Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-05-29
Henry, Jon (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C356S244000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239906
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to microscope slides. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible microscope slide capable of being folded over such that a viewing area of the slide can be placed against a specimen to obtain a sample directly therefrom without the need of transferring devices, after which, the slide will return to its original shape for viewing under a microscope.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently used methods for analyzing biological specimens for cellular dysmorphology and microbial infection are both time consuming and costly. For example, tissue samples taken from patients, such as needle biopsies and aspirates, typically must be chemically fixed and stained, and oftentimes sectioned, and then prepared on microscope slides before they can be examined.
Additionally, in many circumstances, biological samples must first be cultured before the processing steps mentioned above. Another problem concerns the resulting specimen itself, which is usually substantially altered by fixation and fragmentation during the preparation process.
Another problem concerns unnecessary procedures, which again waste time and resources.
In a typical urinalysis, for example, a sample is obtained from a patient and subjected to a “dipstick” screening procedure. Light microscopic examination of the sediment following centrifugation of the urine specimen is then performed. If there are any abnormal results from these examinations, the sample is transferred to a laboratory for microbiological culture and antibiotic sensitivity studies, which typically take from 24 to 48 hours, or longer, to obtain the results. However, in many instances as much as 80% of the urine samples submitted for culture and sensitivity studies do not result in the detection of clinically significant bacterial presence, thus wasting valuable technician time and laboratory material resources. Furthermore, in rural areas or third world countries, samples must typically be transported to remote locations for evaluation, which can magnify the problem due to additional time delays, plus additional transportation and handling costs.
The present invention represents a departure from standard microbial and morphologic studies in the practice of clinical medicine by modifying microscope slides to be used as screening tools for on-site determination of possible infection or presence of cellular dysmorphology. The slides of the present invention avoid the time associated with preparing traditional slide preparations and they further provide a simpler and less expensive alternative to the currently utilized microscopy screening procedures, such as the Gram histochemical stain used to detect bacteria and other microorganisms; the potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation used to screen for fungi and yeast; and the darkfield examination used to detect spirochetes and other microorganisms less than 1 micrometer (uM) in diameter or size, such as mycoplasma, other mollicutes, legionella, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a microscope slide adapted for supravital staining of cells in a biological fluid or tissue sample.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microscope slide adapted for immediate on-site screening of a biological fluid or tissue sample.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microscope slide which is bendable so that the slide can be folded over such that a viewing area of the slide can be placed against a specimen to obtain a sample directly therefrom.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microscope slide which is resilient so that the slide will return to its original shape for viewing under a microscope after the sample has been collected.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished through the use of a flexible plastic microscope slide which can be folded over such that a viewing area of the slide can be placed against a specimen to obtain a sample directly therefrom without the need of transferring devices or breakable glass components, thereby reducing biological hazards. The slide is designed for on-site collection, staining, and viewing of cells in biological fluid and tissue samples, preferably with an epi-fluorescence microscope. This novel slide permits point-of-care screening in a matter of minutes of any biological fluid or tissue sample (e.g. urine, blood, sputum, spinal fluid, amniotic fluid, tears, needle aspirates, semen, tissue touch preparations, plant sap, etc.) for presence of infectious agents (e.g. bacteria, including mycoplasma-sized mollicutes, spirochetes, fungi, parasites, etc.).
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
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Lorincz et al., Supravital Microscope Fluorescence Technique Used to Identify Spirochetes.Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science,19: 313-314 (1989).
Lorincz, Andrew E., One Step On-Site Epi-Fluorescence Detection of Fungi: A Possible Alternative to KOH Screening.Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science,23: 307 (1993).
Lorincz, Andrew E., Direct Visualization of Mycoplasma via Supravital Staining and Fluorescence Microscopy.Israel J. of Med,5: 543 (1987).
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Bush, Esq Kenneth M.
Henry Jon
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