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US 2004/0169867 A1Published application
Flow cytomer with active automated optical alignment system
AssigneeDakoCytomation Denmark A/S
InventorJohnathan C Sharpe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated monitoring and alignment system to position the mechanical and optical components of a flow cytometer to enhance the consistency, performance, and efficiency of particle sorting and analysis applications.
Claims17
A flow cytometer optical alignment system, comprising:
- a. a target;
- b. an electromagnetic radiation emission source;
- c. an electromagnetic radiation beam emitted from said electromagnetic radiation emission source directionally responsive to at least one optical element;
- d. a electromagnetic radiation beam direction sensor having a surface located to receive a portion of said electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein incidence of said portion of said electromagnetic radiation beam on said surface generates an electromagnetic radiation beam position signal;
- and
- e. a position control device coupled to said at least one optical element, wherein said position control device responds to an electromagnetic radiation beam direction correction signal to directionally control said optical element to align said electromagnetic radiation beam:
3 more elements
A flow cytometer, comprising:
- a. a nozzle having an nozzle aperture;
- b. a fluid stream which exits said nozzle through said nozzle aperture;
- c. a droplet generator to which said fluid stream responds by forming droplets, wherein said droplets have a break off point a distance from said nozzle aperture;
- d. electromagnetic radiation beam having a path through said fluid stream between said nozzle aperture and said break off point;
- e. at least one optical element to which said electromagnetic radiation beam is directionally responsive;
- f. a electromagnetic radiation beam position sensor having a surface located to receive a portion of said electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein incidence of said portion of said electromagnetic radiation beam on said surface generates an electromagnetic radiation beam position signal;
- and
- g. a position control device coupled to said at least one optical element, wherein said position control device responds to an electromagnetic radiation beam direction correction signal to directionally control said optical element to align said electromagnetic radiation beam.
5 more elements
A method of controlling the direction of an electromagnetic radiation beam of a flow cytometer, comprising the steps of:
- a. emitting an electromagnetic radiation beam directionally responsive to an optical element;
- b. sampling a portion of said electromagnetic radiation beam to a surface positionally sensitive to incidence of said electromagnetic radiation beam;
- c. generating an electromagnetic radiation beam position signal corresponding to position of said incidence of said electromagnetic radiation beam on said surface;
- d. analyzing said electromagnetic radiation beam position signal;
- e. determining alignment error of said electromagnetic radiation beam to a target;
- f. generating an electromagnetic radiation beam direction correction signal;
- and
- g. adjusting said optical element to correct alignment error of said electromagnetic beam with a target location.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.