Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090136946 | Automated Enumeration and Characterization of Circulating Melanoma Cells in Blood - The CellTracksĀ® System provides a system to enumerate circulating melanoma cells in blood. The system immunomagnetically concentrates epithelial cells, fluorescently labels the cells and identifies and quantifies circulating melanoma cells. The absolute number of circulating melanoma cells detected in the peripheral blood tumor load is, in part, a factor in prediction of survival, time to progression, and response to therapy. Diagnosis and monitoring of melanoma has been limited by the inability to monitor circulating melanoma cells. The present invention provides a method to enumerate circulating melanoma cells in blood samples. Accordingly, this technology provides a means and device for monitoring disease progression in patients with melanoma. | 05-28-2009 |
20090191535 | Method of assessing metastatic carcinomas from circulating endothelial cells and disseminated tumor cells - A method for assessing cancer in test subjects is described based upon enumeration of circulating endothelial cells and/or disseminated tumor cells in a test subject. This method is used to quantify disseminated tumor cells. Correlations with circulating tumor cells provides prognostic information with high accuracy in assessing the risk of recurrence in patients with primary breast cancer. | 07-30-2009 |
20090258365 | METHOD FOR DETECTING IGF1R/Chr 15 in CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS USING FISH - The present invention describes methods and probe composition for an automated FISH assay of a blood sample containing circulating tumor cells expressing the IGF-1R gene. The assay provides genetic analysis of suspect circulating tumor cells that have been identified after immunomagnetic selection and fluorescent labeling. Using unique, repeat-free probes to the IGF-1R locus and a chromosome 15 reference probe, cell lines expressing an aberrant number of IGF-1R and Chr 15 signals were detected, including one cell line with a low level of IGF-1R amplification. The ability to directly examine the genetic profile of IGF-1R on circulating tumor cells may provide an automated means for assessing disease and patient response to therapy. | 10-15-2009 |
20090286264 | IMAGING OF IMMUNOMAGNETICALLY ENRICHED RARE CELLS - A method for removing excess unbound ferrofluid and imaging immunomagnetically enriched circulating tumor cells is provided. A vessels having a preformed grooves in the viewing surface is optimally designed for cell alignment and imaging. After separating the unbound particles by centrifugation, an externally-applied force is applied to transport magnetically responsive particle-CTC complex toward the transparent collection wall. The grooved inner surface of the viewing face of the chamber provide uniform distribution of the particles for easy imaging. The invention is also useful in conducting quantitative analysis and sample preparation in conjunction with automated cell enumeration techniques as in quantitative analysis of CTC in disease. | 11-19-2009 |
20110044527 | Methods and Algorithms for Cell Enumeration in a Low-Cost Cytometer - The enumeration of cells in fluids by flow cytometry is widely used across many disciplines such as assessment of leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or of bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. For many applications the cost, size and complexity of the instruments prevents wider use, for example, CD4 analysis in HIV monitoring in resource-poor countries. The novel device, methods and algorithms disclosed herein largely overcome these limitations. Briefly, all cells in a biological sample are fluorescently labeled, but only the target cells are also magnetically labeled. The labeled sample, in a chamber or cuvet, is placed between two wedge-shaped magnets to selectively move the magnetically labeled cells to the observation surface of the cuvet. An LED illuminates the cells and a CCD camera captures the images of the fluorescent light emitted by the target cells. Image analysis performed with a novel algorithm provides a count of the cells on the surface that can be related to the target cell concentration of the original sample. The compact cytometer system provides a rugged, affordable and easy-to-use technique, which can be used in remote locations. | 02-24-2011 |
20110104718 | Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells, Fragments, and Debris - The methods and reagents described in this invention are used to analyze circulating tumor cells, clusters, fragments, and debris. Analysis is performed with a number of platforms, including flow cytometry and the CellSpotterĀ® fluorescent microscopy imaging system. Analyzing damaged cells has shown to be important. However, there are two sources of damage: in vivo and in vitro. Damage in vivo occurs by apoptosis, necrosis, or immune response. Damage in vitro occurs during sample acquisition, handling, transport, processing, or analysis. It is therefore desirable to confine, reduce, eliminate, or at least qualify in vitro damage to prevent it from interfering in analysis. Described herein are methods to diagnose, monitor, and screen disease based on circulating rare cells, including malignancy as determined by CTC, clusters, fragments, and debris. Also provided are kits for assaying biological specimens using these methods. | 05-05-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090061476 | Method and apparatus for imaging target components in a biological sample using permanent magnets - A system for enumeration of cells in fluids by image cytometry is described for assessment of target populations such as leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. Briefly, all cells in a biological sample are fluorescently labeled, but only the target cells are also magnetically labeled. A small, permanent magnet is inserted directly into the chamber containing the labeled sample. The magnets are coated with PDMS silicone rubber to provide a smooth and even surface which allows imaging on a single focal plane. The cells are illuminated and the images of the fluorescent light emitted by the target cells are captured by a CCD camera. Image analysis performed with a novel algorithm provides a count of the cells on the surface that can be related to the target cell concentration of the original sample. | 03-05-2009 |
20090061477 | Method and apparatus for imaging target components in a biological sample using permanent magnets - A system for enumeration of cells in fluids by image cytometry is described for assessment of target populations such as leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. Briefly, fluorescently labeled target cells are linked to magnetic particles or beads. In one embodiment, a small, permanent magnet is inserted directly into the chamber containing the labeled cells. The magnets are coated with PDMS silicone rubber to provide a smooth and even surface which allows imaging on a single focal plane. The magnet is removed from the sample and illuminated with fluorescent light emitted by the target cells captured by a CCD camera. In another embodiment, a floater having a permanent magnet allows the target cells to line up along a single imaging plane within the sample solution. Image analysis can be performed with a novel algorithm to provide a count of the cells on the surface, reflecting the target cell concentration of the original sample. | 03-05-2009 |
20110014686 | Method and apparatus for imaging target components in a biological sample using permanent magnets - A system for enumeration of cells in fluids by image cytometry is described for assessment of target populations such as leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. Briefly, fluorescently labeled target cells are linked to magnetic particles or beads. In one embodiment, a small, permanent magnet is inserted directly into the chamber containing the labeled cells. The magnets are coated with PDMS silicone rubber to provide a smooth and even surface which allows imaging on a single focal plane. The magnet is removed from the sample and illuminated with fluorescent light emitted by the target cells captured by a CCD camera. In another embodiment, a floater having a permanent magnet allows the target cells to line up along a single imaging plane within the sample solution. Image analysis can be performed with a novel algorithm to provide a count of the cells on the surface, reflecting the target cell concentration of the original sample. | 01-20-2011 |