Microassembled imaging flow cytometer

摘要

A microassembled imaging cytometer includes a sensing location that undergoes relative motion with a cell. Light from a light source is focused by a focusing element to a plurality of focused illumination spots or lines at the sensing location, illuminating the cell as the cell traverses the sensing location. A collection lens collects light emanating from the cell and refocuses the collected light onto an array light sensor. The focusing element may include an array of microlenses having spherical or aspheric surfaces. The system may include a processing unit that constructs a digital image of the cell based at least in part on signals produced by the array light sensor indicating the intensity and distribution of light falling on the array light sensor. The system may characterize cells using light emanating from the cells by fluorescence.

主权项

1. A microassembled imaging cytometer, comprising:
a sensing location that undergoes relative motion with a cell; a light source that produces a beam; a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the beam of light to a plurality of focused illumination spots at a focal plane at the sensing location, such that the cell is illuminated by one or more of the focused illumination spots as the cell traverses the sensing location, wherein each of the focused illumination spots is smaller than the cell; an array light sensor that comprises an array of pixels and produces signals indicating the intensity and distribution of light falling on the pixels; a collection lens that collects and refocuses light emanating from the cell to a plurality of separate, discernible spots on the array light sensor; and a processing unit that constructs a digital image of the cell based at least in part on the signals.