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.
Claims16
A method for testing a sample of biologic fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container for holding the sample, said container having a chamber with a first wall and a transparent second wall, one or more features operable to enable the testing of the biologic fluid sample at least one of which is located at a known spatial location within said chamber, and a label attached to said container, said label containing information which is used in the performance of one or more tests, wherein said information includes said known spatial location of said feature;
- providing a reader module that includes a label reader for reading said label and a field illuminator for selectively illuminating one or more fields of the sample, each sample field having a known or ascertainable area;
- depositing said sample within said chamber, wherein said sample quiescently resides in said chamber thereafter during the testing;
- reading said label with said label reader, thereby communicating to said reader module said information which is used in the performance of said one or more tests, including said known spatial location of said feature;
- and
- selectively imaging one or more of said fields of the sample using said field illuminator, including said field of the sample in which said feature is disposed at said known spatial location within said chamber.
A method for testing a sample of biologic fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container for holding the sample, said container having a chamber with a first wall and a transparent second wall;
- providing one or more features at least one of which is located at a known spatial location within said chamber, each said feature being operable to enable the testing of the sample;
- depositing said sample within said chamber, wherein said sample thereafter quiescently resides in said chamber during the testing;
- providing a reader module that includes a field illuminator for selectively illuminating one or more fields of the sample disposed in said chamber, each said sample field having a known or ascertainable area;
- aligning said field illuminator with said feature at said spatial location;
- selectively imaging one or more of said fields of the sample, at least one of which contains said feature disposed at said known spatial location within said chamber using said field illuminator.
A method for testing a sample of biologic fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container for holding the sample, said container having a chamber with a first wall and a transparent second wall;
- providing one or more features in said chamber, each said feature being operable to enable the testing of the sample;
- locating at least one of said features at a known spatial location within said chamber;
- depositing said sample within said chamber, wherein said sample thereafter quiescently resides in said chamber during the testing;
- providing a reader module that includes a field illuminator for selectively illuminating one or more fields of the sample disposed in said chamber;
- aligning said field illuminator with said feature or features at said known spatial location, or locations respectively, within said chamber;
- selectively imaging said field or fields of the sample that contain said feature or features using said field illuminator.
A method for testing a sample of biologic fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container for holding the sample, said container having a chamber and one or more features operable to enable the testing of the sample, wherein at least one of said features is located at a known spatial location within said chamber;
- providing a reader module that includes a field illuminator for selectively illuminating one or more fields of the sample, wherein said feature located at said known spatial location is disposed in at least one of said fields of the sample;
- depositing said sample within said chamber, wherein thereafter said sample quiescently resides in said chamber during the testing;
- and
- selectively imaging one or more of said fields of the sample using said field illuminator including said field or fields of the sample in which a feature is disposed at a known spatial location within said chamber.
A method for testing a sample of biologic fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container for holding the sample during the test, said container having a chamber and one or more features operable to enable the testing of the biologic fluid sample, wherein at least one of said features is located within said chamber;
- providing a field illuminator for selectively illuminating one or more fields of the sample;
- providing a label attached to said container, wherein said label contains information that is used in the performance of one or more tests, and said information includes a spatial location of each said feature located within said chamber;
- reading said label to determine said information, including said spatial location;
- depositing said sample within said chamber, wherein said sample thereafter quiescently resides in said chamber during the testing;
- selectively imaging one or more of said fields of the sample using said field illuminator, including said field or fields of the sample in which at least one feature is disposed at a known spatial location within said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.