Flow cytometer for differentiating small particles in suspension

Abstract

A flow cytometer includes an optical flow cell through which particles to be characterized on the basis of at least their respective side-scatter characteristics are caused to flow seriatim. A plane-polarized laser beam produced by a laser diode is used to irradiate the particles as they pass through a focused elliptical spot having its minor axis oriented parallel to the particle flow path. Initially, the plane of polarization of the laser beam extends perpendicular to the path of particles through the flow cell. A half-wave plate or the like is positioned in the laser beam path to rotate the plane of polarization of the laser beam so that it is aligned with the path of particles before it irradiated particles moving along such path.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to improvements in flow cytometers of the type commonly used to differentiate small particles, e.g., various types of blood cells, in a liquid suspension. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in flow cytometers of the type that use plane-polarized radiation, e.g., that emitted from laser diodes, to irradiate individual particles passing through an optical flow cell in order to detect the light-scattering characteristics of such particles and thereby characterize each particle as being a member of a particular class or type. [0003] 2. The Prior Art [0004] Flow cytometers are commonly used to differentiate individual small particles of different types in a particle suspension on the basis of the light-scattering and / or fluorescence characteristics of each particle. Such instruments generally include an optically-transparent flow cell having a particle-interrogation zo...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, in addition to being relatively low-power devices, laser diodes typically emit non-collimated radiation that must be collimated for practical use.

While this collimating lens readily collects all of the energy diverging from the source at the smaller angle, it often truncates a portion of the beam diverging at the larger angle.

While these spurious light sources are usually of relatively low intensity compared to the collimated main beam, they can be problematic to the performance of a flow cytometer.

But, as noted by Ozasa et al., a significant drawback of this conventional orientation of a laser diode in a flow cytometer is that it acts to position the above-noted light-lobes directly in the particle path, causing the detectors to mistakenly detect and count small particles that do not, in fact, exist.

Note, while such an orientation of the laser diode would result in a 90 degree rotation of the focused elliptical spot, causing its major axis to be undesirably aligned with the particle path, Ozasa et al. avoids this situation by adding an additional lens to the beam-shaping optical system.

While the orientation of the laser diode taught in the Ozasa et al. patent may solve the light-lobe problem identified, it has been observed to create another optical problem affecting the detection of radiation scattered by the irradiated particles.

The extent of this SNR reduction is such that the side-scatter parameter cannot be used as part of the particle characterization process.

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