Apparatus for analyzing cells in urine
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for analyzing cells in a urine specimen, comprising:
- means defining a constricted zone in which cells contained in the urine specimen may flow in single file;
means for irradiating with light the constricted zone;
photoelectric converting circuit for converting light scattered by the cells into an electric signal output;
first-means for converting the electric signal output from said photoelectric converting circuit into pulse-width data;
second means for converting the pulse-width data obtained by the first converting means into cell-diameter data on the basis of cell-diameter values of individual cells measured in advance, wherein the second converting means derives the cell-diameter data solely from the pulse-width data;
cell classifying means for classifying and enumerating the cells in the urine specimen based upon cell judgment values, such that;
(a) a cell is classified as a blood cell when the cell diameter data is 3-15 μ
m;
(b) a cell is classified as an epithelial when the cell diameter data is 15-100 μ
m;
(c) a cell is classified as a cast cell or a epithelial when the cell diameter data is 100-150 μ
m;
(d) a cell is classified as a cast cell when the cell diameter data is greater than 150 μ
m;
(e) a cell is classified as a bacteria when the cell diameter data is 1-3 μ
m; and
means for displaying results of classification and enumeration performed by cell classifying means.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically analyzing cells in urine using flow cytometry. The present invention includes means for converting scattered-light signals indicative of individual cells in a urine specimen into corresponding pulse signals, means for converting the pulse width of each pulse signal resulting from the aforementioned conversion into cell-diameter data in accordance with known cell diameters, and means for classifying and enumerating various cells in the urine in correlation with each item of cell-diameter data resulting from the conversion.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. Apparatus for analyzing cells in a urine specimen, comprising:
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means defining a constricted zone in which cells contained in the urine specimen may flow in single file; means for irradiating with light the constricted zone;
photoelectric converting circuit for converting light scattered by the cells into an electric signal output;first-means for converting the electric signal output from said photoelectric converting circuit into pulse-width data; second means for converting the pulse-width data obtained by the first converting means into cell-diameter data on the basis of cell-diameter values of individual cells measured in advance, wherein the second converting means derives the cell-diameter data solely from the pulse-width data; cell classifying means for classifying and enumerating the cells in the urine specimen based upon cell judgment values, such that; (a) a cell is classified as a blood cell when the cell diameter data is 3-15 μ
m;(b) a cell is classified as an epithelial when the cell diameter data is 15-100 μ
m;(c) a cell is classified as a cast cell or a epithelial when the cell diameter data is 100-150 μ
m;(d) a cell is classified as a cast cell when the cell diameter data is greater than 150 μ
m;(e) a cell is classified as a bacteria when the cell diameter data is 1-3 μ
m; andmeans for displaying results of classification and enumeration performed by cell classifying means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of analyzing cells in urine comprising (i) converting scattered light signals indicative of individual cells in a urine specimen into respective pulse signals, (ii) providing cell-diameter data solely from pulse width data by converting the pulse width of each pulse signal into cell-diameter data in accordance with known cell diameter, and (iii) classifying and counting various cells contained in the urine based upon cell judgment, such that
(a) a cell is classified as a blood cell when the cell diameter data is 3-15 μ - m;
(b) a cell is classified as an epithelial when the cell diameter data is 15-100 μ
m;(c) a cell is classified as a cast cell or an epithelial when the cell diameter data is 100-150 μ
m;(d) a cell is classified as a cast cell when the cell diameter data is greater than 100 μ
m;(e) a cell is classified as a bacteria when the cell diameter data is 1-3 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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Specification