates from the carrier.
A method comprising
- supporting a body on a carrier;
- and
- moving the carrier to move the body toward a fluid sample that is on a surface of a light sensitive imaging sensor and is between the body and the light sensitive imaging sensor, so that, as the body touches the fluid sample, the body a) becomes supported by the fluid sample, and b) displaces, from the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, a portion of the fluid sample, wherein, as the body becomes supported by the fluid sample, the body becomes unsupported by the carrier and separates from the carrier.
A point-of-care system comprising:
- a sample processing compartment including
- a base comprising a carrier and a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, wherein the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor is disposed inside a recess defined by the base, and
- a body configured to be held by the carrier with the fluid sample between the body and the light sensitive imaging sensor, the body comprising a protruding element that extends toward the light sensitive imaging sensor when the body is held by the carrier, wherein the protruding element is sized and shaped to fit inside the recess;
- a device coupler configured to couple electronically to a mobile device and to transmit, to the mobile device, electronic communications corresponding to signals derived from the light sensitive imaging sensor;
- and
- a housing configured to hold the sample processing compartment and the device coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.