Magnetic flow cytometry for individual cell detection
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsOliver Hayden, Michael Johannes Helou, Sandro Francesco Tedde
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to flow cytometry. A method for precise individual cell detection and cell measurement of cells in the flow is disclosed. A pair of magnetoresistive components are used to produce a characteristic measuring signal profile from which the following information can be obtained: number of measurement deviations, measurement deviation distances, measurement deviation amplitudes, measurement deviation direction and measurement deviation direction sequence. The flow speed and the cell diameter can also be determined. Also, the signal noise ratio can be determined using the measurement deviation amplitude.
Claims15
A method for magnetic flow measurement of cells, the method comprising the following steps:
- starting up a sensor arrangement, wherein at least a first and a second magnetoresistive component being connected in a Wheatstone bridge in a diagonal arrangement or parallel arrangement, and wherein the first and second magnetoresistive components are arranged with a distance between one another in the direction of flow of the cells, and wherein the distance between the first magnetoresistive component and the second magnetoresistive component is selected based on a type of cell to be detected in the flow of cells,
- performing a magnetic marking of the cells,
- generating flow of the cells over the sensor arrangement, the flow of the cells firstly being guided via the first and subsequently via the second magnetoresistive component,
- detecting individual cells in the flow of the cells, wherein a measurement signal with a characteristic pattern of at least three measurement deviations is produced by the magnetic field of an individual magnetically marked cell that flows over the sensor arrangement, and
- evaluating the measurement signal wherein the measurement signal is identified as individual cell detection based on the measurement deviation direction sequence.
A device for magnetic flow measurement of magnetically marked cells, comprising:
- a flow chamber configured to flow magnetically marked cells therethrough in a direction of flow;
- a sensor arrangement, positioned in the flow chamber, comprising at least one Wheatstone bridge with at least a first and a second magnetoresistive component, wherein the magnetoresistive components are connected in a diagonal arrangement or a parallel arrangement, wherein the first and second magnetoresistive components are positioned at least partly transverse to the direction of flow of the magnetically marked cells, and wherein the first and second magnetoresistive components are arranged with a distance between one another in the direction of flow of the magnetically marked cells, and wherein the distance between the first magnetoresistive component and the second magnetoresistive component being selected based on a cell type to be detected in the flow of magnetically marked cells, and wherein the sensor arrangement being configured to detect a measurement signal,
- wherein the sensor arrangement is positioned in the flow chamber so that the flow of the magnetically marked cells are firstly guided via the first and subsequently via the second magnetoresistive components,
- wherein the distance of the magnetoresistive components has a value such that the magnetic field of an individual magnetically marked cell that flows over the sensor arrangement produces a characteristic measurement signal pattern with at least three measurement deviations, and
- evaluation electronics configured to identify the measurement signal as individual cell detection based on the measurement deviation direction sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.