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Multiple sort flow cytometer

  • US 5,483,469 A
  • Filed: 08/02/1993
  • Issued: 01/09/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A Cytometry apparatus for sorting a plurality of cellular events, comprising:

  • means for providing a sheath flow jet of fluid with cellular matter and events centrally disposed in said sheath flow jet of fluid and for converting said sheath flow jet into a continuous flow of droplets said droplets containing events;

    means for obtaining at least a first and second identification parameters of a particular event in said sheath flow jet;

    means for plotting each said first identification parameter against said second identification parameter on an orthogonal coordinate domain to obtain a double verification of said event as a specific point of said domain;

    means for plotting a plurality of areas on said orthogonal coordinate domain wherein said areas are defined by predetermined boundaries circumventing areas which encompass and delineate particular events;

    means for determining within which said defined area each said specific point lies, and thereby determining the identity of said event;

    means for designating in which droplet said identified event will reside upon severance from said sheath flow;

    means for charging one of a variety of positive and negative electrical potentials to an identified event droplet;

    means for shielding said droplet charging process from spurious electric fields; and

    means for deflecting and focusing said charged droplets into a plurality of droplet streams confined within a defined plane, wherein each said deflected droplet stream contains only droplets of the same electrical potential and charge, wherein said deflecting and focusing means consists of a pair of oppositely charged plates disposed on each side of said droplet flow and having associated therewith a respective ground plane for each said plate, wherein each said ground plane is curved around each said respective charged plate and is separated from said charged plate by a dielectric to cause a curved and focused electric field between said oppositely charged plates to more accurately focus deflections of said charged droplets.

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