DISPOSABLE CHAMBER FOR ANALYZING BIOLOGIC FLUIDS

• US 20100216248A1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Wardlaw, Stephen C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,084,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2813 Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on G01N1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/36 Embedding or analogous mounting of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0364 flexible, compressible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48764 Test tape taken off a spool
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/492 Determining multiple analytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/34 Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/101666 : Particle count or volume standard or control [e.g., platelet count standards, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid is provided that includes a first planar member, a second planar member, and at least three separators. At least one of planar members is transparent. The separators are disposed between the members, and separate the members to form a chamber having a height. At least one of the members or separators is sufficiently flexible to permit the chamber height to approximate the mean size of the separators. During use, the biologic fluid to be analyzed is disposed within the chamber.

Claims

1. A method of enumerating the cellular or particulate constituents of a sample of whole, anticoagulated blood, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid that includes a first planar member, a second planar member, wherein at least one of the first planar member and second planar member is transparent, and at least three separators disposed between the planar members, each separator individually having a height and the separators collectively having a mean height, separating the planar members to form a chamber having a height extending between the planar members, wherein at least one of the first planar member, second planar member, or separators is sufficiently deformable to permit the chamber height to be substantially equal to the mean height of the separators;

depositing a quantity of biologic fluid into contact with one of the first planar member or second planar member surface;

approximating the planar members to form a film of biologic fluid confined between the two planar members as separated by the separators;

determining the volume of biologic fluid contained within the film;

directly or indirectly enumerating all constituents of interest within substantially the all of the film; and

expressing the enumerated constituents as a count per unit volume.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biologic fluid is blood.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

calculating the chamber height by measuring the average attenuation of light transmitted through the separators.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining the volume of biologic fluid contained within the film, further comprises the steps of:

determining the area of the film; and

calculating the volume of biologic fluid by multiplying the chamber height times the area of the film.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the film volume is calculated by interferometric imaging of the drop of biologic fluid deposited onto the planar member prior to approximating the planar members.