Diagnostic apparatus
Inventors
Bresolin, Stefano • Calderwood, David A. • Heineck, Tobias M. • Newcomb, David • Paul, Chris • Pollard, Jasper N. • Rodriguez, Rodolfo R. • Young, Demetris
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-9816982-B2
Publication Date
2017-11-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an automated microscope apparatus and automated method that aid detecting mastitis in a dairy animal using a sample cartridge secured to an automated microscope stage. The sample cartridge includes at least one chamber containing a biological sample selected from milk, secretions, or colostrum, and the sample cartridge comprises from two to four chambers, with each chamber containing a milk sample collected from a different teat of the dairy animal.
The microscope is operated to autofocusing on the at least one chamber and to image selected cells in the sample, where the selected cells include at least neutrophils. A count of at least neutrophils is generated as an aid to detecting the disorder in the subject, and imaging is optionally repeated for at least one additional chamber on the cartridge.
In the automated system, an imaging system images selected cells associated with an XYZ stage that secures the sample cartridge, and an autofocusing system focuses the imaging system on the chamber or chambers. A controller optionally repeats imaging for at least one additional chamber, and means for determining the presence or absence of mastitis is carried out by differential leukocyte analysis based on the cell count.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set contains two independent claims. Across these claims, there are five main inventive features: securing a multi-chamber cartridge to an automated microscope or XYZ stage, chamber autofocusing, imaging selected cells including at least neutrophils, generating a neutrophil count as a diagnostic aid, and determining presence or absence of mastitis using differential leukocyte analysis with optional repetition across additional chambers.
Automated method using multi-chamber cartridge neutrophil imaging
Securing a sample cartridge to the stage of an automated microscope, said sample cartridge comprising at least one chamber containing a biological sample collected from a subject; autofocusing said microscope on said at least one chamber; imaging selected cells in said sample, said selected cells including at least neutrophils; generating a count of at least neutrophils in said sample as an aid to detecting mastitis in said subject; optionally repeating at least said imaging step for at least one additional chamber on said cartridge, wherein said subject is a dairy animal, said biological sample is selected from milk, secretions, or colostrum, and said sample cartridge comprises from two to four chambers and/or each chamber contains a milk sample collected from a different teat of said dairy animal.
Automated system with differential leukocyte analysis for presence or absence
An automated system comprising an XYZ stage configured to secure a sample cartridge; an imaging system configured to image selected cells in said sample, said selected cells including at least neutrophils; an autofocusing system configured to focus said imaging system on said at least one chamber; means for generating a count of at least neutrophils in said sample as an aid to detecting mastitis in said subject; and a controller configured to optionally repeat at least said imaging for at least one additional chamber on said cartridge, and means for determining the presence or absence of mastitis in said subject from said cell count, wherein said means for determining is carried out by differential leukocyte analysis, wherein said subject is a dairy animal, said biological sample is selected from milk, secretions, or colostrum, and said sample cartridge comprises from two to four chambers and/or each chamber contains a milk sample collected from a different teat of said dairy animal.
Together, the independent claims cover an automated microscope method and system for imaging selected cells including at least neutrophils from milk, secretions, or colostrum in a multi-chamber cartridge secured to an automated microscope stage. The claims further cover autofocusing on each chamber, generating a neutrophil count as a diagnostic aid, optionally repeating imaging for additional chambers, and determining presence or absence of mastitis using differential leukocyte analysis.
Stated Advantages
Provides an automated method and automated system for aiding detecting mastitis in a dairy animal using a generated count of selected cells including at least neutrophils.
Determines the presence or absence of mastitis from the cell count using differential leukocyte analysis.
Supports analysis across multiple cartridge chambers by optionally repeating imaging for at least one additional chamber.
Documented Applications
Automated differential leukocyte analysis for mastitis detection in dairy animals using milk, secretions, or colostrum collected from different teats using a two- to four-chamber sample cartridge.
Detection aiding and presence or absence determination for mastitis based on cell counts of neutrophils and differential leukocyte analysis.
Interested in licensing this patent?