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US 12,276,660 B2Granted
Device and system for analyzing a sample, particularly blood, as well as methods of using the same
AssigneeEssenlix Corporation
InventorsStephen Y. Chou, Wei Ding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is related to the field of bio/chemical sampling, sensing, assays and applications. Particularly, the present invention is related to how to make the sampling/sensing/assay become simple to use, fast to results, highly sensitive, easy to use, using tiny sample volume (e.g., 0.5 μL or less), operated by a person without any professionals, reading by mobile-phone, or low cost, or a combination of them.
Claims20
A device for staining and/or analyzing a tissue sample, comprising:
- a first plate, a second plate, and spacers, wherein:
- (i) the first and second plates are movable relative to each other via a hinge into different configurations, including an open configuration and a closed configuration;
- (ii) one or both plates are flexible;
- (iii) each of the plates has, on its respective surface, a sample contact area for contacting the tissue sample and/or a staining solution that stains the tissue sample;
- and
- (iv) one or both of the plates comprise the spacers that are fixed with a respective plate, wherein at least one of the spacers is inside the sample contact area;
- wherein in the open configuration, the two plates are separated apart, the spacing between the plates is not regulated by the spacers, so that the tissue sample is deposited on one or both of the plates;
- the spacers have a predetermined substantially uniform height and a predetermined inter-spacer distance;
- and
- wherein in the closed configuration, the first and second plates are operable to sandwich at least a part of the tissue sample and the staining solution to form a layer of substantially uniform thickness, wherein the layer is confined by the contact areas of the first and second plates and is regulated by the first and second plates and the spacers.
7 more elements
A method for staining and/or analyzing a tissue sample, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a tissue sample;
- (b) obtaining a staining liquid;
- (c) obtaining a first plate and a second plate, wherein:
- (i) the plates are movable relative to each other into different configurations via a hinge;
- (ii) one or both plates are flexible;
- (iii) each of the plates has, on its respective surface, a sample contact area for contacting a tissue sample or a staining liquid;
- (iv) the sample contact area in the first plate is smooth and planner;
- (v) the sample contact area on the second plate comprises spacers that are fixed on the surface and have a predetermined substantially uniform height and a predetermined inter-spacer distance;
- (d) depositing the tissue sample and the staining liquid on the plates when the plates are configured in an open configuration, wherein the open configuration is a configuration in which the two plates are either partially or completely separated apart and the spacing between the plates is not regulated by the spacers;
- (e) after (c), using the two plates to compress at last part of the tissue sample and at least part of the staining liquid into a closed configuration;
- wherein in the closed configuration:
- at least part of the sample is between the two plates and a layer of at least part of staining liquid is between the at least part of the sample and the second plate, wherein the thickness of the at least part of staining liquid layer is regulated by the plates, the sample, and the spacers, and has an average distance between the sample surface and the second plate surface is equal or less than 250 um with a small variation.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.