Imaging and analyzing parameters of small moving objects such as cells in broad flat flow
First Claim
1. An imaging system adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object in a broad, flat flow, from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system comprising:
- (a) a collection lens having a field angle in an object space that is sufficiently large to collect light traveling from the object that is in the broad, flat flow so that the light passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
(b) a dispersing component disposed in the collection path so as to receive the light from the object that has passed through the collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of separate light beams, each light beam being directed away from the dispersing component in a different predetermined direction;
(c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the dispersing component, producing a plurality of images corresponding to each of the light beams, each image being projected by the imaging lens toward a different predetermined location; and
(d) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the object in the broad, flat flow, said TDI detector producing the output signal by integrating light from at least a portion of the object over time, while the relative movement between the object and the imaging system occurs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Light from an object such as a cell moving through an imaging system is collected and dispersed so that it can be imaged onto a time delay and integration (TDI) detector. The light can be emitted from a luminous object or can be light from a light source that has been scattered or not absorbed by the object or can include a light emission by one or more probes within or on the object. Multiple objects passing through the imaging system can be imaged, producing both scatter images and dispersed images at different locations on one or more TDI detectors.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An imaging system adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object in a broad, flat flow, from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system comprising:
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(a) a collection lens having a field angle in an object space that is sufficiently large to collect light traveling from the object that is in the broad, flat flow so that the light passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
(b) a dispersing component disposed in the collection path so as to receive the light from the object that has passed through the collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of separate light beams, each light beam being directed away from the dispersing component in a different predetermined direction;
(c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the dispersing component, producing a plurality of images corresponding to each of the light beams, each image being projected by the imaging lens toward a different predetermined location; and
(d) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the object in the broad, flat flow, said TDI detector producing the output signal by integrating light from at least a portion of the object over time, while the relative movement between the object and the imaging system occurs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
(a) a coherent light source;
(b) a non-coherent light source;
(c) a pulsed light source; and
(d) a continuous light source.
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16. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the object is entrained within a broad flat flow of a fluid stream that moves the object past the collection lens.
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17. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the TDI detector responds to the image of the object in the broad, flat flow by producing a signal that propagates through the TDI detector.
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18. The imaging system of claim 17, wherein a propagation rate of the signal through the TDI detector is synchronized with a motion of the image of the object in the broad, flat flow on the TDI detector as a result of the relative movement between the object and the imaging system.
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19. The imaging system of claim 17, wherein a propagation rate of the signal through the TDI detector is not synchronized with a motion of the image of the object in the broad, flat flow on the TDI detector as a result of the relative movement between the object and the imaging system.
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20. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an objective lens disposed between the object in the broad flat flow and the collection lens, said objective lens having a focal point at which the object is imaged;
- and an optical slit aligned with a direction of the relative movement between the object and the imaging system and disposed between the objective lens and the collection lens at the focal point of the objective lens, said slit substantially preventing extraneous light from reaching the collection lens by transmitting to the collection lens the light from the object that is focused on the slit by the objective lens.
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21. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light from the object in the broad, flat flow is provided in a plurality of different modes, including light that is scattered by the object, light that is reflected by the object, light remaining after the object has absorbed a portion of light that is incident on the object, light produced as a stimulated emission from the object, and light produced as an unstimulated emission from the object, said imaging lens directing light so as to simultaneously produce images on the TDI detector derived from light provided by at least any two of said plurality of modes.
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22. An imaging system adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object in a broad, flat flow, from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, comprising:
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(a) a collection lens having a field angle in an object space that is sufficiently large to collect light traveling from the object that is in the broad, flat flow so that the light passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
(b) a light dispersing element disposed in the collection path so as to disperse the light that has passed through the collection lens, producing dispersed light;
(c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the dispersed light, producing an image from the dispersed light; and
(d) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive the image produced by the imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the object in the broad, flat flow, said TDI detector producing the output signal by integrating light from at least a portion of the object over time, while the relative movement between the object and the imaging system occurs. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
(a) a coherent light source;
(b) a non-coherent light source;
(c) a pulsed light source; and
(d) a continuous light source.
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33. The imaging system of claim 22, wherein the object is carried on a support past the collection lens.
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34. The imaging system of claim 22, wherein the TDI detector responds to the image of the object by producing a signal that propagates through the TDI detector.
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35. The imaging system of claim 34, wherein a propagation rate of the signal through the TDI detector is synchronized with a motion of the image of the object in the broad, flat flow on the TDI detector as a result of the relative movement between the object and the imaging system.
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36. The imaging system of claim 34, wherein a propagation rate of the signal through the TDI detector is not synchronized with a motion of the image of the object in the broad, flat flow on the TDI detector as a result of the relative movement between the object and the imaging system.
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37. The imaging system of claim 22, wherein the dispersing element comprises a prism.
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38. The imaging system of claim 22, further comprising an objective lens disposed between the object and the collection lens, having a focal point at which the object in the broad, flat flow is imaged;
- and an optical slit aligned with a direction of the relative movement between the object and the imaging system and disposed between the objective lens and the collection lens at the focal point of the objective lens, said slit substantially preventing extraneous light reaching the collection lens by transmitting to the collection lens the light from the object that is focused on the slit by the objective lens.
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39. The imaging system of claim 22, wherein the light from the object in the broad, flat flow is provided in a plurality of different modes, including light that is scattered by the object, light that is reflected by the object, light remaining after the object has absorbed a portion of light that is incident on the object, light produced as a stimulated emission from the object, and light produced as an unstimulated emission from the object, said imaging lens directing the dispersed light so as to simultaneously produce images on the TDI detector derived from light provided by at least any two of said plurality of modes.
Specification