Methods of sperm cell sensing utilizing a semiconductor detector and cytometer apparatus
Inventors
SAVAGE, Frederick • Szejna, Glenn J. • Xia, Zheng
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11862748-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cytometer includes an avalanche photodiode, a switching power supply, a filter, and voltage adjustment circuitry. The switching power supply includes a feedback loop. The filter is electrically connected between the switching power supply and the avalanche photodiode. The voltage adjustment circuitry adjusts a voltage on the feedback loop based at least in part on a voltage measured between the filter and the avalanche photodiode.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a cytometer that uses a semiconductor detector in combination with a switching power supply including a feedback loop. A filter is electrically connected between the switching power supply and the semiconductor detector, and voltage adjustment circuitry adjusts a voltage on the feedback loop based at least in part on a voltage measured between the filter and the semiconductor detector.
The disclosed system further provides voltage adjustment based on measured filtered voltage, and it uses a hybrid analog/digital feedback architecture for noise reduction in biasing. A readback architecture includes an analog-to-digital converter and a digital-to-analog converter together with a processor to control and adjust the feedback-loop voltage for the semiconductor detector, including optical gain maintenance using detector characteristics and temperature.
The document also describes downstream components for deactivation and sorting using droplet-based control linked to the detector output signal. A first electromagnetic radiation source emits an interrogation beam at a particle in an interrogation location, and the semiconductor detector detects an emission at the interrogation location and outputs a signal based on the detected emission, which is used to cause a deactivation beam to be emitted at the particle and/or to charge droplets and differentially deflect droplets via charge plates for sorting based on the detected particle differentiation characteristics.
Claims Coverage
The provided excerpt includes four independent claim sets (clm-00001, clm-00010, clm-00017, clm-00018). Each independent claim is centered on detector-based control of cytometry or flow cytometry functions using electromagnetic radiation interrogation, semiconductor detection, and, depending on the claim, feedback-loop voltage adjustment, deactivation-beam control, and droplet sorting via charge plates.
Feedback-loop voltage adjustment using filtered voltage
A cytometer comprising a semiconductor detector; a switching power supply including a feedback loop; a filter electrically connected between the switching power supply and the semiconductor detector; and voltage adjustment circuitry configured to adjust a voltage on the feedback loop based at least in part on a voltage measured between the filter and the semiconductor detector.
Deactivation beam controlled by detector emission signal
A system for causing the deactivation of particles in a flow cytometry apparatus, the system comprising a first electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit an interrogation beam; a semiconductor detector configured to detect an emission at an interrogation location and output a signal based on the detected emission; and a second electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit a deactivation beam at the particle based on the output signal.
Sorting using charge plates charged from detector output signal
A system for sorting particles in a flow cytometry apparatus, the system comprising an electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit an interrogation beam; semiconductor detector circuitry comprising at least one semiconductor detector configured to detect an emission at the interrogation location and output a signal based on the detected emission; and a set of charge plates to deflect differentially charged droplets, wherein the differentially charged droplets are charged based on the output signal.
Deactivation of sperm stained by a DNA-interlacing dye using semiconductor detection
A system for causing the deactivation of particles in a flow cytometry apparatus, the system comprising an electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit an interrogation beam at a particle in an interrogation location; and a semiconductor detector configured to detect an emission at the interrogation location and output a signal based on the detected emission; wherein the particle is a sperm cell stained by a DNA-interlacing dye.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive concept is detector-driven control in a cytometer or flow cytometry apparatus. Claim coverage centers on adjusting a feedback-loop voltage using a voltage measured between a filter and the semiconductor detector, and on using a semiconductor detector output signal derived from emissions during interrogation to control deactivation-beam emission and droplet charging and differential deflection for sorting.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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