Flow Cytometer Liquid Feeding Stabilization for Rare Particle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers often waste sample particles before achieving stable flow velocity, particularly in analyzing rare biological samples like blood circulating tumor cells, where sample scarcity is a concern.
Innovation Solution
A flow cytometer system that stabilizes liquid feeding by initially using a reference liquid to establish a stable flow velocity, then introduces the sample liquid when the flow velocity meets predetermined criteria, minimizing waste and ensuring accurate analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If sample liquid is fed directly to the flow cell without preliminary liquid feeding, then the analysis can start immediately, but the flow velocity is unstable and sample particles are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by feeding a liquid different from the sample liquid (such as sheath liquid or reference liquid) to the flow cell before introducing the sample liquid. This preliminary liquid feeding stabilizes the flow velocity in advance, ensuring that when sample particles enter the flow cell, the flow conditions are already optimal for detection, thereby preventing waste of valuable sample particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary substance (liquid different from sample liquid) that mediates between the system startup and sample analysis. This intermediary liquid establishes stable flow conditions without consuming valuable sample particles, acting as a buffer that protects the sample from being wasted during the flow stabilization period.
2Stability of the object's composition
If reference liquid is fed continuously alongside sample liquid, then flow velocity stability is maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid feeding unit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of feeding both the liquid different from sample liquid (such as sheath liquid for flow stabilization) and reference liquid (for flow velocity monitoring). By consolidating these functions into a single feeding unit, the system maintains flow velocity stability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring flow velocity using reference particles and adjusting the liquid feeding accordingly. The detector detects reference particles to calculate flow velocity, and this information feeds back to the liquid feeding unit to maintain stable flow conditions, creating a self-regulating system that balances stability with controlled complexity.
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 prevents sample liquid waste by stabilizing flow velocity before initiating sample analysis, allowing for efficient detection of rare particles like blood circulating tumor cells without wasting valuable sample.
Implementation Method 1
light is irradiated on particles inside a flow cell, scattered light and fluorescent light generated in the particles are modulated by an optical grating
Implementation Method 2
scattered light and fluorescent light generated in the particles are modulated by an optical grating
Implementation Method 3
the flow of a sample liquid containing the biological sample and the flow of a sheath liquid form a laminar flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to provide a flow cytometer comprising: flow cell; a liquid feeding unit for feeding a liquid different from a sample liquid containing sample particles to the flow cell; a sample liquid feeding unit for feeding the sample liquid to the flow cell after the liquid is sent to the flow cell; and a detector for detecting the sample particles flowing through the flow cell.