Diffractive Flow Cytometry Optics With Zero-Order Light Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical systems for cell classification, such as Ghost Cytometry, require multiple lenses to block diffraction patterns, leading to increased system size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An optical system that utilizes a diffractive optical element to generate illumination light with a zero-order diffracted light intensity not greater than 10 times that of other diffracted lights, applied through a flow cell for cell classification, enabling compact design while maintaining effective cell classification using AI algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spatial filter and multiple lenses are used to block the diffraction pattern, then noise influence on cell-derived signal is suppressed, but the optical system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the zero-order diffracted light from the illumination light before it reaches the sample. By using a spatial filter in the diffraction pattern plane to block only the zero-order light while transmitting higher-order diffracted lights, the system eliminates the harmful noise component without requiring multiple lenses, thus suppressing noise influence while maintaining a compact optical system size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively blocking only the zero-order diffracted light at a specific location in the diffraction pattern plane using a spatial filter. This localized approach allows the system to address the noise problem at its source (the zero-order light) while preserving the useful higher-order diffracted lights for maintaining illumination quality, avoiding the need for system-wide modifications
2Measurement precision
If two lenses with 300 mm interval are disposed to block diffraction pattern, then cell classification accuracy is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes only the necessary harmful component (zero-order diffracted light) using a spatial filter, eliminating the need for the complex two-lens system. This extraction approach maintains cell classification accuracy by preserving the useful higher-order diffracted lights while significantly reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical two-lens system with a single spatial filter approach. Instead of using multiple lenses to block the diffraction pattern, the system uses a spatial filter positioned at the conjugate image plane to selectively block the zero-order light, simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining measurement precision
3Illumination intensity
If zero-order diffracted light with high relative intensity is used, then illumination brightness is improved, but light receiver saturation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the zero-order diffracted light from the illumination light path using a spatial filter. By blocking this high-intensity light component, the system prevents light receiver saturation while maintaining adequate illumination brightness through the transmitted higher-order diffracted lights, thus ensuring both reliable detection and accurate measurement
4Adaptability or versatility
If diffractive optical element generates multiple diffracted lights, then structured illumination is achieved, but system size increases due to blocking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes only the zero-order diffracted light using a spatial filter, allowing the system to maintain structured illumination capability through the higher-order diffracted lights without requiring additional blocking components. This approach achieves adaptability in illumination pattern generation while avoiding the size increase that would result from using multiple lenses for blocking
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by blocking only the zero-order light at a specific location in the diffraction pattern plane while transmitting the higher-order diffracted lights. This localized blocking approach maintains the structured illumination capability generated by the diffractive optical element while avoiding the need for system-wide modifications or additional lenses, thus preventing size increase
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
The system achieves accurate cell classification with reduced system size and complexity by optimizing the intensity ratio of zero-order to other diffracted lights, allowing for efficient and compact apparatus operation.
Implementation Method 1
an irradiation optical system (IS) including a diffractive optical element (114) on which the light is incident, the irradiation optical system (IS) being configured to apply illumination light in which a plurality of diffracted lights generated by the diffractive optical element (114) are distributed
Implementation Method 2
a light receiver (123, 133, 143) configured to receive light generated from each cell flowing in the flow cell (101), upon application of the illumination light by the irradiation optical system (IS)
Implementation Method 3
a light receiver (123, 133, 143) configured to receive light generated from each cell flowing in the flow cell (101), upon application of the illumination light by the irradiation optical system (IS)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an optical system including: a light source configured to emit light; an irradiation optical system including a diffractive optical element on which the light is incident, the irradiation optical system being configured to apply illumination light in which a plurality of diffracted lights generated by the diffractive optical element are distributed; a flow cell in which a sample containing cells is caused to flow to a position at which the illumination light is applied by the irradiation optical system; and a light receiver configured to receive light generated from each cell flowing in the flow cell, upon application of the illumination light by the irradiation optical system. The illumination light includes zero-order diffracted light whose relative intensity relative to another diffracted light is not greater than 10 times. The irradiation optical system applies the illumination light to a position through which the cell in the flow cell passes.