Optical apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a. a flow source to produce a flow of particles to be analyzed;
b. a source of electromagnetic radiation;
c. a reflector adapted to reflect at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation at the flow of particles to illuminate the flow of particles,wherein the reflector is also adapted to reflect, to an optical configuration, at least a portion of any electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected as a result of the illumination of the flow of particles;
wherein said optical configuration includes a sensor adapted to sense the electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected as a result of the illumination of the flow of particles,wherein the reflector has an internal surface that has an optical axis, andwherein said reflector reflects onto said flow of particles all of the electromagnetic radiation that illuminates said flow of particles.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various optical apparatus provide a source of parallel light (7, 75). The parallel light (7, 75) is generally achieved by directing an incident beam at the apex of a prism (1, 22, 24, 26, 28). The prism may have varying configurations. One configuration has a forward conical face (24). Another configuration has a pyramidal forward end (22). Other configurations are also disclosed. The application also discloses the use of reflectors (20, 78, 216, 316, 400) having internal reflective surfaces shaped as three-dimensional figures of revolution, for example paraboloid or ellipsoid. The reflectors (20, 78, 216, 316) focus light incident onto the reflectors at one or more foci (F, 220, 320, 420). The reflectors may be used in combination with the optical apparatus including the prisms (1, 22, 24, 26, 28). The reflectors (20, 78, 216,316) may be used in flow cytometers for focusing light at a sample stream (237, 337) passing through the focus (F, 220, 320, 420) of the reflector (20, 78, 216, 316). The collection of scattered and/or fluorescent light from an illuminated sample stream (237, 337) in a flow cytometer may be achieved with the use of a collector shaped as a figure of revolution e.g. paraboloid or ellipsoid. Various optical methods and methods for flow cytometry are also disclosed.
362 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a. a flow source to produce a flow of particles to be analyzed; b. a source of electromagnetic radiation; c. a reflector adapted to reflect at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation at the flow of particles to illuminate the flow of particles, wherein the reflector is also adapted to reflect, to an optical configuration, at least a portion of any electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected as a result of the illumination of the flow of particles; wherein said optical configuration includes a sensor adapted to sense the electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected as a result of the illumination of the flow of particles, wherein the reflector has an internal surface that has an optical axis, and wherein said reflector reflects onto said flow of particles all of the electromagnetic radiation that illuminates said flow of particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of analyzing comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a flow of particles to be analyzed; b. providing a source of electromagnetic radiation; c. reflecting with a reflector at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation to provide all illumination of the flow of particles; d. collecting with the reflector at least a portion of any electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected from the illumination of the flow of particles; e. reflecting with the reflector at least the portion of any electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected from the illumination of the flow of particles; and f. sensing a portion of the electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected from the illumination of the flow of particles, wherein the reflector has an internal surface that has an optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A flow cytometer comprising:
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a. a flow source to produce a flow of particles to be analyzed, the flow source being adapted to direct the flow of particles through an inspection zone; and b. an optical arrangement including a source of electromagnetic radiation, the optical arrangement adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation onto the flow of particles, at the inspection zone through use of a reflector, thereby providing all illumination of the particles in the inspection zone; wherein said reflector collects and reflects electromagnetic radiation either produced or deflected from the particles, the reflector having an internal reflective surface with an optical axis and one or more foci, wherein the reflector is disposed such that one of the one or more foci is substantially coincident or located within the inspection zone; said flow cytometer further comprising; c. a processor to derive, from the collected electromagnetic radiation, predetermined information relating to each of at least some of the particles in the flow; and d. a correlator to correlate the derived information with the associated particle downstream of the inspection zone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification