Methods for aligning a laser with a flow stream and systems thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019094123-A1
Application number	US-201816125504-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2017
Publication date	Mar 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods and systems for aligning a laser with a flow stream, such as in a flow cytometer. Methods according to certain embodiments include irradiating a flow stream with a laser through a wedged window, detecting light signals from the laser irradiated flow stream and aligning the laser with the flow stream by spatially adjusting the wedged window in response to the detected signal. Systems having a wedged window for aligning a laser with a flow stream are also described. Kits having a wedged window and a mount for spatially adjusting the wedged window to align a laser with a flow stream are also provided.

First claim

1 . A method of aligning a laser with a flow stream, the method comprising:
irradiating a flow stream with a laser through a wedged window; detecting light signals from the laser irradiated flow stream; and aligning the laser with the flow stream by spatially adjusting the wedged window in response to the detected light signal.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wedged window comprises a wedge angle of from 5 arc minute to 120 arc minute.

3 - 4 . (canceled)

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wedged window has a refractive index of from 1 to 3.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting light signals from the laser irradiated flow stream comprises detecting light signals from laser irradiated perturbations in the flow stream.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the perturbations are from particles in the flow stream.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the particles comprise one or more of cells, non-cellular fragments, macromolecules and beads.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light signal comprises scattered light from the flow stream.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein spatially adjusting the wedge window comprises adjusting the position of the wedge window in an X-Y plane along a horizontal axis of the flow stream.

11 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method comprises adjusting the spatial position of the wedged window with a motorized adjuster.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the motorized adjuster comprises a step motor.

15 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising determining the position of the wedged window that produces a maximal light signal amplitude from the laser irradiated flow stream.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein spatially adjusting the wedged window comprises adjusting an angle of orientation of the wedged window.

17 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the method comprises adjusting the angle of orientation of the wedged window with a motorized adjuster.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the motorized adjuster comprises a step motor.

21 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising determining the angle of orientation of the wedged window that produces a maximal light signal amplitude from the laser irradiated flow stream.

22 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the flow stream is irradiated through the wedged window with a diode laser.

27 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light signal is detected with a position sensing detector.

30 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . A system comprising:
a flow cell configured to propagate a sample in a flow stream; a spatially adjustable wedged window; a laser configured to irradiate the sample in the flow stream through the wedged window; and a sensor configured to detect light signals from the flow stream to align the laser with the flow stream.

34 . The system according to claim 33 , wherein the wedged window comprises a wedge angle of from 5 arc minute to 120 arc minute.

35 - 59 . (canceled)

60 . A kit comprising:
a laser; a flow cell configured to propagate a sample in a flow stream; a wedged window; and a mount configured for coupling to the wedged window and for spatially adjusting the wedged window to align the laser with the flow stream.

61 - 72 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Cao Jianying
• Shao Qing

Classifications

• G01N15/1434 Primary

  Optical arrangements · CPC title

• G01N2015/1006

  for cytology · CPC title

• G01N21/0303

  Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment (G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2015/1452

  Adjustment of focus; Alignment · CPC title

• G01N15/1459

  the analysis being performed on a sample stream · CPC title