APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING PARTICLES IN URINE AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130316444A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: TANAKA, Yousuke, Inoue, Junya, Ozasa, Masatsugu, Kawashima, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,329,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/288.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/008 White cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1493 Particle size
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/493 urine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control

Abstract

An apparatus, intended for use in analyzing particles in urine is disclosed, that comprising: a sample distribution section for distributing urine samples to a first aliquot and a second aliquot; a first specimen preparing section for preparing a first specimen for measuring urinary particles, containing at least erythrocytes, by mixing a first stain reagent and the first aliquot; a second specimen preparing section for preparing a second specimen for measuring bacteria by mixing a second stain reagent and the second aliquot; and an optical detecting section comprising a light source for irradiating a light to a specimen being supplied, a scattered light receiving element for detecting scattered light emitted from the specimen, and a fluorescence receiving element for detecting fluorescence emitted from the specimen. A method intended for use in analyzing particles in urine is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, intended for use in analyzing particles in urine, comprising:

a specimen preparing section for preparing one or more specimens by using a urine sample, a first stain reagent and a second stain reagent;

an optical detecting section comprising a light source for irradiating the one or more specimens with light, a scattered light receiving element for detecting light scattered from the one or more specimens, and a fluorescence receiving element for detecting fluorescence emitted from the one or more specimens;

a first measurement section for measuring particles in urine containing at least erythrocytes, based on scattered light and fluorescence detected by the optical detecting section; and

a second measurement section for measuring bacteria in urine, based on scattered light and fluorescence detected by the optical detecting section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sample distribution section for distributing the urine sample into a first aliquot and a second aliquot, wherein:

the specimen preparing section comprises a first specimen preparing section for preparing a first specimen by mixing the first stain reagent and the first aliquot, and a second specimen preparing section for preparing a second specimen by mixing the second stain reagent and the second aliquot;

the first measurement section measures the particles in urine containing at least erythrocytes, based on scattered light and fluorescence, detected from the first specimen; and

the second measurement section measures the bacteria in urine, based on scattered light and fluorescence, detected from the second specimen.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an analysis section for judging effects of bacteria in results of measurement by the first measurement section, based on results of measurement by the second measurement section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the scattered light receiving element is capable of receiving forward-scattered light and side-scattered light emitted from the specimen; and

the first measurement section measures particles in urine, based on forward-scattered light and side-scattered light.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first stain reagent contains a dye for staining a membrane and the second stain reagent contains a dye for staining a nucleus.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second specimen preparing section prepares the second specimen by mixing a surfactant with the second aliquot.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second measurement section executes the measurement operation after the first measurement section has completed measurement operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a temperature regulating section which regulates a temperature of the first specimen preparing section to a first temperature, and regulates a temperature of the second specimen preparing section to a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the sample distribution section comprises a quantifying mechanism for quantifying a urine sample;

the temperature regulating section comprises a first temperature regulating section for regulating the temperature of the first specimen preparing section and a second temperature regulating section for regulating the temperature of the second specimen preparing section; and

the quantifying mechanism, second specimen preparing section, and second temperature regulating section are disposed so as to thermally form one unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is a semiconductor laser.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a peak of absorption wavelength of the first stain reagent and the second stain reagent is present in proximity to a luminescence wavelength of the semiconductor laser.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second measurement section is capable of measuring bacteria in the urine when bacteria concentration in the urine is 5×

10³ cells/ml or more.

13. An apparatus, intended for use in analyzing particles in urine, for measuring bacteria contained in urine and urinary particles containing at least erythrocytes comprising:

a sample distribution section for distributing urine samples to a first aliquot and a second aliquot;

a first specimen preparing section for preparing a first specimen for measuring urinary particles, containing at least erythrocytes, by mixing a first stain reagent and the first aliquot;

a second specimen preparing section for preparing a second specimen for measuring bacteria by mixing a second stain reagent and the second aliquot;

an optical detecting section comprising a light source for irradiating a light to a specimen being supplied, a scattered light receiving element for detecting scattered light emitted from the specimen, and a fluorescence receiving element for detecting fluorescence emitted from the specimen; and

a temperature regulating section for regulating a temperature of the first specimen preparing section to a first temperature and regulating a temperature of the second specimen preparing section to a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

14. An apparatus, intended for use in analyzing particles in urine, comprising:

a specimen preparing section configured to prepare a first specimen comprising a first urine sample and a first stain reagent and to prepare a second specimen comprising a second urine sample and a second stain reagent;

an optical detection system configured to receive, from the first specimen and the second specimen, scattered light and output signals representing the received scattered light, and configured to receive, from the first specimen and the second specimen, fluorescence and output signals representing the received fluorescence;

a fluidic system configured to provide the optical detection system with the first specimen and the second specimen;

a controller programmed to analyze particles in urine containing at least erythrocytes based on scattered light and fluorescence detected from the first specimen, and to analyze bacteria in urine based on scattered light and fluorescence detected from the second specimen.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the specimen preparing section comprises a first chamber to receive and mix the first urine sample and the first stain reagent to prepare the first specimen, and a second chamber to receive and mix the second urine sample and the second stain reagent to prepare the second specimen.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first urine sample and the second urine sample are aliquots of a single urine sample, and the specimen preparing section is configured to dispense the first urine sample and the second urine sample.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is programmed to control the fluidic system to provide the optical detection system with the second specimen after providing the optical detection system with the first specimen.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second specimen comprises a surfactant.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the optical detection system is configured to detect forward scattered light as the scattered light.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the optical detection system comprises a flow cell through which each of the first specimen and the second specimen flows.