FLOW CYTOMETER SYSTEM WITH UNCLOGGING FEATURE

• US 20080092961A1
• Filed: 04/14/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accuri Cytometers, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Accuri Cytometers, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Bair, Nathaniel, Rich, Collin
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/565.11
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/1201 Rotational speed of the axis
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/04 Combinations of two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0081 systems, control, safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1413 Hydrodynamic focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0682 using a plurality of flow sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 Controlled by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0379 By fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85986 Pumped fluid control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream

Abstract

The fluidic system with an unclogging feature of the preferred embodiment includes a flow channel, a sheath pump to pump sheath fluid from a sheath container into an interrogation zone, and a waste pump to pump waste fluid from the interrogation zone into a waste container. The sheath pump and/or the waste pump draw sample fluid from a sample container into the interrogation zone. The fluidic system also includes a controller to adjust the flow rate of the sample fluid from the sample container into the interrogation zone. The pump and controller cooperate to propagate a pulsation through the flow channel from the pump if the flow channel is clogged. The fluidic system is preferably incorporated into a flow cytometer with a flow cell that includes the interrogation zone.

Claims

1. A fluidic system for unclogging a flow channel of a flow cytometer including an interrogation zone and a system fluid with a pressure and a flow rate, the fluidic system comprising:

a sheath pump adapted to pump the system fluid into the interrogation zone;

a waste pump adapted to pump the system fluid from the interrogation zone; and

a controller adapted to vary the pumping rate of at least one of the pumps of the fluidic system to create pulsations within the system fluid that unclog the flow channel of the flow cytometer.

2. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein, by varying the pumping rate of at least one of the pumps of the fluidic system, the controller varies the flow rate of the system fluid and induces a commensurate change in the pressure of the system fluid.

3. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the controller creates the pulsations within the system fluid at a discrete and repeatable interval.

4. The fluidic system of claim 3 wherein the controller creates the pulsations within the system fluid with a frequency ranging from 1 Hz to 10 Hz.

5. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the pulsations have a pulsation pressure and the pulsation pressure is at least five times greater than the pressure of the system fluid.

6. The fluidic system of claim 1 further including a motor with motor controls.

7. The fluidic system of claim 6 wherein the motor includes a variable drive ratio device and the sheath pump and the waste pump are driven by the motor, wherein the sheath pump and the waste pump may be operated at different pump speeds, wherein the controller is coupled to the variable drive ratio device such that the controller can vary the pumping rates of the sheath pump and the waste pump.

8. The fluidic system of claim 6 further comprising at least one valve adapted to facilitate the control of the system fluid.

9. The fluidic system of claim 8 wherein the sheath pump and the waste pump are driven by the motor and the at least one valve is a by-pass valve located near at least one of the pumps of the system, wherein the controller is coupled to the by-pass valve and is adapted to divert a variable amount of the system fluid through the by-pass valve.

10. The fluidic system of claim 8 wherein the sheath pump and the waste pump are driven by the motor and the at least one valve is a restrictive valve located near at least one of the pumps of the system, wherein the controller is coupled to the restrictive valve and is adapted to open and close the restrictive valve.

11. The fluidic system of claim 1 further including a second motor with second motor controls.

12. The fluidic system of claim 11 wherein the sheath pump is driven by the first motor and the waste pump is driven by the second motor and wherein the sheath pump and the waste pump may be operated at different pump speeds, wherein the controller is coupled to at least one of the first motor controls and second motor controls such that the controller can vary the pumping rates of the sheath pump and the waste pump.

13. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further adapted to create pulsations within the system fluid upon a command from a user.

14. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further adapted to create pulsations within the system fluid upon startup of the fluidic system.

15. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further adapted to create pulsations within the system fluid upon the detection of a clog.

16. The fluidic system of claim 15 further comprising a clog detector coupled to the controller and adapted to detect clogs in the flow channel.

17. The fluidic system of claim 15 further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the controller and adapted to measure a pressure of the system fluid and to detect clogs in the flow channel.

18. The fluidic system of claim 15 further comprising a flow meter coupled to the controller and adapted to measure a flow rate of the system fluid and to detect clogs in the flow channel.

19. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further adapted to terminate the creation of pulsations within the system fluid automatically once a pre-defined threshold for a parameter has been reached, wherein the pre-defined parameter is selected from the group consisting of a time interval, an energy output, a full return of flow, a partial return of flow, a break up of the clog, and combinations thereof.

20. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further adapted to terminate the creation of pulsations within the system fluid upon a command of the user.