AUTOMATED ALIGNMENT OF OPTICS WITHIN A FLOW CYTOMETER

摘要

A method and a flow cytometer system in which a light path is aligned to optimally direct light from a light source to a flow cell of a flow cytometer instrument are provided. The flow cytometer may include an orientable mirror disposed in the light path between the light source and the flow cell. By changing an orientation of the mirror through a sequence of different orientations, an optimal orientation of the mirror may be determined, and the mirror may be oriented accordingly before proceeding to conduct a flow cytometry investigation.

主权项

1. A method of aligning a light path to direct light from a light source to a flow cell of a flow cytometer instrument, the method comprising:
setting an orientation of an orientable mirror disposed to direct light from the light source toward the flow cell, the setting comprising:
starting with the mirror positioned at a first test orientation, changing positioning of the mirror from the first test orientation through a sequence of different test orientations of the mirror;for each said test orientation of the sequence, flowing a validation fluid through the flow cell while the light source is operating to provide light to the mirror and collecting flow cytometry response data on light emitted from the flow cell with the mirror at the said test orientation, the validation fluid comprising a known concentration of at least one known particle;analyzing the flow cytometry response data to identify an optimal orientation of the mirror from among each of the test orientations of the mirror; andorienting the mirror at a set orientation corresponding to the identified optimal orientation.