Abstract: An external fluidic system and methods of operating the same are provided. The fluidic system can be hot-swap connected to a flow-cytometer-based system at runtime to expand sheath or waste fluid storage capability of the flow-cytometer-based system by making only minimal changes to the flow-cytometer-based system. The external fluidic system can include a pump and a controller configured to operate the external fluidic system such that the sheath fluid is supplied from the external fluidic system to the flow-cytometer-based system or the waste fluid is extracted from the flow-cytometer-teased system and provided to the external fluidic system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for setting the timing or phase of the separation of droplets from a fluid stream in a flow cytometer, or the timing or phase of a charge pulse generator, based upon the collected charge of charged droplets. In one embodiment, a conductive mesh can be used to collect the charged droplets that are either deflected or not deflected by the deflection plates. In another embodiment, the charge can be collected from metal plates in the waste collection device. In addition, a defanning device is disclosed that allows substantially uniform deflection of charged cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for setting the timing or phase of the separation of droplets from a fluid stream in a flow cytometer, or the timing or phase of a charge pulse generator, based upon the collected charge of charged droplets. In one embodiment, a conductive mesh can be used to collect the charged droplets that are either deflected or not deflected by the deflection plates. In another embodiment, the charge can be collected from metal plates in the waste collection device. In addition, a defanning device is disclosed that allows substantially uniform deflection of charged cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for setting the timing or phase of the separation of droplets from a fluid stream in a flow cytometer, or the timing or phase of a charge pulse generator, based upon the collected charge of charged droplets. In one embodiment, a conductive mesh can be used to collect the charged droplets that are either deflected or not deflected by the deflection plates. In another embodiment, the charge can be collected from metal plates in the waste collection device. In addition, a defanning device is disclosed that allows substantially uniform deflection of charged cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for setting the timing or phase of the separation of droplets from a fluid stream in a flow cytometer, or the timing or phase of a charge pulse generator, based upon the collected charge of charged droplets. In one embodiment, a conductive mesh can be used to collect the charged droplets that are either deflected or not deflected by the deflection plates. In another embodiment, the charge can be collected from metal plates in the waste collection device. In addition, a defanning device is disclosed that allows substantially uniform deflection of charged cells.

Abstract: An electron source includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a thermionic element interposed between and electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode, and a guard electrode interposed between and electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode. The thermionic element and the guard electrode may be at substantially the same voltage. Another electron source includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a thermionic element interposed between and electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode, and a thermal expansion component interposed between and electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode. The thermal expansion component may be heated to cause expansion. The heating may be cycled to cause alternating expansion and contraction.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for adjusting a composite electric field to be applied to an ion trap to accommodate switching the operation of the ion trap between a positive ion mode and a negative ion mode, the composite electric field includes a plurality of component fields including at least one AC trapping field and one or more supplemental AC fields. A phase of one or more of the component fields is adjusted such that a force imparted by the composite field to a negative ion in the ion trap will be substantially the same as the force imparted by the composite field to a positive ion in the ion trap.