Multi-modal particle detector
First Claim
1. A particle detection method, comprising:
- (a) detecting a subset of particles of at least one predetermined particle type in an analyte particle sample using a first particle detection mechanism in a first chamber of a particle detector; and
(b) controlling a shutter between an exit of the first chamber and an entrance of a second chamber of the particle detector, wherein a control module is configured to perform the controlling by opening the shutter in response to said detecting to selectively input only particles of the subset to the second chamber; and
(c) confirming the presence of the predetermined particle type by using a second particle detection mechanism in the second chamber to analyze only the particles of the subset which are input to the second chamber through said controlled shutter, wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first detection mechanism, and wherein the second particle detection mechanism is activated in response to the detection.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and computer program products for the multi-modal detection of particles are described herein. An embodiment of the present invention is a particle detector that includes a first chamber wherein analyte particles are subjected to a first particle detection mechanism, and a second chamber coupled to the first chamber, wherein the analyte particles are subjected to a second particle detection mechanism, and wherein the detection characteristics of second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first particle detection mechanism. According to another embodiment, the present invention is a particle detection method including the steps of detecting presence of at least one predetermined particle type in an analyte particle sample using a first particle detection mechanism, and confirming the presence of the predetermined particle type in the analyte particle sample using a second particle detection mechanism, wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first detection mechanism.
15 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A particle detection method, comprising:
-
(a) detecting a subset of particles of at least one predetermined particle type in an analyte particle sample using a first particle detection mechanism in a first chamber of a particle detector; and (b) controlling a shutter between an exit of the first chamber and an entrance of a second chamber of the particle detector, wherein a control module is configured to perform the controlling by opening the shutter in response to said detecting to selectively input only particles of the subset to the second chamber; and (c) confirming the presence of the predetermined particle type by using a second particle detection mechanism in the second chamber to analyze only the particles of the subset which are input to the second chamber through said controlled shutter, wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first detection mechanism, and wherein the second particle detection mechanism is activated in response to the detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification