Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to hematology parameter measurement
apparatus in which particle counting is performed and registers store
results, and more particularly to such an apparatus in which hematology
parameters are both measured and calculated.
The context contemplated for the present invention is the type of
hematology parameter measuring apparatus in which a highly diluted blood
sample is passed through an aperture in a conductivity sensor which produces
a number of output pulses indicative of the number of blood cells in the `
blood sample. The apparatus further includes means for measuring hemoglobin
by colorimetric analysis. An example of such an apparatus is disclosed in
United States Patent No. 3,921,066 to Henry R. Angel and James W. Hennessy,
issued November 18, 1975 (corresponding to Canadian Patent Application
Serial No. 220,624) and now assigned to the assignee herein. Parameters
measured by such apparatus include red blood count (RBC), white blood cells
(WBC), and hemoglobin (HGB). It is also desirable to obtain values of further
parameters such as hematocrit (HCT), which is the percentage by volume of a
blood sample consisting of red blood cells. Hematocrit may be measured by
totalizing the volume of red blood cells in a sample and multiplying or
dividing by a scaling factor to account for blood sample volume. While this
involves a calculation, for purposes of the present description, hematocrit
is referred to as a measured parameter. An example of fiematocrit measurement
apparatus is disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,068,169 Henry R. Angel
and Bernard 0. Bachenhelmer. It is also desirable to obtain indications of
what are herein referred to as calculated values such as mean corpuscular
volume (MCV). This is referred to as a calculated value herein because MCV
may be calculated as hematocrit divided by RBC. Further, calculated para-
meters which are useful in clinical diagnosis are mean corpuscular hemoglobin
~ (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).
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It $s desirable to provide an apparatus in which sensed signals
produced by transducer apparatus are conveniently and efficiently handled to
produce output signals indicative of both measured and calculated parameters.
It is also necessary that such signals be provided to utilization means so
that the results may be obtained by an operator for interpretation by a
pathologist. In one particularly widely used form of prior art apparatus,
parameters are produced within circuitry with certain parameter values being
available for viewing by an operator on a display and with all parameter
values being provided to utilization means, particularly a printer providing
visible numerical indications on a print card. It is desirable to provide a
system in which a technician may examine all parameters first to determine,
for example, whether or not to rerun a test before engaging in the time and
expense of producing a printed card.
Most importantly, it is desired to provide circuitry for register-
ing the measured values and for producing the calculated values which is
simplified in construction and efficient in operation compared to prior
apparatus.
Briefly stated, in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a hematology parameter measuring apparatus, for producing outputs
indicative of measured values, including transducer means for producing
signals indicative of parameter values and register means for storing indi-
cations of measured values, characterised by means for producing calculated
parameter values comprising:
(i) calculation means, for calculating a calculated value as a
function of measured values supplied thereto, comprising a digital divider
having a dividend register and a divisor register, control means for command-
ing generation of calculated parameter values, and means for supplying pre-
selected measured values from said register means ln a preselected sequence
to said calculation means in response to an input from said control means,
said register means comprising parameter registers, said means for supplying
preselected measured values comprising means for circulating a value from
one of said parameter registers to one of said registers in said digital
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divider, and applying a source of clock pulses for incrementing said para- .
meter register by a number of counts to return to its original setting, and
sensing the overflow of said parameter register, and
(ii) means for providing to a register in said digital divider at
least the number of counts provided to the parameter register after overflow
until the provision of the number of counts to the parameter register is
completed, whereby said calculation means provides an output indicative of '
a calculated value.
From another aspect, the invention provides a method for producing
~ parameter values in a hematology parameter measuring apparatus, including
steps of producing signals indicative of measured values, and storing said
signals in register means, characterised by the steps of:
(i) providing calculation means comprising a digital divider hav-
ing a dividend register and a divisor register for producing calculated
values as a function of measured values supplied thereto,
(ii) providing in response to a command preselected ones of said
measured values in a predetermined sequence to said calculation means, a
first measured value being provided from a first register ~o the dividend
register and a second measured value being provided from a second register
to said divisor register,
(iii) providing a value from a register to said calculating means
by providing a number of counts to said register to return said register to
its original setting, sensing reset of said register, and providing at least -
the number of counts produced after reset to said calculation means, whereby
a value indicative of said calculated value from said calculation means i8
provided.
The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,
may be further understood by reference to the following description taken in
connection with the following drawings.
Of the Drawings:
Figure 1 is an illustration of a hematology parameter measurement
apparatus incorporating the present invention;
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Figure 2 is a block diagramatic representation of a circuit of the
apparatus of Figure l; and
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the digital data handling means
for providing parameter value indications.
Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a hematology parameter
measuring apparatus 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention.
The apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 having mounted therein a conductivity
sensor 3, which includes a probe 4 having an aperture. A carriage 5 is
mounted below the sensor 3 for receiving a sample cup 7 which holds a highly
diluted sample 6. The carriage 5 is movable so that the probe 4 is immersed
in the sample dilution 6, and draws the dilution 6 therethrough for counting
of cells by the sensor 3. The apparatus 1 is briefly described here, and
further details relating to prior art aspects thereof may be found, for
example, in the above-cited patent to Angel et al. Control circuitry, further
described below, synchronizes necessary operations in response to function
selection by an operator achieved through depression of one of a plurality
of function selection buttons 10. Results obtained may be viewed on a dis-
play means 12 and may also be printed on a print card by a prlnter 14, the
print card input-output slot of which iæ visible in Figure 1.
The function selection buttons 10 include a plurality of buttons
which may be conveniently interfaced with control circuitry in many different
ways in many different embodiments. In the present embodiment, mode selec-
tion buttons 21 through 29 are provided. The selection buttons 21-25 are
respectively utilized for the routine function of power on and off, initia-
tion of a cleaning mode, selection of a calibration mode, selection of the
l'backflush~' mode for expelling liquid from the probe 4 and for reset. Button
26 is utilized to command a print mode when a print card~is inserted in the
printer 14 or otherwise to select display of calculated values as further
described below. Button 27 is used to command a rinse mode which may be
useful between running red blood cells and white blood cell count dilutions.
The button 28 may be used to command a dual mode in which both a white blood
cell count and hemoglobin measurement are made and measured values thereof
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generatei. The button 29 is used to command red blood cell count and ~ `
hematocrit ~easurement, i.e. generation of their measured values. This is
a convenient combination since in the preferred embodiment sizing of blood
cells to obtain a hemotocrit measurement is performed during the red blood
cell count.
In the present embodiment, the display 12 comprises two display
portions 31 and 32. The display 31 includes separate display means for pro-
viding numerical indications of the arbitrary number assigned to a test
sample, and what are herein referred to as the "measured values", namely
WBC, RBC, HGB, and HCT. A plurality of buttons 34 may be provided to set
the test number of an initial sample, and automatic indexing of the test
numbers may be provided for thereafter. The display portion 32 includes a
display area for displaying a calculated value, time of day or date. A
plurality of buttons 36 may be provided for date æet. Indicator lights 37
may indicate whether time, date, MCV, MCH, or MCHC are bein8 displayed. By
depression of the button 26, in the absence of a print card in the printer
14, the operator may set the display portion 32 to display different ones
of these indications, with the indication being displayed being pointed out by
one indicator light 37 being lighted next to indicia indicative of the
quantity being displayed.
Referring to Figure 2, the circuitry of the hematology parameter
measurement apparatus 1 is illustrated in block diagrammatic form. Further
prior art details may be found in the above-cited patents. In Figure 2, the
same reference numerals are used to denote components corresponding to those
illustrated in Figure 1. Hydraulic means (not shown) draw the dilution 6
into the sensor 3, and counts are performed as liquid rises between start and
stop electrodes 38 coupled to a start and stop detection circuit 39. The
sensor 3, supplied by a constant current source (not shown), provides output
pulses to a buffer amplifier 40 which provides an input to a comparator 41.
The comparator 41 may compare inputs provided from the buffer amplifier 40
to one threshold level for red blood cell counts and to another threshold
level for white blood cell counts. Reference voltage levels are provided to
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the comparator 41 by conventional means (not shown). Blood cell counts are
provided from the comparator 41 through a selectable ratio divider 42 to a
coincidence correction circuit 43. The division ratio of the divider 42 is
selected by a control circuit 45. Particular details of the control circuit
45 are a straight forward application requiring no experimentation based upon
the teachings herein. Many different embodiments thereof may be provided.
The control circuit 45 includes conventional timing and synchronization
circuitry for commanding further operation as described below. The function
selection buttons 10 are electrically interfaced to the control circuit 45.
A control line is illustrated from the printer 14 to the control circuit 45
to illustrate the output of a print card presence sensor to determine whether
a display or printout will be provided in response to the depression of the
button 26.
The output of the coincidence correction circuit 43 is coupled by
a count gate 44 connected to a switching means 46, also controlled by the
control circuit 45 to provide a white blood cell count or a red blood cell
count to a register means 48. The count gate 44 disables inputs to the
register means 48 when counts
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are not being made. The register means 48 includes a plurality of multistage
registers. In the present embodiment, the register means 48 includes registers 50,
51,52 and 53, each for respectively storing a digital representation corresponding to
the value of white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin and
hematocrit for a sample.
A hematocrit circuit 54 is provided having an input thereto connected
from the outputs of the buffer amplifier 40 and the comparator 41. Other types of
hematocrit circuitry may be used. A well-known colorimetric hemoglobin
10 measuring system 55 is provided for providing an analog output. The hemoglobin
measuring system 55 may view the dilution 6 through the sample cup 7 or may
utilize a flow-through sample taken from the sample cup 7. The hematocrit
circuit 54 and hemoglobin circuit 55 provide outputs to a memory circuit 56 which
may comprise capadtor circuits for storing analog signals. The hemoglobin and
hematocrit analog values are coupled respectively through calibration potentiom-eters 57 and 58 to a switching circuit 60 which connects the hemoglobin or
hematocrit value to an analog to digital converter 62. The analog to digital
converter 62 provides an output to a switching means 63 also connected for control
by a control circuit 45 to provide a value indicative of hemoglobin to the
20 register 52 or a value indicative of hematocrit to the register 53.
A first data bus 66 is provided for transmission of values from the
register means 48 to the display 12 in proper sequence under the control of the
control clrcuit 45. The data bus 66 is illustrated as a wide line to indicate that a
plurality of bits may be transmitted in parallel. The display 12 includes
conventional decoder display circuitry and the numerical indicators described
above. Other utilization means (not shown) in addition to a display 12 may be
provided, such as an interface for sending data to computer storage or a tape
recorder. A second data bus 70 couples the register means 48 to calculation
A~ 30 means 72 ~described further with respect to Figure 3). The calculation means 72
produces the calculated values and may provide outputs to both the printer 14 and
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couple signals indicative of values of measured parameters to the printer 14 as well
as to the calculation means 72. In the embodiment illustrated, the calculation
means 72 comprises interface and coupling means for this purpose. It should be
noted that the printer 14 includes conventional apparatus such as print card
indexing means, print hammers, decoders, and drivers. As suggested above, other
utilization means may be provided in place of the printer 14. However, a hard copy
printout is a currently preferred vehicle for results obtained in the clinical
laboratory.
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Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the calculation means 72 of
the present invention and its interface to the register means 48, display 12, and
printer 14. Again, the same reference numerals are used to denote components
corresponding to those of Figures I and 2. In the present embodiment, the values of
MCV, MCH, and MCHC are referred to as the calculated values. In the present
embodiment MCV is calculated as the quotient of hematocrit divided by red blood
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count; MCH is the quotient of the homaglobin result divided by the red blood cell
count, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, MCHC, is calculated as
the quotient of the value of hemoglobin divided by the hematocrit value. Of
course, in each of these calcuations, a scaling factor is applied for a normalization
20 for such factors as sample volume size and to provide results in the proper order of
magnitude.
In the calculator means 72, a clock 80 is provided which is connected to
a decoder and gate circuit 82. The decoder and gate circuit 82 connects the
clock 80 at a predetermined time to a selected one of the registers 50 through 53.
A count sufficient to cause the register S0, 51, 52 or 53 to reset and return to its
initial setting is produced. For example, if the registers 50 through 53 are three
stage decimal counters, then a count of one thousand is provided from the clock 80.
Since thé registers have only three stages, the carryover when the count reaches30 one thousand is lost, and at the end of the count of one thousand the register
returns to the same count which it had before the count of one thousand was
applied thereto. The number of counts occurring after an overflow condition
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occurs is equal to the number of counts initially set in the one of the registers 50
through 53. For purposes of description, this operation of producing a number of
counts equal to the initial setting of a register and returning the register to the
initial setting is referred to as circulating a value. While rigorously speaking this is
not circulation, this description is used since the value is both taken from and
returned to each of the registers 50-53.
In order to determine a sequence of operation including determination
of initiation of the circulation, a calculator control circuit 84 is provided which is
10 preset to command a desired sequence and may be part of the control circuit 45.
Many ways of presetting the calculator control circuit 84 will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art. The calculator control circuit 84 includes a pulse pro-
ducing circuit which provides pulses at selected stages of operation to increment a
counter in an address circuit 86 coupled thereto. The address circuit 86 provides
counts indicative of a number which is decoded by the decoder and gate circuit 82.
In correspondence with preselected counts applied thereto, the decoder and gate
circuit 82 connects none or a selected one of the registers 50 through 53 to receive
counts from the clock 80. Outputs from each of the registers 50-53 are provided
after each register overflows and begins counting again from zero. An output
20 indicative of overflow is provided to a gate drcuit 88. The decoder and gate
circuit 82 also provides reset signals to registers described below, such as at the
completion of calculation of calculated values and after completion of a print
rnode.
The values are provided to a digital divider 90. The digital divider 90
comprises a divisor register 92, a comparator 94, and the dividend register 96. The
comparator 94 produces a digital count output having a value indicative of the
value of a particular calculated parameter to be produced. Results are coupled
from the comparator circuit 94 to a result register 98 which separately stores each
30 calculated value for coupling and provision to utilization means such as the
display 12 or printer 14 in a conventional manner as indicated in Figure 1.
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In order to provide values to the proper components, the following
circuitry is utilized. An AND gate 102 is connected to the clock 80, and
has a further output connected to an AND gate 104 which in turn delivers a
counting input to the divisor register 92. The AND gate 102 has a second
input connected thereto from the gate circuit 88 so that provision of clock
pulses through the gate 102, after the selected register 50, 51,52 or 53
has reset is enabled. Thus, the divisor register will receive the same
number of counts as was initially set in the particular register 50, 51, 52
or 53. An AND gate 106 is connected between the gate circuit 88 and the in-
put to the dividend register 96 to enable or disable the provision of pulses
thereto. A scaling circuit 108 is connected between the clock circuit 80
and another input to the AND gate 106, which is also controlled by an input
from the calculator control circuit 84. The scaling circuit 108 is most
; conveniently a digital divider. The sequence begins after values have been
provided to the register means 48 in a prior art manner.
In the preferred form, sequencing of operations by the calculator
- control circuit 84 is initiated in response to ~he inputs to the control
circuit 45 from the function selection buttons 10 which command generation of
the measured values. The measured values which have been generated and
stored in the register means 48 must be produced to provide the measured
values to the calculation means 72 via the second data bus 70. The control
circuit 45 is constructed to respond to depression of the print button 26 to
produce the measured values for supply to the calculation means 72. The
input to the control means 45 by depression of the print button 26 is thus
' indicative of the command of production of measured values. After the
depression of the print button 26, a calculation sequence begins in which a
pulse is provided from the calculator control circuit 84 to increment the
counter 86 to a preselected number which is decoded by the decoder and gate
circuit 82 to connect the clock 80 to the register 50. At the same time,
the calculator control circuit 84 provides an enabling input to the gate 104.
The calculator control circuit 84 also provides an input to the clock 80 to
initiate, in the example in which the registers 50-53 are three-stage decimal
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counters, a one thousand count. It is remembered that at this point, the
register 50 has had a number set therein indicative of RBC. The count from
the clock 80 is delivered to increment the register 50. Once the register
50 is incremented to one thousand, an output pulse is provided at the output
line of the register 50 illustrated in Figure 3 to the gate 88. The gate 88
provides an input to the AND gate 102 to enable coupling of subsequent clock
pulses from the clock 80 to the divisor register 92. The remaining number
of counts out of the one thousand count is equal to the value initially set
in the register 50. Once the one thousand count is completed, coupling of
further inputs to the divisor register 92 is inhibited.
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The calculator control circuit ~4 provides a pulse to increment the
address counter circuit 86 such that the decoder and gate circuit 82 connects the
clock circuit 80 to the illustrated input of the register 53. The calculator control
circuit 84 also provides an enabling input to the AND gate 106, while the AND
gate 104 remains disabled. The register 53 is incremented, and when reset, an
output is provided therefrom to the gate circuit 88 so that an enabling input to the
gate 106 is provided to permit coupling of clock pulses from the clock circuit 80 to
the dividend register 96. The number of counts provided to the dividend register 96
is equal to the number of counts initially set in the register 53 times the scaling
10 factor provided by the scaling circuit 108.
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The count from the dividend register 96 is counted into the
comparator 94 which provides an output everytime the count in the dividend
register 96 and the divisor register 92 are equal. This output count also resets the
dividend register 96 each time an output pulse is produced from the comparator 94.
This operation is repeated until the count into the dividend register 96 is
completed. The operation of the comparator 94 of acting as a register and
comparator as well may be embodied, for example, through use of an RCA 4585
- microcircuit chip. In this manner, the total number of pulses provided by the
20 comparator 94 to the result register 98 has a value indicative of HCT divided by
RBC, or MCV. Any remainder is left in the dividend register 96. The number of
pulses provided is chosen to be sufficiently large so that resolution is not affected.
After a white blood cell dilution 6 has been supplied to the sensor 3 and
the operator has depressed the button 28 (Figure 1), a hemoglobin value has been
supplied to the register 52 and a WBC value is supplied to the register 50. The cal-
culator control circuit 84 operates similarly to produce a value of MCH. The
clock 80 is connected to the register 53, and ~he gates 88,102 and 104 are operated
to allow a count from the clock 80 into the divisor register 92 indicative of the
30 hematocrit value. The clock 80 is then connected by the decoder and gate
circuit 82 to the register 51, and the gates 88 and 106 are operated to supply a count
to the dividend register 96 indicative of the RBC value times a scaling factor. The
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comparator 94 then provides a value indicative of MCHC to appropriate storage
locations in the result register 98. Similarly, to provide a calculated value
indicative of MCH, the value in the register 51 is circulated to provide a value
indicative of HGB to the divisor register 92. The register 52 is then circulated to
provide a pulse count to the dividend register 96 such that the comparator 94
provides an output consisting of a pulse train having a value indicative of MCH,
which value is stored in appropriate locations in the result register 98. Prior art
means (not shown) may be used to blank outputs where the numerical value of the
input to the divisor register 92 is below a preselected level deemed necessary for
10 production of a reliable result, the calculated value is above a preselected
threshold level indicative of an upper bound of expected results, or where no
corresponding measured values are provided.
The control circuit 45 (Figure 2) initiates transfer of values from the
register means 48 to the display portion 31 (Figure 1) of the display 12. Additionally,
the depression of the print button 26 in the absence of a print card, the operator
may sequentially act out values as MCV, MCH and MCHC for individual display on
the display portion 32. The operator may insert a print card into the printer 14 and
depress the print button 26. Depression of the print button 26 initiates operation of
20 the control circuit 45 to sequentially supply to the printer information indicative of
test sample number, date and each of the measured and calculated values for which
a value has been stored either in the register means 48 or the result register 98.
Results are held for repeated viewing. Preferably, all registers are cleared in
response to completion of the print mode, to permit registering of data for a next
sample test.
What is thus provided is efficient and simplified circuitry and data
handling in a hematology parameter measurement apparatus to produce and provide
both measured and calculated values of parameters for a sample. The specification
30 has been written with a view toward enabling those skilled in the art to provide
innumerable modifications in the specific embodiment disclosed to provide a
hematology parameter measurement apparatus constructed in accordance with the
present invention.
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