Fluid Sample Enrichment System and Method
AssigneeSee-Through Scientific Limited
InventorsOliver Harriman, Irwin Zaid
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enrichment system for enrichment of a sample comprising one or more microscopic particles of interest in a fluid carrier is disclosed. The enrichment system comprises a flow cell configured to receive a portion of the sample, a plurality of sample holding chambers and a waste, each connected to a flow cell, an imaging sensor configured to obtain an image of the microscopic particles in the fluid carrier in the flow cell and a controller configured to direct passage of the portion of the fluid sample in the flow cell, in dependence on the image obtained by the imaging sensor, to one of the holding chambers or to the waste.
Claims20
An enrichment system for enrichment of a sample comprising one or more microscopic particles of interest in a fluid carrier, the enrichment system comprising:
- a flow cell configured to receive a portion of the sample;
- a plurality of sample holding chambers and a waste, each connected to a flow cell;
- an imaging sensor configured to obtain an image of the microscopic particles in the fluid carrier in the flow cell;
- and,
- a controller configured to direct passage of the portion of the fluid sample in the flow cell, in dependence on the image obtained by the imaging sensor, to one of the holding chambers or to the waste.
A method of fluid sample enrichment comprising:
- a) passing at least a portion of the fluid sample into a flow cell;
- b) imaging the portion of the fluid sample in the flow cell;
- c) controlling passage of the portion out of the flow cell in dependence on said imaging;
- and repeating steps a) to c) until a predetermined number or proportion of particles of interest remain in the portion,
- wherein said step of controlling includes:
- selecting one of a plurality of outlets from the flow cell in dependence on said imaging to selectively dispose of or retain the portion, retaining the portion if it comprises at least one particle of interest.
The method of step 18, further comprising repeating steps a) to c) until a single particle is isolated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.