Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for determining the type of a blood sample, the method comprising the steps of: collecting a turbidity spectrum of the blood sample over a predetermined wavelength range; calculating from the turbidity spectrum an extinction spectrum for the blood sample; comparing the extinction spectrum with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples, each control sample having a known blood type; and determining from the comparison the type of the blood sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for determining the type of a blood sample, the method comprising the steps of: collecting a turbidity spectrum of the blood sample over a predetermined wavelength range; calculating from the turbidity spectrum an extinction spectrum for the blood sample; comparing the extinction spectrum with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples, each control sample having a known blood type; and determining from the comparison the type of the blood sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for determining the type of a blood sample recited in claim 1, wherein the calculating step further comprises the step of normalizing intensity effects due to a concentration of red blood cells in the blood sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for determining the type of a blood sample recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined wavelength range comprises the ultraviolet-to-visible wavelength range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method for determining the type of a blood sample recited in claim 3, wherein the ultraviolet-to-visible wavelength range comprises a wavelength range of 180 to 820 nm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for determining the type of a blood sample recited in claim 4, wherein the collecting step further comprises collecting the turbidity spectrum with a 2 nm resolution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for determining the type of a blood sample recited in claim 1, wherein the collecting step comprises collecting the turbidity spectrum with a spectrophotometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for determining the type of a blood sample recited in claim 6, further comprising the step, prior to the collecting step, of diluting the blood sample sufficiently to reach a linear range of the spectrophotometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
An on-line method for spectrophotometrically determining the type of a whole blood sample, the method comprising the steps of: diluting the blood sample with phosphate buffered saline to reach a red blood cell concentration in the range of 3900-4100 per milliliter and an optical density of 0.1 to 1.0 absorbance units in order to reach a linear range of the spectrophotometer; collecting a turbidity spectrum of the blood sample with the spectrophotometer over a wavelength range of 180-820 nm with a resolution of 2 nm; calculating from the turbidity spectrum an extinction spectrum for the blood sample, the calculation including a normalization of intensity effects due to the red blood cell concentration; comparing the extinction spectrum with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples, each control sample having a known blood type; and determining from the comparison the type of the blood sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
An on-line method for spectrophotometrically determining the type of a whole blood sample, the method comprising the steps of: diluting the blood sample with phosphate buffered saline to reach a red blood cell concentration in the range of 3900-4100 per milliliter and an optical density of 0.1 to 1.0 absorbance units in order to reach a linear range of the spectrophotometer; collecting a turbidity spectrum of the blood sample with the spectrophotometer over a wavelength range of 180-820 nm with a resolution of 2 nm; calculating from the turbidity spectrum an extinction spectrum for the blood sample, the calculation including a normalization of intensity effects due to the red blood cell concentration; comparing the extinction spectrum with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples, each control sample having a known blood type; and determining from the comparison the type of the blood sample.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for determining the type of a blood sample, the apparatus comprising: means for collecting a turbidity spectrum of the blood sample over a predetermined wavelength range; means for calculating from the turbidity spectrum an extinction spectrum for the blood sample; means for comparing the extinction spectrum with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples, each control sample having a known blood type; and means for determining from the comparison the type of the blood sample.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for determining the type of a blood sample, the apparatus comprising: means for collecting a turbidity spectrum of the blood sample over a predetermined wavelength range; means for calculating from the turbidity spectrum an extinction spectrum for the blood sample; means for comparing the extinction spectrum with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples, each control sample having a known blood type; and means for determining from the comparison the type of the blood sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein the collecting means comprises a spectrophotometer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the predetermined wavelength range comprises 180 to 800 nm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11, wherein the the spectrophotometer has sufficient sensitivity to collect the turbidity spectrum with a resolution of 2 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11, further comprising means for diluting the blood sample for reaching a linear range of the spectrophotometer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the calculating means comprises a computer adapted to receive the tubidity spectrum from the spectrophotometer and software means for calculating an extinction spectrum from the turbidity spectrum resident in the computer.