Optical detection system for flow cytometry
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
- two or more light sources positioned on a common axis at an angle relative to the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream;
light receiving means for receiving the light from the two or more light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow scream.
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Abstract
An optical detection system for flow cytometry that uses two or more light sources positioned laterally at different distances from the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream. By using two or more light sources, the particle position can be detected, and the alignment and width of the core stream can be monitored and controlled. In addition, the velocity and size of the particles can be more accurately determined than when only a single light source is used.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
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two or more light sources positioned on a common axis at an angle relative to the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream;
light receiving means for receiving the light from the two or more light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow scream. - 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 method for determining the alignment of one or more particles in a flow stream relative to a central axis of the flow stream, the method comprising:
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activating two or more light sources positioned laterally across the central axis of the flow stream to provide light through different parts of the flow stream;
monitoring an output response of two or more detectors that receive the light from the two or more light sources;
detecting a change in the response of one or more of the detectors when a particle passes between the detector and the corresponding light source; and
determining the alignment of the one or more particles in the flow stream relative to the central axis of the flow stream by noting which detector or detectors produced a change in response.
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19. A method for determining the velocity of one or more particles in a flow stream, the flow stream having a width and a length, the length extending from an upstream position to a downstream position, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating at least one upstream light source at the upstream position of the flow stream to provide light through the flow stream;
monitoring an output response of at least one upstream detector that receives the light from the upstream light source;
activating at least one downstream light source at a downstream position of the flow stream, a downstream light source positioned at a different position along the width of the flow stream than an upstream light source to provide light through a different part of the flow stream;
monitoring an output response of at least one downstream detector that receives the light from the downstream light source;
detecting a change in the response of the at least one upstream detector when a particle passes between the at least one upstream detector and the at least one upstream light source;
detecting a change in the response of the at least one downstream detector when the same particle passes between the at least one downstream detector and the at least one downstream light source; and
determining a time lag between the change in response of the at least one upstream detector and the change in response of the at least one downstream detector, the time lag being related to the speed of the particle.
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20. A method for determining the small angle scattering (SALS) produced by one or more particles in a flow stream, the method comprising:
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activating two or more light sources positioned on a common axis at an angle relative to the flow stream to provide light through different parts of the flow stream;
focusing the light provided by the two or more light sources at the flow stream;
receiving the light from the two or more light sources using at least one detector, each detector having a detector region laterally spaced from an in-line position of the corresponding light source; and
determining the SALS produced by the one or more particles by examining the response of the at least one detector. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for determining the forward angle scattering (FALS) produced by one or more particles in a flow stream, the method comprising:
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activating two or more light sources laterally positioned across the flow stream to provide light through the flow stream;
collimating the light provided by the two or more light sources at the flow stream;
receiving the light from the two or more light sources using at least one detector, each detector having a detector region laterally spaced from an in-line position of the corresponding light source; and
determining the FALS produced by the one or more particles by examining the response of the at least one detector. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
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a linear array of light sources for providing light through different parts of the flow stream, the linear array of light sources oriented at an angle with respect to the central axis of the flow stream;
a linear array of light detectors for receiving the light from the linear array of light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the linear array of light detectors and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow stream.
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25. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
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two or more light sources positioned laterally across the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream;
light receiving means for receiving the light from the two or more light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow stream; and
wherein the two or more light sources are positioned along a light source axis that is offset relative to the central axis of flow of the flow stream. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
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two or more light sources positioned laterally across the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream;
light receiving means for receiving the light from the two or more light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow stream; and
wherein the two or more light sources include a first set of light sources positioned along a first light source axis that is rotated relative to the central axis of the flow stream, light from the first set of light sources is focused at a central plane that includes the central axis of the flow stream. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for determining the small angle scattering (SALS) produced by one or more particles in a flow stream, the method comprising:
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activating two or more light sources positioned laterally across the flow stream to provide light through different parts of the flow stream;
focusing the light provided by the two or more light sources at the flow stream;
receiving the light from the two or more light sources using at least one detector, each detector having a detector region laterally spaced from an in-line position of the corresponding light source; and
determining the SALS produced by the one or more particles by examining the response of the at least one detector; and
wherein each detector has at least two detector regions for each of the light sources, one positioned in one direction relative to an in-line position of the corresponding light source and another positioned in another direction relative to the in-line position of the corresponding light source.
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42. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
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two or more light sources positioned laterally across the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream;
light receiving means for receiving the light from the two or more light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow stream; and
wherein the two or more light sources, having overlapping Gaussian beams, collectively provide substantially constant light intensity across the flow stream.
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43. An optical detection system for analyzing predetermined characteristics of a flow stream, the flow stream having a central axis along the direction of flow, the optical detection system comprising:
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two or more light sources positioned laterally across the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream;
light receiving means for receiving the light from the two or more light sources, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto; and
processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for using the at least one signal for analyzing the predetermined characteristics of the flow stream; and
wherein the two or more light sources are positioned along an axis that is offset relative to the central axis of flow of the flow stream.
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Specification