Apparatuses, Systems And Methods For Imaging Flow Cytometry

Abstract

The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an illumination source configured to illuminate a sample located at an illumination zone;   an image detector configured to receive a plurality of signals from the sample illuminated by the illumination source,
 the plurality of signals comprising at least a first signal and a second signal, 
 the first signal including a first information and the second signal including a second information; and 
   a filter train configured to filter the plurality of signals,
 the system configured to generate a composite image from the sample, 
 the composite image comprising information from the first signal and information from the second signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image detector receives the plurality of signals along an imaging axis and wherein the illumination source provides illumination at an angle to the imaging axis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter train comprises a bandpass filter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source comprises a laser. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the filter train comprises a laser attenuation filter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow path within which the illumination zone is located. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image detector is a color camera. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composite image is at least one of a fluorescence image, a luminescence image, a phase contrast image, a holographic image, a bright field image, a color image, and a dark field image. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 collecting signals from an illuminated sample located at an illumination zone,
 the signals comprising at least a first signal and a second signal, the first signal including a first information and the second signal include a second information; and 
   forming a composite image from the sample, the composite image comprising information from the first signal and from the second signal.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sample comprises a cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sample is illuminated by a laser. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the signals are collected along an imaging axis and wherein the sample is illuminated along an illumination axis disposed at an angle to the imaging axis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising filtering the signals so as to reduce a scatter in the collected signals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising filtering the signals to isolate a signal from at least one label associated within the sample. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one label is a structure-specific dye. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sample comprises therein a contrast dye that increases contrast associated with the at least one label. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising filtering the signals to (i) isolate a signal from a first label associated with the sample and (ii) isolate a signal from a second label associated with the sample. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first label comprises a first structure-specific dye and the second label comprises a second structure-specific dye. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composite image is at least one of a fluorescence image, a luminescence image, a phase contrast image, a holographic image, a bright field image, a color image, and a dark field image. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the composite image comprises a fluorescence image.