Flow Cell Chip Assembly Removing Capillary Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of capillary tubes in flow cells for particle characterization is hindered by clogging, pressure restrictions, and precise alignment requirements, making them difficult to maintain and replace, and they can generate autofluorescence and spontaneous Raman scattering, limiting sensitivity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A chip assembly comprising two complementary chips with channels for optical fibers and a through-hole for fluid flow, eliminating the need for capillary tubes, allowing easier assembly, higher flow rates, and reduced alignment complexities, while minimizing autofluorescence and Raman scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capillary tube is used for fluid injection into the excitation fiber passageway, then the characteristics of collection fibers and overall flow cell performance are maintained, but the device becomes prone to clogging, requires precise alignment, and demands complex assembly procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the capillary tube component from the flow cell assembly, extracting the problematic element that caused clogging and alignment issues. The fluid injection function is directly integrated into the excitation fiber structure, eliminating the need for separate capillary tubes and their associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fluid injection function with the excitation fiber structure itself. The excitation fiber includes an integrated passageway that directly receives fluid, combining what were previously separate components (capillary tube and excitation fiber) into a unified structure, thereby simplifying the overall assembly.
2Reliability
If a capillary tube is used in the flow cell, then optical characteristics are maintained, but the capillary tube can be clogged by particles and requires frequent maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary tube is extracted from the system, removing the component that was susceptible to particle clogging. The integrated fiber structure eliminates the narrow passageways that trapped particles, thereby reducing maintenance frequency and improving productivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If immersion oil is used for index matching between capillary tube and fibers, then stray light is minimized, but the oil can be removed during rinsing, rendering the flow cell unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the capillary tube structure that required immersion oil for index matching. By integrating the fluid passage directly into the excitation fiber, the system no longer requires external immersion oil, thereby avoiding the problem of oil removal during rinsing and maintaining flow cell usability.
4Reliability
If capillary tubes are used with excitation fibers and collection fibers, then proper light transport is achieved, but replacement of capillary tubes requires concentration and precision and cannot be performed quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary tube is removed from the assembly, eliminating the need for its replacement. The integrated fiber structure allows for simpler maintenance and faster repairs by removing only the excitation fiber assembly rather than handling fragile capillary tubes requiring precise realignment.
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 chip assembly enhances the flow cell's performance by reducing clogging risks, simplifying maintenance, and improving sensitivity through easier fluid circulation and alignment, enabling faster and more precise integration of optical fibers without the need for glue, and allowing for higher sample analysis rates.
Implementation Method 1
The excitation fiber comprises a passageway, for allowing the fluid to flow through the excitation fiber and thus allowing the particles in the flow to interact with the excitation light
Implementation Method 2
The flow cell also includes at least one collection fiber for collecting light scattered or emitted by the particles flowing through the passageway and excited by the excitation light
Implementation Method 3
immersion oil is generally used for index matching between the excitation fiber, collection fiber(s) and the capillary tube, to minimize stray light due to numerous optical interfaces
Implementation Method 4
Particles in the fluid stream cross the light during a brief interval of time, hence forming a short burst of temporal scattered and fluorescence light
Implementation Method 5
Particles in the fluid stream cross the light during a brief interval of time, hence forming a short burst of temporal scattered and fluorescence light
Data Source
AI summary
The present relates to a chip assembly, a flow cell and a cytometer for characterizing particles in a sample solution. The chip assembly comprises a pair of chips, at least one of the chip defining on its inner surface at least two channels, the two channels defining therebetween a common intersecting area. Each channel is adapted for receiving one or more optical fibers. The chips define a through-hole extending throughout the chip assembly in a transverse direction relative to the channels and passing through the common intersecting area. The flow cell comprises the chip assembly, an excitation fiber and at least one collection fiber extending through respective channels; the collection fiber for collecting light scattered or emitted by particles flowing through the through-hole and excited by an excitation light transported by the excitation fiber. The flow cytometer comprises a light source for generating the excitation light and the flow cell.