Method for the assessment of particles and a system and device for use in the method

• US 20070207551A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChemoMetec A/S
• Original Assignee: ChemoMetec A/S
• Inventors: Glensbjerg, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,906,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/150
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/147 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the assessment of at least one parameter of particles in a liquid analyte material, comprising providing a device comprising a sample compartment comprising an exposing domain, an inlet through which a volume of a liquid sample representing the analyte material can be introduced, and a flow system comprising at least a channel allowing at least a portion of the volume of the liquid sample to flow within the device. A volume of the liquid sample is introduced in the device through the inlet of the disposable device, passing at least a portion of the volume of the liquid sample through the flow system of the device into the exposing domain of the sample compartment, arranging the device in relation to detection device comprising a detection means for quantitatively detecting spatial image data and processing means for processing the detected image presentation detecting electromagnetic signals from the sample in the exposing domain of the device in the detection device forming, in the detection device, a spatial image representation of the exposing domain, and processing the detected image presentation obtaining the assessment of the at least one parameter.

Claims

1-129. -129. (canceled)

130. A device adapted to be used in a system for the assessment of at least one parameter of particles in a liquid analyte material, the a device comprising

a sample compartment comprising an exposing domain, said exposing domain allowing electromagnetic signals from a sample in the exposing domain to pass to a detection device and to form, in the detection device, a spatial image representation of the exposing domain processable by processing means of the detection device,

an inlet through which a volume of a liquid sample representing the analyte material can be introduced,

a flow system comprising at least a channel allowing at least a portion of the volume of the liquid sample to flow within the device,

means for arranging the device in relation to the detection device, the device having no sample outlet.

131. A device according to claim 163, wherein the flow system additionally comprises a compartment or a flow channel part in which or from which at least part of one or more reaction components initially loaded in the compartment or flow channel part is added to at least a portion of the volume of the liquid sample representing the analyte material.

132. A device according to claim 164, wherein at least one of the reaction components is in freeze-dried form.

133. A device according to claim 163, wherein part of the channel provides laminar flow in the liquid sample.

134. A device according to claim 163, wherein part of the channel has at least one bend or obstruction resulting in turbulent flow in liquid passing the bend or obstruction.

135. A device according to claim 163, wherein the flow system comprises one or more means for regulating the velocity of the flow into or within the device, the velocity regulating means comprising means selected from the group consisting of:

stop valves, one way valves, pressure valves and speed reduction valves.

136. A device according to claim 163, wherein the device comprises means for performing one or more operations on the liquid sample, the operations being selected from the group consisting of filtration, concentration and magnetic attraction.

137. A device according to claim 163, containing one or more compartment(s) or domain which allows spectrophotometric measurement for the determination of any chemical property, the spectrophotometric measurement being selected from the group consisting of:

mid-infrared attenuation, near-infrared attenuation, visible attenuation, ultra-violet attenuation, photoluminescence, raman scatter, and nuclear magnetic resonance.

138. A device according to claim 163, wherein the interior of the sample compartment has an average depth of between 20 μ

m and 2000 μ

m.

139. A device according to claim 163, wherein sample compartment has dimensions, in a plane parallel to an exposing window, in the range between 1 mm by 1 mm and 10 mm by 10 mm.

140. A device according to claim 163, wherein the volume of the sample compartment from which electromagnetic radiation is exposed, is in the range between 0.01 μ

l and 20 μ

l

141. A device according to claim 163, wherein the flow system comprises one or more mixing chambers.

142. A device according to claim 163, wherein the interior of the sample compartment has an average depth of between 20 μ

m and 1000 μ

m.

143. A device according to claim 163, wherein the interior of the sample compartment has an average depth of between 20 μ

m and 200 m.

144. A device according to claim 163, wherein the volume of the sample compartment from which electromagnetic radiation is exposed, is in the range between 0.04 82 l and 4 μ

l.

145. A device according to claim 163, wherein the device comprises a propelling means.