Method and apparatus for buffy coat imaging
AssigneePerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
InventorThomas R. Drechsler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blood sample processor for imaging a centrifuged blood sample is provided including a transparent container with the centrifuged blood sample therein. An illumination source is positioned to illuminate the centrifuged blood sample at a non-right angle to the transparent container. A digital camera disposed opposite the transparent container images the centrifuged blood sample and the image is processed to determine the relative locations of component layers of the centrifuged blood sample.
Claims16
A blood sample processor for imaging a centrifuged blood sample, comprising:
- a transparent container with the centrifuged blood sample therein;
- an illumination source for illuminating the centrifuged blood sample, positioned at an oblique angle off of a center axis of the transparent container;
- a digital camera disposed opposite the transparent container for imaging the centrifuged blood sample;
- and
- a processor for processing the centrifuged blood sample image and determining relative locations of component layers of the centrifuged blood sample,
- wherein the processor comprises a liquid level height sensor for detecting a location of a surface of the centrifuged blood sample by mechanical contact of the liquid level height sensor with the surface;
- and
- wherein the processor determines actual locations of the component layers of the centrifuged blood sample based on the relative locations of component layers of the centrifuged blood sample and the location of the surface of the centrifuged blood sample.
A method of analyzing a centrifuged blood sample, comprising:
- placing the blood sample in a transparent container;
- illuminating the centrifuged blood sample with an illumination source positioned at an oblique angle off of a center axis of the transparent container;
- imaging the centrifuged blood sample with a digital camera disposed opposite the transparent container;
- processing the centrifuged blood sample image and determining relative locations of component layers of the centrifuged blood sample;
- detecting a location of a surface of the centrifuged blood sample by mechanical contact of a liquid level height sensor with the surface of the centrifuged blood sample;
- and
- determining actual locations of the component layers of the centrifuged blood sample based on the relative locations of component layers of the centrifuged blood sample and the location of the surface of the centrifuged blood sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.