Optical detection system for flow cytometry
First Claim
1. An optical detection system for analyzing 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 spaced light sources positioned on a first side of the flow stream for providing light through the flow stream;
lens means positioned on the first side of the flow stream for focusing the light from each of the two or more light sources to a common focal point located on a second opposite side 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, at least a portion of the light receiving means located at the common focal point of the lens means; 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 characteristics of the flow stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical detection system for flow cytometry that uses two or more light sources positioned laterally at different distances from a central axis of a flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream. One or more lenses are used to focus the light from the two or more light sources through the flow stream and onto a common focal point or region on the opposite side of the flow stream. One or more light detectors are then placed at, near or around the common focal point or region. A processor or the like receives at least one output signal from the one or more light detectors to analyze and determine selected characteristics of the flow stream.
138 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An optical detection system for analyzing 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 spaced light sources positioned on a first side of the flow stream for providing light through the flow stream;
lens means positioned on the first side of the flow stream for focusing the light from each of the two or more light sources to a common focal point located on a second opposite side 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, at least a portion of the light receiving means located at the common focal point of the lens means; 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 characteristics of the flow stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for determining the position 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 on a first side of the flow stream for providing light through the flow stream;
focusing the light from each of the two or more light sources to a common focal point located on a second opposite side of the flow stream;
monitoring an output response of a detector, wherein at least a portion of the detector is positioned at the common focal point, the output response providing an indication of the position of the one or more particles in the flow stream; and
determining the position of the one or more particles in the flow stream by examining the output response of the detector.
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38. A method for determining the velocity of one or more particles in a flow stream, the method comprising:
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activating two or more upstream light sources at an upstream position of the flow stream to provide light through the flow stream;
focusing the light from each of the at least two or more upstream light sources to a first common focal point behind the flow stream;
monitoring an output response of an upstream detector that receives the light from the two or more upstream light sources;
activating two or more downstream light sources at a downstream position of the flow stream to provide light through the flow stream;
focusing the light from each of the at least two or more downstream light sources to a second common focal point behind the flow stream;
monitoring an output response of a downstream detector that receives the light from the two or more downstream light sources;
detecting a change in the output response of the at least one upstream detector when a particle passes between the at least two upstream light sources and the upstream detector;
detecting a change in the output response of the downstream detector when the same particle passes between the at least two downstream light sources and the downstream detector; and
determining a time lag between the change in output response of the upstream detector and the change in output response of the downstream detector, the time lag being related to the speed of the particle.
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Specification