Automatic hematologic counting and analysing device

• US 6,555,065 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francois Melet
• Original Assignee: Francois Melet
• Inventors: Melet, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLENHORST, MAUREEN
• Application Number:
  US09/554,748
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 422/73, 422/99, 422/100, 422/103, 436/10, 436/63
• US Class Current: 422/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/131 Details G01N15/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/101666 Particle count or volume standard or control [e.g., platelet count standards, etc.]

Abstract

A compact apparatus for automatically analyzing a blood sample having a pumping assembly, a dilution assembly and a measuring assembly. The pumping assembly includes pumps for air, lysis and diluent. The dilution assembly includes a sampling needle, and containers for waste, white corpuscle dilution, and red corpuscle dilution. The measuring assembly includes a measuring chamber, and a device for counting platelets, red corpuscles, white corpuscles and hemoglobin in the blood sample. Both red and white corpuscles are counted in the same measuring chamber. A plurality of pipes establish fluid communication between the elements of the apparatus. A plurality of electro-valves are adapted to automatically open and close the pipes thereby regulating fluid flow between the pumping assembly, the dilution assembly and the measuring assembly. One of the electro-valves is adapted to shutoff a diluent source and substitute water therefor, whereby the apparatus is rinsed with the water to avoid crystalization.

Claims

1. A compact apparatus for analyzing a blood sample having platelets, red corpuscles, white corpuscles and hemoglobin, said apparatus comprising:

means for pumping comprising;

a first pump selectively connected to an air source;

a second pump selectively connected to a lysis reagent source;

a third pump selectively connected to a diluent source and a water source; and

a fourth pump selectively connected to said diluent source and said water source;

means for measuring connected to a transflux source, said first pump, said second pump, said lysis reagent source, and said air source, said means for measuring comprising;

a measuring chamber fluidically connected to said lysis reagent source, said second pump, said air source, and said transflux source; and

means for counting said platelets, said red corpuscles, said white corpuscles, and said hemoglobin of said blood sample, said means for counting connected to said measuring chamber for communicating therewith;

means for dilution connected to said third pump, said fourth pump, said diluent source, said water source, and said measuring chamber, said means for dilution comprising;

a plurality of containers fluidicially connected to said measuring chamber; and

a sampling needle selectively connected to said diluent source, said water source, said third pump, and said fourth pump, said sampling needle operating to draw and discharge fluid; and

valve means for regulating fluid flow between said pumping means, said measuring means, and said dilution means;

whereby said pumping means, said measuring means, and said dilution means are each arranged as an individual unit thereby permitting compact design of said apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of containers comprise a waste container, a white corpuscle dilution container, and a red corpuscle dilution container.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for dilution comprises means for engaging said sampling needle with each of said waste container, said white corpuscle dilution container and said red corpuscle dilution container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for engaging said sampling needle comprises a motor adapted to translate said waste container, said white corpuscle dilution container, and said red corpuscle dilution container.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for measuring measures both said red corpuscles and said white corpuscles in said measuring chamber.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve means for regulating fluid flow comprises a plurality of electro-valves.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of said plurality of electro-valves is disposed between said diluent source and said water source to selectively close either source, whereby said apparatus is rinsed with water to avoid crystalization.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of tubes, said plurality of electro-valves connecting said pumps, said sources, said measuring chamber and said plurality of containers, operating to open and close one of said plurality of tubes.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said diluent source comprises isotonic diluent, and further wherein said water source comprises distilled water.

10. A compact apparatus for automatically analyzing a blood sample having platelets, red corpuscles, white corpuscles and hemoglobin, said apparatus comprising:

means for pumping comprising;

a first pump selectively connected to an air source;

a second pump selectively connected to a reagent lysis reagent source;

a third pump selectively connected to a diluent source and a water source; and

a fourth pump selectively connected to said diluent source and said water source;

means for measuring connected to a transflux source, said first pump, said second pump, said lysis reagent lysis source, and said air source, said means for measuring comprising;

a measuring chamber in fluid communication with said lysis reagent source, said second pump, said air source and said transflux source; and

means for counting said platelets, said red corpuscles, said white corpuscles, and said hemoglobin of said blood sample, said means for counting connected to said measuring chamber such that both said red corpuscles and said white corpuscles are counted in the same measuring chamber,

means for dilution fluidicially connected to said third pump, said fourth pump, said diluent source, said water source, and said measuring chamber, said means for dilution comprising;

a sampling needle selectively connected to said diluent source, said water source,said third pump and said fourth pump, said sampling needle operating to draw and discharge fluid;

a plurality of containers fluidically connected to said measuring chamber, said plurality of containers comprising a waste container, a white corpuscle dilution container and a red corpuscle dilution container; and

means for engaging said sampling needle with each of said waste container, said white corpuscle dilution container and said red corpuscle dilution container; and

a plurality of electro-valves adapted to regulate fluid flow between said pumping means, said measuring means and said dilution means;

whereby the said pumping means, said measuring means, and said dilution means are each arranged as an individual unit thereby permitting compact design of said apparatus.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for engaging said sampling needle comprises a motor adapted to translate said waste container, said white corpuscle dilution container, and said red corpuscle dilution container.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein one of said plurality of electro-valves is disposed between said diluent source and said water source to selectively close either source whereby said apparatus is rinsed with water to avoid crystalization.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a plurality of tubes, said plurality of electro-valves connecting said pumps, said sources, said measuring chamber and said plurality of containers, operating to open and close one of said plurality of tubes.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said diluent source comprises isotonic diluent, and further wherein said water source comprises distilled water.

15. A compact apparatus for automatically analyzing a blood sample having platelets, red corpuscles, white corpuscles and hemoglobin, said apparatus comprising:

means for pumping comprising;

a first pump driven by a first motor, said first pump being selectively connected to an air source;

a second pump actuated by a second motor, said second pump being selectively connected to a lysis reagent source;

a third pump actuated by said second motor, said third pump being selectively connected to an isotonic diluent source and a distilled water source; and

a fourth pump actuated by said second motor, said fourth pump being selectively connected to said isotonic diluent source and said distilled water source;

means for measuring connected to a transflux source, said first pump, said second pump, said lysis reagent source, and said air source, said means for measuring comprising;

a measuring chamber fluidicially connected to said lysis reagent source, said second pump, said air source and said transflux source; and

means for counting said platelets, said red corpuscles, said white corpuscles, and said hemoglobin of said blood sample, said means for counting being connected to said measuring chamber such that both said red corpuscles and said white corpuscles are counted in the same measuring chamber;

means for dilution connected to said third pump, said fourth pump, said isotonic diluent source, said distilled water source, and said measuring chamber, said means for dilution comprising;

a sampling needle selectively connected to said isotonic diluent source, said distilled water source, said third pump and said fourth pump, said sampling needle operating to draw and discharge fluid;

a plurality of containers fluidicially connected to said measuring chamber, said plurality of containers comprising a waste container, a white corpuscle dilution container, and a red corpuscle dilution container; and

a third motor which translates said waste container, said white corpuscle dilution container, and said red corpuscle dilution container into engagement with said sampling needle;

a plurality of tubes connecting said pumps, said sources, said measuring chamber and said plurality of containers; and

a plurality of electro-valves operating to open and close said plurality of tubes thereby regulating fluid flow between said pumping means, said measuring means and said dilution means, one of said plurality of electro-valves being disposed between said isotonic diluent source and said distilled water source to selectively close either source such that said apparatus is rinsed with said distilled water to avoid crystalization;

whereby constituting said pumping means, said measuring means, and said dilution means are each arranged as an individual unit thereby permitting compact design of said apparatus.

16. An automatic hematologic analyzing device comprising:

a blood sampling device comprising a tube receiving portion and a sampling needle driven by a motor for movement with respect to said tube receiving portion;

a first, a second and a third container arranged for relative movement with respect to said sampling needle whereby said sampling needle operates to inject fluid in each of said containers, said containers being selectively intended for waste material, white blood cell dilution, and red blood cell dilution, said sampling needle and said containers being in a first assembly together;

a first, a second and a third pump driven by a common motor, said first pump being connected to said sampling needle for aspiration of a sample of blood by said sampling needle, said second pump being connected via valves to a diluent source and to said sampling device, said third pump being connected via valves to a lysis reagent source and to said sampling device;

a second assembly comprising a measuring chamber connected via valves to said first, second and third containers; and

an air pump driven by a motor whereby said air pump operates said second assembly via valves, said air pump and said first, second and third pumps being in a third assembly together.

17. A method for automatically analyzing a blood sample having platelets, red corpuscles, white corpuscles and hemoglobin, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a set of three pumps respectively connected to a sampling needle, a diluent source and a lysis reagent source;

controlling a set of valves disposed between said set of three pumps and said sampling needle, said diluent source and said lysis reagent source such that a blood sample in a sample tube is drawn into said sampling needle;

providing a set of three containers comprising a waste container, a white corpuscle dilution container and a red corpuscle dilution container, said set of three containers each being able to selectively translate into engagement with said sampling needle;

engaging said waste container with said sampling needle;

controlling said set of valves to rinse said sampling needle in said waste container;

providing a sample of pre-diluted blood comprising the steps of;

engaging said white corpuscle dilution container with said sampling needle; and

controlling said set of valves, said set of three pumps and said sampling needle to dispense said blood sample and a diluent from said diluent source into said white corpuscle dilution container so as to produce said pre-diluted blood;

providing a sample of twice diluted blood comprising the steps of;

controlling said set of valves, said set of three pumps and said sampling needle so as to draw a sample of said pre-diluted blood from said white corpuscle dilution container into said sampling needle;

engaging said red corpuscle dilution container with said sampling needle; and

controlling said set of valves, said set of three pumps and said sampling needle to dispense said pre-diluted blood and a diluent from said diluent source into said red corpuscle dilution container so as to produce said twice diluted blood;

analyzing said twice diluted blood comprising the steps of;

providing a measuring chamber fluidicially connected to each of said three containers;

providing an air pump connected to said measuring chamber;

controlling said set of valves and said air pump such that said twice diluted blood is aspirated from said red corpuscle dilution container into said measuring chamber; and

counting red corpuscles in said twice diluted blood, draining said twice diluted blood and rinsing said measuring chamber; and

analyzing said pre-diluted blood comprising the steps of;

controlling said set of valves and said air pump such that said pre-diluted blood is aspirated from said white corpuscle dilution container into said measuring chamber; and

counting said white corpuscles in said pre-diluted blood, draining said pre-diluted blood and rinsing said measuring chamber.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

providing a source of water connected to at least one of said three pumps and said sampling needle;

disposing at least one of said set of valves between said water source and said diluent source;

controlling said at least one set of valves to shut off said diluent source and open said water source whereby said rinsing steps are performed using water to avoid crystallization.