Patent ID: 7256891

Claim:
An apparatus for analyzing a population of particles comprising: (a) an emitter adapted to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation; (b) a particle chamber disposed in a path of said beam of electromagnetic radiation; (c) a sensor adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation; and (d) a sensor alignment unit supporting said sensor along a detection axis, said sensor alignment unit adapted to allow adjustment of the position of said sensor along at least two orthogonal axes lying in a plane that is generally perpendicular to said detection axis, wherein said sensor alignment unit comprises: a first support platform; a first adjustment mechanism disposed to adjust the position of said first support platform along a first axis of said orthogonal axes; a second support platform connected to said first support platform and supporting said sensor; a second adjustment mechanism disposed to adjust the position of said second support platform with respect to said first support platform along a second axis of said orthogonal axes.