Particle imaging chamber with exhaust structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure, which can reduce bubble influence and comprises a shell, a sample tube, an exhaust tube, a sheath liquid tube and a waste liquid tube, a flow cell is arranged in the shell and comprises a sheath fluid inlet area, a sample mixing area and an imaging area, the sheath fluid inlet area is obliquely arranged on the upper side of the sample mixing area, the imaging area is communicated with the lower side of the sample mixing area, a sheath fluid inlet is formed in the side wall of the sheath fluid inlet area, and an exhaust port and a sample inlet are formed in the upper portion of the sheath fluid inlet area. The exhaust port is adjacent to the sheath fluid inlet, one end of the sheath fluid pipe penetrates through the shell and is connected with the sheath fluid inlet, one end of the exhaust pipe penetrates through the shell and is connected with the exhaust port, one end of the sample pipe penetrates through the shell and penetrates through the sample inlet, so that one end of the sample pipe is located in the sample mixing area, and a waste liquid outlet is formed below the imaging area; one end of the waste liquid pipe penetrates through the shell and is connected with the waste liquid outlet; the inner diameter of the sample tube is smaller than that of the sheath fluid tube and that of the exhaust tube; and the sheath fluid tube and the exhaust tube are equal in inner diameter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of image-type particle analyzers, in particular to a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure. Background Art

[0002] In the particle imaging chamber system, the changes in pressure and velocity inside the flow cell are mainly concentrated at the position where the sheath liquid enters the flow cell and the position where the sample and sheath liquid converge. As the mixed liquid moves from the buffer to the entrance of the imaging area, the velocity increases and the pressure decreases.

[0003] When the sheath liquid flow velocity is fixed, the laminar thickness in the imaging area increases with the increase of the mixed sample flow velocity. In fact, since the sheath liquid flow rate is much larger than the sample, the sheath liquid flow rate is usually close to the milliliter level, and the sample flow rate is usually microliter level, so the final laminar flow velocity distribution mainly depends on the sheath liquid flow rate. The larger the sheath liquid flow rate, the greater the liquid flow velocity gradient after convergence, the higher the axial flow velocity, and the thinner the laminar thickness for the same amount of sample. However, the sheath liquid flow rate cannot be increased blindly in pursuit of focusing effect. On the one hand, it will cause waste. On the other hand, if the cell flow rate is too fast and does not correspond to the exposure time of the high-speed camera, the imaging of the formed component particles may appear smearing. Therefore, in actual use, it is necessary to find a suitable sample and sheath liquid flow ratio based on other characteristics of the entire system.

[0004] All the above situations are based on an ideal state, that is, stable fluid and stable pressure. However, in actual use, since the sheath fluid and sample are sucked from the outside, they need to pass through a long section of pipeline before reaching the flow cell. Whether in the suction stage or in the pipeline flow stage before the flow cell, many bubbles will inevitably be generated. The impact of bubbles on the fluid is reflected in the following aspects:

[0005] 1. Fluid instability: Due to the presence of bubbles, the bubbles can expand or contract in the direction of flow, causing the flow rate and flow velocity of the fluid to be extremely unstable.

[0006] 2. Increased compliance: When bubbles in a fluid pathway are stuck at a certain location in the pathway, the pressure in the fluid pathway will change, causing the time required for the system to reach pressure equilibrium to increase.

[0007] 3. Increased resistance: The presence of bubbles in the fluid channel will indirectly cause the width of the fluid channel to narrow, thereby increasing the flow resistance.

[0008] 4. Imaging: Particles may gather at the interface between bubbles and liquid, and if the bubbles are not eliminated, the bubbles can be observed in the images taken by the high-speed camera, thus affecting the observation. Utility Model Content

[0009] In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, the utility model provides a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure, which can reduce the influence of bubbles.

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the main technical solutions adopted by the utility model include: a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure, including a shell, a sample tube, an exhaust pipe, a sheath liquid tube and a waste liquid tube;

[0011] A flow cell is arranged in the shell, and the flow cell includes a sheath liquid inlet area, a sample mixing area and an imaging area. The sample mixing area is vertically arranged in the shell, the sheath liquid inlet area is obliquely arranged on the upper side of the sample mixing area, and the imaging area is connected to the lower side of the sample mixing area. A sheath liquid inlet is arranged on the side wall of the sheath liquid inlet area, and an exhaust port and a sample inlet are respectively arranged on the upper part of the sheath liquid inlet area, the exhaust port is adjacent to the sheath liquid inlet, one end of the sheath liquid tube passes through the shell and is connected to the sheath liquid inlet, one end of the exhaust pipe passes through the shell and is connected to the exhaust port, one end of the sample tube passes through the shell and runs through the sample inlet, so that one end of the sample tube is located in the sample mixing area, a waste liquid outlet is arranged below the imaging area, and one end of the waste liquid tube passes through the shell and is connected to the waste liquid outlet; the inner diameter of the sample tube is smaller than that of the sheath liquid tube and the exhaust pipe, and the inner diameters of the sheath liquid tube and the exhaust pipe are equal.

[0012] The beneficial effects of the utility model are as follows: in order to remove bubbles and prevent them from entering the imaging area, an exhaust pipe is added to the design of the flow cell to exhaust the bubbles entering the flow cell and prevent the bubbles from remaining in the flow cell. Since the amount of sheath liquid is larger than the amount of sample, the injection time is longer, and the inner diameter of the injected sheath liquid tube is larger, the bubbles entering the flow cell from the sheath liquid tube have a greater impact on the stability of the flow cell fluid. Therefore, in the design of the exhaust pipe, we set it near the sheath liquid inlet, and in terms of size, the inner diameters of the sheath liquid tube and the exhaust pipe are equal and larger than the sample tube, which can prevent excessive bubbles from being squeezed out and causing excessive instantaneous pressure changes in the flow cell. In addition, the sheath liquid inlet area is inclined to the sample mixing area, and when the sheath liquid is injected and flows into the sample mixing area through the sheath liquid inlet area, the impact is small, reducing the generation of bubbles.

[0013] Preferably, two side walls of the sample mixing area are symmetrically curved.

[0014] It can be seen from the above description that when the sheath liquid and the sample enter the sample mixing area and mix with each other, the curved side walls can buffer the liquid to avoid excessive bubbles.

[0015] Preferably, the sample tube is located on the central axis of the sample mixing area.

[0016] It can be seen from the above description that the sample liquid can be mixed with the sheath liquid at the middle position when injected, ensuring that the sheath liquid can fully wrap the sample liquid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a front view of a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Sectional view along the FF axis;

[0020] Figure 4 It is a left view of a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure of the utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 It is a right view of a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure of the utility model;

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Sectional view along AA direction;

[0023] Figure 7 for Figure 5 Cross-sectional view along the BB direction;

[0024] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the activity of bubbles in a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure in Example 1;

[0025] Description of reference numerals:

[0026] 1. housing; 101. front cover; 102. rear cover;

[0027] 2. Sample tube; 3. Exhaust tube; 4. Sheath liquid tube; 5. Waste liquid tube;

[0028] 6. Flow cell; 601. Sheath fluid entry area; 602. Sample mixing area; 603. Imaging area;

[0029] 6a, sheath fluid inlet; 6b, exhaust port; 6c, sample inlet;

[0030] 7. Thin layer structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In order to better explain the present invention and facilitate understanding, the present invention is described in detail below through specific implementation modes in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Embodiment 1

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure includes a housing 1, a sample tube 2, an exhaust tube 3, a sheath liquid tube 4 and a waste liquid tube 5;

[0034] A flow cell 6 is arranged in the shell 1, and the flow cell 6 includes a sheath liquid inlet area 601, a sample mixing area 602 and an imaging area 603. The sample mixing area 602 is vertically arranged in the shell 1, the sheath liquid inlet area 601 is obliquely arranged on the upper side of the sample mixing area 602, and the imaging area 603 is connected to the lower side of the sample mixing area 602. A sheath liquid inlet 6a is arranged on the side wall of the sheath liquid inlet area 601, and an exhaust port 6b and a sample inlet 6c are respectively arranged on the upper part of the sheath liquid inlet area 601, and the exhaust port 6b is adjacent to the sheath liquid inlet 6a. One end of the sheath liquid tube 4 passes through the shell 1 and is connected to the sheath liquid inlet 6a, one end of the exhaust tube 3 passes through the shell 1 and is connected to the exhaust port 6b, one end of the sample tube 2 passes through the shell 1 and penetrates the sample inlet 6c, so that one end of the sample tube 2 is located in the sample mixing area 602, a waste liquid outlet is provided below the imaging area 603, and one end of the waste liquid tube 5 passes through the shell 1 and is connected to the waste liquid outlet; the inner diameter of the sample tube 2 is smaller than that of the sheath liquid tube 4 and the exhaust tube 3, and the inner diameters of the sheath liquid tube 4 and the exhaust tube 3 are equal.

[0035] The housing 1 is formed by a front cover 101 and a rear cover 102 .

[0036] The two side walls of the sample mixing area 602 are symmetrically curved.

[0037] The sample tube 2 is located on the central axis of the sample mixing area 602 .

[0038] The working principle of the present invention is as follows:

[0039] Working principle: After sampling, the sample enters the flow cell 6, and the syringe pump pushes the sheath liquid into the flow cell 6, so that the sample enters the thin layer structure 7 of the flow cell 6 under the sheath liquid. Under the action of the sheath liquid, the sample liquid flows through the thin layer structure 7 of the flow cell 6 with the thickness of a single layer of cells, and then is photographed at high speed at the imaging area 603, and then discharged into the waste liquid container through the waste liquid pipe 5. Figure 8 As shown in the figure, the direction of the bubbles entering the flow pool 6 is shown. Due to the effect of gravity, the bubble entering at point a is relatively large and will immediately move to point b and be discharged from the flow pool 6 through the exhaust pipe 3. The bubble entering at point c is relatively small and will also be discharged from point b under the effect of buoyancy. Larger bubbles basically will not enter the buffer zone (i.e., the area below the sample tube 2 in the flow pool 6 to above the imaging area 603) and the imaging area 603.

[0040] The above description is only an embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent transformations made using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or directly or indirectly applied in the relevant technical field, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure, characterized in that: It comprises a housing (1), a sample tube (2), an exhaust tube (3), a sheath liquid tube (4) and a waste liquid tube (5); A flow cell (6) is arranged in the shell (1), and the flow cell (6) includes a sheath liquid inlet area (601), a sample mixing area (602) and an imaging area (603). The sample mixing area (602) is vertically arranged in the shell (1), the sheath liquid inlet area (601) is obliquely arranged on the upper side of the sample mixing area (602), and the imaging area (603) is connected to the lower side of the sample mixing area (602). A sheath liquid inlet (6a) is arranged on the side wall of the sheath liquid inlet area (601), and an exhaust port (6b) and a sample inlet (6c) are respectively arranged on the upper part of the sheath liquid inlet area (601). The exhaust port (6b) is adjacent to the sheath liquid inlet (6a). One end of the sheath liquid tube (4) passes through the shell (1) and is connected to the sheath liquid inlet (6a), one end of the exhaust tube (3) passes through the shell (1) and is connected to the exhaust port (6b), one end of the sample tube (2) passes through the shell (1) and penetrates the sample inlet (6c), so that one end of the sample tube (2) is located in the sample mixing area (602), a waste liquid outlet is provided below the imaging area (603), and one end of the waste liquid tube (5) passes through the shell (1) and is connected to the waste liquid outlet; the inner diameter of the sample tube (2) is smaller than that of the sheath liquid tube (4) and the exhaust tube (3), and the inner diameters of the sheath liquid tube (4) and the exhaust tube (3) are equal.

2. The particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two side walls of the sample mixing area (602) are symmetrically curved.

3. The particle imaging chamber with an exhaust structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sample tube (2) is located on the central axis of the sample mixing area (602).

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