Particle Sorting Apparatus Charge Timing Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In particle sorting apparatuses, such as cell sorters, the instability of liquid droplet advancement direction due to varying particle sizes leads to reduced sorting precision and efficiency, particularly when sorting large particles, as the break-off timing for forming droplets is delayed, causing inappropriate charge application and splash generation.
Innovation Solution
The charge application end time is adjusted based on the delay in break-off timing for large particles, ensuring stable charge application to liquid droplets, which stabilizes the side stream and reduces splashes, by using a charging control unit that modifies the charge application waveform or duration based on forward-scattered light intensity detected by a light detecting unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the orifice diameter is increased to sort larger particles, then the sorting capability for large particles is improved, but the sorting rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the charge application end time as a controllable parameter to accommodate larger particles without changing the orifice diameter. By dynamically modifying the charging waveform parameters (specifically extending the charge application duration), the system maintains effective sorting of large particles while preserving the original orifice size and associated high sorting rate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of the charge application timing based on particle size detection. The charging control unit modifies the charge application end time in real-time according to the detected particle characteristics, creating a dynamic sorting system that adapts to different particle sizes without requiring physical changes to the orifice structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If particles having different sizes are mixed in a sample liquid, then the sorting object particles can include various sizes, but the advancement direction of liquid droplets becomes unstable and sorting precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the charging control unit receives information about particle size (through forward-scattered light intensity) and adjusts the charge application end time accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that each particle receives appropriate charging timing, stabilizing liquid droplet advancement direction and maintaining high sorting precision across different particle sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charge application timing parameter based on detected particle size. By extending the charge application duration for larger particles that cause delayed break-off timing, the system compensates for the instability and maintains precise sorting across different particle size ranges
3Device complexity
If the charge application end time is not adjusted for large particles, then the charging process is simple, but the break-off timing becomes unstable and splashes are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the charge application waveform parameter (specifically the end time) based on particle size detection. This parameter adjustment stabilizes the break-off timing for large particles without requiring complex hardware modifications, maintaining reliability while adding only minimal control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of particle size through forward-scattered light measurement before the charging process. Based on this advance information, the charging control unit pre-adjusts the charge application end time, ensuring stable break-off timing and preventing splashes before they occur
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 enables high-precision sorting of large particles without the need to increase the orifice diameter, maintaining high sorting efficiency and precision, even when dealing with particles larger than 1/5 of the orifice diameter, thereby improving the overall sorting process.
Implementation Method 1
a light detecting unit configured to detect a size of each particle flowing along a flow channel
Implementation Method 2
vibration is applied to a flow cell or a microchip by a vibration element to make a fluid discharged from a flow channel become liquid droplets
Implementation Method 3
an advancement direction of the liquid droplets is changed by a deflection plate and the liquid droplets are collected to a predetermined container
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a particle sorting apparatus, a particle sorting method, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program that enable sorting object particles to be sorted with high precision, even when the sorting object particles are large. In the particle sorting apparatus, a charging unit that applies charges to at least a part of liquid droplets ejected from an orifice to generate a fluid stream and a charging control unit that adjusts a charge application end time in the charging unit according to sizes of particles included in the liquid droplets are provided.