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Publication Number
US-11112593-B2
Publication Date
2021-09-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
In some instances, an apparatus can include a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample, and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on top of the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for contact microscopy in which a light sensitive imaging sensor receives a fluid sample in contact with the sensor surface. A body is moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor so that an exposed surface of the body faces the sensor and touches a portion of the fluid sample positioned between the sensor surface and the body. A carrier moves the body toward the sensor surface to cause the exposed surface to touch the portion of the fluid sample.
After the body becomes supported by the fluid sample, the body becomes unsupported by the carrier and separates from the carrier. This relationship between carrier support and fluid-supported support is used to create a repeatable contacting interaction between the body and the fluid sample on the imaging sensor surface, suitable for subsequent particle counts on the sensor.
A point-of-care system is also described that includes a sample processing compartment with a base, a carrier, and a light sensitive imaging sensor disposed inside a recess defined by the base. The body is held by the carrier with the fluid sample between the body and the light sensitive imaging sensor, and the body includes a protruding element extending toward the light sensitive imaging sensor that is sized and shaped to fit inside the recess.
The system further includes a device coupler configured to couple electronically to a mobile device and transmit to the mobile device electronic communications corresponding to signals derived from the light sensitive imaging sensor. A housing holds the sample processing compartment and the device coupler, supporting use in device/product scope examples including open and closed point-of-care devices.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover three main inventive aspects: (i) an apparatus in which a body touches and displaces a portion of a fluid sample on a light sensitive imaging sensor while separating from the carrier once supported by the fluid, (ii) a corresponding method of moving a carrier to achieve the same supporting and displacing-and-separating behavior, and (iii) a point-of-care system that integrates the sample processing compartment with a recessed sensor, a fitting protruding element, and electronic communications to a mobile device. Across these independent claims, the inventive features are organized around sensor contact, fluid-supported transfer, and system-level point-of-care integration.
Fluid-supported body separation with carrier-driven contact
A light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample in contact with the surface; a body moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and configured to touch a portion of the fluid sample between the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor and the body; and a carrier configured to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the exposed surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample and then to become supported by the fluid sample, wherein the carrier is configured such that, as the body becomes supported by the fluid sample, the body becomes unsupported by the carrier and separates from the carrier.
Carrier movement that displaces a portion of the fluid sample and then releases the body
Supporting a body on a carrier; moving the carrier to move the body toward a fluid sample on a surface of a light sensitive imaging sensor and between the body and the light sensitive imaging sensor, so that, as the body touches the fluid sample, the body becomes supported by the fluid sample and displaces, from the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, a portion of the fluid sample, wherein, as the body becomes supported by the fluid sample, the body becomes unsupported by the carrier and separates from the carrier.
Recessed sensor point-of-care system with a recess-fitting protruding element and mobile-device signal communication
A point-of-care system comprising a sample processing compartment including a base comprising a carrier and a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, wherein the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor is disposed inside a recess defined by the base; a body configured to be held by the carrier with the fluid sample between the body and the light sensitive imaging sensor, the body comprising a protruding element that extends toward the light sensitive imaging sensor when the body is held by the carrier, wherein the protruding element is sized and shaped to fit inside the recess; a device coupler configured to couple electronically to a mobile device and to transmit, to the mobile device, electronic communications corresponding to signals derived from the light sensitive imaging sensor; and a housing configured to hold the sample processing compartment and the device coupler.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on the carrier-controlled movement of a body to contact and then displace a portion of a fluid sample on a light sensitive imaging sensor, with a deliberate transition from carrier support to fluid-supported separation. In the point-of-care system, this functional sample-contact relationship is packaged into a recessed-sensor compartment with a recess-fitting protruding element and a device coupler that transmits sensor-derived signals to a mobile device.
Stated Advantages
Repeatable contacting interaction between the body and the fluid sample on the imaging sensor surface, suitable for subsequent particle counts on the sensor.
Documented Applications
Point-of-care system for contact microscopy using a light sensitive imaging sensor and a mobile device coupler to transmit signals corresponding to signals derived from the light sensitive imaging sensor.
Blood analysis including cell counts, including white blood cells and red blood cells.
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