Peristaltic Fluidic System for Flow Cytometer Assembly and Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow cytometer fluidic systems are difficult to assemble, heavy to transport, and challenging to calibrate, leading to errors in data collection.
Innovation Solution
A fluidic system incorporating a sheath pump and waste pump with peristaltic mechanisms and a controller to manage flow rates, along with pressure sensors and capacitors to stabilize fluid flow, facilitating easier assembly, transport, and calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air and/or vacuum pumps are used to pressurize and pump sheath fluid, then the fluid can be delivered to the interrogation zone, but the system becomes heavy and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional air/vacuum pumps with a peristaltic pump mechanism that uses rollers to compress and advance tubing, creating fluid pressure through mechanical compression rather than pneumatic systems. This substitution eliminates heavy air tanks and vacuum pumps while maintaining reliable fluid delivery to the interrogation zone.
2Reliability
If conventional pumps and pressure systems are used, then fluid flow can be maintained, but the system becomes arduous to assemble and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fluid delivery system into modular segments: a peristaltic pump module with rollers and tubing, separate fluid reservoirs, and an interrogation zone module. This segmentation allows each component to be assembled and tested independently, then connected through standardized interfaces, significantly reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining fluid flow reliability.
3Reliability
If high-pressure containers and pneumatic systems are used, then sheath fluid can be pressurized, but calibration becomes challenging and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates flow sensors and pressure sensors that provide real-time feedback to a control system, which adjusts peristaltic pump roller speed and position to maintain precise fluid pressure and flow rates. This closed-loop feedback control eliminates calibration drift and measurement errors associated with open-loop pneumatic pressurization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls fluid pressure by dynamically adjusting peristaltic pump operational parameters (roller speed, compression force, tubing position) rather than relying on fixed high-pressure container systems. This allows precise, programmable pressure control that can be easily calibrated and adjusted without mechanical reconfiguration.
4Reliability
If heavy pneumatic systems are used, then fluid pumping capability is achieved, but repair options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump system is divided into replaceable modules: pump head with rollers, tubing sections, and fluid reservoirs. If a component fails, only that specific module needs to be replaced rather than servicing the entire pneumatic system. This modular approach dramatically simplifies field repairs and reduces downtime while maintaining continuous fluid pumping 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
The system enables uniform and repeatable analysis of sample fluids with improved ease of assembly, reduced weight, and enhanced calibration accuracy, resulting in reliable data collection.
Implementation Method 1
The sheath pump 12 and the waste pump 20 are preferably peristaltic pumps with a flexible tube and one or more cams that pump the sheath fluid 14 and the waste fluid 22 through the flexible tube
Implementation Method 2
The sheath fluid 14 functions to hydrodynamically focus the sample fluid 26. The process of hydrodynamic focusing results in laminar flow of the sample fluid 26 within the flow cell 32
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The fluidic system (10) of the preferred embodiment includes a sheath pump (12) to pump sheath fluid from a sheath container (16) into an interrogation zone (18) and a waste pump (20) to pump waste fluid from the interrogation zone (18) into a waste container (24). The sheath pump (12) and/or the waste pump (20) draw sample fluid from a sample container (28) into the interrogation zone (18).The fluidic system (10) also includes a controller (30) to adjust the flow rate of the sample fluid from the sample container (28) into the interrogation zone (18). The fluidic system (10) is preferably incorporated into a flow cytometer with a flow cell that includes the interrogation zone (18).