Flow Cytometer Suction Probe Eliminates Peristaltic Pump Carryover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional high-throughput flow cytometry systems are limited by the need for positive pressure delivery systems, which constrain sample tubing length, cause fluid carryover, and exert compressive forces on cells, restricting their use in assays sensitive to these perturbations.

Innovation Solution

The system eliminates the peristaltic pump by using a flow cytometer with a suction intake probe and a movable microplate support that aligns sample wells with the probe, allowing samples to be pulled through via negative pressure, reducing tubing length and minimizing fluid carryover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a peristaltic pump is used to deliver samples, then sample delivery is achieved, but fluid carryover between samples increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample deliveryVSAvoidfluid carryover

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional positive pressure delivery system by using a negative pressure (suction) system. The flow cytometer pulls samples through the system via suction, eliminating the need for a peristaltic pump. This inversion of the pressure direction prevents fluid carryover while maintaining sample delivery capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the peristaltic pump from the system entirely, extracting the harmful element that causes fluid carryover. The sample delivery function is achieved directly through the flow cytometer's suction mechanism, eliminating the intermediate pumping component that leaves residual fluid in tubing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If a peristaltic pump is positioned between sample source and flow cytometer, then sample delivery is achieved, but compressive forces are exerted on cells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample deliveryVSAvoidcompressive forces on cells

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies negative pressure (suction) instead of positive pressure to deliver samples. This inversion of the pressure mechanism eliminates compressive forces on cells while maintaining effective sample delivery to the flow cytometer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The peristaltic pump that generates compressive forces is completely removed from the system. Sample delivery is achieved through the flow cytometer's built-in suction mechanism, eliminating the source of harmful compressive forces on viable cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If peristaltic pump is eliminated, then compressive forces on cells are reduced, but sample delivery mechanism must be changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressive forces on cellsVSAvoidsample delivery mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sample delivery function with the flow cytometer itself. The flow cytometer's suction mechanism directly aspirates samples from the microplate, merging the pumping and analysis functions into a single integrated system, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow cytometer performs its own sample delivery function through its built-in suction mechanism, eliminating the need for an external peristaltic pump. The system serves itself by using its own operational mechanism (suction for particle analysis) to also perform sample delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 increases sample throughput, reduces fluid carryover, and enables the analysis of viable cells in assays sensitive to compressive forces, expanding the range of high-throughput applications while maintaining high precision optical resolution.

Implementation Method 1

a bubble-separated sample stream is forced to the flow cytometer solely by virtue of a negative pressure communicated via the intake probe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Suction

Implementation Method 2

the flow cytometer focusing (hydrodynamically or otherwise) the bubble-separated sample stream and selectively analyzing particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrodynamic focusing:

Data Source

PatentUS10884007B1Flow cytometry apparatus pulling sample stream through observation chamber

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 UNM RAINFOREST INNOVATIONS

AI summary

A flow cytometry apparatus includes a flow cytometer having a suction or negative-pressure intake probe, a support for a microplate having a plurality of sample wells, and motive elements operatively connected to at least one of the probe and the support for moving the intake probe and the support relative to one another so that the intake probe is sequentially aligned with different sample wells of the microplate. The apparatus has no fluid pumping elements between the support and the flow cytometer so that a bubble-separated sample stream is forced to the flow cytometer solely by virtue of a negative pressure communicated via the intake probe.