Compact Flow Cytometer With Syringe-Driven Sheath Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow cytometry devices face challenges such as inaccurate measurements due to pressure fluctuations and require large, costly equipment, particularly in air pressurized sheath fluid systems.
Innovation Solution
The use of a flow cytometer system with a control system and a plurality of syringe pumps operated by stepper motors to drive sheath fluid, providing constant pressure and instant speed variations, reducing system size and cost, and preventing clogs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air pressurized vessels are used to drive sheath fluid, then the system can maintain fluid flow, but the system becomes large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the air pressurized vessel from the system and replaces it with an electronic controller that directly operates syringe pumps. This extraction of the problematic component eliminates the need for large pressure vessels while maintaining the essential function of driving sheath fluid through the flow cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical air pressurization system with an electronically controlled syringe pump system. The electronic controller sends signals to the syringe pumps, which mechanically dispense the sheath fluid at controlled rates, substituting the complex pneumatic system with a simpler, more compact mechanical-electronic hybrid system.
2Reliability
If air pressurized vessels are used to drive sheath fluid, then the system can maintain fluid flow, but the system becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable syringes that contain the sheath fluid, eliminating the need for expensive, reusable air pressurized vessels. The syringes are inexpensive, single-use components that can be easily replaced, significantly reducing the overall system cost while maintaining reliable fluid delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The replacement of the expensive pneumatic system with electronically controlled syringe pumps reduces manufacturing costs. The syringe pump mechanism is simpler, requires fewer specialized components, and can be manufactured more economically than air pressurized vessels with associated pressure regulators and flow meters.
3Productivity
If conventional flow cytometer designs are used, then fluid can be driven through the system, but pressure fluctuations cause inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic controller receives feedback from the syringe pumps about fluid dispensing status and adjusts operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent, precise delivery of sheath fluid at predetermined rates, eliminating the pressure fluctuations that plague conventional systems and thereby improving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts fluid delivery by electronically controlling the syringe pumps to maintain constant flow rates. This dynamic control capability allows the system to respond to changing conditions and maintain precise, fluctuation-free fluid flow throughout the measurement process, directly improving measurement accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves more accurate and consistent measurements by maintaining constant pressure and controlling fluid flow, eliminating the need for large and expensive air pressurized vessels, and enhancing user accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The flow cytometer includes a control system and a plurality of syringe pumps operated by stepper motors and configured to drive the sheath fluid
Implementation Method 2
A flow cytometer or flow instrument hydrodynamically focuses a fluid suspension of particles into a thin stream
Data Source
AI summary
A compact flow instrument for multiplexed analysis of a pooled population of subsets of particles exposed to a sample includes an examination zone with one or more examination compartments for irradiating a passing particle with electromagnetic radiation (EMR), one or more EMR sources for irradiating the passing particle, one or more detectors configured to detect EMR emitted or scattered by the passing particle, a syringe pump driven by a stepper motor to deliver sheath fluid in characteristic pulses according to each step of the stepper motor for transporting the passing particle, and a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the syringe pump to deliver sheath fluid to transport the passing particle, capture the detected EMR at a rate commensurate with the velocity of the transported particle as it passes through the examination zone, and compile information about the captured EMR.