ANALYSIS OF MTF DEGRADATION IN THE IMAGING OF CELLS IN A FLOW SYSTEM

The time-delay and integration method can be used with a charge-couple d device array to acquire images of cell in a flow cytometer. The loss of high spatial frequency components in images acquired with this tec hnique is studied by deriving the modulation transfer function (MTF) f or each of the main causes of image degradation: finite sampling apert ure, nonsynchronism between image movement and charge transfer rate, d iscrete charge motion, transfer inefficiency, and axis misalignment. T he system MTF and resolution in the horizontal and vertical directions are then examined. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.