Automated Microscopic Cell Analysis with Digital Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for performing complete blood counts (CBC) are time-consuming, operator-dependent, and prone to variability, requiring skilled technicians and manual handling that can lead to unreliable cell counts and high standard deviations.
Innovation Solution
An automated system using a test cartridge with an automated microscope and digital camera, combined with cell recognition software, for counting and classifying blood cells, which includes a rotary valve for precise fluid handling and mixing, and a reagent supply module for accurate dilution, enabling automated CBC with reduced operator involvement and improved precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated microscopy with digital camera and cell recognition software is used, then operator skill requirements and operator dependency are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cell counting and classification with an automated microscope system equipped with digital camera and cell recognition software. The software automatically identifies, counts, and classifies blood cells based on image analysis, eliminating the need for skilled technicians to manually examine cells through a microscope while maintaining accurate results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-analysis through automated image capture and processing. The digital camera captures images of blood cells in the imaging chamber, and the cell recognition software automatically processes these images to count and classify cells without requiring operator intervention or interpretation, enabling the system to serve itself in the analysis process.
2Device complexity
If manual hemocytometer method is used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to operator dependency and interpretative discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual hemocytometer method with an automated imaging and analysis system. Instead of relying on operators to manually count and interpret cells in a hemocytometer, the system uses a digital camera to capture images and software to automatically analyze cell concentrations, eliminating operator-dependent errors and interpretative discrepancies while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of blood cell images through the digital camera, allowing for precise digital analysis and measurement. These digital images can be processed, stored, and re-analyzed without degradation, enabling more accurate and reliable cell counting compared to manual visual inspection of physical hemocytometer slides.
3Productivity
If impedancemetry or flow cytometry is used, then productivity increases for rapid cell counting, but ease of operation deteriorates as skilled operators are still required for use, maintenance, and interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex impedancemetry or flow cytometry systems with a simpler automated microscopy approach. The digital camera and image analysis software provide automated cell counting and classification capabilities that maintain high productivity while eliminating the need for skilled operators to operate and interpret results from complex electrical or flow-based instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-operation through automated image capture and analysis. The software automatically processes images to count and classify cells without requiring operator interpretation or specialized knowledge, enabling the system to operate autonomously and produce results that do not require skilled personnel for interpretation.
4Measurement precision
If a predetermined amount of sample is metered and mixed with diluent and stain, then measurement precision improves through controlled dilution, but device complexity increases due to additional fluid handling components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fluid handling process into distinct functional segments: a rotary valve for metering and directing fluid flow, separate channels for sample and diluent/stain, and an imaging chamber for analysis. This segmentation allows for precise control of dilution ratios while organizing the complexity into manageable, independent components that can be operated systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary valve acts as an intermediary component that precisely controls the interaction between sample and diluent/stain. By using the valve to meter and direct fluid flow through defined pathways, the system achieves accurate dilution ratios without requiring complex mixing mechanisms, simplifying the overall fluid handling while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides better quantitative accuracy, reduces operator errors, and increases throughput by automating sample preparation and image analysis, allowing for more precise and reliable CBC results with minimal operator skill requirements, enabling point-of-care testing.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle
Implementation Method 2
a rotary valve having a pass-through conduit for metering a predetermined volume of sample
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum channel for conveying a negative pressure relative to the pressure at the sample collection port
Implementation Method 4
a mixing chamber that is also fluidically coupled to the pass-through conduit when the valve is in its second flow position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.