US 7,252,987 B2Granted

System for analysis and selection of encapsulated cellular materials

AssigneeIslet Technology, Inc.

InventorsWilliam D. Bachalo, Michael J. Fidrich

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Abstract

Capsules, entrained in a fluid medium, are directed into a channel deflection system designed to enable evaluation and separation of successfully encapsulated cellular material from the blanks and other debris. Preferably, the fluid media with the capsule is introduced into a first or main channel and the capsules first pass one or more windows in the main channel for evaluation that is conducted by electromagnetic and/or optical means. Preferably, the evaluation results in the selection of acceptable capsules and subsequent removal of the blank capsules from the medium through the use of multiple jets that gently redirect the acceptable capsules into an alternate channel. Preferably, fluid is also introduced into the alternate channel and the main channel and the alternate channel are arranged such that there is a window defined between the two channels where the fluid flow between the two channel is directly adjacent and the jet deflection system can selectively deflect capsules across this window between the two channels with a minimum amount of force and a minimum of turbulence created in either channel.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An automated system for evaluation and selection of capsules a minority of which contain encapsulated cellular material comprising:

a first channel through which a first fluid stream containing capsules is introduced into the system and will exit from the system if undeflected;
a second channel through which a second fluid stream is introduced;
a window defined between the first channel and the second channel across which the first fluid stream is directly adjacent the second fluid stream;
a sensor system operably positioned along the first channel upstream of the window, the sensor system equipped to image the minority of the capsules which contain encapsulated cellular material from among the capsules contained in the first fluid stream;
and
a fluid jet system pulsed responsive to a control system coupled to the sensor system that identifies the minority of capsules which contain encapsulated materials and controls the fluid jet system for selectively deflecting the minority of the capsules which contain encapsulated cellular material from the first fluid stream across the window and into the second fluid stream such that fluid flow disturbance of the first fluid is generally created only when a capsule containing cellular material is detected by the sensor system,
wherein a majority of the capsules not containing cellular material persists flowing through the first channel through which the first fluid stream containing capsules is introduced, without creating a fluid flow disturbance of the first fluid that affects imaging of the capsules by the sensor system.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/313,987Filed 6 Dec 2002 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 Dec 2001
Published: US 2003/0232425 A118 Dec 2003
Granted: 7 Aug 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G01N 15/1459
Without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals: the analysis being performed on a…
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties