Circular Cuvette Nozzle Assembly for Flow Channel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow cytometers and cell sorters face challenges in maintaining consistent drop size and delay between sample drops due to misalignment of flow channels in removable nozzles, leading to inefficiencies and potential cross-contamination between samples.
Innovation Solution
A cuvette nozzle subsystem with a circular nozzle assembly featuring a tapered conical portion that aligns with a receptacle through-hole, ensuring precise alignment of flow channels, and an o-ring gasket for secure engagement, along with a method for adhesive coupling to maintain alignment during nozzle replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a removable nozzle is used for cleaning and sample replacement, then cross-contamination is avoided and maintenance is easier, but flow channel alignment consistency deteriorates leading to variable drop size and delay
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered conical portion is pre-formed on the nozzle body at the correct angle and dimensions during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the nozzle is inserted into the receptacle, the alignment is automatically achieved without requiring additional adjustment actions by the operator, thus maintaining alignment consistency across multiple nozzle replacements
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered conical portion acts as an intermediary alignment mechanism between the nozzle and receptacle. This geometric feature serves as a mediator that guides the nozzle into precise alignment with the flow channel during insertion, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining consistent positioning
2Productivity
If flow channels are adjusted to be perfectly aligned, then drop efficiency and quality improve, but device complexity and alignment adjustment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered conical portion enables the nozzle to self-align with the receptacle during insertion. The geometric shape automatically guides the nozzle into the correct position without requiring external alignment tools or complex adjustment mechanisms, thus maintaining high drop efficiency while minimizing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical alignment adjustment mechanisms with a simple geometric taper interface. Instead of using adjustable mounts, alignment screws, or complex positioning systems, the tapered conical portion provides passive alignment through its geometric shape, reducing device complexity while maintaining alignment precision
3Measurement precision
If nozzle insertion position is precisely controlled, then drop size and delay consistency improve, but ease of operation deteriorates due to positioning difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered conical portion is pre-configured with the exact geometry needed for precise positioning during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation ensures that the nozzle automatically achieves the correct insertion position and depth when placed in the receptacle, eliminating the need for operators to perform complex positioning actions while maintaining consistent drop size and delay
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered conical interface serves as an intermediary that mediates between the operator's simple insertion action and the requirement for precise positioning. The geometry of the taper automatically translates the insertion motion into accurate positioning, making the operation easy while achieving precise drop parameters
Data Source
AI summary
A circular nozzle assembly is disclosed. A cuvette nozzle subsystem (assembly) for flow cytometry systems is disclosed including a cuvette assembly and a circular nozzle assembly selectively engaged with the cuvette assembly. The cuvette assembly includes a cuvette having a pocket and a flow channel, and a receptacle coupled within the pocket to the cuvette. The receptacle has a through-hole with a tapered conical portion and a circular cylindrical portion. The circular nozzle assembly includes an o-ring gasket coupled to a nozzle body with a flow channel. A tapered conical portion of the nozzle body engages the tapered conical portion of the through-hole to align the respective flow channels of the cuvette and the nozzle body together.