US5608519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser apparatus and method for microscopic and spectroscopic analysis and processing of biological cells
Assignee: PAUL L GOURLEY PHD
•
Filing: 1995-03-20
•
Granted: 1997-03-04
•
Expires: 2015-03-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for microscopic and spectroscopic analysis and processing of biological cells. The apparatus comprises a laser having an analysis region within the laser cavity for containing one or more biological cells to be analyzed. The presence of a cell within the analysis region in superposition with an activated portion of a gain medium of the laser acts to encode information about the cell upon the laser beam, the cell information being recoverable by an analysis means that preferably includes an array photodetector such as a CCD camera and a spectrometer. The apparatus and method may be used to analyze biomedical cells including blood cells and the like, and may include processing means for manipulating, sorting, or eradicating cells after analysis thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul L. Gourley
- 👤 Mark F. Gourley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/149; G01N2015/1024; G01N2015/1029; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/39; G01N2021/391; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for analyzing biological cells comprising: (a) a laser having a resonant optical cavity formed by at least two reflecting mirrors, a gain medium within the resonant optical cavity, and pump means for activating the gain medium; and (b) an analysis region located within the resonant optical cavity for containing at least one biological cell to be analyzed, the analysis region being disposed along a central portion of the cavity wherein a laser beam is generated by the laser at least partially in response to one of the biological cells present within the analysis region, the lasers beam having information about the biological cell encoded thereupon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for analyzing biological cells comprising: (a) a laser having a resonant optical cavity formed by at least two reflecting mirrors, a gain medium within the resonant optical cavity, and pump means for activating the gain medium; and (b) an analysis region located within the resonant optical cavity for containing at least one biological cell to be analyzed, the analysis region being disposed along a central portion of the cavity wherein a laser beam is generated by the laser at least partially in response to one of the biological cells present within the analysis region, the lasers beam having information about the biological cell encoded thereupon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including analysis means for receiving a portion of the laser beam and recovering the information about the biological cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the information is in the form of an optical characteristic of the laser beam selected from the group consisting of an emission spectrum, a transverse mode profile, an optical intensity, a nonlinear optical signal, a lasing threshold characteristic, or a combination thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including processing means for processing of the biological cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the processing means includes at least one manipulation laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the analysis region is located within a flow cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including means for supplying the biological cells to the flow cell, and means for accumulating the biological cells after passing through the flow cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the gain medium comprises at least in part a fluorescent stain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the laser beam has an emission wavelength within the wavelength range of about 600 to about 1500 nanometers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for activating the gain medium is a pump laser having a pump beam directed into the gain medium to provide an activated portion thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further including steering means for steering the pump beam to activate a particular part of the gain medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the laser is a semiconductor laser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which the semiconductor laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which one of the reflecting mirrors is a distributed Bragg reflector mirror on a semiconductor substrate, and another reflecting mirror is located on a transparent substrate above the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which the pump means for activating the gain medium is a pump laser having a pump beam directed into the gain medium to provide an activated portion thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further including steering means for steering the pump beam to activate a particular part of the gain medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which the gain medium includes a semiconductor p-n junction, and the pump means for activating the gain medium is an electrical current.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for analyzing biological cells comprising: (a) a first substrate having a lower reflecting mirror thereon, and a gain medium above the lower reflecting mirror; (b) a second substrate having an upper reflecting mirror formed on a lower surface thereof, the upper and lower reflecting mirrors forming a resonant optical cavity; (c) an analysis region within the resonant optical cavity for containing at least one biological cell to be analyzed, the analysis region being disposed along a central portion of the cavity; and (d) pump means for activating the gain medium to generate in combination with one of the cells present within the central portion of the cavity a laser beam having information about the biological cell encoded thereupon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for analyzing biological cells comprising: (a) a first substrate having a lower reflecting mirror thereon, and a gain medium above the lower reflecting mirror; (b) a second substrate having an upper reflecting mirror formed on a lower surface thereof, the upper and lower reflecting mirrors forming a resonant optical cavity; (c) an analysis region within the resonant optical cavity for containing at least one biological cell to be analyzed, the analysis region being disposed along a central portion of the cavity; and (d) pump means for activating the gain medium to generate in combination with one of the cells present within the central portion of the cavity a laser beam having information about the biological cell encoded thereupon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the lower reflecting mirror is a distributed Bragg reflector mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the pump means for activating the gain medium is a pump laser having a pump beam directed into the gain medium to provide an activated portion thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further including steering means for steering the pump beam to activate a particular part of the gain medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the gain medium includes a semiconductor p-n junction, and the pump means for activating the gain medium is an electrical current.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further including analysis means for receiving a portion of the laser beam and recovering the information about the biological cells.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 23 in which the information is in the form of an optical characteristic of the laser beam selected from the group consisting of an emission spectrum, a transverse mode profile, an optical intensity, a nonlinear optical signal, a lasing threshold characteristic, or a combination thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23 further including processing means for processing the biological cells.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 in which the processing means includes at least one manipulation laser.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the analysis region is located within a flow cell.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 27 further including means for supplying the biological cells to the flow cell, and means for accumulating the biological cells after passing through the flow cell.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the gain medium comprises at least in part a fluorescent stain.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the laser beam has an emission wavelength within the wavelength range of about 600 to about 1500 nanometers.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for analyzing biological cells comprising the steps of: (a) locating at least one cell to be analyzed within an analysis region within a resonant optical cavity of a laser; (b) activating a gain medium within the laser by a pump means and generating a laser beam within the cavity of the laser; and (c) encoding the laser beam with information about at least one of the biological cells present in the analysis region.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for analyzing biological cells comprising the steps of: (a) locating at least one cell to be analyzed within an analysis region within a resonant optical cavity of a laser; (b) activating a gain medium within the laser by a pump means and generating a laser beam within the cavity of the laser; and (c) encoding the laser beam with information about at least one of the biological cells present in the analysis region.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 31 further including the step of recovering the information about the cell by measuring at least one optical characteristic of the laser beam by analysis means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 32 in which the optical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an emission spectrum, a transverse mode profile, an optical intensity, a nonlinear optical signal, a lasing threshold characteristic, or a combination thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 32 in which the pump means is a pump laser for optically activating the gain medium.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 34 further including the step of steering a pump beam from the pump laser to activate a particular part of the gain medium for analyzing at least one cell in superposition therewith.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 further including the step of processing a plurality of biological cells after analyzing the cells and recovering information thereabout.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 36 in which the step of processing the cells includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of sorting, manipulating, or eradicating cells.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 31 further including the steps of supplying a biological cells to the analysis region located within a flow cell, and accumulating the biological cells after passing through the flow cell.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 38 further including the step of activating at least one valve for supplying the biological cells to the analysis region.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 further including the step of staining the cells with a fluorescent stain.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the fluorescent stain comprises at least a part of the gain medium.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for analyzing biological cells comprising: (a) a first laser having a resonant optical cavity including a gain medium and an analysis region for containing at least one biological cell to be analyzed; and (b) a second laser for activating the gain medium to generate a laser beam within the resonant optical cavity of the first laser, with the laser beam having information about the biological cell encoded thereupon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for analyzing biological cells comprising: (a) a first laser having a resonant optical cavity including a gain medium and an analysis region for containing at least one biological cell to be analyzed; and (b) a second laser for activating the gain medium to generate a laser beam within the resonant optical cavity of the first laser, with the laser beam having information about the biological cell encoded thereupon.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 42 in which the first laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |