Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc.

Hansjoerg Kunz

Rosemary K Chachowski

Karl Puchegger

Mykola Yaremko

Josef J Atzler

Martin Kuster

Walter Imfeld

Jian Shen

Thierry Dupinet

Marco Forster

Linus Flueler

Gregor Batliner

Beat Gretener

Marcel Frischknecht

Martin Gander

Daniel Kittrich

Reiner Rohlfs

A method and system for analyzing a solution for an agglutination pattern. The method comprises the steps of producing an illuminated image of the solution on an array of pixels, and assigning to each pixel in the illuminated image, a data value representing the intensity of the illuminated image on the pixel. Those data values are then processed according to a predetermined program to determine if an agglutination pattern is present and, if so, to classify that pattern into one of a plurality of predefined classes. With the preferred processing procedure, the pixel array is separated into a plurality of zones, and the data values for the pixels in each zone are processed according to a respective predetermined procedure to determine values for a predefined set of variables. Then, those determined values are processed to determine whether an agglutination pattern is present in the solution, and if so, to classify that pattern into one of the predefined classes.

Method and system for classifying agglutination reactions

A blood analysis system or instrument, generally, including an incubator station, a sample and reagent holding station, a pipette assembly, a centrifuge, an analysis station, and a transport assembly. Generally, the incubation station holds containers while reagents and fluids are being dispensed in those containers, and, if desired, for incubating the containers. The sample and reagent holding station holds samples and a plurality of reagents, and the pipette assembly transfers fluids from that sample and reagent holding station to containers in the incubation station. The centrifuge is provided for centrifuging the container, and the analysis station is provided to analyze the containers optically to identify reactions therein. The transport assembly carries the containers between the incubator station, the centrifuge, and the analysis station. Preferably, the pipette assembly is automatically operated to draw fluids and preselected reagents from the sample and reagent holding station, and to dispense fluids into the containers held in the incubation station to produce predetermined solutions therein. Also, the transport subassembly is automatically operated to carry containers from the incubator station to the centrifuge after the predetermined solutions have been produced in the containers, and then to carry the containers from the centrifuge to the analysis station.

Automated blood analysis system

A method and system for analyzing a solution for an agglutination pattern. The method comprises the steps of producing an illustrated image of the solution on an array of pixels, and assigning to each pixel in the illuminated image, a data value representing the intensity of the illuminated image on the pixel. Those data values are then processed according to a predetermined program to determine if an agglutination pattern is present and, if so, to classify that pattern into one of a plurality of predefined classes. With the preferred processing procedure, the pixel array is separated into a plurality of zones, and the data values for the pixels in each zone are processed according to a respective predetermined procedure to determine values for a predefined set of variables. Then, those determined values are processed to determine whether an agglutination pattern is present in the solution, and if so, to classify that pattern into one of the predefined classes.

Automated blood analysis system with an integral centrifuge

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Hansjoerg Kunz