Mark E Wells

US Patent:

7008792, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Feb 1, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/048086

Inventors:

Lidice L. Lopez - Miami FL, US
Carlos A. Perez - Miami FL, US
Mark A. Wells - Davie FL, US
Diana B. Careaga - Miami FL, US
Ziling Huo - Miami FL, US
Cheng Qian - Miami FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01N 31/00
G01N 33/48

US Classification:

436 10, 436 63, 436164, 436175, 435 2

Abstract:

Methods are provided for measurement of nucleated red blood cells. The methods include exposing a blood cell sample to a reagent system to lyse mature red blood cells, subsequently analyzing nucleated red blood cells in a flow cell by axial light loss, low angle light scatter and DC impedance measurements, or two selected measurements thereof; and then differentiating nucleated red blood cells from other cell types by using measured signals and/or functions thereof.

US Patent:

7113266, Sep 26, 2006

Filed:

Mar 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/094723

Inventors:

Mark A. Wells - Davie FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01N 15/02

US Classification:

356 73, 356336, 356342, 356369

Abstract:

A flow cytometer includes an optical flow cell through which particles to be characterized on the basis of at least their respective side-scatter characteristics are caused to flow seriatim. A plane-polarized laser beam produced by a laser diode is used to irradiate the particles as they pass through a focused elliptical spot having its minor axis oriented parallel to the particle flow path. Initially, the plane of polarization of the laser beam extends perpendicular to the path of particles through the flow cell. A half-wave plate or the like is positioned in the laser beam path to rotate the plane of polarization of the laser beam so that it is aligned with the path of particles before it irradiated particles moving along such path.

US Patent:

7208319, Apr 24, 2007

Filed:

Jan 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/338229

Inventors:

Lidice L. Lopez - Miami FL, US
Carlos A. Perez - Miami FL, US
Mark A. Wells - Davie FL, US
Diana B. Careaga - Miami FL, US
Ziling Huo - Miami FL, US
Cheng Qian - Miami FL, US
Nancy J. Torke - Miami FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01N 31/00
G01N 33/48

US Classification:

436 10, 436 63, 436164, 436175, 435 2

Abstract:

Methods are provided for measurement of nucleated red blood cells in a blood sample. The methods include exposing a blood cell sample to a reagent system to lyse mature red blood cells, subsequently analyzing nucleated red blood cells in a flow cell by axial light loss, DC impedance, and medium angle light scatter measurements; by axial light loss, low angle light scatter, and medium angle light scatter measurements; or by axial light loss, DC impedance, low angle light scatter, and medium angle light scatter measurements; and then differentiating nucleated red blood cells from other cell types by using measured signals and/or functions thereof.

US Patent:

7344890, Mar 18, 2008

Filed:

Nov 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/270859

Inventors:

Carlos A. Perez - Miami FL, US
Lidice L. Lopez - Miami FL, US
Mark A. Wells - Davie FL, US
Joaquin Ibanez - Cooper City FL, US
Eileen Landrum - Miami FL, US
Roberto Del Valle - Coral Gables FL, US
Santiago Galvez - Miami FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01N 33/48

US Classification:

436 63, 436 8, 436 10, 436 17, 436164, 436174, 436175, 422 73, 422 8205, 422 8209, 435 2

Abstract:

A method for discriminating and quantifying platelets within an analyzed blood sample involves initially diluting the blood sample with a ghosting reagent that causes a change in the index of refraction of the red blood cells. Owing to the change in the index of refraction, light scattered from the ghosted red blood cells will be substantially reduced relative to light scattered from platelets. This results in locations of platelets within a scatterplot of the analyzed blood sample to fall within a region distinguishable from those containing normal red blood cells, fragmented red blood cells, and microcytic red blood cells.

US Patent:

7390662, Jun 24, 2008

Filed:

Nov 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/270865

Inventors:

John S. Riley - Miami FL, US
Jose Cano - Miami FL, US
Valentin Quesada - Miami FL, US
Maritza Lavernia - Miami FL, US
Mark A. Wells - Davie FL, US
Eileen Landrum - Miami FL, US
Carlos A. Perez - Miami FL, US
Christophe Godefroy - Miramar FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01N 31/00
G01N 33/48

US Classification:

436 10, 436 8, 436 17, 436 63, 436150, 436164, 435 2, 356337

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a hematology instrument system that discriminates platelets from red blood cells, debris and other particles within a blood sample. The instrument system uses an optical trigger and collects data at optical sensor locations relative to a flow cell-illuminating laser beam's optical axis. An axial sensor measures axial light loss due to a particle in the flow cell's illumination aperture. In addition, the instrument system can include an RF unit generates electrical parameters, such as DC and RF parameters, within the flow cell. Blood specimens can be prepared with and without a sphering agent.

US Patent:

8094299, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Jul 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/178817

Inventors:

Mark A. Wells - Davie FL, US
Carlos A. Perez - Miami FL, US
Jose M. Cano - Miami FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Brea CA

International Classification:

G01N 21/01

US Classification:

356244

Abstract:

Transducer modules for use in a blood analysis instrument and methods for analyzing a blood sample. The transducer modules presented generally include a light source, a focus-alignment system, a flow cell, and a light scatter detection system. Electrodes within the flow cell allow for the measurement of the DC impedance and RF conductivity of cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone in the flow cell. Light scatter from the cells passing through the cell-interrogation zone is measured by the light scatter detection system. The light scatter detection system measures the light scatter parameters of upper median light scatter, lower median angle light scatter, low angle light scatter, and axial light loss. The presented methods for analyzing a blood sample generally include aspirating a whole blood sample into a blood analysis instrument, preparing the blood sample for analysis, passing the blood sample through a flow cell in a transducer system, and measuring axial light loss, multiple angles of light scatter, DC impedance and/or RF conductivity.

US Patent:

8339585, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Dec 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/312832

Inventors:

Mark A. Wells - Miami FL, US
Carlos A. Perez - Miami FL, US
Jose M. Cano - Miami FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Brea CA

International Classification:

G01N 33/48
G01N 21/00

US Classification:

356 39, 356337, 356343

Abstract:

Transducer modules for use in a blood analysis instrument and methods for analyzing a blood sample. The transducer modules presented generally include a light source, a focus-alignment system, a flow cell, and a light scatter detection system. Electrodes within the flow cell allow for the measurement of the DC impedance and RF conductivity of cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone in the flow cell. Light scatter from the cells passing through the cell-interrogation zone is measured by the light scatter detection system. The light scatter detection system measures the light scatter parameters of upper median light scatter, lower median angle light scatter, low angle light scatter, and axial light loss. The presented methods for analyzing a blood sample generally include aspirating a whole blood sample into a blood analysis instrument, preparing the blood sample for analysis, passing the blood sample through a flow cell in a transducer system, and measuring axial light loss, multiple angles of light scatter, DC impedance and/or RF conductivity.

US Patent:

20070098370, May 3, 2007

Filed:

Oct 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/260277

Inventors:

Mark Wells - Alexandria VA, US
George Kolesar - Burke VA, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/26

US Classification:

386112000

Abstract:

A digital video recording system and method for recording video data. The digital video recording system has a video recording device configured to receive video input from the video input device. The video recording device includes a server, a plurality of video encoder cards, and a storage control module. Each encoder card is configured to convert analog video data to digital Mpeg4 video at a sustained rate of at least FD1. The storage control module is configured to write user defined temporal video segments to the storage device. The system also includes a video input device, a storage device, an activation device configured to provide an activation signal to the video recording device, and an output device capable of displaying video data recorded by the video recording device. The video recording device can be in communication with a computer network.