Method of analyzing cells

• US 8,975,035 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Original Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Inventors: Sharpe, Johnathan, Schaare, Peter Niven
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Bin
• Application Number:
  US12/944,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 435/7.21
• US Class Current: 435/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1436 the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1452 Adjustment of focus; Alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6469 Cavity, e.g. ellipsoid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/49 within a body or fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms

Abstract

A method, optical apparatus and system for illuminating particles and for detecting emissions from illuminated particles in a flow cytometer. One configuration includes an objective lens coaxially aligned with the flow of particles being analyzed for collecting emissions at a detector.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing sperm cells comprising the steps of:

passing a flow of sperm cells to be analyzed through an inspection zone;

providing radially symmetric illumination to sperm cells at the inspection zone by radially converging electromagnetic radiation onto the flow of sperm cells at the inspection zone;

collecting at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation produced or deflected from the flow of sperm cells;

delivering the at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation to a sensor;

sensing predetermined information from sperm cells;

correlating the predetermined information from the sperm cells with said sperm cells downstream of the inspection zone; and

separating sperm cells according to a selection criteria downstream of the inspection zone.

2. The method of sperm cells as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing focusing optics having a paraboloidal surface with one or more foci.

3. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

providing the focusing optics with a first focus and with a central axis through the first focus; and

orienting the focusing optics so that the flow of sperm cells is substantially aligned with the central axis.

4. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

processing the collected electromagnetic radiation to derive predetermined information relating to each of at least some of the sperm cells in the flow.

5. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

sorting selected sperm cells in the flow of sperm cells based up the predetermined information from the flow of sperm cells.

6. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined information comprises sex characteristics.

7. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

sorting selected sperm cells in the flow of sperm cells based on the sex characteristics of the sperm cells.

8. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 2 wherein the focusing optics comprises a focusing reflector.

9. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of delivering the at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation to a sensor is accomplished with an objective lens.

10. The method of analyzing sperm cells as claimed in claim 9 wherein the objective lens is substantially co-axial with the flow of sperm cells.