Laser Deflection for Flow Cytometry Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometric sorting methods, such as those using electric fields, cause damage to cells, particularly spermatozoa, leading to reduced motility and fertilizing capability due to voltage-induced depolarization and membrane damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a laser to deflect sections of a fluid stream without applying electric charges, achieving sorting and fractionation through superficial heating and evaporation, allowing for the collection of particles in separate fractions without exposing them to electric fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electric fields are applied to charge and deflect fluid stream sections for particle sorting, then sorting capability is improved, but cell damage increases due to voltage-induced depolarization and membrane damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric field-based sorting mechanism with a laser-based optical system. A laser beam is directed at the fluid stream to create localized heating and evaporation, generating a recoil force that deflects selected droplets containing target particles. This substitution eliminates direct electrical contact with cells, avoiding membrane depolarization and structural damage while maintaining sorting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through laser-induced localized heating. The laser energy causes rapid evaporation of water molecules in the targeted droplet sections, and the resulting phase change generates a recoil pressure that propels the droplets away from the main stream. This phase transition mechanism enables particle selection without requiring electric field application, thereby preventing cell damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If laser radiation is applied to deflect fluid stream sections, then cell damage is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The laser beam is focused to create a highly localized heating zone within only the selected droplet sections of the fluid stream. This localized energy application ensures that laser energy is concentrated precisely where needed to generate the deflection force, while surrounding droplets and the bulk fluid remain unaffected. This local quality approach minimizes overall energy consumption compared to applying energy to the entire fluid stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser operates in a pulsed or triggered manner, activating only when a target particle is detected by the sensing system. This periodic action synchronized with particle detection ensures that laser energy is consumed only for the necessary deflection events, rather than continuous operation, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective sorting capability.
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 minimizes cell damage, maintaining higher motility and fertility of sorted spermatozoa by avoiding electric field-induced alterations, with improved sorting purity and reduced structural damages compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the laser beam has a wavelength such that liquid is heated essentially only superficially and thereby evaporates superficially such that the superficially irradiated section of the fluid stream is accelerated and deflected into the direction opposite the laser beam
Implementation Method 2
sections of the fluid stream, especially droplets in the case the fluid stream is a droplet stream of liquid droplets, are irradiated with a laser... the laser radiation acting onto a section of the liquid stream applies a total energy onto the irradiated superficial section of the liquid stream which causes a superficial portion of the liquid to evaporate
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a device and a method for flow cytometric fractionation of particles contained in a fluid stream, wherein sections of the fluid stream, especially droplets if the fluid stream is a droplet stream, are irradiated with a laser. The laser disposed for the irradiation of the sections of the fluid stream can have a wavelength which is absorbed by the fluid and can have a sufficient radiation duration and radiation intensity to deflect sections of the fluid stream.