System for microvolume laser scanning cytometry
First Claim
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1. A system for performing microvolume laser scanning cytometry (MLSC), comprising:
- (a) one or more sources of excitation light;
(b) means for scanning said excitation light over a sample at a plurality of predetermined scan rates;
(c) means for collecting and descanning light emitted by said sample in response to said excitation light;
(d) a plurality of dichroic filter means for separating said emitted light into a plurality of distinct component wavelengths;
(e) a plurality of light detectors responsive to said emitted light, each light detector positioned to collect a distinct one of said component wavelengths, each light detector operatively coupled to an analog electronic filter means having a variable bandwidth; and
(f) digital sampling means operatively coupled to each analog electronic filter means and configured to operate at one of a plurality of predetermined digital sampling rates to provide digital signal output from said light detectors;
wherein a selected scan rate, a selected analog filter bandwidth, and a selected digital sampling rate are coordinately selected to optimize detection of particles in said sample.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an improved integrated system for biological marker identification. The system uses Microvolume Laser Scanning Microscopy (MLSC) in order to measure patterns of expression of biological markers in biological fluids. The system includes improved instrumentation for performing MLSC, and also includes improved particle detection and analysis methods. The system further comprises an informatics architecture for the analysis of data obtained from the MLSC in tandem with other medical information.
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9 Claims
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1. A system for performing microvolume laser scanning cytometry (MLSC), comprising:
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(a) one or more sources of excitation light;
(b) means for scanning said excitation light over a sample at a plurality of predetermined scan rates;
(c) means for collecting and descanning light emitted by said sample in response to said excitation light;
(d) a plurality of dichroic filter means for separating said emitted light into a plurality of distinct component wavelengths;
(e) a plurality of light detectors responsive to said emitted light, each light detector positioned to collect a distinct one of said component wavelengths, each light detector operatively coupled to an analog electronic filter means having a variable bandwidth; and
(f) digital sampling means operatively coupled to each analog electronic filter means and configured to operate at one of a plurality of predetermined digital sampling rates to provide digital signal output from said light detectors;
wherein a selected scan rate, a selected analog filter bandwidth, and a selected digital sampling rate are coordinately selected to optimize detection of particles in said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification