Flow cytometer inspection light radially symmetrically converged on linear particle stream

摘要

In a flow cytometer a linear flow 80 of particles such as bull sperm is emitted from source 79 to pass through the focus F of a conic reflector 78. Laser light 73 is transmitted via prism 74 and the reflector 78 to converge radially symmetrically on the flow at the inspection zone coinciding with the focus, and the light produced or reflected by the particles in the flow is collected by the reflector 78, mirror 77 and lens system 80 to a detector system 200, 82. A processor derives predetermined information relating to the particles in the flow (DNA content from the particle fluorescent response in the case of semen) and this information is correlated with the associated particle downstream of the inspection zone so that the sperm can be sorted into male and female (X and Y chromosome) streams by sorting apparatus 83.