Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Carlos A Perez

Mark A Wells

Jose M Cano

Lidice L Lopez

Diana B Careaga

Cheng Qian

Ziling Huo

Eileen Landrum

John Riley

Christophe P Godefroy

Roberto Del Valle

Santiago Galvez

Valentin T Quesada

Joe C Schorsch

Maritza Lavernia

Nancy J Torke

Viviana A Vargas

Joaquin Ibanez

A pipelining assembly for use in a blood analyzing instrument, methods for performing parallel pipelining functions, and methods for processing a plurality of prepared blood samples through a blood analyzing instrument. The pipelining assembly presented generally includes a first sample preparation chamber, a first queuing chamber in fluid communication with the first sample preparation chamber, and a first control valve between the first sample preparation chamber and the first queuing chamber. The pipelining assembly further includes a second sample preparation chamber, a second queuing chamber in fluid communication with the second sample preparation chamber, and a second control valve between the second sample preparation chamber and the second queuing chamber. An analysis chamber is provided to receive first and second prepared blood samples from the in first and second queuing chambers. The presented methods include steps for repeated processing of prepared blood samples through the blood analyzing instrument.

Pipelining assembly for a blood analyzing instrument

Transducer modules for use in a blood analysis instrument and methods for analyzing a blood sample. The transducer modules presented generally include a light source, a focus-alignment system, a flow cell, and a light scatter detection system. Electrodes within the flow cell allow for the measurement of the DC impedance and RF conductivity of cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone in the flow cell. Light scatter from the cells passing through the cell-interrogation zone is measured by the light scatter detection system. The light scatter detection system measures the light scatter parameters of upper median light scatter, lower median angle light scatter, low angle light scatter, and axial light loss. The presented methods for analyzing a blood sample generally include aspirating a whole blood sample into a blood analysis instrument, preparing the blood sample for analysis, passing the blood sample through a flow cell in a transducer system, and measuring axial light loss, multiple angles of light scatter, DC impedance and/or RF conductivity.

Transducer module

The present invention relates to a hematology instrument system that discriminates platelets from red blood cells, debris and other particles within a blood sample. The instrument system uses an optical trigger and collects data at optical sensor locations relative to a flow cell-illuminating laser beam's optical axis. An axial sensor measures axial light loss due to a particle in the flow cell's illumination aperture. In addition, the instrument system can include an RF unit generates electrical parameters, such as DC and RF parameters, within the flow cell. Blood specimens can be prepared with and without a sphering agent.

Method and apparatus for performing platelet measurement

A method for discriminating and quantifying platelets within an analyzed blood sample involves initially diluting the blood sample with a ghosting reagent that causes a change in the index of refraction of the red blood cells. Owing to the change in the index of refraction, light scattered from the ghosted red blood cells will be substantially reduced relative to light scattered from platelets. This results in locations of platelets within a scatterplot of the analyzed blood sample to fall within a region distinguishable from those containing normal red blood cells, fragmented red blood cells, and microcytic red blood cells.

Method for discriminating platelets from red blood cells

Methods are provided for measurement of nucleated red blood cells in a blood sample. The methods include exposing a blood cell sample to a reagent system to lyse mature red blood cells, subsequently analyzing nucleated red blood cells in a flow cell by axial light loss, DC impedance, and medium angle light scatter measurements; by axial light loss, low angle light scatter, and medium angle light scatter measurements; or by axial light loss, DC impedance, low angle light scatter, and medium angle light scatter measurements; and then differentiating nucleated red blood cells from other cell types by using measured signals and/or functions thereof.

Method of measurement of nucleated red blood cells

Methods are provided for measurement of nucleated red blood cells. The methods include exposing a blood cell sample to a reagent system to lyse mature red blood cells, subsequently analyzing nucleated red blood cells in a flow cell by axial light loss, low angle light scatter and DC impedance measurements, or two selected measurements thereof; and then differentiating nucleated red blood cells from other cell types by using measured signals and/or functions thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Miami, FL, United States of America

Carlos A Perez