Removable Flow Tube Cuvette for Optical Alignment Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In flow-type particle analyzers like flow cytometers, the replacement of fluidic path components after use, especially in applications like cell sorting, is time-consuming and difficult due to the need for realignment of excitation and detection optics.
Innovation Solution
A cuvette with a removable flow tube that allows for the sterilization and replacement of flow cell elements without disturbing the optical alignment, enabling the flow tube to be replaced separately or as part of the cuvette, while maintaining the fixed position of the cuvette with respect to the optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fluidic path components are replaced after use, then sterilization and contamination prevention are improved, but the time and complexity of maintenance increase due to required optical realignment
Solution Approach 1:
The cuvette is divided into two separable parts: a reusable cuvette body containing the optical interface and a replaceable flow tube containing the fluidic path. This segmentation allows the flow tube to be replaced without affecting the cuvette body or optical components, eliminating the need for time-consuming optical realignment during maintenance while ensuring proper sterilization of sample-contacting surfaces
2Reliability
If the fluidic path components are replaced after use, then contamination prevention is improved, but the complexity of maintenance increases due to required optical realignment
Solution Approach 1:
The flow tube is designed as a separate, self-contained component that interfaces with but is not permanently attached to the cuvette body. This segmentation isolates the fluidic path from the optical system, allowing complete replacement of the flow tube without any adjustment to optical components, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining simple maintenance procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The flow tube is extracted as a removable component from the cuvette assembly. This extraction allows the fluidic path to be completely separated from the optical system for replacement, ensuring that no optical realignment is needed and reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining contamination prevention
3Ease of repair
If the cuvette is designed with a removable flow tube, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The cuvette is segmented into a cuvette body and a flow tube, where the flow tube is designed as a simple, disposable component that requires no complex assembly or alignment procedures for replacement. This segmentation dramatically simplifies maintenance while the added complexity of the separate component is minimal and justified by the ease of replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The flow tube is designed to nest within or interface with the cuvette body in a standardized manner, allowing the smaller flow tube component to be inserted into or against the larger cuvette body. This nesting approach maintains a compact overall device structure while enabling easy replacement of the inner flow tube component
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an optical cuvette for use in a flow-type particle analyzer, wherein the cuvette includes a removable flow tube containing a flow channel oriented coaxially.