# US 12,222,518 B2 · Multi-laser systems having modified beam profiles and methods of use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,518 B2 - Document ID: US12222518B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/381,891 - Filed: 2019-04-11 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-24 - Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Inventors: Eric D. Diebold; Jizuo Zou; Jorge Manzarraga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222518B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0927: {Systems for changing the beam intensity distribution, e.g. Gaussian to top-hat} - G01N 15/0227: using imaging; using holography - G01N 15/1434: Optical arrangements - G01N 15/1459: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream} - G02B 3/0006: {Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence)} - G02B 19/0004: {characterised by the optical means employed} - G02B 19/0014: {at least one surface having optical power} - G02B 19/0052: {the light source comprising a laser diode (coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S5/005)} - G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors} - G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Aspects of the present disclosure include systems with multiple lasers having modified beam profiles. Systems according to certain embodiments include a first laser that produces a first beam of light, a second laser that produces a second beam of light and a beam shaping component that receives the first beam of light and the second beam of light at substantially the same position from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the first beam of light and the second beam of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis. Methods for irradiating a sample in a flow stream with the output beam of light are also described. Kits having one or more lasers and a beam shaping component configured to generate from a first beam of light and a second beam of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-laser apparatus comprising: a plurality of lasers that produce a plurality of beams of light; a beam shaping component that receives each of the plurality of beams of light at the same position at a surface of or within the beam shaping component from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the plurality of beams of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis, wherein the beam shaping component consists of a single beam shaping lens and wherein light from each laser is propagated directly to the beam shaping component; and a flow cell configured to propagate a sample in a flow stream, wherein the beam shaping component directs the output beam to the flow cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two or more lasers of the plurality of lasers are each in optical communication with a mirror component that is configured to combine the two or more beams of light produced by the two or more lasers, wherein the mirror component comprises: a first mirror; and a second mirror positioned to propagate light from the first mirror to the beam shaping component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intensity at the center of the output beam of light is from 90% to 99.9% of the intensity at the edges of the output beam of light along the horizontal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beam shaping component is configured to generate an output beam of light having: a top hat intensity profile along the horizontal axis; or a super Gaussian intensity profile along the horizontal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output beam of light comprises a Gaussian distribution along a vertical axis of the output laser beam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle of incidence to the beam shaping component of each beam of light differs by 0.5 degrees or more. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output beam of light is configured to irradiate a spatial width that is from 90% to 99.9% of the flow stream along a horizontal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the beam shaping component is configured to generate a plurality of output beams of light, wherein the generated output beams of light are configured to irradiate different positions along the longitudinal axis of the flow stream. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the output beams are separated from each other along the longitudinal axis of the flow stream by 1 mm or more. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the single beam shaping lens is a Powell lens. ### Claim 11 A method comprising irradiating a sample in a flow stream with a plurality of beams of light produced by a plurality of lasers through a beam shaping lens that receives each of the plurality of beams of light at the same position at a surface of or within the beam shaping component from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the plurality of beams of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis, wherein light from each laser is propagated directly to the beam shaping component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein two or more lasers of the plurality of lasers are each in optical communication with a mirror component that is configured to combine two or more beams of light produced by the two or more lasers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the mirror component comprises: a first mirror; and a second mirror positioned to propagate light from the first mirror to the beam shaping lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the beam shaping lens is configured to generate an output beam of light having: a top hat intensity profile along the horizontal axis; or a super Gaussian intensity profile along the horizontal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the intensity at the center of the output beam of light is from 90% to 99.9% of the intensity at the edges of the output beam of light along the vertical axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the flow stream comprises a core stream and a laminating sheath stream and wherein an output beam of light is generated having an intensity profile that is substantially the same across from 90% to 99.9% of the core stream along a horizontal axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises: generating a first output laser beam having a top hat intensity profile along a horizontal axis; and generating a second output laser beam having a super Gaussian intensity profile along the horizontal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the beam shaping lens is a Powell lens. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises focusing the output beam of light onto the sample with a focusing lens that receives the output beam of light from the beam shaping lens and directs the output beam to the sample. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the focusing lens receives the output beam of light directly from the beam shaping lens and directs the output beam directly to the sample. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a focusing lens that receives the output beam of light from the beam shaping component and directs the output beam to the flow cell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the focusing lens receives the output beam of light directly from the beam shaping component and directs the output beam directly to the flow cell.