US 12,031,895 B2
Method of identifying biologic particles
Siegfried Steltenkamp, Bonn (DE); Heiner Ophardt, Arisdorf (CH); and Albrecht Lang, Niederbipp (CH)
Assigned to OP-Hygiene IP GmbH, Niederbipp (CH)
Filed by OP-Hygiene IP GmbH, Niederbipp (CH)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/081,585.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/926,704, filed on Oct. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0123851 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 15/1031 (2024.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/10 (2006.01); G01N 15/14 (2006.01); G01N 15/1429 (2024.01); G01N 15/1433 (2024.01)
CPC G01N 15/1031 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); G01N 15/1023 (2024.01); G01N 15/14 (2013.01); G01N 15/1429 (2013.01); G01N 15/1433 (2024.01); B01L 2200/0647 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0652 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0681 (2013.01); B01L 2300/087 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1006 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1024 (2024.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of identifying biologic particles in an input fluid comprising:
a focusing step in which the input fluid is sorted into a focused fluid stream including to be analyzed particles from the input fluid in a desired range of particle sizes and/or a desired range of particle shapes,
the focusing step including passing the input fluid through a microfluidic sorting channel configured to separate particles of the input fluid by size wherein a focused fluid stream with the to be analyzed particles is discharged into an analysis channel, and flowing through the analysis channel sequentially as individual separate particles separated from other particles in the focused fluid stream,
an imaging analysis step of determining with a first electromagnetic imaging apparatus image characteristics of each separate particle of the particles in the focused fluid stream,
an electrical field analysis step of determining with an electrical field measurement apparatus determined electrical field characteristics of each separate particle of the particles in the focused fluid stream,
the first electromagnetic imaging apparatus comprising an emitter of emitted electromagnetic radiation and a sensor of electromagnetic radiation,
an image analysis step of determining with the sensor the image characteristics of each separate particle of the particles in the focused fluid stream,
using an image identification method comprising a review of the image characteristics to determine a primary estimated identity of each separate particle of the particles in the focused fluid stream as a primary probability profile of one or more known biologic particles,
the method including directing the emitted electromagnetic radiation onto each separate particle of the particles and sensing with the sensor emitted electromagnetic radiation that is scattered, reflected, emitted and/or transmitted from, through or about each separate particle,
the image characteristics are derived from one or more characterizations of electromagnetic imaging of each separate particle,
estimating an estimated concentration of the particles in the focused fluid stream when the determined electrical field characteristics are determined,
using an electrical field identification method to estimate a secondary estimated identity of each separate particle of the particles in the focused fluid stream as a secondary probability profile of one or more known biologic particles based on the determined electrical field characteristics and the estimated concentration, and
using the primary estimated identity and the secondary estimated identity to estimate a final estimated identity of each separate particle of the particles in the focused fluid stream as a final probability profile of one or more known biologic particles.