US 4,887,721 A · Laser particle sorter

Abstract

Method and apparatus for sorting particles, such as biological particles. A first laser defines an optical path having an intensity gradient which is effective to propel the particles along the path but which is sufficiently weak that the particles are not trapped in an axial direction. A probe laser beam interrogates the particles to identify predetermined phenotypical characteristics of the particles. A second laser beam intersects the driving first laser beam, wherein the second laser beam is activated by an output signal indicative of a predetermined characteristic. The second laser beam is switchable between a first intensity and a second intensity, where the first intensity is effective to displace selected particles from the driving laser beam and the second intensity is effective to propel selected particles along the deflection laser beam. The selected particles may then be propelled by the deflection beam to a location effective for further analysis.

Claims12

Dependent claims

Apparatus for sorting selected particles from a variety of particles in a flow stream, comprising:

first optical means defining a first laser beam waist diameter effective for propelling said variety of particles along a preselected propulsion path;
second optical means defining a second laser beam waist diameter intersecting said propulsion path along a deflection path at an angle with said propulsion path and having an intensity effective for deflecting said selected particles to a location outside said propulsion path;
probe means for identifying a selected characteristic in said variety of particles;
and
modulation means responsive to said probe means for selectively activating said second optical means for deflecting particles with said identified characteristic.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Laser particle sorter

Life of this patent

Laser particle sorter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12