Abstract:
A method for directly illuminating a Coulter aperture so light scattering can be incorporated into the classical Coulter aperture and 3-diff blood analyzer to realize full functional hematology analyzer by providing a flow chamber which is separated into two portions by a plate having a Coulter aperture; and using a light source to directly coaxial illuminate the Coulter aperture wherein the illuminating beam propagates in the same direction as the axis of the Coulter aperture and the cell&#39;s moving direction.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/283,679 filed on Dec. 8, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/010,472 filed on Jan. 9, 2008, now abandoned, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to the field of medical screening and diagnostic hematology instruments. More particularly, the invention relates to the methods and instruments for differentiating and identifying subpopulations of leukocytes in a blood sample by using Coulter impedance and light scattering only, especially by using backscattering signals through the new innovative invention of direct coaxial illuminating the Coulter aperture. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Human blood consists of plasma (approximate 58%) and cellular elements (approximate 42%). The cellular elements include red blood cells (RBC, 4-5 millions per microlitre), white blood cells (WBC, 5-9 thousands per microlitre), and platelets (PLT, 200-400 thousands per microlitre). The WBC primarily have 5 subpopulations: Neutrophils (phagocytosis and proteolysis), Basophils (Inflammation and allergic reactions), Eosinophils (Viral infection), Monocytes (Phagocytosis) Lymphocytes (Including B cells and T cells, function in humoral immunity). 
         [0006]    The counting and sizing of RBCs, the counting of WBCs, and counting of platelets is referred to as a complete blood count (CBC). The separation of white blood cells into the five major subpopulations and their quantification on a percentage basis is referred to as a five-part differential (5-diff). 
         [0007]    Before 1950 blood cell counts by manual counting used the hemocytometer. The era of automated cell counting was introduced by Wallace H. Coulter in the early 1950&#39;s. The Coulter Principle, the electronic method of counting and measuring the size of microscopic particles and named for its inventor Wallace H. Coulter, states that a particle pulled through an orifice (aperture), concurrent with an electrical current, will produce a change in impedance that is proportional to the size of the particle traversing the orifice. This impedance change creates an electric pulse and is commonly referred to as a DC (direct current) signal. The related U.S. Pat. No. 2,656,508 to Coulter was issued Oct. 20, 1953. Although more than half century has passed the Coulter principle and Coulter aperture continue to be used in all hematology blood analyzer today and the DC signal still is the indispensible signal among others. Today ninety-eight percent of CBCs are performed on instruments using the Coulter Principle. 
         [0008]    Automated counting increased the sample size of the blood test 100 times more than the usual manual microscope method by counting in excess of 6000 cells per second. Additionally, it decreased the time it took to analyze from 30 minutes to fifteen seconds and reduced the error by a factor of approximately 10 times. 
         [0009]    The Coulter Principle states that particle suspension in a weak electrolyte solution of two chambers, separating two electrodes, are connected by a small aperture. When the particles suspended in solution are drawn through the aperture, the particle displaces its volume of electrolyte and momentarily increasing the impedance of the aperture. The Coulter Principle used in impedance-based blood analyzer is schematically described in  FIG. 1 . The two Chambers, aperture bath  1  and aperture tube  2 , are connected by only one path, the aperture  5 . Suspended in saline solution  3 , blood cell  4 , one at a time, due to pressure difference of vacuum  9 , passes through the aperture  5  and the impedance changes creates a pulse current  8  between two electrodes  6  and  7 . The pulse (DC) is directly proportional to the volume of the cell that produces this pulse. Because Neutrophil, Basophil and Eosinophil have similar volume, by the impedance method, only three parts can be distinguished. Thus, three-part differential (3-diff) blood count can be obtained. 
         [0010]    In order to obtain 5-diff, several techniques had emerged since the 90&#39;s. Light scattering, radio frequency and chemical dyeing were applied to hematology instruments to obtain five-part differential, and 5-diff hematology instruments available commercially since then. All these instruments are based the technology called flow cytometry. 
         [0011]    The basic principle of the flow cytometry based on light scattering blood analyzer can be illustrated as  FIG. 2 . The two cones of flow cell  10  for the sheath flow  14 , force sample flow  15  at the center of sheath flow to form hydrodynamic focusing. Two electrodes  12  and aperture current  13  create an impedance pulse when a cell passes through aperture  11 . The laser source  16 , through focusing lens  17  illuminates the aperture and creates the forward scattering (FLS) and axial light loss (ALL) detected by detector  19 , and 90° side light scattering (SLS) (and fluorescence) detected by detector  18 . Thus, when each cell passing the orifice, at least 3 signals can be detected, i.e. DC, FLS and SLS, if a radio frequency source is applied to the two electrodes  12 , then another signal, called RF (radio frequency), will be available and RF is sensitive to cell internal contents. 
         [0012]    RF is Wallace Coulter&#39;s another important invention and related U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,974 to Coulter was issued Mar. 24, 1970.  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of flow cell. In the center of quartz rectangular prism  25 , size about 4 mm×4 mm×8 mm, drill a through hole of diameter 50 μm, along its long axis  30 . Two cones  22  were made by a special drilling grinding machine from opposite top surface  28  and bottom surface  29 , aligned cone axis and roof to coincide with the 50 μm hole axis  30  until 50 μm orifice  23  about 70 μm long in the middle of the rectangular prism. Two cones  22  for the sheath flow  21  force the sample flow  24  in the center of orifice  23  to form a sample filament so that cell will passing through the orifice one at a time (hydrodynamic focusing). The focused laser beam  20  illuminates the cell in the sample flow. From  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  we can see that in the flow cytometry based instruments, the laser light beam propagates along the axis in the direction (horizontal in the FIGs) perpendicular to cell moving direction (vertical in the FIGs), which will be referred to as cross illumination in this paper to distinguish from the coaxial illumination presented in this invention, which will be described later. 
         [0013]    All flow cytometry based light scattering hematology instruments in the world now are all using flow cell, hydrodynamic focusing and cross illumination. When a cell passes through an orifice and interacts with focused laser light, the light scattering signals are created and can be detected. Except forward light scattering (FLS), axial light loss (ALL), and 90° side light scattering (SLS) signals shown in  FIG. 2 , there will have back scattering light (BSL) which also can be detected. Although back scattering is proved more sensitive to particle&#39;s (cell&#39;s) internal content and structure (Kerker et al., 1979; Kerker, 1983; Mourant et al., 1998), its intensity is about 3 orders of magnitude weaker than forward scattering. When using flow cell as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the focused laser beam will first hit flow cell&#39;s front surface  26 , then hit the cylindrical surface of orifice  23 , and finally hit the back surface  27 , thus very strong reflected light creates unwanted background for back scattering detection. As Gangstead et al., pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,742, “Unfortunately, using any of the available conventional flow cytometry illumination arrangements, the walls of these walled-conduit structures conventionally generates such an enormous quantity of background scatter noise”. This is the one of the main technical bottleneck that no commercial hematology instrument is capable of incorporating backscattering for enhancing cell discrimination power purpose. 
         [0014]    Several attempts were made using backscattering only in the laboratory, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,634 B2 (Kramer, Jun. 1, 2004) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,569 B2 (Kramer, Mar. 22, 2005), all use a plurality of optical fibers and PMTs and are impossible of being incorporated into a practical commercial instrument due to its complex structure and cost. 
         [0015]    Only this unique invention will make detection of cell&#39;s backscattering signal possible in a practical commercial hematology instrument for the first time in the hematology instrument history. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention provides an innovative illuminating method, i.e. direct coaxial illuminating the Coulter Aperture in hematology instruments. The invention provides a kind of blood analyze instrument of directly illuminating Coulter aperture. It includes illuminating optics system, the flow chamber with optical windows, forward and back scattering signals detecting optics system. The present invention is characterized in coaxial illumination of Coulter aperture, i.e. the illuminating beam propagating in the same direction as the axis of Coulter aperture and cell&#39;s moving direction. 
         [0017]    Coaxial illumination means that the illuminating light beam propagates in the direction coincident with axis of Coulter Aperture, or cell&#39;s moving direction (Coaxial). Using this unique illumination method, we can entirely get rid of high precision, complicated and costly flow cell (like one shown in  FIG. 2  &amp;  FIG. 3 ), which is indispensable for conventional high-end flow cytometry based five-part differential blood analyzer. Unfortunately until now these kind instruments still dominate the world high-end blood analyzer market. Since no flow cell, the complicated, difficult operating and maintenance procedures for hydrodynamic focusing mechanism is eliminated in the new light scattering and impedance based blood analyzer. Except above advantages of reduce the cost and complexity, the most profitable advantage of the innovative illumination scheme is that the light scattering, especial the back light scattering, can be directly incorporated into conventional impedance based blood analyzer. 
         [0018]    In the coaxial illumination the laser beam will be focused to the middle of Coulter aperture with focused waist little less than diameter of Coulter aperture and the Rayleigh region of the Gaussian beam will be several Coulter aperture lengths. The special designed detection optics will ensure that the scattering signals come from the particles in only interested space region. 
         [0019]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0020]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0021]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows the Coulter Principle and Coulter Aperture; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates the basic principle of the flow cytometry based light scattering blood analyzer; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is schematic diagram of flow cell; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the flow chamber with two parallel quartz plate windows; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is the same as  FIG. 4  except that the two optical lenses are used as optical windows of the flow chamber; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is schematic diagram of Coaxial Illumination of the Coulter Aperture; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates the interrogation and sensing zone of Coaxial Illumination of the Coulter Aperture; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  compares two illumination methods, left portion is conventional illumination arrangement (Cross illumination of flow cell) and right portion is the Coaxial illumination of the Coulter Aperture presented in this invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is one embodiment of Coaxial illumination of Coulter aperture in 5-diff blood analyzer; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  similar to  FIG. 9  except in  FIG. 10  there is no common elements of illuminating optics and back scattering detecting optics, also in  FIG. 10  the flow chamber geometry if different to FIG.  9 &#39;s; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C are Oscilloscope displays of detected forward scattering (upper track) and DC (lower track) signal of 7 μm latex particle; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is the Oscilloscope display of detected back scattering (upper track) and DC (lower track) signal of Quality control material; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is the Oscilloscope display of detected back scattering (upper track) and DC (lower track) signal of 7 μm latex particle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    In order to incorporate light scattering into impedance based blood analyzer, the first thing is to make the conventional flow chamber (i.e., WBC chamber or RBC chamber, or both) optically transparent so that illuminating light beam and scattering light can have their optical path. 
         [0038]    Referring to drawings  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the flow chamber is separated into two portions by aperture plate  32 . The two portions of the chamber are connected by only one path, i.e. the Coulter aperture  35 . Two optical windows,  37  (two parallel quartz plates) in  FIG. 4 , or  37 A (two optical lenses) in  FIG. 5 , inserted in the wall  31  of flow chamber, form an optical path for illumination and scattering detection. The two window&#39;s surfaces are centered at and perpendicular to common axis  43  of laser beam and Coulter aperture axis (also the cell&#39;s moving direction). 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate the concept and realization of “Coaxial Illumination of Coulter Aperture”. In  FIG. 6  in the center of the aperture disc  42  (thickness of 100 μm) is the Coulter aperture  41  (diameter of 50 μm to 80 μm). Focused laser beam  45  propagates along the common axis  43  (Coaxial illumination) and interacts with cells  44 . In  FIG. 7  laser beam  45  is focused in the middle of Coulter aperture, also the sensing zone  46 , and propagates from right to left along the common axis  52 . The diameter of the aperture is 80 μm and the thickness  51  of aperture disc is 100 μm. The fiber coupled laser  80  through fiber  79  entering the focus optics  75  in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . The focused laser beam is designed to have focused waist about 60 μm to 75 μm (little less than aperture diameter 80 μm) and to have Rayleigh region about several aperture lengths (thickness  51 , 100 μm). The focus optics should be designed to meet above two criterions (waist size and Rayleigh region) so the aperture can be illuminated uniformly. The sensing zone  46  can be divided to 3 portions, front portion  50 , middle portion  49 , and rear portion  48 . The cells  55  (A, B, C, D) (see  FIG. 7 ) are all be interrogated with laser beam but only cell B within the sensing zone can be detected, by using the spatial discriminating gate (implemented optically, such as the special designed detection optical system showed in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ) and temporal discriminating gate (implemented electronically). The forward scattering light  53 , traveling to left and back scattering light  54 , traveling to right, then can be detected by detection optics  81  and  77 , respectively in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  compares two illumination methods, the left part of  FIG. 8  is the available conventional flow cytometry illumination arrangement with walled-conduit structures flow cell, and is referred to as cross illumination because the illuminating laser beam propagating in the direction Y perpendicular to cell moving direction X. The right part of  FIG. 8  is the coaxial illumination of this invention where laser propagating in the same direction of the Coulter aperture axis and cell moving direction X. 
         [0041]    Since particle moving along entire aperture thickness (100 μm or more) coincident with laser beam propagation direction within the Rayleigh region of focused laser beam ( FIG. 8  right  57 A), so the interrogating time will be much longer than the interrogating time in the cross illumination scheme of the conventional flow cytometry-based systems where the particle is interrogated by the laser beam only in the cross section of the focused laser beam waist size ( FIG. 8  left  56 ,  57  about 20 μm). The scattering signal&#39;s time width is about 5 time wider, and the requirement on detector&#39;s response time thus is eased, and larger area detector can be used, also increase the detectable angular regions. The optical sensing zone in the present invention will be the entire aperture (diameter of 50 μm to 80 μm and thickness of 100 μm) but in cross illumination the optical sensing zone is only about 20 μm or so (the focus spot size), due to the laser-particle interrogation increasing, the scattering light intensity would be at least 5 times greater in the present invention comparing to conventional flow cytometry-based systems. 
         [0042]    Since no flow cell was used, the laser beam will not interface with the flow cell&#39;s wall and aperture&#39;s cylindrical surface where the high focused laser intensity hits the wall and the reflected light creates unwanted noise. In the present method the flow chamber window ( 73  in  FIGS. 9 and 73A  in  FIG. 10 ) is located far from the aperture center (or the laser focused beam region, i.e. Rayleigh region of the Gaussian beam) where the laser beam has a much larger size and a much lower intensity and creates much less back reflection. The background noise thereupon is greatly reduced. 
         [0043]    The above three advantages would greatly increase the signal and reduce the noise.  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  show the forward scattering, back scattering and DC signal for 7 μm latex particle and Quality control material. Note that the forward scattering has 920 mV background noise while back scattering only has 24 mV. These experimental results indicate that the back scattering signal to noise (S/N) ratio is greatly increased resulting in the higher differential power, especially due to the high backscatter S/N ratio. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is the schematic diagram of one of embodiment of present invention. It incorporates the coaxial illuminated Coulter aperture into the 5-diff differential blood analyzer. The two parts of flow chamber, C 1  and C 2  are separated by aperture plate  82  and connected only by the aperture  70 . The aperture current  68  between two electrodes  69  was created when cell  71 , suspended in saline solution  72 , passes through aperture  70 , one at a time. The laser  80 , coupled to optical fiber  79 , passes a beam splitter  78 , where one part of the light is utilized to illumination optics  75  to form a focused laser beam, with beam axis  74 , propagates along its axis coincident with cell moving direction inside the aperture, i.e. the axis of Coulter aperture  74 . The laser beam, passing through a flow chamber window  73 , is focused at the center of aperture, interacts with cell  71  and creates scattering light in both forward and back directions. The forward scatter (and axial light loss) is collected by detection optics  81  and back scatter is collected by detection optics  77  through partial reflection of the beam splitter plate  78  and illumination optics  75 . The compensation optics  76  is used to follow the laser source power fluctuation.  FIG. 10  is an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 9 . The flow chamber C 1  and C 2  and beam splitter plate  78  have different geometry, which can be adjusted for illumination optics  75  and detection optics  77  with no common parts contrary to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0045]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.