Flow sorting system and methods regarding same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow sorting method comprising:
- transporting a fluid composition comprising a plurality of objects through a pathway network, wherein the pathway network comprises a plurality of pathways and one or more branch points;
analyzing groups of multiple objects of the plurality of objects being transported in a pathway of the pathway network to detect objects of interest, wherein analyzing each group of multiple objects comprises analyzing simultaneously the multiple objects of the group together by providing a measurement taken on multiple objects of the group together in the pathway, the measurement for use in determining a pathway of the pathway network down which the group is to be directed; and
directing at least a few of the groups of the multiple objects through one branch point of the one or more branch points down at least one pathway of the plurality of pathways based on the analysis of the groups of multiple objects such that a distance between multiple objects of the few groups is increased and directing other groups of multiple objects down a pathway different than the at least one pathway to increase the percentage of objects of interest in the at least one pathway relative to other objects present therein, wherein the method further comprises;
analyzing objects of the few groups directed down the at least one pathway with increased distance between multiple objects thereof to detect objects of interest, wherein analyzing the objects of the few groups comprises analyzing simultaneously multiple objects together in a pathway by providing at least a measurement taken on the multiple objects together, the measurement for use in determining a pathway of the pathway network down which one or more of the objects of the few groups is to be directed; and
directing one or more of the objects of the few groups through another of the one or more branch points down another pathway of the pathway network based on the analysis of objects of the few groups to further increase the percentage of objects of interest therein relative to other objects present therein.
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Abstract
A system and method for sorting of objects that includes a pathway network that has a plurality of pathways and one or more branch points. A fluid composition including one or more objects can be transported through the pathway network, where one or more of the objects are analyzed and sorted at one or more branch points based on the analysis of the objects.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A flow sorting method comprising:
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transporting a fluid composition comprising a plurality of objects through a pathway network, wherein the pathway network comprises a plurality of pathways and one or more branch points; analyzing groups of multiple objects of the plurality of objects being transported in a pathway of the pathway network to detect objects of interest, wherein analyzing each group of multiple objects comprises analyzing simultaneously the multiple objects of the group together by providing a measurement taken on multiple objects of the group together in the pathway, the measurement for use in determining a pathway of the pathway network down which the group is to be directed; and directing at least a few of the groups of the multiple objects through one branch point of the one or more branch points down at least one pathway of the plurality of pathways based on the analysis of the groups of multiple objects such that a distance between multiple objects of the few groups is increased and directing other groups of multiple objects down a pathway different than the at least one pathway to increase the percentage of objects of interest in the at least one pathway relative to other objects present therein, wherein the method further comprises; analyzing objects of the few groups directed down the at least one pathway with increased distance between multiple objects thereof to detect objects of interest, wherein analyzing the objects of the few groups comprises analyzing simultaneously multiple objects together in a pathway by providing at least a measurement taken on the multiple objects together, the measurement for use in determining a pathway of the pathway network down which one or more of the objects of the few groups is to be directed; and directing one or more of the objects of the few groups through another of the one or more branch points down another pathway of the pathway network based on the analysis of objects of the few groups to further increase the percentage of objects of interest therein relative to other objects present therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A sorting method, comprising:
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providing a pathway network comprising a plurality of pathways and one or more branch points; analyzing groups of cells suspended in a fluid composition at one or more positions along a pathway of the pathway network to detect cells of interest, wherein analyzing each group of cells comprises analyzing simultaneously the cells of the group together by providing a measurement taken on the cells of the group together, the measurement for use in determining a pathway of the pathway network down which the group is to be directed; and sorting the groups of cells, wherein sorting the groups of cells comprises directing at least a few of the groups of cells through one branch point of the one or more branch points down at least one pathway of the plurality of pathways based on the analysis of the groups of cells such that a distance between cells of the few groups is increased and directing other groups of cells down a pathway different than the at least one pathway to increase the percentage of cells of interest in the at least one pathway relative to other cells present therein, wherein the method further comprises analyzing cells of the few groups directed down the at least one pathway with increased distance between cells thereof to detect cells of interest, wherein analyzing the cells of the few groups comprises analyzing simultaneously multiple cells of the few groups together in a pathway by providing a measurement taken on the multiple cells of the few groups together in the pathway, the measurement for use in determining a pathway of the pathway network down which one or more of cells of the few groups is to be directed, and directing one or more of the cells of the few groups through another of the one or more branch points down another pathway of the pathway network based on the analysis of the cells of the few groups to further increase the percentage of cells of interest therein relative to other cells present therein. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification