Flow Cytometer Network with Fixed Gain Detection and Centralized Data Center
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers face challenges in interoperability and data comparability across different devices, limiting collaboration and data sharing between laboratories, as each device requires specific calibration for experiments, restricting access to data and hindering cross-instrument comparisons.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a network of flow cytometers with fixed gain detection systems and a centralized data center enables communication and data sharing, allowing for universal calibration and wide dynamic range detection, eliminating the need for experiment-specific adjustments and facilitating cross-instrument comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional flow cytometers use experiment-specific calibration for each device, then measurement precision is improved for individual experiments, but device complexity and calibration time increase, and data sharing between instruments becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal calibration standard that can be used across multiple flow cytometers from different manufacturers. The standardized calibration protocol and reference materials enable any flow cytometer in the network to be calibrated using the same procedures, eliminating the need for instrument-specific calibration methods while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms calibration from a complex, instrument-specific procedure to a standardized parameter-based approach. By defining universal calibration parameters and reference values that can be applied across different devices, the system simplifies the calibration process while ensuring consistent measurement precision across the network.
2Measurement precision
If each flow cytometer requires individual calibration tailored to specific experiments, then measurement accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to repeated calibration procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration setup in advance by establishing universal calibration standards and protocols that can be rapidly applied to any instrument. Reference calibration data and standardized procedures are prepared beforehand, allowing flow cytometers to be quickly calibrated without time-consuming instrument-specific setup procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal calibration standard serves multiple instruments simultaneously, allowing a single calibration protocol to be applied across the entire network. This eliminates the need to develop and execute separate calibration procedures for each device, significantly reducing total calibration time while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If flow cytometer data is restricted to local use only, then data integrity is maintained, but loss of information decreases as data cannot be shared or compared across instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data center as an intermediary that receives, stores, and manages data from multiple flow cytometers. This central repository ensures data integrity through standardized processing while enabling broad access and comparison across the network. The data center acts as a trusted mediator that maintains quality control while facilitating information sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system standardizes data formats, calibration methods, and processing protocols across all instruments in the network. By ensuring homogeneous data collection and processing procedures, the system maintains data integrity and reliability while enabling seamless data sharing and comparison across different flow cytometers.
4Ease of operation
If multiple flow cytometers operate independently with different calibration standards, then ease of operation is maintained for individual devices, but adaptability decreases for cross-instrument collaboration
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements universal calibration standards and protocols that work across all flow cytometers in the network. Individual devices maintain their operational simplicity while the universal standards enable seamless integration and collaboration. The same calibration procedure can be applied to any instrument without requiring device-specific modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an equipotential calibration environment where all flow cytometers operate from the same reference standards and calibration protocols. This equalizes the operational baseline across all devices, making them equally adaptable to cross-instrument collaboration while maintaining ease of individual operation through standardized procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for creating a flow cytometer network includes: a flow cytometer with an interrogation zone and a fixed gain detection system that collects sample data from the interrogation zone; a flow cytometer data center that stores and manages sample-related data from the flow cytometer; and a network communication module that communicates sample-related data between the flow cytometer and the data center. The system may include a second flow cytometer and a second network communication module, where the first and second flow cytometers are calibrated to have substantially identical fixed gain settings. A method for creating a flow cytometer network includes: calibrating first and second flow cytometers with a calibration solution; collecting sample data with a fixed gain detection system; uploading data to a flow cytometer data center; retrieving data from the data center; and performing data analysis on the retrieved data.