Patent ID: 7430046
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: G01N,H03K

Abstract:
1. A detector system for detecting biological organisms or biological agents of predetermined particle size in a fluid comprising: a housing having a passageway to allow for a fluid to flow through the housing; a first light source for sending a light beam through the fluid in the passageway, whereby portions of the light beam are scattered at various angles by particles of various sizes present in the fluid, and wherein an unscattered portion of the light beam remains unscattered; a first detector positioned to receive scattered portions of said light beam after said passageway for detecting and discriminating between particles of a selected size range in the fluid; a lens receiving the light beam as it exits the passageway; and a reflector placed behind the lens to reflect the unscattered portion of the light beam and a portion of light beam scattered at a low angle, whereby the unscattered portion of the light beam and the portion of the light beam scattered at a low angle are received by a low angle detector; a second light source for sending light through said fluid passing in the passageway for exciting fluorescence in the particles in said fluid; and a second detector positioned to receive light from said second light source for detecting fluorescence of said particles.