US 12,174,107 B1 · Flow cytometer

Abstract

The disclosed flow cytometer includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The WDM includes an extended light source providing light that forms an object, a collimating optical element that captures light from the extended light source and projects a magnified image of the object as a first light beam, and a first focusing optical element configured to focus the first light beam to a size smaller than the object of the extended light source to a first semiconductor detector. The disclosed flow cytometer further includes a composite microscope objective to direct light emitted by a particle in a flow channel in a viewing zone of the composite microscope to the extended light source, a fluidic system and a peristaltic pump configured to supply liquid sheath and liquid sample to the flow channel, and a laser diode system to illuminate the particle in the flow channel.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A flow cytometer comprising:

an optical fiber;
and
a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) configured to receive light from the optical fiber, wherein the WDM comprises:
an array of mirrors;
an array of filters;
and
an array of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) configured to receive light that passed through one or more filters in the array of filters;
wherein each of the filters in the array of filters is configured to receive light such that:
a portion of the light passes through the filter;
and
another portion of the light is reflected;
and
wherein each of the mirrors in the array of mirrors is configured to:
receive light reflected by a filter in the array of filters;
and
reflect light to another filter in the array of filters.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/823,596Filed 3 Sep 2024 · continuation

Priority

30 May 2012

Published

US 2024/0426740 A126 Dec 2024

Granted

24 Dec 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G01N 15/1436
Optical arrangements: the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell
F04B 11/0025
With a fluid spring: the spring fluid being in direct contact with the pumped fluid
G01N 15/1434
Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry: optical arrangements
G01N 15/1459
Without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals: the analysis being performed on a…

Family

Application61/653,328Us provisional application · filed 30 May 2012

Application61/653,245Us provisional application · filed 30 May 2012

Application61/715,819Us provisional application · filed 18 Oct 2012

Application61/715,836Us provisional application · filed 19 Oct 2012

Application61/816,819Us provisional application · filed 29 Apr 2013

PCT/US2013/043453Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 May 2013

Application61/911,859Us provisional application · filed 4 Dec 2013

Application14/555,102Parent of this division · filed 26 Nov 2014

Application15/638,477Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Jun 2017

US 9,746,412 B2Parent of this division · filed 29 Aug 2017

Application17/645,727Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Dec 2021

US 11,255,772 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Feb 2022

Application15/638,477Parent of this division

Application14/555,102Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 12,174,106 B2Related patent

US 2015/0115174 A1Published application

US 2017/0307507 A1Published application

US 2022/0113241 A1Published application

US 2024/0426740 A1Published application

US 12,174,107 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Flow cytometer

Life of this patent

Flow cytometer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30