Multi-spectral optical method and system for detecting and classifying biological and non-biological particles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for detecting and classifying a particle comprising the steps of:
- providing and directing a sample stream containing particles to an optical viewing region;
providing a plurality of continuous wave excitation sources, each source emitting a discrete wavelength;
directing a plurality of discrete wavelengths of light from the continuous wave excitation sources to the optical viewing region;
illuminating each particle found in the sample stream in the viewing region with the excitation sources substantially simultaneously, said particle having elastic scattering properties, fluorescence or non-fluorescence emission properties, and dimension and density properties;
directing light from the viewing region to a plurality of detectors to produce a plurality of signals;
directing the signals from the detectors to a signal processor to substantially simultaneously measure the elastic scattering properties, the complex refractive index and the fluorescence or non-fluorescence of the particle substantially simultaneously and in substantially real time.
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Abstract
Enhanced methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for the real-time detection and classification of biological and non-biological particles by substantially simultaneously measuring a single particle'"'"'s characteristics in terms of size and density, elastic scattering properties, and absorption and fluorescence.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method for detecting and classifying a particle comprising the steps of:
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providing and directing a sample stream containing particles to an optical viewing region; providing a plurality of continuous wave excitation sources, each source emitting a discrete wavelength; directing a plurality of discrete wavelengths of light from the continuous wave excitation sources to the optical viewing region; illuminating each particle found in the sample stream in the viewing region with the excitation sources substantially simultaneously, said particle having elastic scattering properties, fluorescence or non-fluorescence emission properties, and dimension and density properties; directing light from the viewing region to a plurality of detectors to produce a plurality of signals; directing the signals from the detectors to a signal processor to substantially simultaneously measure the elastic scattering properties, the complex refractive index and the fluorescence or non-fluorescence of the particle substantially simultaneously and in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 57)
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17. A method for detecting and classifying a particle comprising the steps of:
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providing and directing a sample stream containing particles to an optical viewing region; providing a continuous wave excitation sources, said continuous wave source emitting a discrete wavelength; providing a pulsed wave excitation source, said pulsed wave excitation source emitting a discrete wavelength; providing at least one nonlinear crystal for generating second and third harmonic wavelength generation; directing a plurality of discrete wavelengths of light from the continuous wave excitation source and the pulsed wave excitation source to the optical viewing region; illuminating each particle found in the sample stream in the viewing region with the excitation sources substantially simultaneously, said particle having elastic scattering properties, fluorescence or non-fluorescence emission properties, and dimension and density properties; directing light from the viewing region to a plurality of detectors to produce a plurality of signals; directing the signals from the detectors to a signal processor to substantially simultaneously measure the elastic scattering properties, the complex refractive index and the fluorescence or non-fluorescence of the particle substantially simultaneously in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 27)
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28. An apparatus for detecting and classifying a single particle from a sample comprising:
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a plurality of continuous wave excitation sources, each source emitting a discrete wavelength, the wavelengths directed through an optical viewing region; a plurality of detectors to receive the wavelengths directed through the optical viewing region and produce a plurality of signals; and a signal processor in communication with each detector to receive the signal from the detector to substantially simultaneously measure the elastic scattering properties, the complex refractive index and the fluorescence or non-fluorescence of the particle substantially simultaneously and in substantially real-time. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 53, 55, 58)
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44. An apparatus for detecting and classifying a single particle from a sample comprising:
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a continuous wave excitation sources, said continuous wave excitation source emitting a discrete wavelength, the wavelength directed through an optical viewing region; a pulsed wave excitation source, said pulsed wave excitation source emitting a discrete wavelength; at least one nonlinear crystal for generating second and thirds harmonic wavelengths; a plurality of detectors to receive the wavelengths directed through the optical viewing region and produce a plurality of signals; and a signal processor in communication with each detector to receive the signal from the detector to substantially simultaneously measure the elastic scattering properties, the complex refractive index and the fluorescence or non-fluorescence of the particle substantially simultaneously and in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 56)
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Specification