Flow Cytometer Sheath Line Cleaning Relay Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow cytometers face contamination risks due to incomplete cleaning of the sheath line, as existing methods only clean a portion of the line, leaving residual fluid and potential contaminants unaddressed.
Innovation Solution
A microparticle measuring apparatus with a relay unit, sheath fluid tube, and cleaning fluid tube that allows for comprehensive cleaning of the sheath fluid tube by enabling communication between the flow path, sheath fluid storage, and cleaning fluid storage units, utilizing optical sensors for confirmation mechanisms to ensure proper connections and mode switching between measurement and cleaning modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cleaning fluid is poured into the sheath line from a point partway along the sheath line, then the cleaning process is simple, but a part of the sheath line remains uncleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath line cleaning process is segmented into multiple injection points along the sheath line. Cleaning fluid injection holes are provided at different locations (e.g., first injection hole near the sample introduction unit, second injection hole near the flow cell) to enable分段 cleaning of different sections of the sheath line, ensuring complete coverage without leaving any portion uncleaned.
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning fluid injection mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component that delivers cleaning fluid directly into the sheath line at multiple strategic points. This intermediary system overcomes the limitation of single-point injection by providing multiple controlled injection locations, allowing thorough cleaning throughout the entire sheath line length.
2Reliability
If the sheath line is cleaned thoroughly, then contamination risk is reduced, but the cleaning system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning fluid injection holes serve multiple functions: they enable cleaning of the sheath line, facilitate flushing of the flow path, and can be used for system priming. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each operation, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving thorough cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-cleaning through automated control of the cleaning fluid injection mechanism. The control unit automatically activates the cleaning fluid pump and controls injection timing and duration, eliminating the need for manual disassembly or complex manual cleaning procedures. The system cleans itself using its own integrated components.
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 design effectively reduces the risk of contamination by ensuring the entire sheath fluid tube is cleaned, preventing residual contamination and enhancing the reliability of the flow cytometry process.
Implementation Method 1
a first confirmation mechanism that confirms a connection between the first connector and the joint portion on the sheath fluid storage unit side of the sheath fluid tube, and the first confirmation mechanism may include an optical sensor
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a technique that enables the risk of contamination to be reduced. Provided is a microparticle measuring apparatus including at least: a relay unit that enables a flow path through which microparticles flow and a cleaning fluid storage unit to communicate with each other; a sheath fluid tube that causes the flow path and a sheath fluid storage unit to communicate with each other; and a cleaning fluid tube that causes the relay unit and the cleaning fluid storage unit to communicate with each other, in which the relay unit includes a first connector that can be connected to a joint portion on the sheath fluid storage unit side of the sheath fluid tube.