Syringe-Based Flow Cytometer with Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow cytometric apparatuses are complex, expensive, and difficult to miniaturize due to the use of constant pressure sources and air conveying lines, which can lead to blockages and safety issues, and indirect detection methods make it challenging to locate blockages accurately.
Innovation Solution
A flow cytometric apparatus using syringe-type injection-suction means with a liquid-path switching mechanism, pressure sensing, and overpressure protection to create a simple, cost-effective system that can miniaturize detection equipment, allowing for direct detection and automatic pressure release to prevent overpressure and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If constant pressure sources and air conveying lines are used in flow cytometric apparatus, then the driving power for sheath liquid and sample charging is provided, but the apparatus becomes complex, expensive, and difficult to miniaturize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex constant pressure sources and air conveying lines from the system, replacing them with a simplified syringe-based driving mechanism. This extraction of unnecessary components directly reduces apparatus complexity while maintaining the essential driving power function through manual or motorized syringe operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (air conveying lines and pressure sources) with a direct mechanical syringe system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex pressure regulation and air handling infrastructure, thereby reducing device complexity and enabling miniaturization while preserving the driving power capability.
2Power
If constant pressure sources are used, then driving power is provided, but the system cannot be miniaturized and becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the bulky constant pressure sources from the system, replacing them with compact syringes that can be easily miniaturized. This extraction allows the equipment size to be dramatically reduced while maintaining the necessary driving power for sample and sheath liquid delivery.
3Stress or pressure
If air conveying lines are used, then gas pressure is provided for driving liquid, but the system complexity increases and miniaturization is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic conveying system with a direct mechanical syringe system that generates pressure through plunger movement. This substitution eliminates air conveying lines and pressure regulators, reducing system complexity while maintaining the necessary pressure generation capability for driving liquids through the flow chamber.
4Reliability
If indirect detection method is used for blockage detection, then blockage can be detected, but the location of blockage cannot be determined accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism using pressure sensors positioned at specific locations in the fluid path. When a blockage occurs, the pressure sensors provide real-time feedback on pressure changes, allowing the system to not only detect the blockage but also pinpoint its location based on which sensor detects the pressure anomaly first or with the greatest magnitude.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments disclose a flow cytometric apparatus comprising a flow chamber to be passed through by a sample in a row in sequence, a sample storage means for metering and storing the sample, a sample syringe for driving the sample into the flow chamber, a syringe-type injection-suction device comprising a sheath liquid syringe and a liquid-path switching means connected with it, and a control unit for controlling the operations of the sample syringe and the syringe-type the injection-suction means. In a sample charging stage, the injection-suction means feeds the sample into the sample storage means so that the sample is temporarily stored in it in a ready-to-use state, and in a sheath-liquid injection stage, the injection-suction means feeds the sheath liquid into the flow chamber to form a sheath flow. A flow cytometric method performed by the flow cytometric apparatus is also disclosed.