Sort block and liquid collection device for sorting flow cytometer
First Claim
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1. A cell sort block comprising:
- a block body, having an open top, an open bottom and an elongate interior chamber;
a block face sealed over said body to enclose on four sides the interior chamber;
said chamber having a top chamber opening through which droplets may be introduced in a flow stream into said chamber and an open chamber bottom through which droplets leave the chamber and flow into collection containers;
a particle deflector disposed to deflect charged droplets that pass through said chamber;
a fin having an open fin top facing the housing top opening and a closed fin bottom defining a fin slot, said fin located between the particle deflector and the bottom opening and extending into a depth of said interior chamber such that deflected particles are deflected to one of two sides of said fin and undeflected particles pass into said open fin top; and
an aspiration source evacuating air through said fin slot, said aspiration source providing a negative air pressure within said chamber moving air within said interior chamber into said open fin slot.
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Abstract
A sort block for use with sorting flow analysis system. The sort block includes a fin extending into a sort stream in the sort block. Unsorted particles and aerosol are aspirated into the open top of the fin. When error is detected, collection baskets associated with the fin extend into the sort stream, block passage of particles to the collection containers and aspirate all droplets and aerosol to a waste or retrieval container. This sort block may include error monitors, such as a laser and camera combination, which monitor the flow stream and control the extension of the fin and basket type collector.
21 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A cell sort block comprising:
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a block body, having an open top, an open bottom and an elongate interior chamber;
a block face sealed over said body to enclose on four sides the interior chamber;
said chamber having a top chamber opening through which droplets may be introduced in a flow stream into said chamber and an open chamber bottom through which droplets leave the chamber and flow into collection containers;
a particle deflector disposed to deflect charged droplets that pass through said chamber;
a fin having an open fin top facing the housing top opening and a closed fin bottom defining a fin slot, said fin located between the particle deflector and the bottom opening and extending into a depth of said interior chamber such that deflected particles are deflected to one of two sides of said fin and undeflected particles pass into said open fin top; and
an aspiration source evacuating air through said fin slot, said aspiration source providing a negative air pressure within said chamber moving air within said interior chamber into said open fin slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for use with a sorting flow cytometer, said cytometer having a flow cell for analysis of particles, a droplet generator producing droplets containing said particles, a charging system and deflection plates for sorting charged droplets in a flow stream, an enclosed block body having an interior chamber through which said flow stream of droplets pass and a plurality of collection container for collecting deflected droplets at an end of said interior chamber, the device comprising:
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a fin having an open end and a closed end, said fin positioned between said deflection plates and said collection containers and having said open end facing said deflection plates said open end oriented to collect undeflected droplets;
an aspirator connected to said fin such that air in front of said open end is evacuated through said open end;
a pair of baskets flanking said fin, said baskets having an open end and a closed end, wherein a front end of said fin extends beyond said baskets;
an actuator arm onto which said fin and baskets are mounted;
an actuator mechanically linked to said actuator arm such that said actuator arm may position said fin and baskets in a retracted position and an extended position, wherein when said device is used in said sorting flow cytometer in said retracted position said open end of said fin collects a central stream of unsorted particles and said baskets do not collect sorted particles, and when said fin end baskets are in an extended position said baskets are positioned to collect deflected particles while said fin continues to collect undeflected particles, thereby blocking droplets from flowing into said collection containers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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- 21. The device of claim 19, wherein said sensor is selected from a group comprising a pressure sensor, an power flow sensor, an optical sensor, and a computer error sensor.
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21-1. A flow cytometer cell sorting device comprising:
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an elongate block body enclosing three sides;
a block face fit onto said block body enclosing a fourth side to define a block chamber having an open top end and an open bottom end;
an electrostatic particle deflector disposed to deflect charged droplets in a droplet stream introduced through said block chamber producing a stream of undeflected droplets and one or more streams of deflected droplets;
a holder for droplet collection containers joined to said block body, said holder designed to hold at least two collection containers at a location to receive deflected droplets;
a fin disposed in said chamber between said deflector and said holder, the fin having a closed fin bottom and an open fin top facing said particle stream;
a pair of baskets flanking said fin;
an aspiration source drawing air through said open fin top;
an actuator arm onto which said fin and baskets are mounted; and
an actuator mechanically linked to said actuator arm such that said fin and baskets may be moved between a first and second position, wherein in said first position said fin collects undeflected droplets and aerosol in said open end while deflected droplets pass to the collection container and wherein in said second position said fin is further extended into a notch on said block face and said baskets are extended into said block chamber such that deflected, non-deflected and aerosol are collected and droplets do not pass to said collection containers; and
a system for actuating said actuator.
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Specification