Abstract: Various methods for controlling one or more parameters of a flow cytometer type measurement system are provided. One embodiment includes monitoring parameter(s) of the measurement system during measurements of sample microspheres. The method also includes altering the parameter(s) in real time based on the monitoring. Another method includes monitoring a temperature proximate to the measurement system. One such method includes altering a bias voltage of an avalanche photo diode in response to the temperature using empirically derived data. A different such method includes altering output signals of a photomultiplier tube in response to the temperature using a characteristic curve. Some methods include monitoring a temperature of a fluid, in which sample microspheres are disposed, that will flow through the flow cytometer type measurement system. This method also includes determining a velocity of the sample microspheres in the measurement system from a viscosity of the fluid at the temperature.

Abstract: Various methods for controlling one or more parameters of a flow cytometer type measurement system are provided. One embodiment includes monitoring parameter(s) of the measurement system during measurements of sample microspheres. The method also includes altering the parameter(s) in real time based on the monitoring. Another method includes monitoring a temperature proximate to the measurement system. One such method includes altering a bias voltage of an avalanche photo diode in response to the temperature using empirically derived data. A different such method includes altering output signals of a photomultiplier tube in response to the temperature using a characteristic curve. Some methods include monitoring a temperature of a fluid, in which sample microspheres are disposed, that will flow through the flow cytometer type measurement system. This method also includes determining a velocity of the sample microspheres in the measurement system from a viscosity of the fluid at the temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for processing sample data employing hardware, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), to process the sample data in small pipelined steps. The processing includes a circular buffer where the read and write of data is synchronous, preventing buffer overrun or data loss. This pipeline processing approach allows increasing data acquisition channels or additional processing steps without limiting processing speed.

Abstract: A method to minimize noise is used to analyze data generated from a measurement system such as a flow cytometer. One embodiment of a computer-implemented method includes determining sums of different subsets of sample values. The method also includes determining the subset of the sample values having the largest sum. In addition, the method includes designating the subset of the sample values having the largest sum as a peak sum of the sample values. Such a peak sum minimizes the impact of noise leading to better determinations of particle identity, reaction identity, and the like.

Abstract: Auxiliary structural bumpers are adapted to be attached to a main protective bumper assembly for a refrigeration unit of the type adapted to be mounted on the front wall of a trailer. The main protective bumper protects the front of the unit while the auxiliary bumpers are adapted to protect the left and right-hand sides of the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit includes an outer cover, and a structural framework, which includes a pair of vertically extending structural elements located at opposite rear corners of the refrigeration unit adjacent to the front wall of the trailer. The main bumper assembly includes two vertically extending structural members, each of which is adapted to be structurally coupled to one of the vertically extending structural elements of the refrigeration unit.