FLOW RATE BALANCED, DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTABLE SHEATH DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR FLOW CYTOMETRY
First Claim
1. A method of adding sheath fluid to a flow cytometer having a positively pressurized reservoir holding both a volume of sheath fluid and a volume of positively pressurized air, wherein the flow cytometer is configured to flow sheath fluid from the positively pressurized reservoir through a nozzle at an out-flow rate, the method comprising:
- pumping, using a pump interposed between an external container containing sheath fluid and the positively pressurized reservoir, the sheath fluid from the external container into the positively pressurized reservoir at an in-flow rate;
determining the out-flow rate of fluid flowing out of the nozzle based on data from a visual sensor configured to detect droplet locations of the sheath fluid flowing out of the nozzle;
reducing the in-flow rate of the sheath fluid flowing into the positively pressurized reservoir to zero; and
increasing, after the reducing and based upon the determination, the pressure of the volume of positively pressurized air so that the out-flow rate of fluid flowing out of the nozzle, as determined by the visual sensor, remains substantially constant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a sheath delivery system that uses a continuous flow of sheath fluid into a pressurized internal reservoir that substantially matches the outflow of sheath fluid through the nozzle of a flow cytometer. A substantially constant level of the sheath fluid is maintained. If the sheath fluid level falls below a desired level, or goes above a desired level, a dampened control system is used to reach the desired level. In addition, air pressure in the pressurized internal container is controlled so that an external sheath container can be removed and refilled with additional sheath fluid without stopping the sheath delivery system 100. Differences in pressure are detected by a droplet camera, which measures the droplet breakoff point to determine the pressure of the sheath fluid in the nozzle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of adding sheath fluid to a flow cytometer having a positively pressurized reservoir holding both a volume of sheath fluid and a volume of positively pressurized air, wherein the flow cytometer is configured to flow sheath fluid from the positively pressurized reservoir through a nozzle at an out-flow rate, the method comprising:
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pumping, using a pump interposed between an external container containing sheath fluid and the positively pressurized reservoir, the sheath fluid from the external container into the positively pressurized reservoir at an in-flow rate; determining the out-flow rate of fluid flowing out of the nozzle based on data from a visual sensor configured to detect droplet locations of the sheath fluid flowing out of the nozzle; reducing the in-flow rate of the sheath fluid flowing into the positively pressurized reservoir to zero; and increasing, after the reducing and based upon the determination, the pressure of the volume of positively pressurized air so that the out-flow rate of fluid flowing out of the nozzle, as determined by the visual sensor, remains substantially constant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification