Compact Flow Cytometer Detection Module with Aspheric Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow cytometers are limited in detecting multiple fluorochromes simultaneously due to overlapping emission spectra and signal crosstalk, leading to a restricted number of detectable fluorochromes and compromised fluorescence signals.
Innovation Solution
A compact detection module with a 1f image array and adjustable filter bandwidths, utilizing a multimode fiber and a high-numerical-aperture objective lens to image fluorescence into multiple detectors, minimizing aberrations and allowing for a higher number of detectors while maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional flow cytometers use standard collimating lens focal lengths to limit divergence, then the number of detectors is limited to six, but increasing the focal length results in a larger diameter light beam that further limits detector capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies aspheric lens surfaces with specific curvature profiles to correct optical aberrations in the collimating lens system. The aspheric surfaces enable better control of light rays across the beam profile, allowing increased detector capacity without proportionally increasing beam diameter, thus resolving the contradiction between detector number and beam size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple optical parameters including focal length, numerical aperture, and lens spacing to achieve a configuration that maximizes detector capacity. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves a compact design with six detectors while controlling beam diameter through precise optical parameter selection rather than simply increasing focal length.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional systems collimate broad band light (400 nm-800 nm) into a large area (800 microns), then optical aberrations increase, but reducing the area requires more aggressive collimation that introduces aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The aspheric lens surfaces are specifically designed to correct spherical aberration and other optical imperfections that occur when collimating broad-spectrum light. The curved surfaces provide precise control over ray paths across the entire 400-800 nm bandwidth, maintaining image quality at the required 800 micron area without introducing excessive aberrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The collimating lens is designed to handle the entire visible spectrum (400-800 nm) simultaneously with a single optical element. The aspheric design provides universal correction across all wavelengths, enabling the system to process broad band light from multiple fluorochromes without requiring separate optimization for each wavelength, thus maintaining precision across the full spectral range.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of lasers is increased to detect more fluorochromes, then the number of detectable fluorochromes increases, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection function across six independent detector channels, each equipped with specific optical filters to detect different fluorochrome emissions. This segmentation allows a single laser to excite multiple fluorochromes that are then resolved into separate detection channels, achieving multi-color capability without requiring multiple lasers, thus reducing system cost while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding more lasers (one-dimensional solution), the patent adds spectral dimensionality through multiple detection channels with wavelength-selective filtering. This allows differentiation of multiple fluorochromes excited by a single laser by detecting their distinct emission wavelengths, effectively increasing detectable fluorochrome count without increasing laser count or cost.
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 enables the detection of a larger number of fluorochromes by effectively resolving both long and short wavelength spectra, reducing signal crosstalk, and improving the accuracy of cellular classification in flow cytometry.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a multimode fiber and a high-numerical-aperture objective lens to image fluorescence into multiple detectors
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a multimode fiber and a high-numerical-aperture objective lens to image fluorescence into multiple detectors
Implementation Method 3
One or more different optical filters can be arranged before the emitted fluorescence from the fluorochrome-labelled particles reaches each detector
Implementation Method 4
One or more optical detectors in the flow cytometer are used to sense the fluorescence (fluorescent light) that is emitted from the fluorochrome-labelled particles
Data Source
AI summary
A system, an apparatus, and a method are provided for a modular flow cytometer with a compact size. In one embodiment, the modular flow cytometry system includes the following: a laser system for emitting laser beams; a flow cell assembly positioned to receive the laser beams at an interrogation region of a fluidics stream where fluoresced cells scatter the laser beams into fluorescent light; a fiber assembly positioned to collect the fluorescent light; and a compact light detection module including a first image array having a transparent block, a plurality of micro-mirrors in a row coupled to a first side of the transparent block, and a plurality of filters in a row coupled to a second side of the transparent block opposite the first side.