Closed Tubing Cell Dispersion via Shear Nozzle

The patent replaces manual mechanical pipetting operations with an automated closed-loop fluidic system. A pump drives liquid flow through a specialized dispersion structure (narrowing channel) that automatically shears cell clumps into single cells, eliminating the need for repeated manual blow-aspirate cycles and significantly improving productivity while reducing time investment.

The dispersion structure is designed to automatically disperse cell clumps as liquid flows through the narrowing channel. The system self-regulates the dispersion process through controlled fluid flow, eliminating the need for operator intervention and repeated manual operations, thereby reducing both time and labor requirements.

The patent employs a closed-loop tubing system that acts as a flexible sealed enclosure for the cell suspension pathway. This closed environment prevents external contamination while allowing the cell dispersion function to be performed, effectively isolating the cell sample from the open laboratory environment throughout the entire process.

The closed-loop system creates a protected environment for cell processing. By maintaining cell suspension within a sealed tubing system connected to sterile reservoirs, the patent establishes an inert, contamination-free environment that eliminates exposure to airborne contaminants while preserving ease of operation through automated fluid handling.

The patent introduces a localized high-shear region within the closed system through the narrowing channel structure. This creates a specific zone of intense fluid flow and shear stress that effectively breaks down even small cell clumps into single cells, while the rest of the system maintains its closed, protected configuration. The local quality enhancement at the dispersion point achieves complete cell separation without compromising system closure.

The patent changes the flow parameters (velocity, shear stress) locally at the dispersion structure by designing a narrowing channel that accelerates fluid flow. This parameter change creates sufficient shear force to disperse stubborn small cell clumps that vortex-shaking cannot break apart, while maintaining the closed system configuration throughout the process.

The patent extracts the complex cyclic blowing mechanism and replaces it with a simple continuous flow system. Instead of using peristaltic pumps to repeatedly blow and aspirate cell suspension through multiple bottles, the invention uses a pump-driven continuous flow through a single narrowing channel, eliminating the complicated multi-step workflow and associated error risks while maintaining automation.

Rather than using cyclic positive pressure (blowing) followed by negative pressure (aspiration) to achieve dispersion, the patent inverts the approach by using continuous unidirectional flow through a geometrically designed narrowing channel. This single-direction flow with controlled shear stress achieves cell separation without the need for complex cyclic pressure changes, simplifying the overall workflow.