JPS5842898B2 - Heart-shaped lily pads - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] There are different types of white blood cells: basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, each of which is produced in different parts of the body and has different functions.

Therefore, by counting the leukocytes in blood by type or understanding the changes in individual types of leukocytes, it is possible to contribute to the diagnosis of diseases.

This invention, as part of the above-mentioned white blood cell test,
The purpose is to classify, detect, and count monocytes and lymphocytes, and this will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a sample consisting of a preparation containing blood, which is placed on a stage 2 that can be moved in the X direction. It is illuminated via a lens 6.

A projection microscope 7 is arranged above the sample 1, and this microscope 7 includes an objective lens 8, an eyepiece 9, and a reflector 10.
, and has a screen 11 on which an enlarged image of the sample 1 is projected.

On the back side of the screen 11, as shown in FIG. 2, a large number of light guides 13a to 13n are arranged in a row in the Y direction perpendicular to the moving direction X of the sample image 12 as the mounting table 2 moves. It is combined with L.

The other ends of these light guides are respectively light receiving elements 14a to 14.
The light receiving signals of each element are supplied to AND circuits 15a to 15n, respectively.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a time division circuit, which sequentially outputs time division pulses a at different times in synchronization with the clock pulse given as input 17.
to
H to time-divisionally sample the light-receiving signals of each of the light-receiving elements 14a to 14n.

The sample outputs of these AND circuits 15a to 15n are
Combined onto a common output line 18, a series of sample scanning signals A consisting of quantum pulses is obtained.

In addition, the time division circuit 16 supplies the X direction drive pulse move by minute distances.

Using the sample scanning device 20 described above, one leukocyte in the sample is
A sample scanning signal A is obtained for each white blood cell by testing the white blood cells one by one.

This sample scanning signal is transmitted every time a single white blood cell test is completed.
Classification is performed according to the following principle.

Separation of basophils: Basophils have a prominent cell nucleus but instead have a large number of granules, so the sample scanning signal causes a large amplitude change each time a granule is detected.

Therefore, the number of times this amplitude change occurs is counted, and when this value is greater than or equal to this value, it is determined that the white blood cells that have been tested are basophils.

Isolation of eosinophils: The signal level of the cell part is much higher than that of other types of leukocytes.

Therefore, the number of quantum pulses at a level slightly lower than the signal level of the cell part of other species' leukocytes and the number of quantum pulses at a level slightly higher than the signal level of the cell part of other species' leukocytes are respectively counted, and both counts are calculated. Almost equally often, the leukocytes are judged to be eosinophils.

Isolation of neutrophils: Since the nucleus has a complicated shape, the nucleus -1 compared to the nuclear area. The circumference is a dog, and the ratio is 2-13()cm"600 It is distributed in the above areas.

Note that N is the projection magnification of the microscope 70.

The nuclear area is determined by counting the number of quantum pulses at a level corresponding to the nucleus in the sample scanning signal,
The nuclear circumference is the sum of the number of times there is an amplitude change between adjacent quantum pulses during the Y-direction scan and the number of times there is an amplitude change between adjacent quantum pulses during the previous and current Y-direction scans. It can be obtained approximately by counting the

Therefore, a count value indicating the nuclear area and a count value indicating the nuclear station are given to a division circuit, and the quotient output is compared with the above constant using a comparator, and when the quotient output exceeds the above constant, the white blood cell in question is preferred. It is judged to be a medium ball.

Block 21 in FIG. 3 includes the eosinophil, basophil, and neutrophil separation devices described above, and integrates the results.
It is configured to generate a signal Q indicating this when the white blood cells tested are not eosinophils, basophils, or neutrophils.

In other words, the signal q is a signal indicating that the tested white blood cells are monocytes or lymphocytes.

In FIG. 3, the sample scanning signal A further includes a cell area measuring device 22, a nuclear area measuring device 23, and a cell circumference measuring device 2.
4, cell area Ac, cross section iAn, cell circumference L
c is measured respectively.

The cell area measuring device 22 calculates the cell area Ac by counting the number of quantum pulses in the sample scanning signal A that exceed a relatively low temperature level at which cell parts can be detected throughout the test period for one white blood cell. seek.

The nuclear area measurement device 23 is used to calculate the number of quantum pulses in the incoming sample scanning signal A that are higher than the detection signal level of the cell part and exceed a relatively high level where only the nuclear detection signal exists. The nuclear area An is determined by counting throughout the inspection period.

Cell circumference 11 Jlffi device 24&'! , when the quantum pulse approaches the inside of the white blood cell from outside the leukocyte during scanning with the sample scanning device 20, or vice versa, a change in height appears in the quantum pulse, so adjacent quantum pulses in the Y direction scan By counting the number of changes mentioned above between quantum pulses at adjacent positions in the previous Y-direction scan and the current Y-direction scan over the test period for one white blood cell, the cell circumference can be approximately determined. Find Lc.

The cell area signal Ac is compared with the numerical signal Ka supplied by the setter 26 in a comparator 25, and when it is larger than Ka, an output is sent to a line 25a, and when it is smaller than Ka, an output is sent to a line 25b.

The frame area signal An is compared with the numerical signal Kb supplied by the setting device 28 in the comparator 27, and also compared with the numerical signal Kc supplied by the setting device 30 in the comparator 29.
When it is thicker than nb'Kb, the output line 27 of the comparator 27
When a is smaller than Kc, the output line 2 of the comparator 29
The output is sent to 9b.

The cell circumference signal Lc is compared with the numerical signal Kd supplied by the setting device 32 in the comparator 31, and when Lc is larger than Kd, it is sent to the line 31a, and when it is smaller than Kd, it is sent to the line 31a.
The output is sent to b.

Reference numerals 33 and 34 are changeover switches, and the fixed contacts of the switch 33 are connected to the lines 25a, 27a, and 31a, and the fixed contacts of the switch 34 are connected to the lines 25b and 29b.

31b, respectively.

The movable piece of the switch 33 is connected to the input side of the AND circuit 35, and the movable piece of the switch 34 is connected to the input side of the AND circuit 360.

The input sides of these AND circuits 35 and 36 include a line 21a to which a signal amount is supplied from the basophil, eosinophil, and neutrophil separation device 21, and a line to which a signal for controlling the determination timing is supplied. 37 is connected to L.

The output of the AND circuit 35 sets a flip-flop 38 to send out a signal Qm, and is counted by a counter 39 at °C.

Further, the output of the AND circuit 36 is output from the flip-flop 40.
is set, the signal (l) is sent out, and the counter 4
1.

The flip-flop 38°40 is connected to the sample scanning device 20.
Then, before testing the next white blood cell, it is reset by a reset signal sent from the line 41.

The counters 39 and 41 are reset by a reset signal sent from the line 42 after the inspection of one sample by the sample scanning device 20 is completed.

According to the inventor's research, the cell area Ac, nuclear area An, and cell circumference Lc of monocytes and lymphocytes are distributed as follows.

Note that N is the projection magnification of the microscope 7.

Therefore, when setting the values of Ka, Kb, Kc, and Kd based on the above table, the lines 25a and 27a are used when the white blood cells tested are monocytes.

Since the output appears at 31a and the signal amount also appears at the same time, no matter what position the switch 33 is in, when the control signal comes in from the line 37, the AND circuit 35 produces an output and sets the flip-flop 38. A signal Qm indicating that the cell is a monocyte is sent out, and a counter 39 that counts the number of monocytes accumulates one cell.

Also, if the white blood cells tested are lymphocytes, track 2
Outputs appear at 5b, 29b, and 31b, and the signal amount also appears at the same time, so no matter what position the switch 34 is in, when the control signal comes in, the AND circuit 36 produces an output and sets the flip-flop 40. A signal Qt indicating that the cells are lymphocytes is sent out, and one cell is accumulated in a counter 41 for counting lymphocytes.

Here, the switches 33 and 34 are selected for each individual sample, but they can also be replaced with OR circuits.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between monocytes and lymphocytes, and when used in conjunction with another technique for classifying basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils, white sacroglobules can be distinguished from monocytes and lymphocytes. It allows complete classification.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sample scanning device used to carry out the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its scanning form, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 25.27, 29, 31... Comparator, 26.2B. 30.32... Setting device, 35.36... AND circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 White blood cells in a sample are scanned two-dimensionally by high-speed scanning in the Y direction and low-speed scanning in the X direction that intersects this.
A sample scanning device that obtains a sample scanning signal consisting of a train of quantum pulses indicating the quantized light transmittance of each part, and a sample scanning device that detects whether white blood cells tested based on the sample scanning signal are basophils, eosinophils, or neutrophils. a separation device that generates a signal indicating that there is A device that calculates the cell circumference by counting the number of pulse height changes between quantum pulses and quantum pulses that appeared at adjacent positions during the previous Y-direction scan, and cell area t-7'd! A comparator that compares a numerical signal indicating nuclear area or cell circumference with a set value, an output of the comparator that indicates that the numerical signal is greater than or equal to the set value, and a comparator that indicates that the white blood cell is a basophil, eosinophil, or an AND circuit that produces an output indicating that the white blood cell tested is a monocyte based on the logical product of ``If it is not a medocyte'';
The white blood cells tested are lymphocytes based on the logical product of the comparator output indicating that the numerical signal is below the set value and the signal indicating that the white blood cells are not basophils, eosinophils, or neutrophils. A device for identifying monocytes and lymphocytes consisting of an AND circuit that produces an output indicating that a certain condition exists.