Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Coulter International Corp.

Mark A Wells

Jose M Cano

Carlos A Perez

Marshall Donnie Graham

James P Clarkin

Lidice L Lopez

Armando Jose Sanchez

Carlos Alberto Arboleda

William Gerry Graham

Carlos M Rodriguez

Diana B Careaga

Ziling Huo

Cheng Qian

Eileen Landrum

John Riley

Christophe P Godefroy

Roberto Del Valle

Chiranjit Deka

Santiago Galvez

James L Wyatt

Ronald D Paul

Kristie M Gordon

Valentin T Quesada

Allan F Horton

Barbara Carrillo

Nancy J Torke

Maritza Lavernia

Carlos Reyes

Joaquin Ibanez

Armando J Sanchez

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

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

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

A flow cytometer includes an optical flow cell through which particles to be characterized on the basis of at least their respective side-scatter characteristics are caused to flow seriatim. A plane-polarized laser beam produced by a laser diode is used to irradiate the particles as they pass through a focused elliptical spot having its minor axis oriented parallel to the particle flow path. Initially, the plane of polarization of the laser beam extends perpendicular to the path of particles through the flow cell. A half-wave plate or the like is positioned in the laser beam path to rotate the plane of polarization of the laser beam so that it is aligned with the path of particles before it irradiated particles moving along such path.

Flow cytometer for differentiating small particles in suspension

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.

A method and apparatus for differentiating and enumerating the five major sub-populations of leukocytes in a blood sample (i.e., lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and basophils) uses multiangle light scatter and DC (Coulter) volume measurements. Light scattering characteristics of the leukocytes are determined within five different angular ranges, all being lower than 40 degrees. The invention is particularly useful in differentiating and enumerating the basophil sub-population which has heretofore required more complex apparatus and/or chemical processing.

Method and apparatus for differentiating and enumerating leukocytes

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

Growing community of inventors

Davie, FL, United States of America

Mark A Wells