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Abstract

Flow systems for photometric analysis of particles, such as biological cells, particularly for obtaining multidmensional slit-scan type contours, as well as other images. In one broad approach, fluorochrome-stained cells in suspension flow through a focused slit of laser excitation light defining a planar excitation region in the X-Y plane. As each fluorochrome-stained cell flows through the excitation region, fluorescence emissions are generated at the intersection of the excitation region and the cell. To generate a slit-scan type contour along the Z axis, fluorescence emissions are monitored as the cell flows through the excitation region and a plurality of substantially planar parallel cross-sections of the cell along the Z axis are excited to fluorescence. To generate slit-scan type contrours along the cellular X and Y axes, various optical system embodiments define various combinations of cellular linear portions within the Z axis cross-section. The fluorescence or other emissions from these cellular linear portions are then combined by integrating to generate the desired contours. In another broad approach described, a three-dimensional volume of a cell in flow is illuminated with exciting radiation which is not a narrow beam. Three optical systems view a central point in the flow system. The optical systems are slit-imaging and have three respective axes orthogonal to each other and symmetrically located about the stream such that the axis of flow forms equal angles with each optical axis. A photomultiplier tube for each optical system detects the imaged cell fluorescence.

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