Flow cytometer

• US 4,702,598 A
• Filed: 02/25/1985
• Issued: 10/27/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Research Corporation
• Inventors: Bohmer, Ralph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSENBERGER, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US06/704,800
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 356/73, 356/335-338, 356/340, 356/343, 356/318, 250/574-575, 250/461.2, 250/227
• US Class Current: 356/343
• 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

Abstract

A flow cytometer and a method for determining properties of single cells or other particles including passing stream of particles through a zone of analysis where a light source directs a beam of light to perpendicularly intersect the stream of particles so that only a single cell is exposed to the light beam. An array of optical fibres adjacent the zone of analysis collects the light refracted by the cells as each cell passes through the zone of analysis. Each fibre is connected to a photomultiplier for converting the light to electrical signals which are analyzed by an electronic analysis unit to determine the particle properties. The angle at which the light is collected by said optical fibre is adjustable to permit more light to be collected to yield more information about the particle.

Claims

1. A flow cytometer comprising:

a. means for transporting a stream of particles having cells in suspension in a substantially vertical particle stream, such that each cell passes singly in a vertical direction through an analysis zone;

b. a light source for directing a light beam to intersect said particle stream at said analysis zone, such that only a single cell is exposed to said light beam at one time;

c. an optical detection means for detecting scattered or fluorescent light pulses from each cell as it passes through said analysis zone, said optical detection means comprising a shell with a substantially spherical shape and having a substantially vertical passage therethrough, through which said substantially vertical particle stream is directed, and said analysis zone being located substantially centrally within said spherically shaped shell, and said shell having an array of apertures therein around said analysis zone, and a plurality of optical fibers being provided, with each optical fiber extending through an aperture in said spherically shaped shell to collect light at a particular radial axis defined by the radial position of the aperture in the shell, and wherein each optical fiber collects light within a collection angle defined by the diameter of the spherically shapted shell, the outer perimeter of the optical fiber, and the distance of the end of the optical fiber from said analysis zone, and each aperture includes means for adjustably securing the optical fiber passing therethrough to adjust the distance of the end of the optical fiber from said analysis zone, and thereby the collection angle of the optical fiber; and

d. electronic means connected to said optical fibers for converting the light collected by said optical fibers into electrical impulses and analyzing said impulses for the desired information.

2. A flow cytometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical fibers are removably mounted within said apertures, thereby permitting light to be collected at different incident angles.

3. A flow cytometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said optical fibers are connected to a common photomultiplier for allowing light from different incident and collection angles to be analyzed together.

4. A flow cytometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic means includes at least one photomultiplier.

5. A flow cytometer as claimed in claim 4, further including a color discriminating filter connected to each of said fibers.

6. A flow cytometer as claimed in claim 5, wherein each color discriminating filter is positioned between each optical fiber and a photomultiplier.