System for sensing droplet formation time delay in a flow cytometer
First Claim
1. A method of droplet flow cytometry which senses droplet formation time delay comprising the steps of:
- 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. establishing an oscillation to which said sheath fluid is responsive;
e. allowing said sheath fluid to exit from said nozzle volume;
f. analyzing a property of said substance entrained within said sheath fluid;
g. forming a plurality of droplets from said sheath fluid after allowing said sheath fluid to exit from said nozzle volume;
h. creating a droplet formation time delay estimate;
i. differentially charging some individual droplets based upon the step of analyzing a property of said substance and said droplet formation time delay estimate;
j. intermittently sampling said droplets while accomplishing the step of analyzing a property of said substance; and
k. analyzing said intermittent sampling;
l. adjusting said droplet formation time delay estimate based upon the step of analyzing said intermittent sampling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A droplet flow cytometer system which includes a system to optimize the droplet formation time delay based on conditions actually experienced includes an automatic droplet sampler which rapidly moves a plurality of containers stepwise through the droplet stream while simultaneously adjusting the droplet time delay. Through the system sampling of an actual substance to be processed can be used to minimize the effect of the substances variations or the determination of which time delay is optimal. Analysis such as cell counting and the like may be conducted manually or automatically and input to a time delay adjustment which may then act with analysis equipment to revise the time delay estimate actually applied during processing. The automatic sampler can be controlled through a microprocessor and appropriate programming to bracket an initial droplet formation time delay estimate. When maximization counts through volume, weight, or other types of analysis exists in the containers, the increment may then be reduced for a more accurate ultimate setting. This may be accomplished while actually processing the sample without interruption.
156 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of droplet flow cytometry which senses droplet formation time delay 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. establishing an oscillation to which said sheath fluid is responsive; e. allowing said sheath fluid to exit from said nozzle volume; f. analyzing a property of said substance entrained within said sheath fluid; g. forming a plurality of droplets from said sheath fluid after allowing said sheath fluid to exit from said nozzle volume; h. creating a droplet formation time delay estimate; i. differentially charging some individual droplets based upon the step of analyzing a property of said substance and said droplet formation time delay estimate; j. intermittently sampling said droplets while accomplishing the step of analyzing a property of said substance; and k. analyzing said intermittent sampling; l. adjusting said droplet formation time delay estimate based upon the step of analyzing said intermittent sampling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A droplet flow cytometer system which senses droplet formation time delay 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 oscillator to which said sheath fluid is responsive; e. a free fall area below said nozzle exit and within which said droplet forms with some droplet formation time delay; f. a substance property sensor responsive to said free fall area; g. an electrode to which said sheath fluid is responsive and which is responsive to said substance property sensor; and h. an automatic substance maximization means to which said electrode is responsive which conducts intermittent analysis and which adjusts said droplet formation time delay based upon said intermittent analysis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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12. A droplet flow cytometer system which senses droplet formation time delay 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 oscillator to which said sheath fluid is responsive; e. a free fall area below said nozzle exit and within which said droplet forms; f. a substance property sensor responsive to said free fall area; g. an electrode to which said sheath fluid is responsive and which is responsive to said substance property sensor; and h. an automatic droplet sampler which intermittently samples said droplets; i. an analysis system which is responsive to said automatic droplet sampler; and j. a droplet formation time delay adjustment which is coordinated with said analysis system.
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Specification