Laser Optics Assembly for Vibration-Stable Flow Cytometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers struggle to maintain consistent and accurate performance in adverse environmental conditions, such as temperature changes and mechanical vibrations, requiring frequent calibration and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A flow cytometer and laser optics assembly designed to withstand wide temperature ranges and mechanical vibrations, utilizing a laser optics assembly with secured lenses and balanced thermal expansion materials, and a slowly converging beam to maintain precise measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flow cytometer uses traditional laser optics assembly, then alignment and calibration can be performed in laboratory settings, but the device requires frequent realignment and calibration when exposed to environmental changes such as temperature variations and mechanical vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the optical system by implementing a rigid, fixed optical bench design that eliminates adjustable components. The laser optics assembly is mechanically coupled to the flow cell with precise tolerances, creating a system where thermal expansion and mechanical stability are controlled through material selection and structural design rather than adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flow cytometer into functionally independent modules: a fixed laser optics assembly, a flow cell unit, and a detector system. Each module is designed to operate independently with defined interfaces, allowing the optics to be calibrated once during assembly and remain stable without requiring frequent realignment during operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flow cytometer is designed for portability and field use, then it can operate in non-laboratory settings, but it becomes more sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature changes and mechanical vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of environmental variations into a benefit by designing a passive compensation system. The rigid optical bench and fixed mechanical couplings are designed with controlled thermal expansion characteristics that actually stabilize the optical path length across temperature variations, turning thermal effects from a source of error into a predictable, compensated parameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies in the optical bench and housing structures, combining materials with complementary thermal and mechanical properties. The assembly uses materials selected for their dimensional stability, vibration damping characteristics, and thermal expansion matching to create a composite structure that resists environmental disturbances while maintaining optical precision.
3Measurement precision
If flow cytometer uses tightly focused laser beam, then measurement precision is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to core stream shifts and requires beam stopper components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the beam stopper component from the optical system by redesigning the detection geometry. The detectors are positioned and angled to naturally exclude the direct laser beam path while maintaining sensitivity to scattered and fluorescent light from particles, removing the need for mechanical beam blocking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point focused beam approach to a distributed illumination scheme where the laser beam is focused to a line or area that matches the flow cell geometry. This dimensional change allows the entire particle flow path to be illuminated uniformly, maintaining measurement precision across the full stream width without requiring tight focal point alignment.
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 assembly provides consistent performance without the need for frequent calibration, maintaining accuracy under 10 G's of random-axis vibration and temperature variations up to 30°C, with precise time-of-flight measurements and insensitivity to core stream shifts.
Implementation Method 1
particles flowing through the sample core stream are illuminated by the laser beam, absorbing and scattering the laser light in accordance with the refractive indices, sizes, shapes, and other properties of the particles
Implementation Method 2
particles flowing through the sample core stream are illuminated by the laser beam, absorbing and scattering the laser light
Implementation Method 3
a collimation assembly at least partially disposed within the barrel, a first lens at least partially disposed within the barrel, a second lens at least partially disposed within the barrel, and a third lens at least partially disposed within the barrel
Data Source
AI summary
A flow cytometer, laser optics assembly thereof, and methods of assembling the same are provided. The flow cytometer is capable of yielding consistent and accurate results despite exposure to adverse environmental conditions such as, for example, temperature changes within a relatively wide temperature range and/or a relatively large amount of random-axis mechanical vibration. The flow cytometer of the present disclosure is additionally or alternatively relatively insensitive to real or apparent core stream shifts, employs a slowly converging beam along the axis perpendicular to core stream flow, and provides the ability to precisely measure time-of-flight.