Non-orthogonal particle detection systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting a particle, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing said particle suspended within a fluid flowing in a flow direction through a flow cell;
passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis through said fluid, wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particle interacts with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation;
collecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation using a system of optics, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis;
imaging at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation collected by said system of optics onto a two-dimensional detector, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics;
detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged on said two-dimensional detector, thereby generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to intensities of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation detected by said two-dimensional detector; and
analyzing at least a portion of said plurality of output signals using one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of time delay integration, image threshold analysis, image shape analysis, pulse height analysis, and pulse width analysis, thereby detecting said particles.
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Abstract
Described herein is a particle detection system capable of spatially resolving the interaction of particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Using a specific electromagnetic beam cross sectional shape and orientation, the detection sensitivity of a particle detection system can be improved. Also provided are methods for detecting and sizing particles in a manner that has low background signal and allows for spatially resolving the scattering or emission of electromagnetic radiation from particles.
235 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a particle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing said particle suspended within a fluid flowing in a flow direction through a flow cell; passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis through said fluid, wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particle interacts with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation; collecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation using a system of optics, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis; imaging at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation collected by said system of optics onto a two-dimensional detector, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics; detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged on said two-dimensional detector, thereby generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to intensities of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation detected by said two-dimensional detector; and analyzing at least a portion of said plurality of output signals using one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of time delay integration, image threshold analysis, image shape analysis, pulse height analysis, and pulse width analysis, thereby detecting said particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of spatially resolving an interaction of particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing said particles suspended within a fluid flowing in a flow direction through a flow cell; passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation through said fluid, wherein said beam has a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis and wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particles interact with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation; collecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation using a system of optics, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis; imaging at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation collected by said system of optics onto a two-dimensional detector, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics; and detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged on said two-dimensional detector, thereby spatially resolving electromagnetic radiation scattered or emitted by said particles from electromagnetic radiation scattered or emitted by walls of the flow cell.
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19. A method of sizing a particle, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing said particle suspended within a fluid flowing in a flow direction through a flow cell; passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation through said fluid, wherein said beam has a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis and wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particle interacts with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation; collecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation using a system of optics, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis; imaging at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation collected by said system of optics onto a two-dimensional detector, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics; detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged on said two-dimensional detector, thereby generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to intensities of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation detected by said two-dimensional detector; determining a position of said particle within the flow cell; and comparing said output signals corresponding to intensities of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged onto said two-dimensional detector with one or more threshold reference values dependent on the position of the particle within the flow cell, thereby determining a size of said particle.
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20. A particle detection system comprising:
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a flow cell for containing a fluid flowing through said flow cell in a flow direction; a source for generating a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis, said source positioned to direct said beam through said flow cell, wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, wherein particles contained within said fluid interact with said beam, thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation; a system of optics for collecting and imaging said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation onto a two-dimensional detector, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis; said two-dimensional detector positioned in optical communication with said flow cell for receiving and detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation, thereby generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to intensities of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation detected by said two-dimensional detector, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics; and a processor for receiving and analyzing at least a portion of said plurality of output signals from said two-dimensional detector using one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of time delay integration, image threshold analysis, image shape analysis, pulse height analysis, and pulse width analysis.
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Specification