Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Coulter International Corp.

Helen A Minnich

William Weigong Li

Erich Frazier

Erich H Frazier

A detector assembly for analysis of light emitted form a fluorescent material, an optical alignment assembly for introducing an output beam into a detector array or demultiplexer, and methods of demultiplexing a beam of light into wavelength bands. The detector assembly generally includes an optical alignment assembly to introduce an output beam having a projected optical axis into an array of filters. The optical alignment assembly is mounted substantially orthogonally to a plane of reflective light defined by the path of the output beam through the filter array. The array includes filters arranged in two rows in parallel. Each filter transmits a particular band of the output beam and reflects the remaining bands to the next filter in the opposite row of filters. The array further includes a plurality of detectors mounted in detector ports. The optical alignment assembly presented herein generally includes a housing configured to receive an optical fiber, at least one collimating lens, a rotatable housing member with a beam reflecting element attached thereto. The optical alignment assembly is adjustable to introduce an output beam into a detector array utilizing a rotational adjustment mechanism and a goniometric tilt adjustment mechanism. These two mechanisms ensure that the point of entry of a light beam into the array remains at a fixed point in space despite the rotation or tilt of the rotatable housing member.

Fluorescence detection instrument with orthogonal laser entry

A shear valve assembly comprises a pair of valve pads having opposing planar surfaces supported for relative sliding engagement. Each valve pad defines a plurality of liquid pathways by which a liquid can be passed from one pad to the other. The planar surface of one of the valve pads has an open channel formed therein, such channel having dimensions to accommodate a prescribed volume of liquid. Liquid is introduced into such channel via a first pair of pathways formed in the other valve pad, and liquid is dispensed from the open channel by a second pair of pathways that are brought into alignment with the channel during sliding movement between the valve pads. The valve assembly is particularly useful in blood-analyzing instruments for isolating and dispensing relatively minute volumes (of the order of microliters) of whole blood for analysis.

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Davie, FL, United States of America

Helen A Minnich