Combined optical imaging and electrical detection to characterize particles carried in a fluid
AssigneeE. I. Spectra, LLC
InventorHarold E. Ayliffe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for, and a method of, characterizing a plurality of particles carried by a fluid that can be urged to move through a channel in a microfluidic cassette by combining data analysis of a first signal that is optically-based, and data analysis of a second signal that is electrically-based. Optically-based information is typically obtained by a digital image sensor. Electrically-based information can be obtained by direct measurement of impedance; sometimes in an arrangement operating under the Coulter principle. Data provided by exemplary characterization includes at least one of: volumetric cell count; viability percentage or ratio; particle type; and a particle size histogram.
Claims19
An interrogation apparatus, comprising:
- structure configured and arranged to interact with a removable microfluidic cassette to obtain an optically-based signal related to optical particle characterization of a plurality of particles carried by a fluid that can be urged to move through a channel in said cassette, said optically-based signal being extracted from a optical-interrogation location disposed along said channel;
- structure configured and arranged to interact with said removable cassette to obtain an electrically-based signal related to at least one of:
- identification of said cassette;
- a location of a fluid boundary that can be urged to move through said channel in said cassette;
- or
- characterization of one or more particles carried by said fluid;
- and
- a display element on which a result from processing one or more of said optically-based signal and said electrically-based signal may be shown;
- said cassette comprising:
- a cap layer disposed to form a fluid-resistant cover on one side of a channel segment, at least a portion of said cap layer being substantially transparent in a through-the-thickness direction;
- a sample-receiving orifice disposed in fluid communication with said channel segment;
- a vent disposed in fluid communication with said channel segment at a location disposed downstream of said sample-receiving orifice;
- and
- an interrogation layer disposed to form a fluid-resistant cover on the other side of said channel segment, at least a portion of said interrogation layer being substantially transparent in a through-the-thickness direction, wherein:
- said interrogation layer carries a plurality of surface electrodes disposed to contact fluid carried inside a channel comprising said channel segment;
- and
- a portion of said cap layer, said channel, and said interrogation layer cooperate to form a substantially transparent window through the thickness of said cassette at said optical-interrogation location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.