Flow cytometer and fluidic line assembly with multiple injection needles

• US 8,062,609 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Pempsell, Paul, Schilffarth, Adam Richard, Deicher, William R., Krager, Jarden E., Roth, Wayne D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sasaki; Shogo
• Application Number:
  US11/938,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 422/501, 422/524, 422/515, 422/73, 422/278, 422/213, 422/220, 422/145, 422/508, 422/500, 422/502, 422/504, 422/505, 436/180, 356/335, 324/71.4
• US Class Current: 422/508
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1409 Handling samples, e.g. injecting samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 Controlled by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85986 Pumped fluid control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A flow cytometer is provided which includes an interrogation flow cell and a plurality of assay fluidic lines extending into the interrogation flow cell. A method of operating such a flow cytometer includes priming the interrogation flow cell with a sheath fluid and injecting different assay fluids into a flow of the sheath fluid through the plurality of fluidic lines. A fluidic line assembly is provided which includes a plurality of capillary tubes coupled to a base section configured for coupling to an interrogation flow cell assembly of a flow cytometer. The capillary tubes are dimensionally configured such that when the fluidic line assembly is arranged within the flow cytometer and fluid is dispensed from one or more of the capillary tubes at a given pressure differential with respect to an encompassing sheath fluid within the interrogation flow cell the fluid is substantially centrally aligned within the interrogation flow cell.

Claims

1. A flow cytometer, comprising:

an interrogation flow cell comprising an examination zone

a fluid handling system coupled to the interrogation flow cell, the fluid handling system comprising;

a sheath fluidic line for supplying a sheath fluid to the interrogation flow cell; and

a plurality of assay fluidic lines, each comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal ends of the plurality of assay fluidic lines are beveled and extending into the interrogation flow cell for introducing one or more assay fluids into a flow of the sheath fluid within the interrogation flow cell, wherein the beveled surfaces of the distal ends of the plurality of assay fluidic lines face each other; and

a detection system configured to collect light emitted and/or scattered from particles passing through the examination zone.

2. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of assay fluidic lines are dimensionally configured to substantially centrally align one or more assay fluids dispensed within the interrogation flow cell.

3. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the interrogation flow cell comprises a focusing section and a capillary section, and wherein the plurality of assay fluidic lines extend into the focusing section at a spaced distance of less than approximately 1.0 inch from the capillary section.

4. The flow cytometer of claim 1, further comprising:

an illumination system configured to illuminate the examination zone of the interrogation flow cell.

5. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a photodetector for measuring chemiluminescence resulting from a reaction between two or more assay fluids introduced into the interrogation flow cell.

6. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the fluid handling system comprises distinct pumps respectively coupled to the plurality of assay fluidic lines for respectively injecting the one or more assay fluids into the interrogation flow cell.

7. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the fluid handling system comprises a pump coupled to more than one of the plurality of assay fluidic lines for injecting at least some of the one or more assay fluids into the interrogation flow cell.

8. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the fluid handling system comprises multiple pumps coupled to one of the plurality of assay fluidic lines for injecting at least some of the one or more assay fluids into the interrogation flow cell.

9. The flow cytometer of claim 1, comprising two assay fluidic lines.

10. The flow cytometer of claim 1, further comprising a fluidic line assembly, wherein the plurality of assay fluidic lines are coupled to a surface of the fluidic line assembly, and wherein one or more of the distal ends are beveled at angles between approximately 50 degrees and approximately 80 degrees relative to the surface of the fluidic line assembly to which the plurality of assay fluidic lines are coupled.

11. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein outer diameters of the plurality of assay fluidic lines are less than approximately 0.1 inches.

12. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein inner diameters of the plurality of assay fluidic lines are less than approximately 0.02 inches.

13. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein outer diameters of the plurality of assay fluidic lines are approximately 0.018 inches, and wherein inner diameters of the plurality of assay fluidic lines are approximately 0.01 inches.

14. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of assay fluidic lines are spaced apart from each other by less than approximately 0.005 inches.

15. The flow cytometer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of assay fluidic lines comprise substantially equal dimensions.