MULTI-CHANNEL LOCK-IN AMPLIFIER SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A multi-channel lock-in amplifier system for analyzing a biological sample comprising:
- an electrical interface to connect to electrodes of a microfluidic unit, the microfluidic unit containing the biological sample;
a first waveform synthesizer configured to generate at least one test signal having at least one test frequency to apply to the electrodes to create an electric field in the microfluidic unit;
a plurality of lock-in amplifier (LIA) circuits each configured to;
apply a receiving oscillating signal having a receiving frequency to the electrodes;
measure a voltage signal and a current signal generated in the microfluidic unit as the biological sample passes through the electric field; and
multiply the voltage signal and the current signal by the receiving oscillating signal having the receiving frequency to create a plurality of composite signals, the receiving frequency comprising a harmonic of the test frequency;
a processor to configured to;
calculate impedance data of the biological sample as a function of the plurality of composite signals;
retrieve historical impedance data corresponding to the biological sample from a memory;
compare the calculated impedance data to the historical impedance data to determine a type of the biological sample; and
a display to generate the calculated impedance for display.
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Abstract
A multi-channel lock-in amplifier system for use in cell analysis is disclosed. The system may include a cartridge having one or more flow cells with each flow cell containing a cell for analysis. An oscillating electric field may be applied across each flow cell at one or more excitation frequencies in order to detect the responses of the cell either in electrical impedance at frequencies that provide a non-linear response.
58 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A multi-channel lock-in amplifier system for analyzing a biological sample comprising:
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an electrical interface to connect to electrodes of a microfluidic unit, the microfluidic unit containing the biological sample; a first waveform synthesizer configured to generate at least one test signal having at least one test frequency to apply to the electrodes to create an electric field in the microfluidic unit; a plurality of lock-in amplifier (LIA) circuits each configured to; apply a receiving oscillating signal having a receiving frequency to the electrodes; measure a voltage signal and a current signal generated in the microfluidic unit as the biological sample passes through the electric field; and multiply the voltage signal and the current signal by the receiving oscillating signal having the receiving frequency to create a plurality of composite signals, the receiving frequency comprising a harmonic of the test frequency; a processor to configured to; calculate impedance data of the biological sample as a function of the plurality of composite signals; retrieve historical impedance data corresponding to the biological sample from a memory; compare the calculated impedance data to the historical impedance data to determine a type of the biological sample; and a display to generate the calculated impedance for display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A point of care system comprising a multi-channel lock-in amplifier (MCLIA) for analyzing a biological sample, the MCLIA comprising:
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an electrical interface to connect to electrodes of a microfluidic unit, the microfluidic unit containing the biological sample; a first waveform generator configured to generate at least one excitation signal having an excitation frequency to apply to the electrodes to create an electric field in the microfluidic unit; a plurality of lock-in amplifier (LIA) circuits each configured to; to measure a voltage signal and a current signal generated in the microfluidic unit as the biological sample passes through the electric field; and to multiply the voltage signal and the current signal by a receiving oscillating signal having a receiving frequency to create a plurality of composite signals, the receiving frequency comprising a harmonic of the excitation frequency; and a processor comprising modules executable on the processor, the modules comprising; a detection module configured to detect the connection of the microfluidic unit to the MCLIA to display a menu to a user via a user interface; a frequency selection module configured to set the excitation frequency in response to input from the user via the user interface; a harmonic frequency selection module configured to set the receiving frequency to a harmonic of the excitation frequency; a sampling module configured to sample current data and voltage data from the plurality of composite signals; a data collection module configured to collect the sampled data comprising voltage and current for linear and non-linear responses and to store the sampled voltage and current data in a memory; a calculation module configured to calculate impedance of the biological sample as a function of the sampled voltage and current data; and a comparison module configured to compare the calculated impedance to historical linear and non-linear data to determine a type of the biological sample. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for analyzing a biological sample contained in a microfluidic unit, the method comprising:
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creating an electric field in the microfluidic unit by applying at least one test signal to electrodes of the microfluidic unit, the at least one test signal having a test frequency; applying a receiving oscillating signal having a receiving frequency to the electrodes; measuring a voltage signal and a current signal generated in the microfluidic unit as the biological sample passes through the electric field; multiply the voltage signal and the current signal by the receiving oscillating signal having the receiving frequency to create a plurality of composite signals, the receiving frequency comprising a harmonic of the test frequency; calculating impedance data of the biological sample as a function of the plurality of composite signals; retrieving historical impedance data corresponding to the biological sample from a memory; comparing the calculated impedance data to the historical impedance data to determine a type of the biological sample; and generating the calculated impedance for display. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A multi-channel lock-in amplifier (MCLIA) for analyzing a blood cell comprising:
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an electrical interface to connect to electrodes of a microfluidic unit, the microfluidic unit containing the blood cell; a first waveform generator configured to generate a first excitation signal and a second excitation signal to apply to the electrodes to create an electric field in the microfluidic unit, the first excitation signal having a first excitation frequency and the second excitation signal having a second excitation frequency; a plurality of lock-in amplifier (LIA) circuits each configured to; to measure a voltage signal and a current signal generated in the microfluidic unit as the blood cell passes through the electric field; and to multiply the voltage signal and the current signal by a receiving oscillating signal having a receiving frequency to create a plurality of composite signals, the receiving frequency comprising a sum of the first and second excitation frequencies or a difference of the first and second excitation frequencies; and a processor comprising modules executable on the processor, the modules comprising; a detection module configured to detect the connection of the microfluidic unit to the MCLIA to display a menu to a user via a user interface; a frequency selection module configured to set the excitation frequency in response to input from the user via the user interface; a mixing frequency selection module configured to set the receiving frequency to the sum of the first and second excitation frequencies or the difference of the first and second excitation frequencies; a sampling module configured to sample current data and voltage data from the plurality of composite signals; a data collection module configured to collect the sampled data comprising voltage and current for linear and non-linear responses and to store the sampled voltage and current data in a memory; a calculation module configured to calculate impedance of the blood cell as a function of the sampled voltage and current data; and a comparison module configured to compare the calculated impedance to historical linear and non-linear data to determine a type of the blood cell. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification