Beam-Adjusting Optics for Flow Cytometer Laser Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow cytometers face challenges in independently adjusting the focal spot of each laser, requiring expensive and precise mechanical displacement devices due to the need for high-resolution light beam adjustment in the micron range for accurate analysis of small biological particles.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of beam-adjusting optics with a movable long-focal length lens or a combination of converging and diverging lenses, allowing for precise positioning of the focus spot with less expensive positioning mechanisms by minimizing the sensitivity of the focal spot to lens movement, enabling independent adjustment of each laser's focal spot in multi-laser systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mechanical displacement devices (differential micrometers) are used to position the light source or optical elements, then high-resolution light beam adjustment in the micron range is achieved, but the device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical displacement devices (differential micrometers) with a simple linear translator that moves a beam-adjusting lens. This mechanical substitution uses a long-focal-length lens to reduce the sensitivity of focal spot position to lens displacement, thereby achieving micron-range precision with a simpler, less costly mechanical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the focal length parameter of the beam-adjusting lens to a long value. This parameter change reduces the sensitivity of the focal spot position to lens displacement, allowing coarse mechanical movement to produce fine focal spot adjustments, thus achieving high precision without complex mechanical devices.
2Ease of operation
If a single glass plate is used to displace the focal point by refraction, then focal point repositioning is achieved, but independent adjustment of each laser's focal spot in multi-laser systems is not easily implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the beam adjustment function into separate beam-adjusting lenses for each laser source. Each laser has its own beam-adjusting lens that can be independently positioned, allowing independent focal spot adjustment for each laser in multi-laser systems, thereby resolving the limitation of using a single shared glass plate.
3Measurement precision
If beam-adjusting optics with long focal length lens is used, then sensitivity of focal spot to lens movement is minimized, but the size of the lens and optical path requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the focal length parameter of the beam-adjusting lens to a long value to reduce sensitivity. The relationship is such that a long focal length lens allows small lens displacements to produce small focal spot shifts, achieving high precision positioning while managing the optical path length through careful optical design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for precise and cost-effective adjustment of the focal spot in flow cytometers and other applications, enhancing the precision and reducing the need for expensive mechanical systems, while maintaining high sensitivity and control over the focus spot.
Implementation Method 1
The glass plate, when positioned at an angle to the beam path, displaces the focal point by refracting the beam
Implementation Method 2
a focusing lens that focuses the beam onto a focus spot
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an optical analyzer having illumination optics that include a light source, such as a laser or other source, adapted to emit a collimated, or approximately collimated, light beam, a focusing lens that focuses the beam onto a focus spot within a detection region, and beam-adjusting optics positioned in the light path between the light beam source and the focusing lens, which allow for precise positioning of the focus spot within the detection region. The beam-adjusting optics of the present invention comprise at least one movable focusing lens, mounted in a positioning device that allows repositioning of the lens in a plane perpendicular to the light path.