Flowcell systems and methods for particle analysis in blood samples
Inventors
Wanders, Bart J. • Adams, Thomas H. • Farrell, Gregory A. • Groner, Warren • Zhao, Xiaodong
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9322752-B2
Publication Date
2016-04-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. In some aspects the system comprises an analyzer which may be a visual analyzer. In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a particle imaging system comprising a flowcell through which a sample containing particles is caused to flow, and a high optical resolution imaging device which captures images for image analysis of samples. Other compositions, methods and features of this disclosure are disclosed herein.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method and a particle analysis system for imaging particles in a blood fluid sample using combined viscosity and geometric hydrofocusing. A sheath fluid is injected along a flowpath of a flowcell, where the sheath fluid has a viscosity different from the viscosity of the blood fluid sample, and the blood fluid sample is injected from a sample fluid injection tube into the flowing sheath fluid to provide a sample fluid stream with a first thickness adjacent the injection tube.
The flowcell flowpath is configured with a decrease in flowpath size such that the thickness of the sample fluid stream decreases from the initial thickness to a second thickness adjacent an image capture site. In combination with the viscosity difference between the sheath fluid and the blood fluid sample and the flow rate of the sample fluid stream, the delivered cells are delivered from the sample fluid injection tube to the image capture site in a nonzero transit time that is four seconds or less.
A viscosity agent in the sheath fluid retains viability of cells leaving structure and content of the cells intact when the cells extend from the sample fluid stream into the flowing sheath fluid as the cells travel from the sample fluid injection tube to the image capture site. The system includes an image capture device aligned with the image capture site to image a plurality of the particles from the sample fluid, and a processor and tangible non-transitory computer readable medium programmed to initiate injection of the sample fluid into the flowing sheath fluid at a sample flow rate.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to two inventive features: a method and a particle analysis system for combined viscosity and geometric hydrofocusing. Both claims require a different-viscosity sheath fluid, a decrease in flowpath size that reduces sample stream thickness to an image capture site, imaging at the capture site, and delivery in a nonzero transit time of four seconds or less while retaining viability and intact structure and content using a viscosity agent.
Combined viscosity and geometric hydrofocusing imaging method
A method for imaging particles in a blood fluid sample using a particle analysis system configured for combined viscosity and geometric hydrofocusing, including injecting a sheath fluid with a viscosity different from the blood fluid sample, injecting the blood fluid sample into the flowing sheath fluid to provide a sample fluid stream with a first thickness, decreasing flowpath size so the thickness decreases to a second thickness adjacent an image capture site, and imaging a plurality of particles at the image capture site while delivering cells in a nonzero transit time of four seconds or less and retaining viability with structure and content intact using a viscosity agent.
Combined viscosity and geometric hydrofocusing particle analysis system
A particle analysis system for imaging particles in a blood fluid sample, including a flowcell flowpath transmitting sheath fluid with a viscosity different from the blood fluid sample, a sample fluid injection system configured to inject the sample into the flowing sheath fluid and decrease stream thickness toward an image capture site, an image capture device aligned with the image capture site, and a processor with a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium programmed to initiate injection at a sample flow rate so that cells are delivered in a nonzero transit time of four seconds or less while a viscosity agent retains viability and leaves structure and content intact.
Across both independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the combined use of viscosity difference and geometric flowcell narrowing to reduce sample stream thickness at an image capture site, coupled with initiating sample injection and imaging a plurality of particles. The claims further require achieving a nonzero transit time of four seconds or less and retaining viability with intact cell structure and content using a viscosity agent in the sheath fluid.
Stated Advantages
Retains viability of cells and leaves structure and content of the cells intact during travel from the sample fluid stream into the flowing sheath fluid.
Delivers cells from the sample fluid injection tube to the image capture site in a nonzero transit time of four seconds or less.
Documented Applications
Imaging particles included within a blood fluid sample using a particle analysis system configured for combined viscosity and geometric hydrofocusing.
Imaging a plurality of particles from the sample fluid at an image capture site aligned with an image capture device in a blood fluid sample.
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