Disposable Cytometry Chip for Sample Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow cytometry systems face challenges in minimizing sample contamination during the processing of new samples, as they require substantial effort to clean and sterilize the cytometry chip after each use to prevent contamination from prior samples.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic assembly comprising a holder and a cytometry chip, where the chip is injection molded from transparent industrial plastic, allowing for 3D laminar flow and optical analysis, and is designed to be disposable, with a sheath fluid and vacuum port for maintaining sample integrity and facilitating easy cleaning, and a piezoelectric transducer for droplet formation and electrostatic sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cytometry chip is reused after cleaning and sterilization, then equipment cost is reduced, but the risk of sample contamination increases and substantial cleaning effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cytometry chip is designed as a disposable component that can be easily discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for extensive cleaning and sterilization processes, ensuring sample purity without requiring substantial cleaning effort. The chip is inexpensive enough to be replaced for each sample processing task.
2Reliability
If the cytometry chip is made disposable, then sample contamination risk is reduced, but device complexity and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cytometry system is segmented into disposable components (cytometry chip, holder, O-ring seals) and reusable components (main instrument, transducer, electrode). This segmentation allows the critical sample-contacting parts to be disposable for ensuring purity, while the expensive instrumentation remains reusable, balancing reliability with manageable device complexity.
3Reliability
If extensive cleaning and sterilization is performed on the cytometry chip, then sample contamination is prevented, but processing time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable cytometry chip eliminates the time-consuming cleaning and sterilization steps entirely. Each chip is pre-sterilized during manufacturing and can be immediately used for sample processing, significantly improving processing speed while maintaining sample purity through the disposable design.
4Reliability
If the microfluidic assembly uses precise alignment features, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder and cytometry chip incorporate pre-formed alignment features (protrusions and recesses) that are integrated into the molding process. These alignment features ensure precise positioning and reliable connections between components without requiring complex post-manufacturing assembly operations, thus improving connection reliability while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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
This configuration reduces the probability of sample contamination by allowing for the use of a disposable microfluidic assembly that can be sterilized and replaced easily, ensuring purity and efficiency in cell sorting and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The piezoelectric transducer is coupled to a distal end of the microfluidic channel to create droplets
Implementation Method 2
The charged droplets are then electrostatically sorted within an electrostatic sorting assembly
Implementation Method 3
As the cells pass through the focused, high intensity beam, each cell is illuminated and therefore, emits a fluorescent light
Implementation Method 4
The cytometry chip is configured to provide a three dimensional (3D) laminar flow of a sample fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally include a method and apparatus for performing cytometry. Specifically, embodiments of the invention comprise apparatus for providing a sample fluid to a cytometry system comprising a cytometry chip and a holder. The cytometry chip is for channeling a sample fluid from a sample fluid port to an output channel. The holder is configured to retain the cytometry chip within the holder. The holder comprises an interface between the cytometry chip and at least one of a source of the sample fluid, a source of a sheath fluid or a source of electric charge. Embodiments of a method comprise using the apparatus to provide a sample fluid to a cytometry system.