Optical Filter Verification in Flow Cytometry Fluorescence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers face accuracy issues due to manual errors or defects in setting optical filters, leading to inaccurate assays and analyses, and existing methods like RFID tagging fail to accurately identify incorrect filter positions or deteriorated characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device with an irradiation unit, optical system, and photodetectors that analyze fluorescence intensities to determine the appropriateness of optical filter settings, using test samples like AlignCheck and SortCal beads to verify filter states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual setting of optical filters is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to artificial errors, mounting defects, or filter deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically verifies the correctness of optical filter settings by detecting fluorescence signals from test samples and comparing them against expected wavelength-specific patterns. This feedback mechanism identifies mounting defects, artificial errors, or filter deterioration, enabling corrective actions to restore measurement precision without increasing mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flow cytometer performs self-verification of optical filter settings using built-in test samples and detection systems. The device automatically determines whether filters are correctly mounted and functioning, reducing reliance on manual verification while maintaining measurement accuracy through automated quality control
2Measurement precision
If automated optical filter setting verification is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system leverages the existing multi-color detection capability of the flow cytometer, using the same optical detectors and sample handling mechanisms already present for routine assays. This approach enables filter verification without adding dedicated specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved measurement precision
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 system ensures accurate and reliable optical filter settings by detecting and correcting errors, thereby enhancing the precision of biological sample analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an irradiation unit that irradiates a sample with light; an optical system that demultiplexes fluorescence from the sample
Implementation Method 2
an optical system that demultiplexes fluorescence from the sample using two or more optical filters
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of photodetectors that detect intensities of respective pieces of fluorescence demultiplexed by the optical system
Data Source
AI summary
To suppress accuracy deterioration due to an optical filter. An information processing device according to an embodiment includes an irradiation unit (101) that irradiates a sample with light, an optical system (11a, 11b, 11c) that demultiplexes fluorescence from the sample using two or more optical filters, a plurality of photodetectors (12a, 12b) that detect intensities of the respective pieces of fluorescence demultiplexed by the optical system, and a processing unit (103) that analyzes the sample based on the intensities of the pieces of fluorescence detected by the photodetector respectively. The processing unit determines, based on first light intensities for each of the test samples detected by the photodetector respectively via the optical system when the two or more types of test samples are irradiated with the light from the irradiation unit, whether setting states of the two or more optical filters are appropriate.