Boehringer Ingelheim Microparts Gmbh

Medica Corporation

Steag Microparts Gmbh

Merlin Lilliput Gmbh

Dirk Klaus Osterloh

Ralf-Peter Peters

Gert Blankenstein

Ronald L Jones

Charles H Rogers

Tyler Samuel Cote

Chen Yi

Adrian Gropper

Donald Barry, Jr

Thomas Vitella

Robert Hagopian

Dirk Kurowski

Holger Bartos

Berthold Lange

Raimund C Wyzgol

Ying Yu

Christian Schön

Thanh Tu Hellmich-Duong

Marc Grolla

Nezih Ünal

Herbert Backes

This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting and analyzing blood cells in biological samples. A small measured quantity of a biological sample, such as whole blood, is placed in a mixing bowl on the disposable test cartridge after being inserted into the cell analyzer. The analayzer also deposits a known amount of diluent/stain in the mixing bowl and mixes it with the blood. The analyzer takes a measured amount of the mixture and dispenses in a sample cup on the cartridge in fluid communication with an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping as it is transferred into the imaging chamber by the analyzer. Images of all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are counted and analyzed to obtain a complete blood count.

Automated microscopic cell analysis

Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting blood cells in biological samples. A small unmeasured quantity of a biological sample such as whole blood is placed in the disposable test cartridge which is then inserted into the cell analyzer. The analyzer isolates a precise volume of the biological sample, mixes it with self-contained reagents and transfers the entire volume to an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping, when it is transferred into the imaging chamber. Images of essentially all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are analyzed to obtain counts per unit volume. The devices, apparatus and methods described may be used to analyze a small quantity of whole blood to obtain counts per unit volume of red blood cells, white blood cells, including sub-groups of white cells, platelets and measurements related to these bodies.

This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting and analyzing blood cells in biological samples. A small measured quantity of a biological sample, such as whole blood, is placed in a mixing bowl on the disposable test cartridge after being inserted into the cell analyzer. The analyzer also deposits a known amount of diluent/stain in the mixing bowl and mixes it with the blood. The analyzer takes a measured amount of the mixture and dispenses in a sample cup on the cartridge in fluid communication with an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping as it is transferred into the imaging chamber by the analyzer. Images of all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are counted and analyzed to obtain a complete blood count.

The invention relates to a device for sample separation, particularly for blood separation, in which the sample liquid is introduced into a feed device. The sample flows vertically through a separating device such as a filter or a membrane, so that sample particles are retained and separated off. The sample liquid thus separated, particularly blood plasma, is received by an inlet chamber underneath the separating device and conveyed by means of a channel in the lateral direction out of the inlet chamber. Particularly advantageously, the channel extends into the inlet chamber, the channel being formed by a recess in the base of the inlet chamber.

Device for plasma separation by means of a central channel structure

The invention relates to a device and a method for filtering a liquid sample, wherein first capillary-driven filtration occurs and, after initial filling, pressure-operated filtration is performed by applying a vacuum or a positive pressure.

Device and method for filtering blood

A device is proposed having a separating device for filtering a liquid sample and having a conveying device. A positive pressure or negative pressure can be generated by means of the conveying device, for accelerating or assisting the filtration.

Device for filtering blood

Methods and apparatus provide for filling at least one cavity with a liquid via: partly filling a cavity of a semifinished product containing at least two cavities, covering the semifinished product at least in some areas, so as to prevent the escape of liquid from the semifinished product, displacing at least some of the liquid from the already partially filled cavity, such that at least one other cavity is completely filled by a portion of the displaced liquid and another portion of the displaced liquid at least partially fills at least one overflow.

Method for filling a cavity, in particular a blister of a blister packaging, with a liquid, and semifinished product for use in such a method

The invention relates to a container () for a fluid for metering a reagent into a microfluidic system. The container comprises a chamber () and a first film () which seals off the chamber () so that the fluid is encapsulated in the chamber. Advantageously, the first film () is an aluminum sealing film. A second film () is sealingly arranged on the first film, for example by adhesive bonding of the film layers. The films differ in their tear strength such that when pressure is applied simultaneously to both films the first film tears while the second film deforms elastically and/or plastically. By tearing the first film a connection is produced between the container chamber and an inlet channel so that a fluid contained in the chamber flows into the microfluidic system.

Fluid metering container

The present invention relates to devices for efficient transport, transfer and movement of fluids. In particular, the invention provides fluidic micro-structures for controlled transport and movement of liquids in devices for analytical and other purposes. Devices of the invention include one or more features that can enhance performance of the fluid transfer, referred to as a pre-shooter stop, a butterfly structure, a cascade structure, a waste chamber inlet, a capillary driven sample inlet chamber, a capillary stop structure, a bifurcation flow-through structure, and a hydrophobic vent.

Structures for uniform capillary flow

The invention relates to a microfluidic arrangement for metering one or more first metered amounts of liquid (A) and for separating the latter from a second amount of liquid (B), having the following features: the arrangement has a first channel and one or more second channels; the first channel has one inlet and one outlet; in the area of the outlet the arrangement has a capillarity, which is greater than or equal to the capillarity in the area of the inlet; the one or more second channels branch off from the first channel at one or more branch points; the one or more second channels have a greater capillarity than the first channel at the branch points; and the one or more second channels have a predetermined volume. In the arrangement as depicted in the invention a liquid is transported in the first channel from the inlet to the outlet. At the branch points one portion of the liquid at a time enters the one or more second channels and fills them completely with the first metered amounts of liquid (A). The portion of the liquid remaining after the last branch point in the first channel emerges as the second amount of liquid via the outlet from the first channel. The amounts of liquid (A) metered in the one or more second channels are separated from the remaining amount of liquid (B) by a gas, which is located in the first channel after filling all one or more second channels.

Microfluidic arrangement for metering of liquids

A sample carrier with a sample receiver for the sample liquid and with preferably several sample chambers which are connected thereto is proposed. In order to avoid refilling with sample liquid when it evaporates or is otherwise lost or used up, there is additionally a reservoir for sample liquid which is covered in the same way as the sample chambers and which has a connecting channel to the environment which can be closed by the sample liquid.

Sample carrier

The comprises at least one sample receiving chamber for a sample liquid, and a distributor channel for sample liquid connected to said at least one sample receiving chamber, with at least one such distributor channel extending from each sample receiving chamber. The sample support further comprises at least one reaction chamber entered by an inflow channel branched off said at least one distributor channel, and a venting opening for each reaction chamber. Each distributor channel and each inflow channel are dimensioned to have the liquid transport through the distributor and inflow channels effected by capillary forces. In each reaction chamber, the entrance region of the inflow channel is provided with a means for generating a capillary force causing the sample liquid to flow from the inflow channel into the reaction chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Dortmund, Germany

Dirk Klaus Osterloh