Vibrating Electrode Sterilization for Aerosol-Free Cell Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for treating biological particles, such as cell sorters and flow cytometers, face contamination issues due to aerosol generation during sterile treatment, making it difficult to maintain a sterile state for subsequent treatments.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a chamber member, sample liquid supply, sheath liquid supply, and a vibrating electrode member made of electrically conductive material that extends from the interior to the exterior of the chamber, capable of applying electric charges and ultrasonic vibrations to the liquids, is used to form a liquid flow and includes a sterilization treatment portion to prevent aerosol contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cell particles are treated using a conventional apparatus, then sorting and analysis can be performed, but aerosol contamination occurs in the interior of the apparatus making it difficult to maintain sterile state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful aerosol generation mechanism by introducing a sheath liquid flow that suppresses aerosol formation during cell particle treatment. The sheath liquid surrounds the sample liquid containing cell particles, creating a controlled flow environment that prevents aerosol generation while maintaining the sorting and analysis functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a sterile, aerosol-free environment by using sheath liquid to form a protective barrier around the sample liquid. This inert liquid environment prevents contamination while allowing the apparatus to maintain its sorting and analysis capabilities for cell particles.
2Reliability
If sheath liquid is supplied to suppress aerosol, then sterile state can be maintained, but liquid flow control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath liquid supply portion serves multiple functions: it suppresses aerosol generation, maintains sterile state, and enables proper flow cytometry operation. By integrating these functions into a single system component, the patent avoids increasing overall device complexity while achieving reliable sterile treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles to control the liquid flow, where sheath liquid pressure and flow rate are regulated to create the necessary flow patterns for aerosol suppression. This hydraulic control system manages the complexity of liquid flow while maintaining the sterile environment.
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 apparatus effectively prevents aerosol contamination, allowing for the treatment of biological particles in a sterile state by using electric charges and ultrasonic vibrations to manage the liquid flow and employing a sterilization treatment region to maintain sterility.
Implementation Method 1
The vibrating electrode member extends from the interior to the exterior of the chamber, is made of an electrically conductive material, and is configured to be capable of supplying an electric charge to the sheath liquid and the sample liquid in the chamber and propagating an ultrasonic vibration.
Implementation Method 2
The vibrating electrode member extends from the interior to the exterior of the chamber, is made of an electrically conductive material, and is configured to be capable of supplying an electric charge to the sheath liquid and the sample liquid in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided an apparatus capable of treating biological particles in a sterile state, and a treatment apparatus. An apparatus for forming a liquid flow including biological particles includes: a chamber member; a sample liquid supply portion; a sheath liquid supply portion; and a vibrating electrode member. The chamber member includes a chamber and a flow cell extending from an interior to an exterior of the chamber. The sample liquid supply portion is configured to supply a sample liquid including the biological particles into the chamber. The sheath liquid supply portion is configured to supply a sheath liquid into the chamber. The vibrating electrode member extends from the interior to the exterior of the chamber, is made of an electrically conductive material, and is configured to be capable of supplying an electric charge to the sheath liquid and the sample liquid in the chamber and propagating an ultrasonic vibration.