Optical system for multi-part differential particle discrimination and an apparatus using the same
First Claim
1. A particle analyzing apparatus for discriminating particulate element(s) in a fluid flow for purposes of analysis, classification, sorting, and presentation, the apparatus having an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam, the apparatus comprising:
- a flow cell having a flow passage through which a fluid flow containing particles can pass, a first exterior face perpendicular to a first axis of the flow cell, and a second exterior face perpendicular to a second axis of the flow cell, wherein the first axis is substantially co-axial with an illumination beam emitted from the illumination source, the flow passage is positioned between the illumination source and the first exterior face, and the first exterior face and the second exterior face are orthogonal; and
a light sensor to receive light from the illumination source via the flow cell, the light sensor being oriented substantially parallel to the second exterior face of the flow cell and displaced a sufficient distance from the second axis in a direction in parallel with the first axis to enable receipt of a prescribed range of light passed by the first exterior face.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an optical system for an apparatus for multi-part differential particle discrimination to facilitate analysis, classification, and sorting of various fluid components for presentation. The optical system is characterized by one or more of the following: a synchronized illumination beam and flow cell conduit, a flow cell arrangement to control back reflection, and light sensor arrangement to particularly gather a specific range of light scatter, such specific range of light scatter directly corresponding to at least one type of particle capable of being identified by the apparatus.
111 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A particle analyzing apparatus for discriminating particulate element(s) in a fluid flow for purposes of analysis, classification, sorting, and presentation, the apparatus having an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam, the apparatus comprising:
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a flow cell having a flow passage through which a fluid flow containing particles can pass, a first exterior face perpendicular to a first axis of the flow cell, and a second exterior face perpendicular to a second axis of the flow cell, wherein the first axis is substantially co-axial with an illumination beam emitted from the illumination source, the flow passage is positioned between the illumination source and the first exterior face, and the first exterior face and the second exterior face are orthogonal; and
a light sensor to receive light from the illumination source via the flow cell, the light sensor being oriented substantially parallel to the second exterior face of the flow cell and displaced a sufficient distance from the second axis in a direction in parallel with the first axis to enable receipt of a prescribed range of light passed by the first exterior face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A particle analyzing apparatus for discriminating particulate element(s) in a fluid flow for purposes of analysis, classification, sorting, and presentation, the apparatus comprising:
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an illumination source to emit an illumination beam;
a flow cell having a flow passage extending through the flow cell, a rear surface portion that receives an illumination beam emitted by the illumination source, and a forward surface portion that passes light formed from an illumination beam received by the rear surface portion;
a sample supply to introduce a fluid to the flow passage of the flow cell; and
a light sensor to receive at least light passed from the flow cell in response to an interaction with an illumination beam emitted by the illumination source and a fluid supplied to the flow passage of the flow cell, wherein the flow cell has a first axis, which is substantially co-axial with an axis of an illumination beam emitted from the illumination source, and a second axis, which is orthogonal to the first axis, and wherein a light receiving surface of the light sensor is substantially parallel to the axis of an illumination beam emitted from the illumination source, and the light sensor is displaced a prescribed distance from the second axis to enable receipt of a prescribed range of light passed by the forward surface portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A particle analyzing apparatus for discriminating particulate element(s) in a fluid flow for purposes of analysis, classification, sorting, and presentation, the apparatus having an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam along an optical axis of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a flow cell having a flow passage through which a fluid flow containing particles can pass, a first exterior face perpendicular to a first axis of the flow cell, and a second exterior face parallel to the first exterior face, wherein the flow passage is positioned between the illumination source and the first exterior face; and
a light sensor, oriented substantially parallel to the second exterior face of the flow cell and displaced a sufficient distance from the optical axis to enable receipt of a prescribed range of light passed by the first exterior face of the flow cell, wherein the first axis is substantially co-axial with the optical axis.
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25. A method for optically differentiating at least one type of particulate element carried by a fluid filament, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a laser source and a flow cell, the flow cell having a flow passage through which a fluid flow containing particles can pass, a first exterior face perpendicular to a first axis of the flow cell, and a second exterior face that is orthogonal to the first exterior face, wherein the flow passage is positioned between the illumination source and the first exterior face; and
providing a first light sensor, oriented substantially parallel to the second exterior face of the flow cell and displaced a sufficient distance from a centralized, normal axis of the second exterior face in a direction parallel to the first axis to enable receipt of a first prescribed range of light passed by the first exterior face;
providing a second light sensor to receive a second prescribed range of light passed by the flow cell;
emitting a laser beam from a laser source along an optical path and through the flow cell during passage of a fluid filament through the flow passage;
sensing at least a portion of light scatter, using the first light sensor, produced by an interaction between a particulate element, carried by the fluid filament, and the laser beam; and
compare data representative of light scatter sensed by the first light sensor and data representative of light scatter sensed by the second light sensor and, based on such comparison, identify common data representative of light scatter formed independent of the interaction between the particulate element and the laser beam.
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26. A particle analyzing apparatus for discriminating particulate element(s) in a fluid flow for purposes of analysis, classification, sorting, and presentation, the apparatus having an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam, the apparatus comprising:
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a flow cell having a flow passage through which a fluid flow containing particles can pass, a first exterior face perpendicular to a first axis of the flow cell, and a second exterior face perpendicular to a second axis of the flow cell, wherein the first axis is substantially co-axial with an illumination beam emitted from the illumination source, and the first exterior face and the second exterior face are orthogonal; and
a light sensor to receive light from the illumination source via the flow cell, the light sensor being oriented substantially parallel to the first exterior face of the flow cell and displaced a sufficient distance from the first axis in a direction in parallel with the second axis to enable receipt of a prescribed range of light passed by the second exterior face. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification