Optical Apparatus

• US 20100007880A1
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Original Assignee: XY Incorporated (Inguran LLC)
• Inventors: Sharpe, Jonathan, Schaare, Peter Niven
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1436 the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1452 Adjustment of focus; Alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/149 Sorting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6469 Cavity, e.g. ellipsoid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/49 within a body or fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms

Abstract

Various optical apparatus, in particular embodiments, may provide a source of parallel light (7, 75). The parallel light (7, 75) may be generally achieved by directing an incident beam at the apex of a prism (1, 22, 24, 26, 28). The prism may have varying configurations. One configuration has a forward conical face (24). Another configuration has a pyramidal forward end (22). Other configurations are also disclosed. Various optical methods and methods for flow cytometry are also disclosed.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

46. A flow cytometer comprising:

a. a flow source to produce a flow of particles to be analyzed, the flow source being adapted to direct the flow of particles through an inspection zone; and

b. an optical arrangement including a source of electromagnetic radiation, the optical arrangement adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation onto the flow of particles, at the inspection zone through use of a reflector, thereby providing all illumination of the particles in the inspection zone;

wherein said reflector collects and reflects electromagnetic radiation either produced or deflected from the particles, the reflector having an internal reflective surface with an optical axis and one or more foci,

wherein the reflector is disposed such that one of the one or more foci is substantially coincident or located within the inspection zone;

said flow cytometer further comprising;

c. a processor to derive, from the collected electromagnetic radiation, predetermined information relating to each of at least some of the particles in the flow; and

d. a correlator to correlate the derived information with the associated particle downstream of the inspection zone,

wherein said flow source is also adapted to substantially align the flow with the optical axis of the internal surface of the reflector.

47. An analyzation instrument including:

a first reflector having a partial ellipsoidal shape;

a near focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the first reflector;

a distant focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the first reflector;

a central axis of the partial ellipsoidal shape defined by the near focal point and distant focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the first reflector;

a source of electromagnetic radiation disposed at the near focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation toward the first reflector;

a second reflector having a partial ellipsoidal shape oriented relative to the first reflector so as to be capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected by the first reflector;

a near focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the second reflector;

a distant focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the second reflector;

a central axis of the partial ellipsoidal shape defined by the near focal point and distant focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the second reflector;

a flow source to produce a flow of particles to be analyzed; and

an inspection zone of the flow of particles located at the near focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the second reflector to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected by the second reflector, wherein the second reflector is also adapted to collect at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation produced as a result of illumination of the flow of particles for processing to determine predetermined information relating to the particles.

48. The analyzation instrument as claimed in claim 47 wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation comprises an arc lamp.

49. The analyzation instrument as claimed in claim 47 wherein the distant focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the first reflector and the distant focal point of the partial ellipsoidal shape of the second reflector overlap.

50. The analyzation instrument as claimed in claim 47 or 49 and further including:

an aperture in the second reflector for outward passage of the stream;

a correlator to correlate the information with an associated particle downstream of the aperture; and

a sorting apparatus to sort particles based on the information with an associated particle downstream of the aperture.

51. The analyzation instrument as claimed in claim 47 or 49 and further comprising:

a focal length of the first reflector;

a focal length of the second reflector;

wherein the focal length of the first reflector is greater than the focal length of the second reflector.

52. The analyzation instrument as claimed in any one of claims 47 or 49 and further including:

a filter to filter out a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source of electromagnetic radiation.

53. A method of analyzing including:

utilizing a first reflector having a partial ellipsoidal surface with a near focal point and a distant focal point;

emitting electromagnetic radiation from a source of electromagnetic radiation positioned at the near focal point of the first reflector;

reflecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source of electromagnetic radiation from the first reflector;

utilizing a second reflector having a partial ellipsoidal surface with a near focal point and a distant focal point;

providing a flow of particles to be analyzed;

directing the flow of particles through an inspection zone;

positioning the second reflector so that the near focal point of the second reflector overlaps the inspection zone and so that the second reflector is capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected by the first reflector and illuminating the flow of particles at the inspection zone;

collecting at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation produced as a result of illumination of the flow of particles; and

deriving from the collected electromagnetic information predetermined information relating to at least some of the particles in the flow.

54. The method of analyzing as claimed in claim 53 and further comprising:

utilizing an arc lamp as the source of electromagnetic radiation.

55. The method of analyzing as claimed in claim 53 and further comprising overlapping the distant focal point of the first reflector and the distant focal point of the second reflector.

56. The method of analyzing as claimed in claim 53 or 55 wherein the second reflector includes an aperture and further comprising:

passing the flow of particles through the aperture;

correlating the information with an associated particle downstream of the flow, sorting the particle based on the information with the associated particle downstream of the flow.

57. The method of analyzing as claimed in claim 53 or 55 and further comprising:

utilizing a first reflector having a focal length longer than a focal length of the second reflector.

58. The method of analyzing as claimed in claim 53 and further comprising:

positioning a filter so as to filter out a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source of electromagnetic radiation.

59-90. -90. (canceled)

91. A flow cytometer including:

a flow source to produce a flow of particles to be analyzed, the flow source being adapted to direct the flow of particles through an inspection zone;

an optical arrangement including a source of electromagnetic radiation, the optical arrangement adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation onto the flow of particles, at the inspection zone;

a partial ellipsoidal collector to collect electromagnetic radiation either produced or deflected from the particles, the collector having an internal reflective surface of partial ellipsoidal shape with two foci and an optical axis oriented along a line between the two foci;

the flow source being oriented such that the flow of particles is substantially aligned with the optical axis;

a sensor wherein the flow source passes the sensor and wherein the sensor senses predetermined information from particles of the flow source; and

a sorting apparatus to sort the particles based on the predetermined information from downstream of the flow source.

92. The flow cytometer as claimed in claim 91 wherein the flow cytometer is a jet-in-air flow cytometer.

93. The flow cytometer as claimed in claim 92 including electrostatic plates.

94. A method of flow cytometry including:

passing a flow of particles to be analyzed through an inspection zone;

providing a focusing reflector having one or more foci;

converging electromagnetic radiation onto the flow of particles at the inspection zone by reflection from the focusing reflector and aligning the inspection zone with one of the one or more foci;

sensing predetermined information from particles of the flow source; and

sorting the particles based on the predetermined formation from downstream of the flow source.

95. The method as claimed in claim 94 including:

providing the focusing reflector with an internal paraboloid reflective surface.

96. The method of flow cytometry as claimed in claim 94 including:

providing the focusing reflector with an ellipsoidal reflective surface, a first focus, a second focus and a central axis oriented along a line between the first focus and the second focus; and

orienting the reflector so that the flow of particles is substantially aligned with the central axis.

97. The method as claimed in any one of claims 94 to 96 including:

providing an opening in the ellipsoidal reflective surface for the flow of particles to flow through.

98. The method as claimed in any one of claims 94 to 96 including:

collecting the electromagnetic radiation either produced or deflected from the particles in the flow;

processing the collected electromagnetic radiation to derive predetermined information relating to each of at least some of the particles in the flow; and

correlating the derived information with the associated particle downstream of the inspection zone.

99. The method of flow cytometry as claimed in any one of claims 94 to 96 and further including utilizing the flow cytometer as a jet-in-air flow cytometer.

100. The method as claimed in claim 99 and further including utilizing electrostatic plates to sort the flow of particles.

101-116. -116. (canceled)