Micro-molded cytometer cartridge with integrated optics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a cytometer cartridge insert, the cytometer cartridge insert comprising;
a micro-molded component; and
a plastic laminate component;
wherein the micro-molded component is embedded in the plastic laminate component;
wherein the micro-molded component comprises;
a sample via comprising a diameter ranging from approximately 20 microns to approximately 100 microns;
a measurement channel with an integrated optical lens, the measurement channel coupled to the sample via by way of a lysing and sphering channel, the measurement channel comprising a diameter ranging from approximately 20 microns to approximately 200 microns, the integrated optical lens permitting detection of scatter angles of about 90 degrees; and
a cuvette coupled to the sample via by way of a sample channel, the cuvette comprising an optical mask;
wherein the integrated optical lens is aligned with the measurement channel such that the measurement channel walls do not produce random scatter noise; and
wherein the measurement channel walls have a low RMS planarity level and optical finish characteristics such that an illumination beam on the walls generates light scatter having a same group of angles as the illumination beam, thereby occupying a small solid angle of a budget of angles and not producing the random scatter noise, thereby providing for a cell stream to be close to the measurement channel walls, thereby reducing the need for a sheathing fluid and reducing an amount of liquid waste.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cytometer cartridge insert includes a micro-molded component and a plastic laminate component. The micro-molded component is embedded in the plastic laminate component.
18 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a cytometer cartridge insert, the cytometer cartridge insert comprising; a micro-molded component; and a plastic laminate component; wherein the micro-molded component is embedded in the plastic laminate component; wherein the micro-molded component comprises; a sample via comprising a diameter ranging from approximately 20 microns to approximately 100 microns; a measurement channel with an integrated optical lens, the measurement channel coupled to the sample via by way of a lysing and sphering channel, the measurement channel comprising a diameter ranging from approximately 20 microns to approximately 200 microns, the integrated optical lens permitting detection of scatter angles of about 90 degrees; and a cuvette coupled to the sample via by way of a sample channel, the cuvette comprising an optical mask; wherein the integrated optical lens is aligned with the measurement channel such that the measurement channel walls do not produce random scatter noise; and
wherein the measurement channel walls have a low RMS planarity level and optical finish characteristics such that an illumination beam on the walls generates light scatter having a same group of angles as the illumination beam, thereby occupying a small solid angle of a budget of angles and not producing the random scatter noise, thereby providing for a cell stream to be close to the measurement channel walls, thereby reducing the need for a sheathing fluid and reducing an amount of liquid waste. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A process to manufacture a cytometer cartridge insert comprising:
-
forming a plastic laminate component; and embedding a micro-molded component in the plastic laminate component; forming a sample via in the micro-molded component such that a diameter of the sample via ranges from approximately 20 microns to approximately 100; forming a measurement channel in the micro-molded component by way of a micro-molded process such that a diameter of the measurement channel ranges from approximately 20 microns to approximately 200 microns and such that a wall of the measurement channel has a low RMS planarity level and optical finish characteristics such that an illumination beam on the wall generates light scatter having a same group of angles as the illumination beam, thereby occupying a small solid angle of a budget of angles and producing no random scatter noise; forming an integrated optical lens in the measurement channel, the integrated optical lens oriented for scatter detection of angles between 2-9 degrees, between 9-20 degrees, and at 90 degrees; forming a cuvette in the micro-molded component such that the cuvette is coupled to the sample via by way of a sample channel, and such that the cuvette comprises an optical mask; forming a lysing and sphering channel in the plastic laminate component, the lysing and sphering channel coupling the measurement channel to the sample via. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A cytometer cartridge insert comprising:
-
a micro-molded component; and a plastic laminate component; wherein the micro-molded component is embedded in the plastic laminate component; and wherein the micro-molded component comprises; a sample via comprising a diameter ranging from approximately 20 microns to approximately 100; a measurement channel with an integrated optical lens, the measurement channel coupled to the sample via by way of a lysing and sphering channel, the measurement channel comprising a diameter ranging from approximately 20 microns to approximately 200 microns; and a cuvette coupled to the sample via by way of a sample channel, the cuvette comprising an optical mask; wherein the integrated optical lens is aligned with the measurement channel such that the measurement channel walls do not produce random scatter noise; and
wherein the measurement channel walls have a low RMS planarity level and optical finish characteristics such that an illumination beam on the walls generates light scatter having a same group of angles as the illumination beam, thereby occupying a small solid angle of a budget of angles and not producing the random scatter noise.- View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification