Flow Cell Taper Section for Sample Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow cell technologies face challenges in ensuring that a liquid sample is pressed onto the inner wall for clear imaging, as the sheath fluid often interferes between the sample and the imaging device, making it difficult to image formed elements effectively.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery method and analysis device design that incorporates a taper section with inclined inner walls, where the liquid sample is introduced along one inner wall and the sheath fluid is introduced along the opposing inner wall, creating a pressure differential to press the sample onto the inner wall, ensuring it flows in contact with the imaging position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the sheath fluid is used to press the liquid sample onto the bottom face of the flow cell, then the liquid sample can be flattened for imaging, but the sheath fluid may become interposed between the liquid sample and the imaging device, resulting in poor imaging quality
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cell is divided into distinct functional zones: a sample introduction section, a taper section with opposing inclined walls, and a measurement section. The sample flow path and sheath fluid flow path are segmented to deliver fluids along opposite inner walls, preventing mixing and ensuring the sample contacts the bottom face without sheath fluid interference in the measurement zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The taper section introduces a spatial dimension with opposing inclined walls that converge downstream. This geometric configuration creates a controlled compression zone where the sample is flattened onto the bottom face through the converging geometry rather than direct sheath fluid pressure, eliminating the sheath fluid interference problem while achieving the desired flattened shape for imaging.
2Ease of operation
If the sheath fluid flows to press the liquid sample onto the bottom face, then the sample can be imaged, but it becomes difficult to clearly image the formed elements due to sheath fluid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath fluid is extracted from the sample pressing function. Instead of using sheath fluid pressure to flatten the sample, the invention uses the geometric convergence of the taper section with opposing inclined walls. The sheath fluid flow path is separated and configured to flow along the opposite inner wall without interfering with the sample's contact with the bottom face in the measurement section.
Solution Approach 2:
The taper section with opposing inclined walls acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sample introduction and the measurement section. This geometric structure mediates the sample flattening process by guiding the sample flow and compressing it onto the bottom face through wall convergence, rather than direct sheath fluid pressure, thus preventing sheath fluid interference with the imaging.
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 approach ensures the liquid sample is consistently pressed onto the inner wall of the flow cell, facilitating clear imaging and measurement by maintaining contact with the imaging device without interference from the sheath fluid.
Implementation Method 1
creating a pressure differential to press the sample onto the inner wall
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery method for delivering a liquid sample to a flow cell including a taper section including a first and a second inner walls opposing the first inner wall, which is inclined to the second inner wall so that a distance between the first and the second inner walls at a downstream side of the taper section is shorter than a distance at an upstream side of the taper section, and including measurement flow path provided downstream of the taper section, through which a liquid sample flows together with a sheath fluid. The fluid delivery method includes sample introduction of delivering the liquid sample into the taper section along the second inner wall until the liquid sample reaches the measurement flow path, and sample pressing by delivering the sheath fluid into the taper section along the first inner wall after the liquid sample reaches the measurement flow path.