APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF INDIVIDUAL RED BLOOD CELL SHAPE

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus and method to determine individual red blood cell shape within a flow cytometric aperture. Cell shape is determined by measuring the asymmetry of a light scatter pattern produced by laser illumination of the cell within the aperture by light scatter detectors which collect light from specific angular regions of light scatter, and analyzing the asymmetry of the light scatter patterns to determine the individual red blood cell shape. Embodiments of the invention further provide for the determination of red blood cell shape by measuring the asymmetry of a light scatter pattern and measuring electrical resistance of the red blood cell.