Patent ID: 11971341
Assignee: MINITÜB GMBH
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  C | IPC B  C  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for analyzing samples comprising spermatozoa, said method comprising the steps of:
(1) providing a sample comprising spermatozoa to be analyzed;
(2) providing a flow-through counting compartment, said counting compartment comprising
(a) a lid or top part comprising a top measurement window;
(b) a bottom part comprising a bottom measurement window, wherein the movable lid or top part and the bottom part are configured such that they form the bottom, lid and side walls of the counting compartment;
(b1) wherein one or both of the lid or top part and the bottom part are movable;
(c) two different depths provided by the bottom measurement window and the top measurement window in the range of about 5 to about 100 μm,
wherein the two different depths provided by the bottom measurement window and the top measurement window are achieved by
(i) the bottom measurement window and/or the top measurement window comprise step(s); or
(ii) one of the bottom measurement window and the top measurement window is placed with inclination; or
(iii) one of the bottom measurement window and the top measurement window is placed parallel to the other of the bottom measurement window and the top measurement window and is provided with an inclined plane, wherein the inclined plane faces the other of the bottom measurement window and the top measurement window; or
(iv) moving the lid or top part and/or the bottom part of the counting compartment,
and wherein the counting compartment comprises at least one further depth that is different from the two depths of (c), and said at least one further depth is in the range of about 150 to about 500 μm;

(d) optionally, means for moving the lid or top part; and
(e) an inlet and outlet located at opposite sides of the counting compartment;

(3) loading the counting compartment with the sample, wherein the lid or top part is in open position;
(4) closing the counting compartment by closing the lid or top part;
wherein a time period is carried out between the end of the loading step (3) and the closing step (4), which is less than 1s,
(5) determining a sample value to be measured at the first depth of the two different depths,
optionally, determining further sample characteristics at said first depth of the two different depths;
(6) optionally, determining further sample characteristics at the second depth of the two different depths,
(7) opening the counting compartment by opening or lifting the lid or top part;
(8) rinsing the counting compartment and thereby removing the sample,, wherein the sample value to be measured in step (5) is the number of spermatozoa or concentration of spermatozoa.