Method and apparatus for orienting sperm in a fluid stream
First Claim
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1. A flow cytometry apparatus nozzle to sort sperm cells in a fluid stream by chromosome content comprising:
- a. a nozzle body having a fluid stream entry portion and a fluid stream exit portion and an interior surface separating both portions along which a fluid stream flows when operating to sort sperm cells;
b. the interior surface of the nozzle comprising;
a first axially tapered region having a first angle of taper;
a second axially tapered region having a second angle of taper, the second axially tapered region adjacent to and downstream of the first axially tapered region; and
a third axially tapered region having a third angle of taper, the third axially tapered region adjacent to and downstream of the second axially tapered region, wherein the angle of taper of the second axially tapered region is different than the angle of taper of the first and third axially tapered regions, and wherein at least two of the axially tapered regions have generally elliptical cross sectional shapes oriented in different directions for applying torsional forces to the fluid stream passing there through, the torsional forces tending to bring sperm cells in the stream into a desired orientation.
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Abstract
A flow cytometry nozzle and method for orienting sperm cells in a fluid flow path including an interior surface of a nozzle. The interior surface of the nozzle having a first, a second and a third axially tapered region for progressively accelerating the speed of a fluid stream in a downstream direction toward a nozzle exit. At least two of the regions having generally elliptical cross sectional shapes oriented in different directions for applying torsional forces to a fluid stream passing there through, tending to bring sperm cells in the stream into a desired orientation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A flow cytometry apparatus nozzle to sort sperm cells in a fluid stream by chromosome content comprising:
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a. a nozzle body having a fluid stream entry portion and a fluid stream exit portion and an interior surface separating both portions along which a fluid stream flows when operating to sort sperm cells; b. the interior surface of the nozzle comprising;
a first axially tapered region having a first angle of taper;
a second axially tapered region having a second angle of taper, the second axially tapered region adjacent to and downstream of the first axially tapered region; and
a third axially tapered region having a third angle of taper, the third axially tapered region adjacent to and downstream of the second axially tapered region, wherein the angle of taper of the second axially tapered region is different than the angle of taper of the first and third axially tapered regions, and wherein at least two of the axially tapered regions have generally elliptical cross sectional shapes oriented in different directions for applying torsional forces to the fluid stream passing there through, the torsional forces tending to bring sperm cells in the stream into a desired orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of orienting animal sperm cells in a flow cytometry apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a fluid containing sperm cells into a fluid stream; directing the fluid stream containing the sperm cells under a pressure in the range of 20 to 40 psi through a nozzle body having three or more adjacent axially tapered regions and an exit orifice with a diameter in the range of 50-70 microns; accelerating the speed of the fluid stream in a downstream direction toward the nozzle orifice through a first axially tapered region having a first angle of taper, a second axially tapered region having a second angle of taper and a third axially tapered region having a third angle of taper, wherein the second angle of taper is different than the first angle of taper and the third angle of taper; and applying a torsional force to the fluid stream tending to bring the cells into a desired orientation as they pass through the orifice at a rate in the range of 30,000 to 50,000 sperm cells per second with a generally elliptical cross section shape in at least one of the axially tapered regions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for classifying and sorting sperm cells according to chromosomal DNA characteristics of the cells, comprising:
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a nozzle system for delivering a fluid stream containing the cells to a first location and for causing the stream to break into droplets at a second location, the nozzle system including a nozzle having an interior surface configured to exert a force on the cells tending to bring them into a desired orientation before reaching the first location, wherein the interior surface of the nozzle comprises;
a first axially tapered region having a first angle of taper;
a second axially tapered region having a second angle of taper, the second axially tapered region adjacent to and downstream of the first axially tapered region; and
a third axially tapered region having a third angle of taper, the third axially tapered region adjacent to and downstream of the second axially tapered region, wherein the taper of the second axially tapered region is different than the taper of the first and third axially tapered regions, and wherein at least two of the regions having generally elliptical cross sectional shapes oriented in different directions for applying torsional forces to the fluid stream passing there through, tending to bring sperm cells in the stream into a desired orientation;an optics system for directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation to intersect the fluid stream at the first location so that cells in the stream pass through the beam resulting in emissions of electromagnetic radiation from the cells; and a photodetector for detecting and converting at least some of the emissions into electrical signals; and
a system for classifying the cells according to the DNA characteristics and for sorting the droplets according to the classification of cells contained in the droplets.
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Specification