Particle Sorting Control Using Droplet Break-Off Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow cytometry technologies face challenges in stabilizing droplet formation and accurately sorting particles due to environmental factors, leading to instability in droplet break-off timing and direction, which affects analysis and sorting accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A particle analyzer equipped with a vibration unit, charging unit, side stream imaging unit, and charging control unit to calculate and control droplet charging timing based on imaging, along with a break-off control unit to adjust voltage and liquid feeding pressure for precise droplet break-off and deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vibration is applied to form droplets in flow cytometry, then particle sorting capability is enabled, but droplet break-off timing becomes unstable due to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting the actual droplet break-off timing and using this information to adjust the charging timing. The system monitors the droplet formation process and dynamically synchronizes the charging operation with the actual break-off events, ensuring stable particle sorting despite environmental variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging droplets at a controlled timing before they are deflected. The charging unit applies electric charge to droplets in advance of the sorting decision, allowing sufficient time for the charged droplets to be deflected to the appropriate collection vessel based on particle analysis results.
2Measurement precision
If charging timing is not synchronized with droplet break-off, then sorting accuracy deteriorates, but implementing synchronization requires complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from droplet break-off detection to automatically adjust charging timing, eliminating the need for complex manual synchronization mechanisms. The feedback loop continuously optimizes the charging timing based on actual droplet behavior, achieving high sorting accuracy with a relatively simple control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-synchronization by using its own droplet detection signals to control the charging timing. The charging control unit automatically adjusts its operation based on the detected droplet break-off events, making the system self-regulating without requiring external complex control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If environmental conditions vary, then droplet formation stability decreases, but maintaining stable droplet formation is crucial for accurate particle analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control to maintain stable droplet formation under varying environmental conditions. The system detects droplet break-off timing in real-time and adjusts charging parameters accordingly, compensating for environmental variations and ensuring consistent particle analysis performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic adjustment of charging timing based on actual droplet formation conditions. Rather than using fixed timing parameters, the charging control unit continuously adapts the charging timing to match the current droplet break-off pattern, enabling the system to maintain reliability despite environmental changes.
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
Enhances analysis and sorting accuracy by stabilizing droplet formation and deflection, even under environmental variations, ensuring high-speed and precise particle detection and sorting.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration unit that applies vibration to a fluid including a sample flow which contains a particle and a sheath flow which flows so as to include the sample flow
Implementation Method 2
a charging unit that applies electric charge to a droplet including the particle, the droplet being formed by the vibration
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a technology for improving analysis accuracy and sorting accuracy in a technology for analyzing and sorting particles.In the present technology, there is provided a particle analyzer including: a vibration unit that applies vibration to a fluid including a sample flow which contains a particle and a sheath flow which flows so as to include the sample flow to form a droplet in the fluid; a charging unit that applies electric charge to the droplet including the particle; a side stream imaging unit that images a state of the droplet deflected by the electric charge; and a charging control unit that controls a timing of charging on the basis of an image captured by the side stream imaging unit.