Sample level detection system
AssigneeBeckman Coulter, Inc.
InventorsJack D. Mc Neal, Yagang Liu, Mary S. Adzich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting the level of red blood cells, plasma or serum, and organic separation gel in a test tube covered with multiple labels is provided. Visible and infrared light beams are projected onto a test tube. The portions of the light beams that pass through the test tube are detected as a function of position along the vertical axis of the test tube. The levels of the interfaces are then calculated from the detected portions.
Claims26
A method for detecting the location of at least one interface in a container made up of a material and having a vertical axis and containing at least one layer of serum, plasma, and cells, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) projecting onto the container a first detecting light beam that is substantially transmitted by serum, plasma, and the material but substantially blocked by cells, a portion of the first detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- b) projecting onto the container a second detecting light beam that is substantially blocked by serum, plasma, and cells, but is substantially transmitted by the material, a portion of the second detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- c) detecting, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the first detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container and no significant portion of the second detecting light beam;
- d) detecting, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the second detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container and no significant portion of the first detecting light beam;
- and
- e) determining the location of at least one interface from the detected portions.
A method for detecting the location of at least one interface in a container made up of a material and having a vertical axis and containing an upper layer of at least one of serum and plasma and a lower layer of cells, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) projecting onto the container a first detecting light beam of visible light that is substantially transmitted by serum, plasma, and the material, but substantially blocked by the cells, a portion of the first detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- b) projecting onto the container a second detecting light beam of infrared light that is substantially blocked by serum, plasma, and cells, but is substantially transmitted by the material, a portion of the second detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- c) detecting, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the first detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container and no significant portion of the second detecting light beam;
- d) detecting, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the second detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container and no significant portion of the first detecting light beam;
- and
- e) determining the location of at least one interface from the detected portions.
A system for detecting the location of at least one interface in a container made up of a material and having a vertical axis and containing an upper layer of at least one of serum and plasma and a lower layer of cells, the system comprising:
- a) a first light source for projecting onto the container a first detecting light beam of visible light that is substantially transmitted by serum, plasma, and the material but substantially blocked by the cells;
- b) a second light source for projecting onto the container a second detecting light beam of infrared light that is substantially blocked by serum, plasma, and cells but is substantially transmitted by the material;
- c) a first detector for detecting as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, any portion of the first detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container and no significant portion of the second detecting light beam;
- d) a second detector for detecting as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, any portion of the second detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container and no significant portion of the first detecting light beam;
- and
- e) a processor for determining the location of at least one interface from the detected portions.
An apparatus for detecting the location of at least one interface in a container made up of a material and having a vertical axis and containing at least one layer of serum, plasma, and cells, comprising:
- a) a first projector that projects onto the container a first detecting light beam that is substantially transmitted by serum, plasma, and the material but substantially blocked by cells, a portion of the first detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- b) a second projector that projects onto the container a second detecting light beam that is substantially blocked by serum, plasma, and cells but is substantially transmitted by the material, a portion of the second detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- c) a first detector that detects, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the first detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container;
- d) a second detector that detects, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the second detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container;
- and
- e) a processor that is operably attached to the detectors and determines the location of the interfaces from the detected portions.
A method for detecting the location of the interfaces in a container made up of a material and having a vertical axis and containing an upper layer of serum or plasma, a middle layer of gel, and a lower layer of cells, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) projecting onto the container a detecting light beam that is substantially blocked by serum and the cells but substantially transmitted by the material and the gel, a portion of the detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- b) detecting, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container;
- and
- c) determining the location of the interfaces from the detected portions.
An apparatus for detecting at least one interface in a container made up of a material and having a vertical axis and containing an upper layer of serum or plasma, a middle layer of gel, and a lower layer of cells, comprising:
- a) a projector that projects onto the container a detecting light beam that is substantially blocked by serum, plasma, and cells but substantially transmitted by the material and the gel, a portion of the detecting light beam being transmitted through the container;
- b) a detector that detects, as a function of position along the vertical axis of the container, the portion of the detecting light beam that is transmitted through the container;
- and
- c) a processor that is operably attached to the detector and determines the interfaces from the detected portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.