Flow Cytometer Beam Shaping Optics for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers face challenges in achieving uniform intensity distribution for precise differential analysis of cellular components, as existing light beam profiles often result in varying light exposure across samples, leading to inaccurate measurements and inefficient laser power utilization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of beam shaping optics comprising an acylindrical lens and a cylindrical lens, which produce a light beam with a flat-top intensity profile along one axis and a Gaussian profile along another axis, ensuring consistent light exposure across the core stream, thereby enhancing precision and reducing laser power wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional light beam profiles are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the intensity distribution is non-uniform leading to measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beam shaping optics as an intermediary component between the laser source and the flow cell. This intermediary device (comprising cylindrical and/or acylindrical lenses) transforms the conventional Gaussian beam profile into a flat-top profile, enabling uniform light exposure across the core stream without fundamentally altering the laser source or detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the intensity distribution parameter of the light beam by using optical lenses to reshape the beam profile. Specifically, it transforms the intensity profile from a Gaussian distribution (with high peak intensity at center) to a flat-top distribution (with uniform intensity across the beam cross-section), thereby achieving uniform illumination of the core stream.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional Gaussian beam profiles are used, then the optical system remains simple, but laser power is inefficiently utilized with significant energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial intensity distribution parameter of the laser beam from Gaussian to flat-top profile. This parameter change ensures that laser power is distributed uniformly across the entire core stream cross-section, maximizing the effective utilization of laser power and minimizing energy waste in the high-intensity peak region that would otherwise illuminate empty space.
3Measurement precision
If uniform intensity distribution is achieved through beam shaping optics, then measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs beam shaping optics as an intermediary component that can be integrated into the existing flow cytometer optical path. By placing cylindrical and/or acylindrical lenses at strategic positions (e.g., at the laser source or at the flow cell), the system achieves uniform illumination without requiring fundamental redesign of the detection or flow systems.
4Productivity
If non-uniform light exposure is used, then the optical system remains simple, but scatter signal capture is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the intensity profile parameter from Gaussian to flat-top distribution, ensuring that light exposure is uniform across the core stream. This parameter change maximizes the scatter signal capture efficiency by ensuring that all particles passing through the core stream are illuminated with equal intensity, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio and detection sensitivity.
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 configuration provides a uniform intensity distribution with a coefficient of variation of less than 5%, improving the accuracy of cellular component analysis and enabling greater scatter signal capture with reduced laser power, while maintaining precise polarization for depolarization measurements.
Implementation Method 1
an acylindrical lens positioned to receive and focus light in a direction of a first axis orthogonal to a direction of light travel
Implementation Method 2
a cylindrical lens positioned to receive the light output from the acylindrical lens and to focus the light output from the acylindrical lens in a direction of a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and to the direction of light travel
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, a flow cytometer system is provided that includes beam shaping optics positioned to manipulate a light beam and produce a resulting light beam that irradiates the core stream at the interrogation zone of the flow cell. The beam shaping optics include an acylindrical lens positioned to receive and focus light in a direction of a first axis orthogonal to a direction of light travel, and a cylindrical lens positioned to receive the light output from the acylindrical lens and to focus the light output from the acylindrical lens in a direction of a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and to the direction of light travel. The resulting light beam output has a flat-top shaped intensity profile along the first axis, and a Gaussian-shaped intensity profile along the second axis. Related methods of shaping a light beam at an interrogation zone of a flow cell are also provided.