Apparatus for analyzing biologic fluids
AssigneesRobert A. Levine, Wardlaw Partners, LP
InventorStephen C. Wardlaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for analyzing a sample of biologic fluid quiescently residing within a chamber is provided. The apparatus includes a light source, a positioner, a mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field, and an image dissector. The light source is operable to illuminate a sample field of known, or ascertainable, area. The positioner is operable to selectively change the position of one of the chamber or the light source relative to the other, thereby permitting selective illumination of all regions of the sample. The mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field can determine the volume of a sample field illuminated by the light source. The image dissector is operable to convert an image of light passing through or emanating from the sample field into an electronic data format.
Claims25
An apparatus for testing a sample of biologic fluid quiescently residing within a chamber, said apparatus comprising:
- a field illuminator for selectively illuminating a field of the sample, said field having a known or ascertainable area;
- a positioner, which is operable to selectively change the position of one of the chamber or said field illuminator relative to the other of the chamber or said field illuminator, thereby permitting selective illumination of a plurality of said sample fields within the chamber;
- means for determining one of a through-plane thickness or a volume of each said sample field;
- and
- an image dissector, for converting an image of light passing through or emanating from each said field of the sample into an electronic data format useful for test purposes.
An apparatus for testing a sample of biologic fluid, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a disposable container having a label and a chamber for quiescently holding the sample, said label containing information which is used in the performance of one or more tests on the biologic fluid sample quiescently residing within said chamber;
- (b) a reader module which receives said disposable container, said reader module including:
- a label reader for reading said attached label and thereby accessing said information;
- a field illuminator for selectively illuminating a field of the sample, said sample field having a known or ascertainable area;
- a positioner, which is operable to selectively change the position of one of said chamber or said field illuminator relative to the other of said chamber or said field illuminator, thereby permitting selective illuminating of a plurality of said sample fields within said chamber;
- and
- means for spatially locating said chamber relative to said field illuminator;
- wherein said means for spatially locating said chamber relative to said field illuminator enables said field illuminator to be aligned with a particular spatial location within said chamber;
- an image dissector, for converting an image of light passing through or emanating from each said sample field into an electronic data format useful for test purposes;
- and
- means for determining one of a through-plane thickness or a volume of said sample field.
An apparatus for testing a sample of biologic fluid, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a disposable container having a label and a chamber for quiescently holding the sample, said label containing information which is used in the performance of one or more tests on the biologic fluid sample quiescently residing within said chamber;
- (b) a reader module which receives said disposable container, said reader module including:
- a label reader for reading said attached label, and thereby accessing said information;
- a field illuminator for selectively illuminating a field of the said sample,
- said sample field having a known or ascertainable area;
- a positioner, which is operable to selectively change the position of one of said chamber or said field illuminator relative to the other of said chamber or said field illuminator, thereby permitting selective illumination of a plurality of said sample fields within said chamber;
- and
- means for spatially locating said chamber relative to said field illuminator;
- wherein said means for spatially locating said chamber relative to said field illuminator enables said field illuminator to be aligned with a particular spatial location within said chamber;
- and
- means for determining one of a through-plane thickness or a volume of said sample field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.