Particle Analyzer Nozzle Movement Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow cytometers face issues with particle stagnation and clogging in long liquid feeding tubes, leading to degraded detection accuracy and increased cleaning times, especially in automated systems that sample from multiple containers or wells.
Innovation Solution
A particle analyzer design featuring a flow cell with a sample liquid introducing member and movement restriction mechanism, including a rib portion on the nozzle and position sensors, to prevent upward movement and reduce the risk of particle stagnation, along with a block member for detecting and preventing nozzle contact with containers, and a spring material for fixing the nozzle, ensuring accurate analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the liquid feeding tube is elongated to enable automated sampling from multiple containers, then the adaptability and automation capability are improved, but particle stagnation and clogging occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The suction nozzle is extracted from the long liquid feeding tube and repositioned immediately below the flow cell. This eliminates the problematic long tube section that caused particle stagnation, while the automated sampling function is maintained through coordinated movement of the suction nozzle and sample stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction nozzle is made movable in the vertical direction to enable automated sampling from multiple containers. The nozzle can be positioned at different heights to access samples from different containers while maintaining a short connection to the flow cell, thus preventing particle stagnation.
2Measurement precision
If cleaning is performed frequently to prevent particle mixture, then detection accuracy is maintained, but the analysis time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the suction nozzle from the long liquid feeding tube and positioning it immediately below the flow cell, the path for particle contamination is shortened. This reduces the frequency and extent of cleaning required, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while preserving analysis productivity.
3Measurement precision
If the sample injection mechanism is moved to avoid influencing the optical system, then the optical measurement accuracy is maintained, but the liquid feeding tube length increases causing particle stagnation
Solution Approach 1:
The suction nozzle is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement (connected via long tube to the side of the flow cell) to a vertical arrangement (immediately below the flow cell). This dimensional change allows the injection mechanism to be moved for automated sampling while maintaining a short liquid feeding path, thus preventing particle stagnation without compromising optical detection accuracy.
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 solution effectively suppresses particle mixing and enhances detection accuracy by minimizing stagnation and reducing cleaning time, while preventing damage to components and maintaining optical system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a suction nozzle adapted to suck sample liquid
Implementation Method 2
a sample liquid introducing nozzle adapted to discharge the sucked sample liquid into the flow cell
Implementation Method 3
a detection unit in which a laminar flow formed of the sample liquid and the sheath liquid flows
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a particle analyzer capable of suppressing mixture of other particles and analyzing particles with high accuracy. A sample liquid introducing member is disposed immediately below a flow cell of a particle analyzer in a manner movable in a forward direction and a reverse direction relative to a sample liquid introducing direction, and formed by integrating a suction nozzle adapted to suck sample liquid with a sample liquid introducing nozzle disposed inside an introducing unit of the flow cell and adapted to discharge the sucked sample liquid into the flow cell. Furthermore, a movement restriction mechanism adapted to restrict a moving amount of the sample liquid introducing member is provided.