Flow cytometer jet monitor system
First Claim
1. A flow cytometer system which monitors jet conditions comprising:
- a. a nozzle container establishing a nozzle volume and having a nozzle exit;
b. a sheath fluid port located within said nozzle volume;
c. a substance introduction port located within said nozzle volume;
d. an analysis area below said nozzle exit wherein a jet occurs;
e. a substance property sensor which senses emissions from said analysis area over a substance wavelength band;
f. a jet illumination source directed towards said analysis area and which emits electromagnetic emissions over a monitor wavelength band which is substantially separate from said substance wavelength band; and
g. a jet condition sensor which receives emissions from said analysis area and which is responsive to said monitor wavelength band.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A direct jet monitor illuminates the jet of a flow cytometer in a monitor wavelength band which is substantially separate from the substance wavelength band. When a laser is used to cause fluorescence of the substance, it may be appropriate to use an infrared source to illuminate the jet and thus optically monitor the conditions within the jet through a CCD camera or the like. This optical monitoring may be provided to some type of controller or feedback system which automatically changes either the horizontal location of the jet, the point at which droplet separation occurs, or some other condition within the jet in order to maintain optimum conditions. The direct jet monitor may be operated simultaneously with the substance property sensing and analysis system so that continuous monitoring may be achieved without interfering with the substance data gathering and may be configured so as to allow the front of the analysis or free fall area to be unobstructed during processing.
195 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A flow cytometer system which monitors jet conditions comprising:
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a. a nozzle container establishing a nozzle volume and having a nozzle exit; b. a sheath fluid port located within said nozzle volume; c. a substance introduction port located within said nozzle volume; d. an analysis area below said nozzle exit wherein a jet occurs; e. a substance property sensor which senses emissions from said analysis area over a substance wavelength band; f. a jet illumination source directed towards said analysis area and which emits electromagnetic emissions over a monitor wavelength band which is substantially separate from said substance wavelength band; and g. a jet condition sensor which receives emissions from said analysis area and which is responsive to said monitor wavelength band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A flow cytometer system which monitors jet conditions comprising:
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a. a nozzle container establishing a nozzle volume and having a nozzle exit; b. a sheath fluid port located within said nozzle volume; c. a substance introduction port located within said nozzle volume; d. an analysis area below said nozzle exit wherein a jet occurs; e. a substance property sensor which senses emissions from said analysis area over a substance wavelength band; and f. a direct jet monitor responsive to said jet and which operates simultaneously with said substance property sensor wherein said jet monitor emits a substantially separate wavelength band from said substance wavelength band. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of droplet flow cytometry which monitors the condition of the jet comprising the steps of:
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a. establishing a nozzle volume; b. introducing a flow of sheath fluid into said nozzle volume; c. introducing a flow of a substance within said sheath fluid in said nozzle volume; d. allowing said sheath fluid to exit from said nozzle volume into an analysis area to create a jet; e. sensing a property of said substance in a substance wavelength band; f. illuminating said jet in said analysis area in a monitor wavelength band which is substantially separate from said substance wavelength band; and g. monitoring at least one jet condition in said analysis area in said monitor wavelength band. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of droplet flow cytometry which monitors the condition of the jet comprising the steps of:
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a. establishing a nozzle volume; b. introducing a flow of sheath fluid into said nozzle volume; c. introducing a flow of a substance within said sheath fluid in said nozzle volume; d. allowing said sheath fluid to exit from said nozzle volume into an analysis area to create a jet; e. sensing a property of said substance in a substance wavelength band; and f. directly monitoring conditions in said jet while accomplishing said step of sensing a property of said substance in a substance wavelength band wherein said step of directly monitoring Conditions in said jet comprises the step of illuminating said jet in said analysis area in a monitor wavelength band which is substantially separate from said substance wavelength band. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification