US 11,892,404 B2 · Electroluminescent methods and devices for characterization of biological specimens

Abstract

Methods and devices for the characterization of biological specimens by the use of electroluminescent materials. When placed in close proximity or direct contact to a biological specimen and an electrical signal is transmitted, electroluminescence is generated in response to the presence of the specimen. The electroluminescence produced can be in the form of an image of the specimen. The image is captured by an optical device that collects light and displays or otherwise processes the image according to the particular need or purpose. In general, the method requires preparing an electroluminescent assembly including the biological specimen, a dielectric layer, and a substrate, put together in any order. The method uses an electrical signal transmitted to the assembly. The device may be configured in a closed-circuit electrical configuration or it may be in a configuration where the EL assembly is at open circuit with respect to the power source.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method for characterizing a biological specimen comprising:

applying a biological specimen to a dielectric layer;
preparing an electroluminescent assembly comprising:
a biological specimen in contact with the dielectric layer,
a quantity of an electroluminescent material, and
a substrate, to create the assembly;
positioning the electroluminescent assembly between a pair of electrodes;
transmitting an electrical signal from a power source by means of the pair of electrodes through the electroluminescent assembly, wherein the transmission of the electrical signal through the assembly causes electroluminescence to be produced;
capturing the electroluminescence using a microscope, wherein the presence and characteristics of the biological specimen determine one or more electroluminescence properties;
and
relating the properties of the electroluminescence to at least one characteristic of the biological specimen.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/893,650Filed 23 Aug 2022 · continuation

Priority

5 Jul 2018

Published

US 2022/0404282 A122 Dec 2022

Granted

6 Feb 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01N 21/6456
Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters: spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
G01N 21/66
Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light: electrically…
G01N 33/52
Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing: use of…
G01N 21/75
Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light: systems…

Family

Application16/027,471Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Jul 2018

Application16/376,643Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Apr 2019

Application16/530,086Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Aug 2019

US 11,393,387 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Jul 2022

US 11,428,656 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Aug 2022

US 2022/0404282 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Dec 2022

US 11,460,403 B2Parent of this continuation

Application16/530,086Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2020/0011802 A1Published application

US 2020/0011824 A1Published application

US 2020/0013329 A1Published application

US 11,892,404 B2This patent

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

Electroluminescent methods and devices for characterization of biological specimens

Life of this patent

Electroluminescent methods and devices for characterization of biological specimens

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31