Flow cytometer and ultraviolet light disinfecting systems
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorRobert J. Saccomanno
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical system including a unique mirror arrangement surrounding a tube containing a flowing fluid with suspended biological material can be configured as flow cytometer or as an ultraviolet light disinfecting system. The optical system includes a plurality of off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors defining first and second focal points; the first focal point is coincident with a flow tube extending through the optical system. Multifunction optical units are located at the second focal points of the ellipsoidal mirrors. High intensity excitation light impinges on the material flowing through the flow tube.
Claims24
An optical system for use in conjunction with a flowing fluid containing suspended biological material, said optical system comprising:
- a flow tube, designed to carry said flowing fluid, and including a first and a second end;
- a plurality of off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors forming an optical mirror enclosure and defining an internal mirror cavity, wherein said internal cavity fully surrounds said flow tube and the first and second ends of said flow tube protrude from opposing sides of said optical mirror enclosure,
- wherein each of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors defines a first and a second focal point, and
- wherein the first focal point of each of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors is coincident upon the flow tube;
- a plurality of optical units, each of said optical units located at the second focal point of a corresponding one of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors;
- and
- a light source producing high-intensity excitation light which is caused to impinge upon said biological material and excite a response therefrom.
A flow cytometer comprising:
- a flow tube, designed to carry biological material suspended in a flowing fluid;
- a plurality of off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors forming an optical mirror enclosure and defining an internal mirror cavity, said internal cavity fully surrounding said flow tube, each of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors defining a first and a second focal point and the first focal point of each of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors is coincident upon the flow tube;
- a plurality of multifunction optical units, each of said multifunction optical units located at the second focal point of a corresponding one of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors, at least one of said multifunction optical units containing an optical detector;
- and
- a light source producing high-intensity excitation light which is caused to impinge upon said biological material and excite an optical response therefrom.
An ultraviolet light disinfecting system for water, said system comprising:
- a flow tube, designed to carry water with biological material suspended therein, and including a first and a second end;
- a plurality of off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors forming an optical mirror enclosure and defining an internal mirror cavity, wherein said internal cavity fully surrounds said flow tube and the first and second ends of said flow tube protrude from opposing sides of said optical mirror enclosure,
- wherein each of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors define a first and a second focal point, and
- wherein the first focal point of each of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors is coincident upon the flow tube;
- and
- a plurality of optical units, each of said multifunction optical units located at the second focal point of a corresponding one of said off-axis ellipsoidal mirrors and at least of said multifunction optical units including a high-intensity ultraviolet light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.