METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY PERFORMING HEMATOLOGIC ANALYSIS UTILIZING A TRANSMITTED IMAGE OF A CENTRIFUGED ANALYSIS TUBE
First Claim
1. A system for analyzing a hematologic sample centrifuged within a capillary tube, which tube has an internal compartment with a radial width and an axial length and a float disposed within the tube, the device comprising:
- at least one first analysis device that includes a tube holder, a sample imaging device adapted to create a digital image of the sample within a region of the tube, which region is defined by substantially all of the radial width and axial length of the sample residing within the internal cavity of the tube where the float resides after centrifugation, and the sample imaging device is adapted to produce signals representative of the image; and
a second analysis device adapted to be remotely located from the first analysis device, and adapted to communicate with the first analysis device, including receiving the signals representative of the image, which second analysis device includes a processor adapted to produce information relating to bands of interest within the image based on the signals, and a sample data display adapted to display the digital image of the sample within the region.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for and method of analyzing hematologic samples deposited within a capillary tube is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) imaging a region of sample centrifuged within a capillary tube using a first analysis device, which region is defined by substantially all of the radial width and axial length of the sample residing within the internal cavity of the tube where the float resides after centrifugation, and producing signals representative of the image; b) communicating the signals representative of the image to a second analysis device independent of, and remotely located from, the first analysis device; c) processing the signals representative of the image using the second analysis device and producing analysis data based on the signals; and d) displaying the image of the region of the sample using the second analysis device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing a hematologic sample centrifuged within a capillary tube, which tube has an internal compartment with a radial width and an axial length and a float disposed within the tube, the device comprising:
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at least one first analysis device that includes a tube holder, a sample imaging device adapted to create a digital image of the sample within a region of the tube, which region is defined by substantially all of the radial width and axial length of the sample residing within the internal cavity of the tube where the float resides after centrifugation, and the sample imaging device is adapted to produce signals representative of the image; and a second analysis device adapted to be remotely located from the first analysis device, and adapted to communicate with the first analysis device, including receiving the signals representative of the image, which second analysis device includes a processor adapted to produce information relating to bands of interest within the image based on the signals, and a sample data display adapted to display the digital image of the sample within the region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of analyzing hematologic samples deposited within a capillary tube, which tube has an internal cavity with a radial width and an axial length, and a float disposed within the tube, the method comprising the steps of:
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imaging a region of a sample centrifuged within a capillary tube using a first analysis device, which region is defined by substantially all of the radial width and axial length of the sample residing within the internal cavity of the tube where the float resides after centrifugation, which region includes constituent bands of the sample, and producing signals representative of the image; communicating the signals representative of the image to a second analysis device independent of, and remotely located from, the first analysis device; processing the signals representative of the image using the second analysis device and producing analysis data based on the signals; and displaying the image of the region of the sample using the second analysis device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification