Flow Cytometer Fluidic System Automated Drawtube Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow cytometers have complex and costly fluidic systems that are difficult to assemble and calibrate, and require manual washing of drawtubes between samples, leading to potential contamination and data errors.
Innovation Solution
A fluidic system with integrated sheath and waste pumps and a controller that allows for automatic washing of the drawtube, using a peristaltic pump mechanism to facilitate easy assembly, handling, and calibration, and includes a wash station for thorough cleaning of both the inner and outer surfaces of the drawtube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluidic systems use air and/or vacuum pumps to pressurize and pump sheath fluid, then the flow cytometer achieves proper fluid flow, but the system becomes heavy and difficult to assemble and repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air/vacuum pumps with a peristaltic pump mechanism that uses mechanical compression of flexible tubing to move fluids. This substitution eliminates the need for complex pneumatic systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable fluid flow control through the flow cell and wash station.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles through the peristaltic pump's compression mechanism and utilizes fluid pressure differentials to drive flow through the system. The wash station uses controlled fluid pressure to flush the drawtube, replacing complex mechanical pumping systems with simpler hydraulic-based solutions.
2Reliability
If manual washing of drawtube is required between samples, then contamination is prevented, but user presence is required and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated wash station that performs drawtube cleaning without user intervention. The system uses a peristaltic pump to circulate wash solution through the drawtube and then aspirates it away, enabling the system to service itself between samples while maintaining contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The wash station performs preliminary cleaning actions between sample analyses by automatically flushing the drawtube with wash solution. This preliminary action ensures the drawtube is clean for the next sample without requiring user presence, thereby maintaining reliability while improving productivity.
3Measurement precision
If old sample remnants remain in the drawtube, then future sample results are altered, but frequent manual washing increases time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated washing cycles that occur between every sample analysis without interruption to the overall workflow. The peristaltic pump continuously circulates wash solution through the drawtube during idle periods, ensuring measurement precision is maintained while minimizing time loss through efficient automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors the washing process and automatically adjusts the timing and intensity of wash cycles based on sample analysis completion. This feedback mechanism ensures thorough cleaning for measurement precision while optimizing wash duration to minimize time loss, preventing both contamination and excessive washing time.
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 simplifies the assembly and operation of flow cytometers, reduces contamination risks, and enables automated cleaning, ensuring accurate and reliable sample analysis by maintaining a clean drawtube between samples.
Implementation Method 1
The sheath pump and waste pump are preferably peristaltic pumps with a flexible tube and one or more cams that pump the sheath fluid through the flexible tube
Implementation Method 2
The sheath fluid 14 functions to hydrodynamically focus the sample fluid 26. The process of hydrodynamic focusing results in laminar flow of the sample fluid 26 within the flow cell 32
Implementation Method 3
The sheath pump 12 and waste pump 20 preferably cooperate to draw the sample fluid 26 from the sample container 28 and through a drawtube 34
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cleaning a fluidic system of a flow cytometer having a sheath pump to pump sheath fluid towards an interrogation zone and a waste pump to pump the sheath fluid and a sample fluid as waste fluid from the interrogation zone, wherein the sheath pump and/or the waste pump draw sample fluid into the flow cytometer through a drawtube towards the interrogation zone. The method includes controlling the sheath pump and the waste pump to cooperatively flush a fluid out through the drawtube, thereby cleaning the fluidic system of the flow cytometer.