Detection system for a flow cytometer

Abstract

The detection system 10 of the first preferred embodiment is preferably designed to be integrated into a flow cytometer having an interrogation zone 12. The detection system 10 includes a detector 14 adapted to receive photonic inputs P from the interrogation zone and produce an analog signal, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 20 coupled to the detector and adapted to convert an analog signal to a digital signal. The detector 14 has a dynamic range that is preferably greater than or equal to 100 dB. The ADC 20 has a bit resolution that is preferably greater than or equal to 16-bits. The detection system allows simultaneous collection of both small/faint objects and large/bright objects. In an application of this feature of the present invention, the detection system of the preferred embodiments may be used in the co-detection of mammalian cells and bacteria.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.