Abstract:
Flow cytometry system includes a flow element through which a cell is transported in a flowing fluid. Flow element includes a bore bounded by a wall. Light source is configured to illuminate the cell. Optical system receives light emanating from the cell and directs at least some of received light to a light sensor. The optical system includes a numerical-aperture-increasing lens at a wall of the flow element. At least some of the received light passes through the numerical-aperture-increasing lens. The flow cytometry system may also include a beam splitter that directs two wavelength bands of emanating light such that light in two wavelength band preferentially reach different sensing locations via different paths. The system may also include an optical element placed in one of the paths, shifting a focal location of the affected path to compensate for chromatic aberration of the numerical-aperture-increasing lens.
Abstract:
A microassembled imaging cytometer includes a sensing location that undergoes relative motion with a cell. Light from a light source is focused by a focusing element to a plurality of focused illumination spots or lines at the sensing location, illuminating the cell as the cell traverses the sensing location. A collection lens collects light emanating from the cell and refocuses the collected light onto an array light sensor. The focusing element may include an array of microlenses having spherical or aspheric surfaces. The system may include a processing unit that constructs a digital image of the cell based at least in part on signals produced by the array light sensor indicating the intensity and distribution of light falling on the array light sensor. The system may characterize cells using light emanating from the cells by fluorescence.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for performing cytometry using a linear light sensor. An illumination field, a line scanned by the linear light sensor, or both are swept across a cell to be imaged. Relative motion between the cell and the swept illumination may be created using a movable optical component or components, by adhering cells to a plate and transporting the plate or by other techniques.
Abstract:
Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000,000 pixels each having an area of 2 x 2 μm or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm
Abstract:
Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000,000 pixels each having an area of 2 x 2 μm or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm. The sensor enables the counter to compress the optical components into an optical path of less than 20 cm in height when arranged vertically with no changes in direction of the optical path as a whole, and the entire instrument has a footprint of less than 300 cm. Activation of the light source, automated focusing of the sensor image, and digital cell counting are all initiated by the simple insertion of the sample holder into the instrument. The suspension is placed in a sample chamber in the form of a slide that is shaped to ensure proper orientation of the slide in the cell counter.
Abstract:
An optical system and associated method enable near real time optical phase conjugation. In the method, a translucent medium is illuminated by a sample illumination beam. Light scattered by the medium is directed to an electronic image sensor while a reference beam is also directed to the electronic image sensor. The scattered light and the reference beam form an interference pattern at the electronic image sensor. A digital representation of the interference pattern is recorded using the electronic image sensor, and the characteristics of a conjugate of the sample beam are computed from the numerical representation. A conjugate beam having the computed characteristics is generated using a configurable optical element and directed back to the translucent medium. The generation of the conjugate beam may be accomplished using a spatial light modulator.
Abstract:
A flow cytometry system includes a flow element through which a cell is transported in a flowing fluid. The flow element includes a bore bounded by a wall. A light source is configured to illuminate the cell. An optical system receives light emanating from the cell and directs at least some of the received light to a light sensor. The optical system includes a numerical-aperture-increasing lens at a wall of the flow element. At least some of the received light passes through the numerical-aperture-increasing lens. The flow cytometry system may also include a beam splitter that directs two wavelength bands of the emanating light such that light in two wavelength band preferentially reach different sensing locations via different paths. The system may also include an optical element placed in one of the paths, shifting a focal location of the affected path to compensate for chromatic aberration of the numerical-aperture-increasing lens.