Resumen
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for measuring circulating cells in superficial body fluids by means of high-frequency-based device. The method can be used for detecting circulating cells in the fluids of an individual without the necessity of extracting a sample of the individual, being useful as a diagnostic tool and for monitoring the effectiveness of a treatment administered to an individual suffering from a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease. [0002] La présente invention concerne un procédé permettant de mesurer des cellules circulantes dans des fluides corporels superficiels au moyen d'un dispositif à haute fréquence. Le procédé peut être utilisé pour détecter des cellules circulantes dans les fluides d'un individu sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'extraire un échantillon de l'individu, le procédé étant utile en tant qu'outil de diagnostic et pour surveiller l'efficacité d'un traitement administré à un individu souffrant d'une maladie virale, protozoaire, fongique et/ou bactérienne.
Reivindicaciones
1. An in vitro method for detecting and quantifying circulating cells in superficial body fluids of a subject, wherein the superficial body fluids are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid, synovial fluid and pericardial fluid, comprising: a) placing an ultrasound-based device in contact with a volume of a liquid sample isolated from a superficial body fluid of the subject, b) emitting, with the ultrasound-based device, an acoustic short pulse signal aimed to the liquid sample isolated from a superficial body fluid of the subject, c) receiving, in the ultrasound-based device, backscattered signals, d) determining the number of backscattered signals c) with a data processing system, e) determining the presence and concentration of circulating cells in the superficial body fluid by dividing the number of backscattered signals by the volume of the superficial body fluid scanned, wherein the ultrasound-based device operates at a central frequency in the range of 10-100 MHz and at a pulse duration between 25-500 ns, and at a wavelength between 15 and 150 µm. 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the signal emitted by the ultrasound-based device operates at a central frequency of 20 MHz and/or at a pulse duration of 500 ns, and/or at a wavelength of 75 µm. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circulating cells are white blood cells, red blood cells or cancer cells. 4. An in vitro method for the diagnosis of a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease in a subject or for identifying subjects who may be suffering from a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease comprising a) quantifying circulating cells in superficial body fluids of the subject, wherein the superficial body fluids are CSF, pleural fluid, synovial fluid and pericardial fluid, by a method according to any of claims 1 to 3, and b) correlating the amount of said circulating cells with the presence of a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease in the subject, wherein an amount of circulating cells higher than a reference value is indicative of a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease, or is indicative that the subject may be suffering from a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease. 5. A non-invasive method for detecting and quantifying circulating cells in superficial body fluids of a subject, wherein the superficial body fluids are CSF, pleural fluid, synovial fluid and pericardial fluid, comprising: a) placing an ultrasound-based device on the skin of the subject, b) emitting, with the ultrasound-based device, an acoustic short pulse signal aimed to a volume of the superficial body fluid, c) receiving, in the ultrasound-based device, backscattered signals, d) determining the number of backscattered signals obtained in step c) with a data processing system, and e) determining the presence and concentration of circulating cells in the superficial body fluid by dividing the number of backscattered signals by the volume of the superficial body fluid scanned, wherein the ultrasound-based device operates at a central frequency in the range of 10-50 MHz, and at a pulse duration between 50-500 ns, and at a wavelength between 30 and 150 µm. 6. Non-invasive method according to claim 5, wherein the signal emitted by the ultrasound-based device operates at a central frequency of 20 MHz and/or at a pulse duration of 500 ns, and/or at a wavelength of 75 µm. 7. Non-invasive method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the circulating cells are white blood cells, red blood cells or cancer cells.
