Non-orthogonal particle detection systems and methods

1. A particle detection system comprising:

a flow cell for containing a fluid flowing through said flow cell in a flow direction;

a source for generating a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis, said source positioned to direct said beam through said flow cell, wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, wherein particles contained within said fluid interact with said beam, thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation;

a system of optics for collecting and directing said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation onto a two-dimensional detector, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis; and

said two-dimensional detector positioned in optical communication with said flow cell for receiving at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics.

2. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said two-dimensional detector comprises an array of detector elements positioned such that a plurality of said detector elements receives said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation.

3. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said angle is selected from the range of 5° to 85°.

4. The particle detection system of claim 1 wherein said cross sectional profile has a shape that is elliptical or rectangular.

5. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said cross sectional profile has a width along said minor axis selected from between 5 μm and 100 μm.

6. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said cross sectional profile has a width along said major axis selected from between 50 μm and 1200 μm.

7. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said cross sectional profile has a width along said major axis extending to or beyond edges of said flow cell.

8. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said flow cell has a cross sectional profile having a first longer side parallel to a propagation axis of said beam and a second shorter side perpendicular to said propagation axis of said beam.

9. The particle detection system of claim 8 , wherein said first longer side has a width selected from 0.25 mm to 10 mm.

10. The particle detection system of claim 8 , wherein said second shorter side has a width selected from 80 μm to 500 μm.

11. The particle detection system of claim 8 , wherein an aspect ratio of said flow cell is greater than or equal to 20.

12. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein a propagation axis of said beam is orthogonal to said flow direction.

13. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein a propagation axis of said beam is non-orthogonal to said flow direction.

14. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said system of optics images said scattered or emitted radiation onto said two-dimensional detector.

15. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation is focused by said system of optics to a spot on said two-dimensional detector having a size selected from between 5 μm to 80 μm.

16. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said two-dimensional detector has an orientation positioned to allow for a sharply focused image of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation across an active area of said two-dimensional detector.

17. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said two-dimensional detector has an orientation positioned for providing a spatially resolved image of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation, wherein said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation is spatially resolved along a first axis parallel to a propagation axis of said beam and a second axis parallel to said major axis of said cross sectional profile of said beam.

18. The particle detection system of claim 1 , wherein said two-dimensional detector performs time delay integration.

19. A method of detecting particles, said method comprising the steps of:

providing particles in a fluid having a flow direction;

passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis through said fluid, wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particles interact with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation;

collecting and directing said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation onto a two-dimensional detector using a system of optics wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis; and

detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation using said two-dimensional detector, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics, thereby detecting said particles.

20. A method of spatially resolving an interaction of particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising the steps of:

providing particles suspended within a fluid flowing in a flow direction;

passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation through said fluid, wherein said beam has a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis and wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particles interact with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation;

collecting and directing said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation onto a two-dimensional detector using a system of optics, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics,

detecting at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation using said two-dimensional detector, thereby spatially resolving said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation in a first direction parallel to a propagation axis of said beam and in a second direction parallel to said major axis of said cross sectional profile of said beam.

21. A method of sizing a particle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a particle suspended within a fluid flowing in a flow direction through a flow cell;

passing a beam of electromagnetic radiation through said fluid, wherein said beam has a cross sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis and wherein an angle between said major axis and said flow direction is non-orthogonal, and wherein said particle interacts with said beam thereby generating scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation;

collecting and directing said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation onto a two-dimensional detector using a system of optics, wherein said system of optics has an optical axis positioned non-orthogonal to said major axis, wherein said two-dimensional detector is positioned non-orthogonal to said optical axis of said system of optics,

imaging at least a portion of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation onto the two-dimensional detector;

determining an intensity of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged onto said two-dimensional detector; and

comparing said intensity of said scattered or emitted electromagnetic radiation imaged onto said two-dimensional detector with one or more threshold reference values, thereby determining a size of said particle.