# US 2019/0170632 A1 · Measurement of serum lipoproteins > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170632 A1 - Document ID: US20190170632A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/256,017 - Filed: 2019-01-24 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-16 - Assignees: VAP Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc - Applicants: VAP Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc - Inventors: Krishnaji R. KULKARNI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170632A1 ## CPC - G01N 15/1434: Optical arrangements - G01N 1/38: Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples - G01N 15/05: in blood - G01N 15/06: Investigating concentration of particle suspensions (by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - G01N 33/491: {by separating the blood components (G01N15/05 takes precedence)} - G01N 33/92: involving lipids, e.g. cholesterol {, lipoproteins, or their receptors (steroid hormones G01N33/743)} - G01N 15/075: by optical means - G01N 33/492: {Determining multiple analytes} - G01N 2015/045: {by optical analysis} - G01N 2015/1486: {Counting the particles} - 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 Although a more accurate estimate of a person's risk of cardiovascular disease can be made on the basis of the number of lipoprotein particles per unit volume in the person's blood, current methods all rely on measuring the mass of lipoprotein cholesterol per unit volume. It has been discovered that a rapid and accurate lipoprotein particle count can be obtained by photometry. A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the number of lipoprotein particles in a sample using photometry. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of measuring lipoprotein particle count in a sample from a subject, the method comprising: a. introducing into an apparatus for measuring the lipoprotein particle number, a plurality of lipoprotein fractions comprising a LDL fraction, a HDL fraction, and a VLDL fraction, wherein each of the plurality of lipoprotein fractions are separated from one another, b. obtaining a photometric measurement in at least the LDL fraction; and c. calculating a particle count for the LDL fraction that is a function of the photometric measurement, wherein separation of the HDL fraction and the VLDL fraction is maintained during steps (a) to (c). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: a. obtaining a photometric measurement in the HDL fraction; and b. calculating a particle count for the HDL fraction that is a function of the photometric measurement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: a. obtaining a photometric measurement in at least the VLDL fraction; and b. calculating a particle count for the VLDL fraction that is a function of the photometric measurement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: a. obtaining a photometric measurement in at least the HDL fraction; b. calculating a particle count for the HDL fraction that is a function of the photometric measurement; c. obtaining a photometric measurement in at least the VLDL fraction; and d. calculating a particle count for the VLDL fraction that is a function of the photometric measurement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lipoprotein fractions are contained in a sample vessel and the LDL fraction, the HDL fraction and the VLDL fraction are introduced into the apparatus in a descending order of density. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is a blood sample or a serum sample. ### Claim 7 A method of measuring lipoprotein particle count in a sample from a subject, the method comprising: a. introducing into an apparatus for measuring the lipoprotein particle number, a plurality of lipoprotein fractions comprising a LDL fraction, a HDL fraction, a Lp(a) fraction, an IDL fraction and a VLDL fraction, wherein each of the plurality of lipoprotein fractions are separated from one another; b. obtaining a photometric measurement in at least one of the plurality of lipoprotein fractions fraction; and c. calculating a particle count for each fraction for which the photometric measurement was obtained wherein separation of the HDL fraction and the VLDL fraction is maintained during steps (a) to (c). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the LDL fraction, the HDL fraction, the Lp(a) fraction, the IDL fraction, and the VLDL fraction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one fraction is the LDL faction and the HDL fraction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the LDL fraction and the Lp(a) fraction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the LDL fraction and the IDL fraction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the LDL fraction and the VLDL fraction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the HDL fraction and the Lp(a) fraction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the HDL fraction and the IDL fraction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the HDL fraction and the VLDL fraction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the Lp(a) fraction and the VLDL fraction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the Lp(a) fraction and the IDL fraction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the photometric measurement is obtained for the VLDL fraction and the IDL fraction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of lipoprotein fractions are contained in a sample vessel and the LDL fraction, the HDL fraction, the Lp(a) fraction, the IDL fraction and the VLDL fraction are introduced into the apparatus in a descending order of density. ### Claim 20 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the sample is a blood sample or a serum sample.