Dual laser excitation from single laser source
First Claim
1. A flow cytometry apparatus for determining characteristics of cells or the like flowing in a liquid stream comprising:
- means for moving cells, substantially one at a time, in a liquid flow stream;
a first excitation light source for providing a first beam of light;
a dichroic element positioned in the path of said light beam for transmitting a portion of said light and for reflecting a portion of said light;
dispersive means for spectrally separating wavelengths of the light reflected by said dichroic element and directing said spectrally separated light toward said cells moving in said flow stream to provide a first area of illumination therefor;
a second excitation light source positioned to receive the light transmitted through said dichroic element and adapted to be driven by the energy of said transmitted light for producing a second beam of light which is directed toward said cells moving in said flow stream to provide a second area of illumination therefor;
means for detecting light associated with each moving cell as it passes through said areas of illumination; and
means for using said detected light to determine one or more characteristics of said cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual laser excitation apparatus comprises a first laser for providing a first beam of light with a plurality of energy lines. A filter or wavelength disperser is included for dividing the first beam of light into two portions. One of these portions of the light beam is spectrally separated and at least one separated line is directed to a first area of illumination. A second laser is positioned to receive the other portion of the divided light beam and is adapted to be energized thereby. The second laser produces a second beam of light directed to a second area of illumination. Such a dual laser excitation apparatus is well suited for flow cytometry purposes.
123 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A flow cytometry apparatus for determining characteristics of cells or the like flowing in a liquid stream comprising:
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means for moving cells, substantially one at a time, in a liquid flow stream; a first excitation light source for providing a first beam of light; a dichroic element positioned in the path of said light beam for transmitting a portion of said light and for reflecting a portion of said light; dispersive means for spectrally separating wavelengths of the light reflected by said dichroic element and directing said spectrally separated light toward said cells moving in said flow stream to provide a first area of illumination therefor; a second excitation light source positioned to receive the light transmitted through said dichroic element and adapted to be driven by the energy of said transmitted light for producing a second beam of light which is directed toward said cells moving in said flow stream to provide a second area of illumination therefor; means for detecting light associated with each moving cell as it passes through said areas of illumination; and means for using said detected light to determine one or more characteristics of said cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A dual laser excitation apparatus comprising:
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a first laser for providing a first beam of light with a plurality of energy lines; means for dividing said first beam of light into two portions; dispersive means for separating spectral lines of one portion of said divided light beam and directing at least one of said spectrally separated lines to a first area of illumination; and a second laser positioned to receive the other portion of said divided light beam and adapted to be energized so as to produce a second beam of light directed to a second area of illumination.
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19. A flow cytometry apparatus for determining one or more characteristics of particles or the like flowing in a liquid stream comprising:
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means for moving particles, substantially one at a time, in a liquid flow stream; means for providing a first beam of light with a plurality of energy lines; means for dividing said first beam of light into two portions; dispersive means for separating spectral lines of one portion of said divided light beam and directing at least one of said spectrally separated lines toward said particles moving in said stream to provide a first area of illumination therefor; means for receiving the other portion of said divided light beam and for being energized thereby to produce a second beam of light directed toward said particles moving in said stream to provide a second area of illumination therefor; and means for detecting light with respect to each moving particle and for associating said detected light with one or more characteristics of each particle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification