COMBINED INSPECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING MID-IR VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY AND A FLUORESCENT CYTOMETRY FACILITY
This disclosure concerns a cytometry system including a handling system that presents single cells to at least one quantum cascade laser (QCL) source. The QCL laser source configured to deliver light to a cell within the cells in order to induce resonant mid-infrared absorption by one or more analytes of the cell. The system includes a laser source that excites at least one fluorophore present in the cell or on the surface of the cell and a fluorescence detector that measures the fluorescence intensity of the fluorophore. A mid-infrared detection facility detects the transmitted mid-infrared wavelength light, wherein the transmitted mid-infrared wavelength light and the fluorescence intensity are used to identify at least one cell characteristic.
1 . A cytometry system, comprising:
a handling system that presents single cells to at least one quantum cascade laser (QCL) source;
the at least one QCL source configured to deliver light to a cell within the single cells presented in order to induce resonant mid-infrared absorption by one or more analytes of the cell;
a light source that excites at least one fluorophore present in the cell or on a surface of the cell;
a fluorescence detector that measures fluorescence intensity of the at least one fluorophore; and
a mid-infrared detection facility that detects a mid-infrared wavelength light transmitted by the cell, wherein the mid-infrared wavelength light and the fluorescence intensity are used to identify at least one cell characteristic.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluorescence intensity provides a binary measurement of the cell characteristic.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitted mid-infrared wavelength light is used to establish a quantitative measurement of a biochemical concentration of a material in the cell.