System and method for providing improved event reading and data processing capabilities in flow cytometer

Abstract

A system and method for use with a flow cytometer to improve event reading and data processing capabilities of the flow cytometer, while also providing efficient system configuration assessment capabilities. The system and method enables the flow cytometer to capture and sample an entire waveform representative of an event being read, and provides improved processing and analysis of the sampled data in a real time or near real-time basis. The system and method further enable the flow cytometer to assess its configuration and provide assessment results to an operator in an efficient and effective manner.

1 . A system for processing at least one signal representative of an event detected by at least one detector in a flow cytometer, the system comprising: 
 a sampling device, adapted to receive portions of said signal from said detector in time sequence and to generate a respective value representative of the respective magnitude of each respective portion of said signal as said respective portion of said signal is being received; and    a storage device, adapted to store said values generated by said sampling device.    
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said sampling device receives a number of said portions totaling substantially all of said signal, and generates said values which represent said portions of substantially all of said signal.    
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said signal is an analog signal representative of a light signal emitted from said event as detected by said detector.    
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an arithmetic device, adapted to arithmetically combine a designated value with each of said values.    
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said arithmetic device includes a subtractor which is adapted to subtract said designated value from each of said values.    
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said designated value is representative of an undesired signal detected by said detector.    
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said designated value is representative of a characteristic of said detector.    
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said sampling device is adapted to receive portions of a second said signal from a second said detector in time sequence and to generate a respective second value representative of the respective magnitude of each respective portion of said second signal as said respective portion of said second signal is being received; and    said storage device is adapted to store said second values generated by said sampling device.    
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said sampling device receives said portions of said signal at a time different from that during which said sampling device receives at least some of said portions of said second signal.    
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a comparator, adapted to compare each of said second values with a respective one of said first values to compare said signal to said second signal.    
     
     
         11 . A system for identifying a configuration of a detector unit of a flow cytometer, the system comprising: 
 a port, adapted to couple to a removable device, said removable device including an optical element and a memory adapted to store information pertaining to said optical element; and    a reader, adapted to read said information stored in said memory when said removable device is coupled to said port.    
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes an optical filter.    
     
     
         13 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes a mirror.    
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an indicator, adapted to provide an indication of said information read by said reader.    
     
     
         15 . A removable device, adapted for coupling with a port of a flow cytometer, the removable device comprising: 
 an optical element; and    a memory adapted to store information pertaining to said optical element.    
     
     
         16 . A removable device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes an optical filter.    
     
     
         17 . A removable device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes a mirror.    
     
     
         18 . A method for processing at least one signal representative of an event detected by at least one detector in a flow cytometer, the method comprising: 
 receiving portions of said signal from said detector in time sequence;    generating a respective value representative of the respective magnitude of each respective portion of said signal as said respective portion of said signal is being received; and    storing said values.    
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said receiving receives a number of said portions totaling substantially all of said signal; and    said generating generates said values which represent said portions of substantially all of said signal.    
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said signal is an analog signal representative of a light signal emitted from said event as detected by said detector.    
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 arithmetically combining a designated value with each of said values.    
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said arithmetic combining includes subtracting said designated value from each of said values.    
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said designated value is representative of an undesired signal detected by said detector.    
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said designated value is representative of a characteristic of said detector.    
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 receiving portions of a second said signal from a second said detector in time sequence;    generating a respective second value representative of the respective magnitude of each respective portion of said second signal as said respective portion of said second signal is being received; and    storing said second values.    
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said receiving steps are performed such that said portions of said signal are received at a time different from that during which at least some of said portions of said second signal are received.    
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 comparing each of said second values with a respective one of said first values to compare said signal to said second signal.    
     
     
         28 . A method for identifying a configuration of a detector unit of a flow cytometer, comprising: 
 coupling a removable device to a port of said flow cytometer, said removable device including an optical element and a memory adapted to store information pertaining to said optical element; and    reading said information stored in said memory when said removable device is coupled to said port.    
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes an optical filter.    
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes a mirror.    
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 providing an indication of said information read from said memory.    
     
     
         32 . A method for manufacturing a removable device, adapted for coupling with a port of a flow cytometer, the method comprising: 
 coupling an optical element to said removable device; and    including a memory in said removable device, said memory being adapted to store information pertaining to said optical element.    
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes an optical filter.    
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said optical element includes a mirror.