Final focus lens assembly
BD Influx cell sorter
Features
Intuitive Alignment
The optical system that directs lasers to the interrogation point is easy to use, intuitive, and adaptable. Up to 10 laser paths can be configured. Wavelength options include 355-nm, 405-nm, 445-nm, 457-nm, 488-nm, 515-nm, 532-nm, 552-nm 561-nm, 594-nm, 640-nm, and 785-nm lasers.
A range of standard detection modules is available to configure the system based on application needs.
A quick and simple alignment procedure
The 10 laser paths and 7-pinhole optical collection system support 24 parameters simultaneously and 24 x 24 compensation. Systems with up to 5 lasers support 16 simultaneous parameters and 16 x 16 compensation.
For each laser, light is shaped by individual optics, and final alignment and focusing are achieved via a dedicated lens that steers light to the stream at different angles. For the 10-laser system, the laser paths are collinear through the steering optics and focusing lenses, but intersect the stream at seven spatially separated points. Fluorescence is collected through a high NA lens and focused on individual mirrored pinholes. The modular design of the BD Influx™ optical system makes it easy to upgrade lasers as research requirements change.
Pinhole camera view
In addition, the wide choice of available lasers is constantly evolving to keep pace with the needs of advanced research. The patented optical design uses a special pinhole camera to image the stream and the pinholes simultaneously, simplifying optical alignment. With the help of the pinhole camera, near-optimal alignment can be achieved within seconds without using beads.
Schematic representation of collection lens, pinhole camera, and mirrored pinholes
Mirrored pinhole
Environmental and marine biology applications
A range of detectors for application-specific configurations
Optional, exchangeable detector modules allow for the measurement of small particles, the polarization state of scatter or fluorescence signals. This flexibility allows the user to adapt the system to the needs of routine or emerging applications.
Polarization
The BD Influx™ system can be equipped with polarization sensitive detectors. A unique polarization design uses two detectors mounted under Brewster angles to measure changes in parallel and perpendicular light for both scatter or fluorescence. Changes in polarization can help differentiate between organisms containing highly reflective inclusions such as diatoms, or discriminate among different populations of granulocytes.
Small Particle Option
The Small Particle Option on the BD Influx system improves forward scatter detection. This option lowers the threshold on size measurements using a special detector with a high NA microscope lens, a pinhole, and a photomultiplier tube (PMT). The pinhole reduces the amount of stray light reaching the detector and prevents saturation of the PMT. Optimized sheath fluid (0.1-micron filtered) lowers the intrinsic noise level, which allows measurement of particles as small as 200 nm.
This resolution makes the Small Particle Option particularly valuable for applications in marine biology, microbiology, and environmental biology. The Small Particle Option also allows researchers to detect fluorescence in the forward direction. This capability is used in applications such as chlorophyll detection.
