System for high-speed measurement and sorting of particles
First Claim
1. A particle sorter for counting and sorting a plurality of detection signals of a particle detector comprising:
- a source of detection signals for respective particle parameters;
reference voltage means for developing a plurality of reference voltages;
comparator means for comparing each of said detection signals with a respective one of said reference voltages;
said comparator means generating a respective compared pulse when a detection signal exceeds a respective reference voltage;
counting means each actuated by compared pulses for a respective particle parameter for counting said compared pulses;
delay means for delaying said detection signals by a predetermined delay interval to thereby generate delayed detection signals;
logic means receiving said respective compared pulse signals and producing a logic signal whenever a selected combination of said respective compared pulses occurs during said predetermined delay interval;
gate means responsive to said logic signal for selectively allowing said delayed detection signals to pass through said gate means in response to said logic signal and for preventing said delayed detection signals from passing through said gate means in the absence of said logic signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sorting particles is arranged such that the presence or absence of multiple parameters is determined for each particle in a flow of particles, and a logic condition is determined based on the multiple parameters. Thereafter, particles are outputted from the system when the logic condition is present. Accordingly, multiparameter high-speed measurements of a rare subpopulation of particles (e.g. biological cells) can be made amidst a larger population of particles with differing characteristics. When attached to a multiparameter flow cytometer/cell sorter and microcomputer, the system allows multiparameter analysis of cells at rates in excess of 100,000 cells/sec. This system can be an outboard module attached to a commercially available or home-built flow cytometer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A particle sorter for counting and sorting a plurality of detection signals of a particle detector comprising:
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a source of detection signals for respective particle parameters; reference voltage means for developing a plurality of reference voltages; comparator means for comparing each of said detection signals with a respective one of said reference voltages; said comparator means generating a respective compared pulse when a detection signal exceeds a respective reference voltage; counting means each actuated by compared pulses for a respective particle parameter for counting said compared pulses; delay means for delaying said detection signals by a predetermined delay interval to thereby generate delayed detection signals; logic means receiving said respective compared pulse signals and producing a logic signal whenever a selected combination of said respective compared pulses occurs during said predetermined delay interval; gate means responsive to said logic signal for selectively allowing said delayed detection signals to pass through said gate means in response to said logic signal and for preventing said delayed detection signals from passing through said gate means in the absence of said logic signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for sorting particles comprising:
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applying a plurality of detection signals from a plurality of particle detectors to a delay circuit and respective comparators, said delay circuit effecting in said detection signals a predetermined delay in time and thereby producing delayed input signals; comparing in said comparators the respective detection signals with respective thresholds producing respective compared pulse signals when respective detection signals meet respective thresholds; determining a logic condition within said predetermined delay in time in response to said compared pulse signals and thereby producing a gate control signal; gating said delayed input signals to an output means in response to said gate control signal. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A particle sorter for sorting a plurality of detection signals of a particle detector comprising:
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a reference voltage generator for generating a plurality of reference voltages of predetermined values; a plurality of comparators each comparing a respective detection signal with a respective reference voltage and producing a respective compared pulse signal when a detection signal has a defined relationship with the reference voltage; a delay circuit responsive to said plurality of detection signals for effecting in said detection signals a pre-determined delay in time to thereby generate delayed detection signals; a logic control circuit connected to receive said compared pulse signals within a selected time window and to compare said received compared pulse signals to a logic condition and to produce a logic control signal whenever said compared pulse signals meet said logic condition; and a plurality of gates connected to receive said delayed detection signals and to receive said logic control signal and to open in response to said logic control signal, passing said delayed detection signals through said gates and to stay closed when said logic control signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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18. A particle sorter for counting and sorting particles comprising:
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a first particle detector generating a plurality of detection signals of said first particle detector; a second particle detector generating a plurality of detection signals of said second particle detector; reference voltage means for developing a plurality of reference voltages of predetermined values; comparator means for comparing each of said detection signals of said first particle detector with a respective one of said plurality of reference voltages; said comparator means generating respective compared pulses when said each of said detection signals of said first particle detector is at least as great as said respective one of said plurality of reference voltages during a predetermined delay in time; a plurality of counting means each actuated by one of said respective compared pulses for counting said compared pulses; logic means receiving said respective compared pulses and producing a logic signal whenever one or more of said respective compared pulses occurs during said predetermined delay interval; gate means responsive to said logic signal for selectively allowing said detection signals of said second particle detector to pass through said gate means in response to said logic signal and for preventing said detection signals of said second particle detector from passing through said gate means in the absence of said logic signal.
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Specification