Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for determining drop delay of a particle in a flow stream (e.g., in a particle analyzer). Methods according to certain embodiments include irradiating the particle in the flow stream with two or more spatially separated lasers, detecting light from the particle in a first photodetector channel and a second photodetector channel calculating a velocity of the particle in the flow stream based on the detected light in the first photodetector channel and the second photodetector channel and determining the drop delay of the particle based on the calculated velocity. Systems (e.g., particle analyzers) having a light source with two or more spatially separated lasers and a light detection system for practicing the subject methods are also described. Integrated circuits and non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for determining drop delay according to the subject methods are also provided.

The present relates to a measurement device (1) for the detection and/or measurement of particles in a fluid, the measurement device comprising a fluid source (11) for producing a flow of fluid (111) along a fluid flow path, a first laser source (12) positioned for emitting a first laser beam (120) of laser light in a measurement volume of the fluid flow path for light scattering; a scattered light detecting means (13) for detecting a presence of a particle in the fluid flow path through detection and measurement of laser beam light scattered on different angles by said particle, wherein it further comprises a second laser source (14) positioned for emitting a second laser beam (140) of laser light in said measurement volume of the fluid flow path for Raman and fluorescence excitation; a Raman and fluorescence detecting means (15) for detecting a Raman scattering signal emitted by the fluid and a Fluorescence signal emitted by said particle upon excitation by said second laser beam (140).

Aspects of the disclosure include methods for generating angularly deflected laser beams for irradiating a sample in a flow stream. Methods according to certain embodiments include generating a first set of angularly deflected laser beams and a second set of angularly deflected laser beams, propagating the first set of angularly deflected laser beams along a different optical path from the second set of angularly deflected laser beams, combining the first set of angularly deflected laser beams with the second set of angularly deflected laser beams and directing the combined sets of laser beams onto a sample in a flow stream and detecting light from the sample. Systems having a laser, an acousto-optic device and an optical adjustment component configured to generate a first set of angularly deflected laser beams and a second set of angularly deflected laser beams are also described.

In some embodiments, a plurality of smart flow cytometers are coupled into communication with a computer communication network. A central repair server system is coupled into communication with the computer communication network and the plurality of smart flow cytometers. Each of the plurality of smart flow cytometers includes a monitoring system coupled to monitor differing operational parameters of the smart flow cytometer for possible failure. The monitoring system can detect an advanced failure of components based on the operational parameters being monitored. The monitoring system can also detect an advanced need for repair and maintenance based on the operational parameters being monitored.

Examples disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for detecting the size of a particle in a fluid. In one example, a system for imaging a particle includes a first imaging device. The first imaging device includes a lens and a digital detector. The system further includes a laser source. He laser source is configured to emit a first laser beam and a second laser beam. The digital detector is configured to accumulate a metric of an intensity of an accumulated light that passes through the lens. The accumulated light is scattered from the particle. The accumulated light includes light from the first laser beam and the second laser beam.

The present application discloses a nanoparticle recognition device and method based on detection of scattered light with electric dipole rotation. According to the scattering model of nanoparticles, the in situ detection of particle morphology in an optical trap is realized by the methods of particle suspension control and scattered light detection and separation. Specifically, two linearly polarized laser beams are used, wherein the first laser beam suspends nanoparticles and rotates nanoparticles by adjusting the polarization direction; the polarization direction of the second linearly polarized light is unchanged, and scattered light in a specific dipole direction is excited; the change of the polarizability of the nanoparticles is deduced by monitoring the change of the light intensity of the scattered light excited by the second laser beam at the fixed position, so that particle morphology recognition is realized.

A method of foreign object debris discrimination incudes illuminating particulates located within a sensing volume with a first electromagnetic radiation pulse emitted from a first source, and illuminating the particulates within the sensing volume with a second electromagnetic radiation pulse emitted from a second source, wherein the second electromagnetic radiation pulse has a second wavelength range within the terahertz (THz) regime. The first electromagnetic radiation returns and the second electromagnetic radiation returns are compared to determine a scattering ratio from the comparing step. The scattering ratio is then utilized to determine a resultant foreign object debris type of the solid objects.

Provided are systems and methods that allow for brightfield imaging in a flow cytometer, allowing for collection of fluorescence and high-quality image date. The disclosed technology also gives rise to an illumination pattern that allows a user to create different oblique or structured illumination profiles within a static system. With the disclosed approach, a user can illuminate a sample from a first direction (e.g., with laser illumination configured to give rise to one or more of fluorescence information and scattering information), collect scattering information from a second direction, collect fluorescence information from a third direction, and capture an image of the sample from a fourth direction. (Two or more of the foregoing can be accomplished simultaneously.) Also as described elsewhere herein, an illumination used to illuminate the sample for visual image capture can be communicated to the same through a lens that also collects fluorescence from the sample.

Aspects of the disclosure include methods for generating angularly deflected laser beams for irradiating a sample in a flow stream. Methods according to certain embodiments include generating a first set of angularly deflected laser beams and a second set of angularly deflected laser beams, propagating the first set of angularly deflected laser beams along a different optical path from the second set of angularly deflected laser beams, combining the first set of angularly deflected laser beams with the second set of angularly deflected laser beams and directing the combined sets of laser beams onto a sample in a flow stream and detecting light from the sample. Systems having a laser, an acousto-optic device and an optical adjustment component configured to generate a first set of angularly deflected laser beams and a second set of angularly deflected laser beams are also described.

An optical proximity sensor includes a first vertical cavity surface-emitting laser configured for self-mixing interferometry to determine distance to and/or velocity of an object. The optical proximity sensor also includes a second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser configured for self-mixing interferometry to determine whether any variation in a fixed distance has occurred. The optical proximity sensor leverages output from the second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser to calibrate output from the second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser to eliminate and/or mitigate environmental effects, such as temperature changes.