Method and apparatus for verifying uniform flow of a fluid sample through a flow cell and distribution on a slide
AssigneeInternational Remote Imaging Systems, Inc.
InventorsHarvey Kasdan, Jaehyl Ko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Particles in a fluid are counted as the fluid flows through an examination area of a particle analyzer. Parameters based upon the particle count are calculated. It is determined whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter. Based on this determination, an indication is provided of uniformity of the fluid sample in the examination area.
Claims40
A method of determining flow quality of a fluid sample through an examination area of a flow chamber in a particle analyzer, the fluid sample including particles suspended therein, the method comprising:
- counting the particles by the particle analyzer as the fluid sample flows through the examination area of the flow chamber to generate a plurality of individual particle counts;
- calculating at least one parameter based upon the particle counts;
- determining whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter without regard for the individual particle counts, to generate an allowable range determination;
- determining the flow quality of the fluid sample through the examination area in response to the allowable range determination.
A particle analyzer for analyzing a fluid sample including particles suspended therein, comprising:
- a flow chamber including an examination area;
- an imager that images substantially still frame images of the fluid in the examination area as the fluid passes through the examination area;
- a counter that counts the particles in still frame images to generate a plurality of individual particle counts;
- a calculator that calculates parameters based upon the individual particle counts;
- a first determiner that determines whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter to generate an allowable range determination without regard for the individual particle counts;
- a second determiner that determines the flow quality of the fluid sample through the examination area in response to the allowable range determination.
A method of determining flow quality of a fluid sample through an examination area of a flow chamber, the fluid sample including particles suspended therein and the examination area including one or more sub-areas each through which only a portion of the fluid sample flows, the method comprising:
- for each sub-area
- counting the particles as the fluid flows through the sub-area to generate individual particle counts for the sub-area;
- calculating at least one parameter based upon the individual particle counts for the sub-area;
- and
- determining whether the at least one calculated parameter for the sub-area is within an allowable range for the parameter without regard for the individual particle counts for the sub-area to generate at least one allowable range determination;
- and
- determining the flow quality of the fluid sample in response to the allowable range determination.
A particle analyzer for analyzing a fluid sample including particles suspended therein, comprising:
- a flow chamber including an examination area, the examination area including one or more sub-areas each through which only a portion of the fluid sample flows;
- an imager that images substantially still frame images of the fluid in the examination area as the fluid passes through the examination area;
- a counter that, for each sub-area, counts the particles in a corresponding portion of the still frame images to generate a plurality of individual particle counts for the sub-area;
- a calculator that calculates, for each sub-area, parameters based upon the individual particle counts for the sub-area;
- a first determiner that determines whether the at least one calculated parameter for each sub-area is within an allowable range for the parameter without regard for the individual particle counts for the sub-area, to generate an allowable range determination;
- a second determiner that determines the flow quality of the fluid sample through the examination area in response to the allowable range determination.
An apparatus for analysis of particles suspended in a fluid, comprising:
- a flow chamber through which the fluid flows, the flow chamber including an examination area;
- a particle counter for counting the particles as the fluid flows past the examination area, to generate an individual particle count;
- a calculator for calculating at least one parameter based upon the individual particle counts;
- and
- a determiner that determines whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter without regard for the individual particle counts to determine that the flow quality of the fluid sample flowing through the examination area is acceptable.
A method of determining flow quality of a fluid sample through an examination area of a flow chamber, the fluid sample including particles suspended therein and the examination area including a plurality of sub-areas through which only a portion of the fluid sample flows, the method comprising:
- for each sub-area, counting the particles as the fluid flows through the sub-area over time to generate an accumulated individual particle count for each sub-area;
- calculating at least one parameter based upon the accumulated individual particle counts;
- determining whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter without regard to the individual particle counts to generate an allowable range determination;
- and
- determining the flow quality of the fluid sample in response to the allowable range determination.
A particle analyzer for analyzing a fluid sample including particles suspended therein, comprising:
- a flow chamber including an examination area, the examination area including one or more sub-areas each through which only a portion of the fluid sample flows;
- an imager that images substantially still frame images of the fluid in the examination area as the fluid passes through the examination area;
- a counter that, for each sub-area, counts the particles in a corresponding portion of the still frame images as the fluid flows through the sub-area over time to generate an accumulated individual particle count for each sub-area;
- a calculator that calculates parameters based upon the accumulated individual particle counts;
- a first determiner that determines whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter, to generate an allowable range determination without regard for the individual particle counts;
- and
- a second determiner that determines the flow quality of the fluid sample in response to the allowable range determination.
An apparatus for analysis of particles suspended in a fluid:
- a flow chamber through which the fluid flows, the flow chamber including an examination area;
- a particle counter for counting the individual particles as the fluid flows past the examination area, to generate a count;
- means for providing a heavy stain as at least a portion of the fluid sample;
- means for determining if there is a period of time during which a stained portion of the fluid sample passes through the examination area, after the heavy stain is provided, and is uniformly distributed within a first portion of the examination area, to generate a determination signal without regard to a count of the individual particles;
- and
- means for determining flow quality of the fluid sample in response to the determination signal.
A method of analyzing particles in a fluid sample in a field of view, wherein the field of view includes a plurality of sub-fields, the method comprising:
- forming an electrical image of the field of view in a device;
- reading out the electrical image from the device to produce an electrical waveform;
- for each sub-field, counting the individual particles in the field of view based upon a portion of the electrical waveform that corresponds to the sub-field, to determine a particle count for the sub-field;
- calculating at least one parameter based upon the particle counts;
- determining whether the at least one calculated parameter is within an allowable range for the parameter without regard to a count of individual particles, to generate a determination signal;
- determining the quality of distribution of the sample in response to the determination signal, to generate a quality determination signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.