Inexpensive Laser Doppler Instrument For Cell Electrophoresis

A laser Doppler electrophoresis system for the measurement of cell mobilities in hospital laboratories has been developed. Standard inexpensive optical components are used together with a 2 mW HeNe laser and a photodiode detector. An equal path length fringe mode system is used. No elaborate antivibration precautions have been found necessary. Our electrophoretic measurement cell is robust and simple. Data are collected and analyzed by an existing Nova 3D minicomputer utilizing standard software used routinely for electrophysiological signal processing. Mobility spectra are presented from various human and animal blood cells and from a tissue culture cell line.