Sample processing for microscopy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017293133-A1
Application number	US-201715482215-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2017
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Oct 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some instances, an apparatus can include a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample, and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on top of the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample; a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample; and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body permits passage of light onto the light sensitive imaging sensor.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to receive the fluid sample comprises a hydrophilic coating.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the body to touch a portion of the fluid sample comprises a hydrophilic coating.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sample delivery component for preparing and delivering the fluid sample to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sample delivery component comprises at least two volumetric capillary tubes, a nozzle for mixing fluids within the at least two volumetric capillary tubes, and an output tip through which the fluid sample is delivered to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an extension that lies on the carrier.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the extension of the body has features that match corresponding features on the carrier.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a device that causes an adjustment to a vertical distance between a bottom surface of the carrier and the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor that receives the sample fluid.

10 . A method comprising
moving a body toward a fluid sample that is on a surface of a light sensitive imaging sensor so that as a surface of the body touches the fluid sample, the surface of the body is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor and the body settles on the fluid sample.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein moving the body toward the fluid sample comprises placing the body on a carrier such that the center of the body is vertically aligned with the center of the light sensitive imaging sensor.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein moving the body toward the fluid sample comprises moving the carrier toward the fluid sample.

13 . An apparatus comprising:
a solid member; a light sensitive imaging sensor; a deformable member coupling the solid member and a surface including the light sensitive imaging sensor, the deformable member comprising side walls enclosing a fluid chamber configured to receive a volume of fluid, a surface of the fluid chamber comprising the light sensitive chamber; and a component that deforms the deformable member to cause adjustment to a height of the fluid chamber.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the solid member permits passage of light into the fluid chamber.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the component that deforms the deformable member comprises a transparent-roofed pressurizable chamber enclosing the fluid chamber.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the base comprises an integrated circuit board.

17 . A method comprising:
injecting a fluid sample into a chamber; deforming a deformable member to reduce a volume of the chamber to cause a reduction of volume of the sample; and after reducing the volume of the sample, capturing an image of the portion of the sample at a light-sensitive sensor surface within the chamber.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising deforming the deformable member to increase the volume of the chamber.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein deforming the deformable member to reduce the volume of the chamber comprises withdrawing a volume of gas within an expandable chamber within the chamber.

20 . A point-of-care apparatus comprising:
a sample processing chamber including
a base having a chamber and a light sensitive sensor having a surface within the chamber to receive a fluid sample, and
a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on the fluid sample;
a device coupler to couple electronically to a mobile device capable of accepting electronic communications corresponding to signals derived from the light sensitive imaging sensors; and a housing to hold the sample processing chamber and the device coupler.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to receive the fluid sample comprises a hydrophilic coating.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the surface of the body to touch a portion of the fluid sample comprises a hydrophilic coating.

23 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising a sample delivery component for preparing and delivering the fluid sample to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor.

24 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the sample delivery component comprises at least two volumetric capillary tubes, a nozzle for mixing fluids within the at least two volumetric capillary tubes, and an output tip through which the fluid sample is delivered to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor.

25 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample is on a component that is separable from the body.

26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the component that is separable from the body comprises a plate and a protruding element that is lowered into the chamber of the base.

27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein:
dimensions of a top surface of the protruding element are identical to dimensions of the surface to touch the portion of the fluid sample, and the top surface of the protruding element is the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample.

28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the shape of the protruding element comprises a truncated pyramid.

29 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the electronic communications exchanged between the mobile device and the light sensitive imaging sensor comprise an instruction to capture an image of a portion of the fluid sample placed on the surface to receive the fluid sample

Assignees

• Alentic Microscience Inc

Inventors

• Fine Alan Marc

Classifications

• G01N2035/00079

  Evaporation covers for slides · CPC title

• G01N33/492

  Determining multiple analytes · CPC title

• B01L2300/0838

  Capillaries · CPC title

• G01N1/2813

  Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on (G01N1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B21/0008

  Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes · CPC title