Method and system implementing spatially modulated excitation or emission for particle characterization with enhanced sensitivity
First Claim
1. A method for characterizing particles comprising;
- moving a particle within a channel;
generating spatially modulated output light comprising moving the particle relative to a shadow mask disposed between the particle and a detector, the relative motion causing light emission from the particle to be spatially modulated;
recording a time modulated signal based on the spatially modulated output light, the time modulated signal including at least three transitions from an on state to an off state and including information about a position of the particle within the channel; and
detecting and evaluating the time modulated signal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for using spatially modulated excitation/emission and relative movement between a particle (cell, molecule, aerosol, . . . ) and an excitation/emission pattern are provided. In at least one form, an interference pattern of the excitation light with submicron periodicity perpendicular to the particle flow is used. As the particle moves along the pattern, emission is modulated according to the speed of the particle and the periodicity of the stripe pattern. A single detector, which records the emission over a couple of stripes, can be used. The signal is recorded with a fast detector read-out in order to capture the “blinking” of the particles while they are moving through the excitation pattern. This concept enables light detection with high signal-to-noise ratio and high spatial resolution without the need of expensive and bulky optics.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method for characterizing particles comprising;
-
moving a particle within a channel; generating spatially modulated output light comprising moving the particle relative to a shadow mask disposed between the particle and a detector, the relative motion causing light emission from the particle to be spatially modulated; recording a time modulated signal based on the spatially modulated output light, the time modulated signal including at least three transitions from an on state to an off state and including information about a position of the particle within the channel; and detecting and evaluating the time modulated signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for characterizing particles comprising;
-
moving a particle within a channel; generating spatially modulated output light comprising moving the particle relative to a shadow mask disposed between the particle and a detector, the relative motion causing light emission from the particle to be spatially modulated recording a time modulated signal based on the spatially modulated output light, the time modulated signal including at least three transitions from an on state to an off state and including information about a position of the particle within the channel; and detecting the time modulated signal.
-
-
17. A system for characterizing particles comprising;
-
a channel through which a particle can move; a shadow mask configured to provide spatially modulated output light by spatially modulating light emission from the particle based on relative motion between the particle and the optical element; and
,a detection system to record a time modulated signal based on the spatially modulated output light and evaluate the time modulated signal, the time modulated signal including at least three transitions from an on state to an off state and the time modulated signal including the at least three transitions including information about a position of the particle within the channel, wherein the shadow mask is disposed between the particle and the detection system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification