Apparatus for obtaining increased particle concentration for optical examination

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing a blood or other biological fluid sample in a quiescent state, whereby particulate constituents of biological samples that contain sparse populations of interesting cellular species can be enumerated and inspected using an optical scanning instrument. Specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining increased cellular or particulate concentrations within the use of said optical scanning method.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for obtaining a liquid sample having an increased cellular or particulate concentration for optical examination, comprising: 
 a separation chamber;    a wall surrounding said separation chamber;    a sample entrance;    venting channels;    a separation wall in said separation chamber dividing said chamber into two compartments, said separation wall having at least one separation channel; and    a flow path in said separation chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said liquid sample is blood.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further comprises a lid portion.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said lid portion has at least one opening for sample delivery.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said separation wall has at least one first separation channel and at least one second separation channel.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said separation channels are of different sizes.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein said first separation channel is about 3 to 10 μm deep by 5 to 50 μm wide.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein said second separation channel is about 0.5 to 1.5 μm deep by 50 to 1000 μm wide.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of notches in said separation chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of notches in said first compartment of said separation chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of notches in said second compartment of said separation chamber.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of notches in said first compartment and second compartment of said separation chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said separation wall has a plurality of separation channels of the same size.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said separation wall has a plurality of separation channels of different sizes.