Optimization of the Mini-Flo flow cytometer
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
A new method of collecting light scattering from a liquid flow cytometer has been proposed; this apparatus is named the Mini-Flo flow cytometer. The Mini-Flo uses a high numerical aperture collection immersed in the flow stream. The collector consists of a conically tipped fiber optic pipe and terminating optical detector. This study was performed to improve the signal/noise ration and optimize the Mini-Flo`s performance for HIV blood detection applications. Experiments were performed to gauge the effects of Raman scattering, lens/filter fluorescence, and fiber optic fluorescence on the Mini-Flo`s performance and signal/noise ratio. Results indicated that the fiber optic was a major source of fluorescence noise and reducing its length from 33 cm to 10 cm increased the signal noise ratio from 8 to 75. Therefore, one of the key issues in optimizing the Mini-Flo`s performance is a redesign of the holding structure such that the fiber optic length is minimized. Further improvements of the Mini-Flo`s performance can be achieved by studying the polish of the fiber optic, the flow over the fiber optics`s conical tip, and the optimal particle rates.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 388136
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-ID-124076; ON: DE96050499
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: TH: Thesis (M.S.); PBD: Jun 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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