Optical Combiner for Flow Cytometer Laser Beam Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers face challenges in combining multiple laser beams efficiently due to space constraints and limitations in existing technologies, such as the use of expensive fiber optic cables that do not efficiently transmit UV radiation, and movable mirrors that can only use a single laser at a time, leading to issues with focal points and beam divergence.
Innovation Solution
An optical combiner system that combines two or more laser beams into a collinear beam using a dichroic beam combiner, beam size adjuster, and focusable beam shaping optics with cylindrical lenses, allowing for precise adjustment of beam size and convergence/divergence to focus both beams at the same location on a fluid stream, enabling the use of additional lasers at different wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fiber optic cables are used to combine laser beams, then beam combination is achieved, but UV radiation transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser beams spatially by combining them into a single optical path using beam combining optics, allowing simultaneous transmission of multiple wavelengths including UV without the transmission losses associated with fiber optic cables. This direct optical combining approach eliminates the need for fiber coupling that causes UV energy loss.
2Ease of operation
If movable mirrors are used to select laser beams, then single laser operation is achieved, but multi-laser functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal optical system where the beam combining optics can simultaneously handle multiple laser wavelengths (including UV, visible, and infrared) through a single optical path. The system is designed to accept and combine beams from multiple laser sources with different wavelengths, enabling multi-laser functionality while maintaining ease of operation through a unified optical architecture.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple laser beams are focused separately, then individual beam focusing is achieved, but space requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser beams into a single collinear optical path using beam combining optics, allowing all beams to be focused at a common location on the fluid stream. This approach eliminates the need for separate focusing systems for each laser, significantly reducing the space required for the optical system while maintaining precise focusing capability for all wavelengths.
4Ease of operation
If beam size adjusters are added to each laser path, then beam size control is achieved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal beam size control mechanism where adjustable beam combining optics serve multiple functions: they combine multiple laser beams, control beam sizes, and adjust convergence/divergence for all lasers simultaneously. This multi-functional approach provides beam size control capability while avoiding the need for separate adjusters for each laser path, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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 the efficient combination and focusing of multiple laser beams at the same location, increasing the power density and flexibility of flow cytometers, reducing space requirements, and enabling the detection of multiple markers without the limitations of fiber optic cables or movable mirrors.
Implementation Method 1
a dichroic beam combiner (110) that combines a first laser beam (102) and a second laser beam (104) into a collinear beam
Implementation Method 2
focusable beam shaping optics (112) that focus the combined, substantially collinear beam so that a focal point of the combined, substantially collinear beam is located on the stream (118)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is an optical combiner for combining multiple laser beams in a flow cytometer. A dichroic beam combiner is used to combine a second laser beam with a first laser beam so that the two beams are collinear. A beam size adjuster is utilized to adjust the size and convergence/divergence of the second laser beam so that both laser beams focus in a vertical direction at the same location on a stream in the flow cytometer. A cylindrical lens with a vertically oriented axis in the focusable beam shaping optics can also be adjusted to adjust the location of the focus point of the two beams in the horizontal direction. Alignment is maintained with the opto-mechanical adjustments made on one laser beam relative to the other laser beam path. Additional beams can also be added to the optical path.