Portable scattering and fluorescence cytometer
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsAravind Padmanabhan, Cleopatra Cabuz, Bernard S. Fritz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus having scattering and multi-color fluorescence detecting, analyzing and identification capabilities of blood or other fluids of interest. The sample to be tested may be entered in a disposable microfluidic cartridge which in turn is insertable in a hand-holdable or implantable miniaturized and portable cytometer instrument. This cytometer has significant application in biological warfare agent detection, hematology and other clinical and research fields.
Claims72
An apparatus comprising:
- a flow stream path situated in a structure;
- a light source arrangement proximate to said flow stream path;
- and
- a first light detector arrangement proximate to said flow stream path and to said light source arrangement, wherein said light detector arrangement may detect fluorescent light.
An apparatus comprising:
- a path situated in a structure;
- at least one fluorescent light detector which may be proximate to said path;
- at least one light source proximate to said at least one fluorescent light detector and which may be proximate to said path;
- at least one scattered light detector which may be proximate to said path;
- and
- at least one light source proximate to said at least one scattered light detector and which may be proximate to said path.
A means for cytometry comprising:
- means for supporting a flow of a particle;
- first means for illuminating the particle;
- first means for detecting light scattered by the particle;
- second means for illuminating the particle;
- second means for detecting light emitted by a marker of the particle;
- and
- means for processing signals from said first and second means for detecting.
A method for cytometry comprising:
- providing a flow of an at least one particle;
- projecting a light on the at least one particle;
- and
- analyzing a second light emitted by a marker of the at least one particle.
An apparatus comprising:
- a flow stream path;
- a light source proximate to said flow stream path;
- a first light detector proximate to said flow stream path;
- a second light detector proximate to said light source;
- and
- a processor connected to said first and second light detectors;
- wherein:
- said first light detector is for detecting light from said light source that is scattered by a particle in said flow stream path;
- said second light detector is for detecting light emitted by the particle upon impinging of the particle by light from said light source;
- said first and second detectors generate signals upon detection of light;
- and
- said processor processes signals from said first and second light detectors and may provide information about the particle.
The apparatus of clam 51, wherein said mechanism for selecting at least one bandwidth comprises an at least one tunable filter.
An apparatus comprising:
- a path in a cartridge for a flow of fluid and particles;
- a first opening in the cartridge proximate to said path;
- a second opening in the cartridge proximate to said path;
- an instrument having a place for insertion and removal of the cartridge, comprising:
- an at least one first light source proximate to a first portion of said first opening;
- an at least one second light source proximate to a second portion of said first opening;
- an at least one first light detector proximate to a first portion of said second opening;
- and at least one second light detector proximate to a second portion of said second opening;
- and
- a processor connected to said at least one first and second light detectors;
- and
- wherein:
- said at least first light detector is for detecting light scattered by the particles from said at least one first light source;
- said at least second light detector is for detecting light emitted by the particles impinged by light from said at least one second light source;
- said at least first and second light detectors send signals to said processor upon detection of light;
- and
- said processor converts the signals into information about the particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.