Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a flow cell assembly having a flow cell body with a base having an opening allowing sheathed sample fluid to flow out, a bracket coupled to the flow cell body, a flat mirror mounted to the bracket, a hardware triggered camera coupled to the bracket on one side, and a diffused light emitting diode strobe light coupled to the bracket on an opposite side. The camera and strobe light are pointed at the mirror on opposite sides. Activation of the diffused LED strobe light generates a diffused strobe light into the mirror backlighting a droplet stream. Triggering of the camera is synchronized with the generation of the strobe light to periodically capture a brightfield still image of the droplet stream. The image can be analyzed for measured jet breakoff point and measured droplet interval point for visual feedback control of the droplet stream.

Abstract: A compact sorting flow cytometer system includes a fluidics system having a flow cell and a deflection chamber in communication with the flow cell and a droplet deposition unit (DDU) system in communication with the deflection chamber. The defection chamber receives drops in a stream of a sample biological fluid with one or more biological cells or particles and selectively deflect the drops in the stream. The DDU system is in communication with the deflection chamber to receive the selectively deflected drops into one or more containers. The DDU system includes a case forming a portion of a containment chamber. When closed, one or more doors seal and close off the containment chamber from an external environment. Air can be evacuated from the containment chamber by one or more fans in one or more tunnels. Air can be conditioned by a thermoelectric cooling array between the containment chamber and an air conditioning chamber that is moved by one or more fans.

Abstract: A pressure regulated fluidics system of a flow cytometer includes a sheath tank holding sheath fluid; a degasser coupled to the sheath tank by a first sheath line; a manifold assembly coupled to the degasser by a second sheath line; a first valve coupled to the second sheath line; a pressure regulator coupled to the sheath tank; and a transducer coupled to and between the pressure regulator and the first valve. The transducer senses measured pressure and converts it into a voltage. The pressure regulator applies regulated pressure to the sheath fluid to maintain a total flow rate of fluids through the flow cytometer based on the voltage. The degasser pulls gas molecules out of the sheath fluid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of building an optimized color flow cytometry panel is disclosed using a full spectrum flow cytometer with five excitation lasers and five corresponding detection modules. In another embodiment, a graphical user interface is disclosed generated by a server computer from a fluorochrome database and displayed by a client computer to assist in the selection of a set of fluorochromes for use in an assay to analyze biological samples. The GUI can display spectra graphs to visually show how fluorochromes may overlap and can generate similarity indexes for the paired fluorochrome interference and a complexity index for overall many to many interferences generated by a selected group or set of fluorochromes.

Abstract: A classifier engine provides cell morphology identification and cell classification in computer-automated systems, methods and diagnostic tools. The classifier engine performs multispectral segmentation of thousands of cellular images acquired by a multispectral imaging flow cytometer. As a function of imaging mode, different ones of the images provide different segmentation masks for cells and subcellular parts. Using the segmentation masks, the classifier engine iteratively optimizes model fitting of different cellular parts. The resulting improved image data has increased accuracy of location of cell parts in an image and enables detection of complex cell morphologies in the image. The classifier engine provides automated ranking and selection of most discriminative shape based features for classifying cell types.

Abstract: A compact sorting flow cytometer system is disclosed. The system includes a flow cell and a deflection unit in communication with the flow cell to receive charged drops and uncharged drops in a stream of a sample biological fluid. The deflection unit includes a case having a deflection cone and chamber, a tub with a drain, and a slot in a base. The deflection unit further includes electrostatic charge plates in the cone forming an electrostatic charge field; and first and second pivotal scuppers, and a center non-pivotal collector arranged along a shaft in the tub of the case. Uncharged drops pass the electrostatic charge field undeflected in a center stream path while charged drops are deflected away from it. The pivotal scuppers pivot between positions to direct charged drops into the tub for aspiration or to pass through the slot in the base for collection.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for flow cytometry. In one example, the flow cytometry system includes dual laser devices and dual scatter channels to measure velocity of particles in a core stream of sample fluid. The total flow rate of the sample fluid and the sheath fluid around the sample fluid is controlled, and thus held constant, by a feedback control system controlling a vacuum pump based on differential pressure across ends of a flow channel in the flow cell. A stepper flow control valves are disclosed that apply a physical fluid resistance to a flow of sheath fluid in the flow cytometer. The physical fluid resistance regulates a flow rate of the sheath fluid and thereby regulates a flow rate of sample fluid in the flow cytometer.

Abstract: Methods for a sorting flow cytometer system are disclosed. The method includes forming a stream of a sample biological fluid; charging the stream of the sample biological fluid with a first voltage having a first voltage polarity; breaking a first charged drop off of the stream, wherein the first charged drop is charged with the first voltage; dropping the first charged drop between a first electrostatic charge plate and a second electrostatic charge plate opposite the first electrostatic charge plate, wherein the first electrostatic charge plate and the second electrostatic charge plate are positioned on an angle to form a progressively larger gap between each; deflecting the first charged drop off of a center stream path towards the first electrostatic charge plate to drop along a line with a first angle; and orienting a first pivotal scupper to allow the first charged drop to fall into a first test tube.

Abstract: A pressure regulated fluidics system of a flow cytometer includes a sheath tank holding sheath fluid; a degasser coupled to the sheath tank by a first sheath line; a manifold assembly coupled to the degasser by a second sheath line; a first valve coupled to the second sheath line; a pressure regulator coupled to the sheath tank; and a transducer coupled to and between the pressure regulator and the first valve. The transducer senses measured pressure and converts it into a voltage. The pressure regulator applies regulated pressure to the sheath fluid to maintain a total flow rate of fluids through the flow cytometer based on the voltage. The degasser pulls gas molecules out of the sheath fluid.

Abstract: A smart flow cytometer is disclosed including a plurality of tanks holding fluids for operation of a flow cytometer; a plurality of level sensors respectively coupled to the plurality of tanks; a plurality of valves coupled to one or more tubes for operation of the flow cytometer; one or more flow sensors coupled to the one or more tubes for monitoring flow rates; and a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of level sensors and the one or more flow sensors. The microcontroller constantly monitors fluid levels of the plurality of tanks to detect when to refill a fluid in a first tank before the first tank is completely empty and to detect when to empty a second tank before the second tank becomes completely filled with a waste fluid.

Abstract: A method for a flow cytometer includes generating at least one light output with at least one excitation light source; carrying a bio-sample in a medium to a region of a flow path, wherein the bio-sample in the region is illuminated by the at least one light output of the at least one excitation light source to give off luminescence; spatially dispersing a spectrum of the luminescence across photo detection inputs of a photo-detector array; receiving eight or more analog signals from the photo-detector array and converting them to eight or more digital signals respectively; generating a self trigger signal based on the eight or more digital signals and the luminescence; and causing a digital storage space and a digital processing unit to respectively store and analyze the digital data of the eight or more digital signals based on the self trigger signal.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for cytometer fluidics. In one example, a pressure regulation system is provided for a cytometer fluidics system. The pressure regulation system includes a pressure regulator and a transducer. The pressure regulator pressurizes sheath fluid in a fluid path. The transducer senses a measured pressure in the fluid path independently of the sheath tank. The transducer converts the measured pressure into a voltage. The transducer communicates the voltage to the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator translates the voltage to a regulated pressure that substantially matches the measured pressure. The pressure regulator is the only pressure regulation source in the cytometry fluidics system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a flow cytometer is disclosed having a compact light detection module. The compact light detection module includes an image array with a transparent block, a plurality of micro-mirrors in a row coupled to a first side of the transparent block, and a plurality of filters in a row coupled to a second side of the transparent block opposite the first side. Each of the plurality of filters reflects light to one of the plurality of micro-mirrors and passes light of a differing wavelength range and each of the plurality of micro-mirrors reflects light to one of the plurality of filters, such that incident light into the image array zigzags back and forth between consecutive filters of the plurality of filters and consecutive micro-mirrors of the plurality of micro-mirrors. A radius of curvature of each of the plurality of micro-mirrors images the fiber aperture onto the odd filters and collimates the light beam on the even filters.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a plurality of smart flow cytometers are coupled into communication with a computer communication network. A central repair server system is coupled into communication with the computer communication network and the plurality of smart flow cytometers. Each of the plurality of smart flow cytometers includes a monitoring system coupled to monitor differing operational parameters of the smart flow cytometer for possible failure. The monitoring system can detect an advanced failure of components based on the operational parameters being monitored. The monitoring system can also detect an advanced need for repair and maintenance based on the operational parameters being monitored.

Abstract: A flow cell subassembly includes a carriage assembly coupled to a flow cell body to selectively engage a nozzle with a base of a cuvette. The carriage assembly includes a linear bearing slidingly engaged with the flow cell body, a tiltable carriage plate coupled to the linear bearing, and a nozzle mount coupled to the tiltable carriage plate. The nozzle mount receives a nozzle assembly with the nozzle. Set screws can adjust pitch angle of the tiltable carriage plate with the linear bearing to adjust engagement between the nozzle and cuvette in a first dimension. To adjust engagement between the nozzle and cuvette in a second dimension, axial play in bolts/screws through the tiltable carriage plate into threaded holes of the linear bearing allow for yaw angle adjustments.

Abstract: A method includes launching, from an optical fiber, fluorescent light of differing wavelengths generated by different fluorochromes attached to particles in a sample fluid; magnifying an image size from an end of the optical fiber to a first dichroic filter of a row of a plurality of dichroic filters in a de-multiplexing imaging array; alternatively reflecting the fluorescent light between the plurality of dichroic filters and a plurality of micro-mirrors to collimate the fluorescent light on odd numbered dichroic filters and re-image the fluorescent light on even numbered dichroic filters; band passing different wavelength ranges of the fluorescent light at each of the plurality of dichroic filters to de-multiplex the wavelength spectrum of the wavelength range of the fluorescent light; and detecting fluorescent light in each of the different wavelength ranges to count a number of each of the different particles in the sample fluid.

Abstract: A flow-cytometer has an excitation light source generating an excitation light that excites one or more bio-cells in a bio-sample carried by a flow path to luminesce. The flow-cytometer includes a spectrum dispersive element that disperses the luminescent light generated by the bio-sample into a photo-detector array. The flow-cytometer further includes a digital signal processor (DSP) that receives signals from the photo-detector array and generates a self-triggering signal based on the luminescent light generated by the bio-cells in bio-sample. The self-triggering signal triggers data capture in the DSP to improve synchronization with the data generated from signals received from the photo-detector array.

Abstract: A crystal for flow cytometry with dual laser beams is disclosed. The crystal is a birefringent crystal comprising a material composition including a quartz mineral having a face side including a face angle of ninety degrees plus or minus one tenth of a degree; a wedge side that is substantially perpendicular to the face side, wherein the wedge side includes a wedge angle of two degrees plus or minus one tenth of a degree; and a major side that is substantially perpendicular to the face side and the wedge side. The major side includes a thickness of one and one-half millimeter plus or minus one tenth of a millimeter. A polarized light beam entering the birefringent crystal at an incident angle is separated into an ordinary light beam and an extraordinary light beam.

Abstract: A system, an apparatus, and a method are provided for a modular flow cytometer with a compact size. In one embodiment, the modular flow cytometry system includes the following: a laser system for emitting laser beams; a flow cell assembly positioned to receive the laser beams at an interrogation region of a fluidics stream where fluoresced cells scatter the laser beams into fluorescent light; a fiber assembly positioned to collect the fluorescent light; and a compact light detection module including a first image array having a transparent block, a plurality of micro-mirrors in a row coupled to a first side of the transparent block, and a plurality of filters in a row coupled to a second side of the transparent block opposite the first side.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a plurality of smart flow cytometers are coupled into communication with a computer communication network. A central repair server system is coupled into communication with the computer communication network and the plurality of smart flow cytometers. Each of the plurality of smart flow cytometers includes a monitoring system coupled to monitor differing operational parameters of the smart flow cytometer for possible failure. The monitoring system can detect an advanced failure of components based on the operational parameters being monitored. The monitoring system can also detect an advanced need for repair and maintenance based on the operational parameters being monitored.