Apparatus which utilizes digital immagery to determine concentration of leukocytes in blood sample
Inventors
Lindberg, Stellan • Svensson, Johnny
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8092758-B2
Publication Date
2012-01-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sample acquiring device for volumetric enumeration of white blood cells in a blood sample comprises a measurement cavity for receiving a blood sample. The measurement cavity has a predetermined fixed thickness. The sample acquiring device further comprises a reagent, which is arranged in a dried form on a surface defining the measurement cavity. The reagent comprises a hemolysing agent for lysing red blood cells in the blood sample, and a staining agent for selectively staining white blood cells in the blood sample. A system comprises the sample acquiring device and a measurement apparatus. The measurement apparatus comprises a sample acquiring device holder, a light source, and an imaging system for acquiring a digital image of a magnification of the sample. The measurement apparatus further comprises an image analyser arranged to analyse the acquired digital image for determining the number of white blood cells in the blood sample.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sample acquiring device for volumetric enumeration of white blood cells in a blood sample. The device comprises a measurement cavity for receiving a blood sample, and the measurement cavity has a predetermined fixed thickness that is a uniform thickness of 50-170 micrometers.
A reagent is arranged in a dried form on a surface defining the measurement cavity. The reagent comprises a hemolysing agent for lysing red blood cells in the blood sample and a staining agent for selectively staining white blood cells in the blood sample.
The disclosed approach enables the blood sample to contact the dried reagent directly to initiate hemolysis and selective staining within minutes without sample preparation. A measurement apparatus irradiates the stained sample and acquires a digital image with magnifying optics, and an image analyser identifies stained white-cell nuclei as dark/colored dots, counts them, and computes concentration by dividing by the defined imaged volume.
The system provides a point-of-care volumetric leukocyte enumeration workflow using a disposable sample acquiring device. The description further addresses image acquisition considerations such as depth of field covering the cavity thickness, an optional irradiation at an absorbance peak wavelength, and a magnification range of 3-200x, and indicates statistical correction considerations where overlapping cells occur.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover 2 inventive features: a fixed-thickness measurement cavity and a dried reagent containing a hemolysing agent and a nucleus-selective staining agent.
Measurement cavity having predetermined fixed uniform thickness
A measurement cavity for receiving a blood sample, wherein the measurement cavity has a predetermined fixed thickness, which is a uniform thickness of 50-170 micrometers.
Dried reagent with hemolysing and selectively staining agents
A reagent arranged in a dried form on a surface defining the measurement cavity, the reagent comprising a hemolysing agent for lysing red blood cells in the blood sample and a staining agent for selectively staining white blood cells in the blood sample.
Overall, the independent claim coverage is focused on volumetric leukocyte enumeration enabled by a fixed uniform measurement-cavity thickness and a dried reagent containing both a hemolysing agent and a staining agent that selectively stains white blood cells.
Stated Advantages
Enables the blood sample to contact the dried reagent directly to initiate hemolysis and selective staining within minutes without sample preparation.
Provides a point-of-care volumetric leukocyte enumeration workflow using a disposable sample acquiring device.
Documented Applications
Point of care volumetric leukocyte enumeration using the disposable sample acquiring device with direct contact to dried reagent and imaging-based counting of stained white-cell nuclei.
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