Flow Cytometry Irradiation Unit Light Beam Shaper Uniform Intensity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow-cytometry-based analytical instruments face errors due to non-uniform light intensity distribution, leading to misjudgment of particles when they enter different positions within the irradiated area, as the use of cylindrical lenses cannot achieve a 'flat-top' distribution of light intensity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light beam shaper, such as a one-dimensional diffractive optical element, between the light source and the focusing module to flatten the light intensity distribution in the direction perpendicular to both cell flow and light beam directions, ensuring uniform light irradiation across the irradiated area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cylindrical lenses are used to focus the light beam into an elliptical spot, then the light beam can be focused to match the cell size in Y direction and the through hole size in X direction, but the light intensity distribution remains Gaussian and non-uniform, causing misjudgment of particles at different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light intensity distribution parameter from Gaussian to uniform by introducing a light beam shaper. The shaper modifies the beam profile so that the light intensity is uniformly distributed across the irradiated area, ensuring that particles at different positions receive the same light intensity and produce consistent scattering signals, thereby eliminating position-dependent measurement errors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light beam shaper as an intermediary component between the cylindrical lenses and the flow chamber. This shaper acts as a mediator that transforms the Gaussian light intensity distribution into a uniform distribution, allowing the focused light beam to maintain both precision and measurement accuracy
2Illumination intensity
If the light beam is focused into a small elliptical spot to match cell dimensions, then the light energy is highly concentrated for strong scattering signals, but the light intensity becomes highly non-uniform with strong central peak and weak edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the intensity distribution parameter from a peaked Gaussian profile to a uniform profile while maintaining the same overall light energy concentration. The light beam shaper redistributes the intensity so that the central region and edge regions have equal intensity, ensuring that particles regardless of their position within the irradiated area produce consistent scattering signals, thereby improving reliability
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 uniform optical signal intensity for particles of the same kind, reducing errors and improving the accuracy and stability of particle identification, while maintaining the required size and shape of the irradiated area for effective analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam shaper disposed between the light source and the light beam focusing module, for flattening the distribution of light intensity on the irradiated area in the direction that is perpendicular to both directions in which cells to be detected flow and the light beam spreads
Implementation Method 2
a light beam focusing module for focusing the illuminating light beam into an irradiated area
Implementation Method 3
The photodetection unit is disposed to collect a variety of optical signals generated in the flow chamber 2 and convert them into electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an irradiation unit for a flow-cytometry-based analytical instrument and analytical instrument including the same. The irradiation unit includes a light source, a light beam focusing module for focusing the illuminating light beam on an irradiated area, and a light beam shaper disposed between the light source and the light beam focusing module. The light shaper is used for flattening the distribution of light intensity on the irradiated area in a third direction X that is perpendicular to both a first direction in which the light beam spreads and a second direction in which cells to be detected flow. The irradiation unit and the analytical instrument including the same enable the illuminating light beam to form the irradiated area with the uniform distribution of intensity in a predetermined direction to avoid misjudging particles of the same kind entering into different positions of the irradiated area as different, thereby improving accuracy.