Epi-illumination apparatus and methods for sorting particles
AssigneeInguran, LLC
InventorsGary Durack, Jeffrey D. Wallace, Gary P. Vandre, Lon A. Westfall, Jeremy T. Hatcher, Niraj V. Nayak
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for sorting stained particles in a fluid stream, each of the method and apparatus including an epi-illumination optics system with a focusing lens. The optics system being operable to direct a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the focusing lens in a forward direction along a beam axis intersecting particles in the fluid stream at said first location so that said particles pass through the beam, resulting in the fluorescence emissions from the particles being directed along said beam axis in a rearward direction.
Claims80
A multi-channel system for sorting particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles, said system comprising:
- multiple flow cytometry units each of which is operable to sort a desired population of particles in a mixture of particles by interrogating a stream of fluid containing said particles using a beam of electromagnetic radiation,
- said units sharing an integrated platform comprising at least one of the following elements:
- (1) a common supply of particles;
- (2) a common source of electromagnetic radiation;
- (3) a common housing;
- (4) a common input for controlling operation of the units;
- (5) a common processor for receiving and processing information from the units;
- and (6) a common fluid delivery system for delivering fluid containing said particles to said flow cytometry units.
A multi-channel method of sorting particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of flow cytometry units;
- operating said flow cytometry units to conduct a plurality of flow cytometry operations, said operations comprising forming separate fluid streams each containing a mixture of particles, and sorting desired populations of particles in said mixtures of particles by interrogating the streams using beams of electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- sharing at least one of the following elements while conducting said operations:
- (1) a common supply of particles for said streams;
- (2) a common source of electromagnetic radiation for said beams;
- (3) a common operations control input;
- (4) a common processor for receiving and processing information from the units;
- (5) a common system for delivering fluid to said streams;
- and (6) a common housing for said flow cytometry units.
A multi-channel system for classifying particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles, said system comprising:
- a plurality of flow cytometry units each of which is operable to classify particles in a mixture of particles by interrogating a stream of fluid containing said particles using a beam of electromagnetic radiation,
- said units sharing an integrated platform comprising at least one of the following elements:
- (1) a common supply of particles;
- (2) a common housing;
- (3) a common input for controlling operation of the units;
- (4) a common processor for receiving and processing information from the units;
- and (5) a common fluid delivery system for delivering fluid containing said particles to said flow cytometry units.
A multi-channel method of classifying particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of flow cytometry units;
- operating said flow cytometry units to conduct a plurality of flow cytometry operations, said operations comprising forming separate fluid streams each containing a mixture of particles, and classifying particles in said mixtures of particles by interrogating the streams using beams of electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- sharing at least one of the following elements to conduct said operations:
- (1) a common supply of particles for said streams;
- (2) a common operations control input;
- (3) a common processor for receiving and processing information from the units;
- (4) a common system for delivering fluid to said streams;
- and (5) a common housing for said flow cytometry units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.