1. A method for enumerating platelets within a blood sample, comprising the steps of:
depositing the sample into a sample container having an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, and an amount of colorant that platelets absorb and which fluoresces upon exposure to one or more predetermined first wavelengths of light;
imaging at least a portion of the sample disposed in the analysis chamber, including producing image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the platelets illuminated by first wavelengths of light;
identifying the platelets using the image signals, and one or more of area, shape, and granularity characteristics; and
enumerating individual platelets within the sample.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the platelets includes identifying giant platelets within the sample.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of identifying the platelets includes determining an average area for the individual platelets identified within the sample, and comparing a determined area of at least one giant platelet identified within the sample to the average platelet area.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of identifying giant platelets within the sample includes comparing the area of the at least one giant platelet to a predetermined value.
5. A method for enumerating platelets within a blood sample, which sample is disposed in an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, and which sample includes an amount of colorant that platelets absorb and which fluoresces upon exposure to one or more predetermined first wavelengths of light, the method comprising the steps of:
imaging at least a portion of the sample disposed in the analysis chamber, including producing image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the platelets illuminated by first wavelengths of light;
identifying the platelets using the image signals, and one or more of area, shape, and granularity characteristics; and
enumerating platelets within the sample.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the platelets enumerated within the sample include one or more of individual platelets, clumped platelets and giant platelets.
7. An apparatus for enumerating platelets within a blood sample, which sample includes a colorant operative to cause the platelets to fluoresce upon exposure to one or more predetermined first wavelengths of light, the apparatus comprising:
an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, the chamber defined by a first panel and a second panel;
an imaging unit that is operable to image at least a portion of the sample and produce image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the platelets; and
a programmable analyzer adapted to identify and enumerate platelets within the sample, using the image signals, and area, shape, and granularity characteristics.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the programmable analyzer is further adapted to determine a total number of platelets within the sample as a sum of platelets within one or more platelet clumps and platelets individually residing within the sample.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the programmable analyzer is adapted to identify giant platelets within the sample.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the programmable analyzer is adapted to identify giant platelets within the sample by one or more of fluorescent emissions, area, and shape.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the imaging unit is operable to image at least a portion of the sample and produce second image signals indicative of an optical density of one or more constituents within the sample; and
wherein the programmable analyzer is adapted to determine the optical density of at least one of the constituents within the sample using the second image signals, and to distinguish the platelets and the constituents from one another using the determined optical density.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of adjusting a phase difference between a reference signal and an output signal, said method comprising:
receiving a reference signal;
generating an output signal synchronized to said reference signal;
measuring the phase difference between said reference signal and said output signal;
adjusting said generating of said output signal in accordance with said measuring; and
temporarily adjusting at least one of said reference signal and said output signal for a predetermined number of clock cycles in accordance with said adjusting said generating.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring the phase difference between said reference signal and said output signal using said at least one temporarily adjusted signal for said predetermined number of clock cycles.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
further adjusting said generating of said output signal in accordance with said measuring using said at least one temporarily adjusted signal; and
further temporarily adjusting at least one of said reference signal and said output signal for a second predetermined number of clock cycles in accordance with said further adjusting said generating.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said temporarily adjusting comprises adjusting only one of said reference and output signals.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said temporarily adjusting comprises adjusting the phase of said output signal and said adjusting said generating comprises adjusting the phase at which the output signal is generated.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said temporarily adjusting comprises adjusting the phase of said output signal by the same amount of phase as said adjusting said generating.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined number of clock cycles comprises the number of clock cycles until the phase difference between said reference signal and said adjusted generated output signal can be measured.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined number of clock cycles is proportional to the phase difference.
9. A system for adjusting a phase difference between a reference signal and an output signal, said system comprising:
a receiver operative to receive a periodic reference signal;
a signal generator operative to generate an output signal synchronized to said reference signal;
a phase detector operative to measure the phase difference between said reference signal and said output signal and to adjust said signal generator in accordance with said measured difference; and
a delay unit operative to temporarily adjust at least one of said reference signal and said output signal provided to said phase detector for a predetermined number of clock cycles.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said phase detector is operative to measure the phase difference between said reference signal and said output signal using said at least one temporarily adjusted signal for said predetermined number of clock cycles.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said phase detector is operative to further adjust said generating of said output signal in accordance with said measuring using said at least one temporarily adjusted signal and wherein said delay unit is operative to temporarily adjust at least one of said reference signal and said output signal for a second predetermined number of clock cycles in accordance with said further adjusting.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein said delay unit adjusts only one of said reference and output signals.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein said temporarily adjusting comprises adjusting the phase of said output signal and said adjusting said signal generator comprises adjusting the phase at which said output signal is generated.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein said temporarily adjusting comprises adjusting the phase of said output signal by the same amount of phase as said adjusting said generating.
15. The system of claim 9 wherein said predetermined number of clock cycles comprises the number of clock cycles until the phase difference between said reference signal and said adjusted generated output signal can be measured.
16. The system of claim 9 wherein said predetermined number of clock cycles is proportional to the phase difference.
17. The system of claim 9 further comprising a counter operative to commence counting said predetermined number of clock cycles substantially upon said phase detector adjusting said signal generator.
18. A system for adjusting a phase difference between a reference signal and an output signal, said system comprising:
a variable delay operative to receive a periodic reference signal and to vary a delay of the periodic reference signal to provide an output signal synchronized to said reference signal;
a phase detector operative to detect a phase difference between said periodic reference signal and said output signal and to vary said delay of said variable delay based on said detected difference; and
a delay unit operative to temporarily delay at least one of said periodic reference signal and said output signal provided to said phase detector in response to said phase detector varying said delay of said variable delay.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said delay unit is operative to temporarily delay at least one of said signals for a predetermined number of clock cycles.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein said delay unit is operative to temporarily delay at least one of said signals until said phase detector receives said output signal of said varied variable delay.