Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Other

Coulter International Corp.

Jose M Cano

Mark A Wells

Carlos A Perez

Marshall Donnie Graham

James P Clarkin

William Gerry Graham

Armando Jose Sanchez

Carlos Alberto Arboleda

Carlos M Rodriguez

John Riley

Craig R Veiner

William Weigong Li

Christophe P Godefroy

Roberto Del Valle

Santiago Galvez

James L Wyatt

Eileen Landrum

Kristie M Gordon

Ronald D Paul

Valentin T Quesada

Allan F Horton

Juan Fernandez De Castro

Joe C Schorsch

Barbara Carrillo

Maritza Lavernia

William J Casey

Carlos R Gonzalez

Viviana A Vargas

Martin Adelmann

Eric Statler

William Gutierrez

Armando J Sanchez

William W Li

A sample preparation instrument with an integrated device for estimating a concentration of white blood cells in a specimen is described. The sample preparation instrument receives a specimen for which a sample is to be prepared for analysis. The integrated device can implement an optical method, an electrical resistance method, or a flow cytometry method, for example, to estimate the white blood cell concentration in the specimen. For some types of analysis, a sample volume of the specimen is dependent on the white blood cell concentration. Therefore, the sample preparation instrument can automatically determine and adjust the sample volume of the specimen based on the estimated white blood cell concentration prior to adding additional reagents, such as labeling reagents and/or lytic reagents, to prepare the sample.

Sample preparation instrument

An improved optical flow cell adapted for use in a flow cytometer for differentiating formed bodies (e.g., blood cells) in liquid suspensions. Preferably manufactured by assembling, aligning, and optically joining at least two elements made from transparent material, the improved flow cell has a seamless internal flow channel of preferably non-circular cross-section in a cylindrical first element through which prepared samples can be metered and an independent second element having an external envelope suited to acquisition of optical parameters from formed bodies in such suspensions, the second element being conforming and alignable to the first element so that non-axisymmetric refractive effects on optical characterizing parameters of formed bodies passing through the flow channel in the first element may be minimized before the two elements are optically joined and fixed in working spatial relationship.

Compound optical flow cells and method of manufacture and use

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

An improved optical flow cell adapted for use in a flow cytometer for differentiating formed bodies (e.g., blood cells). Manufactured from a monolithic transparent material, the improved flow cell has an internal flow channel of polygonal transverse cross-section through which prepared samples can be metered and an external envelope suited to acquisition of optical parameters from formed bodies in such samples. Preferably, such flow cell is formed by a glass-drawing process in which a relatively large glass preform having a rectilinear internal channel of a desired polygonal cross-sectional shape is heated and drawn to achieve a desired cross-sectional area of reduced size. Also disclosed are preferred methods for differentiating formed bodies using the flow cell of the invention.

Monolithic optical flow cells and method of manufacture

Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples in an analytical instrument, e.g., a hematology instrument, includes a liquid-sampling valve that, while operating to segment and position for dispensing one or more precise volumes of a liquid sample that has been aspirated into the valve by a pump, simultaneously enables the apparatus to be operated in an aspirate/dispense (suck-and-spit) mode in which a liquid sample can be selectively driven through the valve in opposite directions by a pump, e.g., a syringe pump.

Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquids in an automated analyzer

A duct cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning and maintaining the interior of most types of ducts, including chimneys, air conditioning and heating ducts, dryer ducts, vents, plumbing and rain gutter ducts. The apparatus is made up of a flexible rope () connected to a cleaning brush () or tool further connected to a retrieval parachute (). The flexible rope () can be extended through the use of additional attached ropes () to create an infinitely long cleaning apparatus. The cleaning brush () may be configured in a variety of sizes with differing configurations of bristles () or appendages for specific applications. The cleaning appendages are connected to a rope () or line B, the length of which extends beyond the length of the duct () to be cleaned. One end of the rope () or line A is connected to the parachute () adapted with a wind-expanded periphery greater than that of the perimeter of the inside wall () of the duct () to be cleaned. A method is described for preparing the duct () for cleaning with the brush () by threading a rope or line A through the duct () using the parachute () and applying a vacuum from a machine ().

Duct brush and duct cleaning system

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 blood analyzing instrument includes a single transducer for simultaneously measuring the DC volume, RF conductivity, light scattering and fluorescence characteristics of blood cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone. Preferably, the transducer includes an electro-optical flow cell which defines a cell-interrogation zone having a square transverse cross-section measuring approximately 50&times;50 microns, and having a length, measured in the direction of cell flow, of approximately 65 microns.

Method and apparatus for analyzing cells in a whole blood sample

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Miami, FL, United States of America

Jose M Cano