Platelet Assay Sample Compression for Accurate Whole Blood Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biological and chemical assays face difficulties in accurately viewing and counting platelets in undiluted or slightly diluted whole blood due to interference from larger cells like red blood cells, which obstruct optical signals.
Innovation Solution
The use of two plates to compress a whole blood sample into a thin layer, lysing red cells while preserving platelets, with spacers controlling sample thickness and reagents facilitating selective cell lysis, followed by imaging in bright-field or fluorescent modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If undiluted or slightly diluted whole blood is used in platelet assays, then the assay can be performed without dilution steps, but red blood cells block or disrupt optical signals and prevent accurate viewing and counting of platelets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes red blood cells from the blood sample using lysis reagents before platelet analysis. The lysis reagents selectively destroy red blood cells while preserving platelets, thereby eliminating the interference that caused optical signal blocking and enabling accurate platelet counting in undiluted or slightly diluted whole blood.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces lysis reagents as intermediary substances that mediate between the whole blood sample and the platelet detection system. These reagents selectively lyse red blood cells to create a cleared sample where platelets can be visualized and counted accurately without the interference of intact red blood cells.
2Measurement precision
If red blood cells are lysed to improve platelet visibility, then platelet counting accuracy improves, but the lysis process must be selective to avoid damaging platelets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing lysis reagents with specific properties that target red blood cells while sparring platelets. The reagents are formulated to have selective toxicity toward red blood cells based on differences in cell membrane composition and structure, allowing localized destruction of red blood cells without affecting platelet integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the concentration, composition, and timing of lysis reagent application to achieve selective lysis. By controlling parameters such as reagent concentration and exposure time, the process optimizes red blood cell lysis while maintaining platelet viability and structural integrity.
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
Enables clear and accurate viewing and counting of platelets without dilution, allowing for remote health monitoring and improved assay precision.
Implementation Method 1
two plates to compress a whole blood sample into a thin layer that has a thickness and lyses the red cells
Implementation Method 2
use imaging technique to view/count the platelets in the sample in bright-filed mode
Implementation Method 3
view/count the platelets in the sample in bright-filed mode and/or fluorescent mode
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for performing biological and chemical assays.