# US 12,007,548 B2 · System and method for characterizing particulates in a fluid sample

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- Number: US 12,007,548 B2
- Document ID: US12007548B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/059,490
- Filed: 2022-11-29
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-21
- Assignees: Optofluidics Inc.
- Applicants: Optofluidics, Inc.
- Inventors: Colby Ashcroft; Brian DiPaolo; Gjergji Konica; Thomas Castner; Bernardo Cordovez; Christopher Earhart; David Erickson; Robert Hart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007548B2

## CPC

- G02B 21/367: {providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison}
- G01N 15/0227: using imaging; using holography
- G01N 15/0272: {with screening; with classification by filtering (B01D takes precedence)}
- G01N 15/1425: {using an analyser being characterised by its control arrangement}
- G01N 15/1429: Signal processing
- G01N 15/1433: using image recognition
- G01N 15/1434: Optical arrangements
- G01N 15/1436: {the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell}
- G01N 15/147: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream}
- G01N 21/6456: {Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging}
- G02B 21/12: affording bright-field illumination (G02B21/14 takes precedence)
- G02B 21/16: adapted for ultraviolet illumination {; Fluorescence microscopes (G02B21/0076 takes precedence)}
- G02B 21/24: Base structure
- G01N 15/01: specially adapted for biological cells, e.g. blood cells (investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood G01N15/05)
- G01N 21/6452: {Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates}
- G01N 21/65: Raman scattering
- G01N 2015/0011: {in liquids, e.g. bubbles}
- G01N 2015/003: {in liquids, e.g. emulsion}
- G01N 2015/0053: {in liquids, e.g. trouble}
- G01N 2015/0294: {Particle shape}
- G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology}
- G01N 2015/1493: {Particle size}
- G01N 2015/1497: {Particle shape}
- G01N 2021/3595: {using FTIR}
- G01N 2201/062: LED's
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A system for characterizing at least one particle from a fluid sample is disclosed. The system includes a filter disposed upstream of an outlet, and a luminaire configured to illuminate the at least one particle at an oblique angle. An imaging device is configured to capture and process images of the illuminated at least one particle as it rests on the filter for characterizing the at least one particle. A system for characterizing at least one particle using bright field illumination is also disclosed. A method for characterizing particulates in a fluid sample using at least one of oblique angle and bright field illumination is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for characterizing at least one particle from a fluid sample, the method comprising:
providing a membrane filter disposed upstream of an outlet;
illuminating the at least one particle using bright field illumination;
drawing liquid below and through pores of the membrane filter by applying a vacuum pressure;
drying the membrane filter by wicking the liquid away from the membrane filter after the vacuum pressure has ended; and
capturing and processing images of the illuminated at least one particle as it rests on the dry membrane filter for characterizing the at least one particle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
illuminating the at least one particle at an angle coplanar with a flat plane of the filter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
illuminating the at least one particle at an oblique angle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
generating a composite image comprising oblique angle illumination and bright field illumination.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 further comprising:
characterizing a plurality of particles based on a combination of oblique angle illumination and bright field illumination.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
characterizing and identifying a material type of the at least one particle using a machine learning algorithm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the machine learning algorithm uses observed features including at least one of size, shape, texture, light scattering intensity and fluorescence of particles to build models.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
characterizing and identifying a material type of the at least one particle as it rests on the filter using fluorescent imaging.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
imaging the filter both before and after the at least one particle is captured on the filter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the before and after images are processed together using algorithms that processes them to find differences.