U.S. patent application number 16/029240 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-01 for flow cytometer system including flow cytometer, autosampler and system integration structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is IntelliCyt Corporation. Invention is credited to Michael A. Artinger, Christopher H. Converse, Francis Kevin Kohlmeier, Braden L. Smith, Garrett S. Wilson.
Application Number | 20180313741 16/029240 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54145159 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180313741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilson; Garrett S. ; et
al. |
November 1, 2018 |
FLOW CYTOMETER SYSTEM INCLUDING FLOW CYTOMETER, AUTOSAMPLER AND
SYSTEM INTEGRATION STRUCTURE
Abstract
A flow cytometer system includes a flow cytometer, an
autosampler and a system integration structure to accommodate
interconnection and interface of the flow cytometer and autosampler
for operation together and providing for convenient interface with
equipment for handling process liquids.
Inventors: |
Wilson; Garrett S.; (Erie,
CO) ; Smith; Braden L.; (Lafayette, CO) ;
Artinger; Michael A.; (Boulder, CO) ; Kohlmeier;
Francis Kevin; (Broomfield, CO) ; Converse;
Christopher H.; (Boulder, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IntelliCyt Corporation |
Albuquerque |
NM |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54145159 |
Appl. No.: |
16/029240 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15878588 |
Jan 24, 2018 |
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16029240 |
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15127732 |
Sep 20, 2016 |
9880085 |
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PCT/US2015/020512 |
Mar 13, 2015 |
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15878588 |
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61969021 |
Mar 21, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/0609 20130101;
B01L 2300/123 20130101; G01N 15/1404 20130101; B01L 2300/0858
20130101; G01N 35/00 20130101; B01L 3/502 20130101; G01N 2015/1409
20130101; G01N 35/1095 20130101; G01N 15/1459 20130101; G01N 1/10
20130101; B01L 2200/026 20130101; B01L 2300/0867 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 15/14 20060101
G01N015/14; G01N 1/10 20060101 G01N001/10; G01N 35/00 20060101
G01N035/00; G01N 35/10 20060101 G01N035/10; B01L 3/00 20060101
B01L003/00 |
Claims
1. A flow cytometer system, comprising: a flow cytometer with a
sample inlet for receiving a sample fluid for flow cytometry
analysis of the sample fluid for particles within the sample fluid;
an autosampler in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the
flow cytometer and operative to automatically provide a series of
batches of sample fluid to the flow cytometer for flow cytometry
analysis; a system integration structure, comprising: an upper
shelf disposed above the autosampler and on which the flow
cytometer is supported above the autosampler; a container rack
comprising a plurality of container receptacles to receive a
corresponding plurality of process liquid containers to provide a
source of process liquid to and receive used process liquid from
operations of the flow cytometer and autosampler; a routing channel
to route fluid conduits from process liquid containers toward the
flow cytometer and the autosampler when the liquid containers are
received in the container rack.
2. A flow cytometer system according to claim 1, comprising a
support member supporting the upper shelf, wherein the routing
channel passes through the support member.
3. A flow cytometer recording to claim 2, wherein the support
member includes at least one access opening through a side wall of
the support member to provide access for routing the fluid conduits
from outside of the support member to the routing channel in the
support member.
4. The flow cytometer system according to claim 3, wherein the at
least one access opening is located at a vertically elevated
position relative to the receptacles of the container rack.
5. A flow cytometer system according to either one of claim 3 or
claim 4, wherein the at least one access opening includes a
plurality of holes through the side wall of the support member.
6. A flow cytometer according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of
holes includes a number of the holes that is at least equal to a
number of the receptacles of the container rack.
7. A flow cytometer system according to claim 6, wherein the
container rack includes at least four of the receptacles and the at
least one opening includes at least six of the holes.
8. A flow cytometer according to any one of claims 3-7, wherein:
the routing channel extends from the at least one access opening in
a upward direction through the support member for routing of one or
more of the fluid conduits to the flow cytometer located at a
higher elevation than the at least one opening; and the routing
channel extends from the at least one access opening in a downward
direction through the support member for routing one or more of the
fluid conduits to the autosampler.
9. The flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 3-8,
wherein the routing channel is open to an opening through the upper
shelf that provides for routing one or more of the fluid conduits
from the routing channel below the upper shelf to the flow
cytometer.
10. The flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 3-9,
wherein: the system integration structure comprises a lower shelf
on which is supported the autosampler; and the routing channel
extends downward to a space located below the lower shelf for
routing one or more of the fluid conduits under the lower shelf
directed to the autosampler.
11. A flow cytometer system according to claim 10, wherein the
support member extends from the lower shelf to the upper shelf.
12. A flow cytometer system according to either one of claim 10 or
claim 11, wherein: the support member is a first support member and
the system integration structure comprises a second support member;
and wherein at least a portion of the autosampler is disposed on
the lower shelf between the first support member and the second
support member.
13. A flow cytometer system according to claim 12, wherein the
lower shelf has a front edge and a back edge; the autosampler has a
side access between the front edge and the back edge of the lower
shelf; and neither the first support member nor the second support
member is disposed opposite the side access.
14. A flow cytometer system according to claim 13, the autosampler
has a front and a back corresponding to front and a back of the
system integration structure and the system integration structure
is open to the front and the back between the first and second
support members to provide access to the front and the back of the
autosampler.
15. The flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 1-14,
wherein: the upper shelf has a passage therethrough providing
access from below the upper shelf to above the upper shelf; and
fluid communication between the autosampler and the sample inlet of
the flow cytometer comprises a sample feed conduit extending
through the passage.
16. A flow cytometer system according to claim 15, wherein the
system integration structure comprises a riser extending above the
upper shelf and having an internal passage into which the passage
through the upper shelf opens; and the fluid inlet of the flow
cytometer is disposed within the internal passage of the riser and
the sample feed conduit extends into the internal passage of the
riser to fluidly connect with the fluid inlet within the riser.
17. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 1-16,
wherein the flow cytometer comprises a plurality of feet and the
upper shelf comprises a corresponding plurality of registration
recesses into which the feet are received to keep the flow
cytometer from moving laterally on the upper shelf.
18. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 1-17,
wherein the upper shelf has a fluid containment lip extending
substantially entirely around the perimeter of the flow cytometer
for liquid containment.
19. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 1-18,
wherein the receptacles of the container rack have circular
cross-sections to accept process liquid containers of corresponding
circular cross-section.
20. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 1-19,
comprising a plurality of the process liquid containers received
within the receptacles of the container rack and the fluid conduits
in fluid communication with the process liquid containers; and
wherein each said process fluid container is in fluid communication
with the flow cytometer or the autosampler through a said fluid
conduit routed through the routing channel.
21. A flow system according to claim 20, wherein: at least a first
said process liquid container contains a sheath fluid and the first
process liquid container is in fluid communication through a first
said fluid conduit with the flow cytometer to provide sheath fluid
to the flow cytometer through the first said fluid conduit; and the
first process liquid container is in fluid communication with a gas
conduit that is in fluid communication with a source of compressed
gas to pressurize the first process liquid container to drive
sheath fluid flow from the first process liquid container through
the first said fluid conduit to the flow cytometer.
22. A flow cytometer system according to claim 21, wherein the
compressed gas source is in fluid communication with the first
process liquid container through the flow cytometer and the gas
conduit, and wherein the gas conduit is routed through the routing
channel.
23. A flow cytometer system according to claim 20, wherein at least
two of the received process liquid containers are each in fluid
communication with at least two said fluid conduits, wherein one of
said fluid conduits to a said process liquid container provides
liquid from the said process liquid container to the flow cytometer
or the autosampler and another of said fluid conduits provides
compressed gas to the said process liquid container from the flow
cytometer to pressurize the said process liquid container.
24. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 20-23,
wherein at least one of the received process liquid containers is
in fluid communication with the flow cytometer to receive waste
liquid from the flow cytometer.
25. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 1-24,
wherein the system integration structure has a first plurality of
feet of an elastomeric material on which the system integration
structure is supported and the flow cytometer has a second
plurality of feet comprising an elastomeric material on which the
flow cytometer is supported on the upper shelf, to provide for
motion dampening to the flow cytometer.
26. A flow cytometer system according to claim 1, comprising at
least one access opening into the routing channel to provide access
for routing the fluid conduits from outside of the routing channel
to inside the routing channel, and wherein: the routing channel
extends from the at least one access opening in a upward direction
for routing of one or more of the fluid conduits to the flow
cytometer located at a higher elevation than the at least one
opening; the routing channel extends from the at least one access
opening in a downward direction for routing one or more of the
fluid conduits to the autosampler; and the at least one access
opening is located at a vertically elevated position relative to
the receptacles of the container rack.
27. A flow cytometer system according to claim 26, comprising a
plurality of the process liquid containers received within the
receptacles of the container rack and the fluid conduits in fluid
communication with the process liquid containers; and wherein each
said process fluid container is in fluid communication with the
flow cytometer or the autosampler through a said fluid conduit
routed through the routing channel.
28. A flow system according to claim 27, wherein: at least a first
said process liquid container contains a sheath fluid and the first
process liquid container is in fluid communication through a first
said fluid conduit with the flow cytometer to provide sheath fluid
to the flow cytometer through the first said fluid conduit; the
first process liquid container is in fluid communication with a gas
conduit that is in fluid communication with a source of compressed
gas to pressurize the first process liquid container to drive
sheath fluid flow from the first process liquid container through
the first said fluid conduit to the flow cytometer; and the
compressed gas source is in fluid communication with the first
process liquid container through the flow cytometer and the gas
conduit, and wherein the gas conduit is routed through the routing
channel.
29. A flow cytometer system according to claim 28, wherein at least
a second said received process liquid container is in fluid
communication with the flow cytometer to receive waste liquid from
the flow cytometer.
30. A flow cytometer system according to claim 29, wherein the
container rack includes at least four of the receptacles and the at
least one access opening includes at least six holes.
31. A flow system according to claim 27, wherein at least two of
the received process liquid containers are each in fluid
communication with at least two said fluid conduits, wherein one of
said fluid conduits to a said process liquid container provides
liquid from the said process liquid container to the flow cytometer
or the autosampler and another of said fluid conduits provides
compressed gas to the said process liquid container from the flow
cytometer to pressurize the said process liquid container.
32. A flow system according to any one of claims 26-31, comprising
a support member supporting the upper shelf, wherein the routing
channel passes through the support member, wherein the at least one
access opening is through a side wall of the support member to
provide access for routing the fluid conduits from outside of the
support member to the routing channel in the support member.
33. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 26-31,
wherein the routing channel is open to an opening through the upper
shelf that provides for routing one or more of the fluid conduits
from the routing channel below the upper shelf to the flow
cytometer.
34. A flow system according to claim 33, wherein: the system
integration structure comprises a lower shelf on which is supported
the autosampler; and the routing channel extends downward to a
space located below the lower shelf for routing one or more of the
fluid conduits under the lower shelf directed to the
autosampler.
35. A flow cytometer system according to claim 34, wherein the
support member extends from the lower shelf to the upper shelf.
36. A flow cytometer system according to claim 33, wherein: the
upper shelf has a passage therethrough providing access from below
the upper shelf to above the upper shelf; and fluid communication
between the autosampler and the sample inlet of the flow cytometer
comprises a sample feed conduit extending through the passage.
37. A flow cytometer system according to claim 36, wherein the
system integration structure comprises a riser extending above the
upper shelf and having an internal passage into which the passage
through the upper shelf opens; and the fluid inlet of the flow
cytometer is disposed within the internal passage of the riser and
the sample feed conduit extends into the internal passage of the
riser to fluidly connect with the fluid inlet within the riser.
38. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 26-31,
wherein the system integration structure has a first plurality of
feet of an elastomeric material on which the system integration
structure is supported and the flow cytometer has a second
plurality of feet comprising an elastomeric material on which the
flow cytometer is supported on the upper shelf, to provide for
motion dampening to the flow cytometer.
39. A flow cytometer system according to claim 38, wherein the
upper shelf comprises a plurality of registration recesses into
which the first plurality of feet are received to keep the flow
cytometer from moving laterally on the upper shelf.
40. A flow cytometer system according to any one of claims 26-31,
wherein the upper shelf has a fluid containment lip extending
substantially entirely around the perimeter of the flow cytometer
for liquid containment on the upper shelf.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/878,588 entitled "FLOW CYTOMETER SYSTEM
INCLUDING FLOW CYTOMETER, AUTOSAMPLER AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION
STRUCTURE" filed Jan. 24, 2018, which is a divisional of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/127,732 entitled "FLOW CYTOMETER
SYSTEM INCLUDING FLOW CYTOMETER, AUTOSAMPLER AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION
STRUCTURE" having a 371(c) date of Sep. 20, 2016, which is a U.S.
national stage filing under the Patent Cooperation Treaty of
international patent application no. PCT/US2015/020512 filed Mar.
13, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent
application No. 61/969,021 entitled "FLOW CYTOMETER SYSTEM
INCLUDING FLOW CYTOMETER, AUTOSAMPLER AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION
STRUCTURE" filed Mar. 21, 2014, the entire contents of each of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to flow cytometry, including in
relation to equipment and systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Flow cytometry is an analytical technique used in a number
of applications to measure physical and/or chemical properties of
biological or nonbiological particles as they flow in a sample
fluid, often an aqueous liquid medium, through an investigation
cell. Flow through the cell may be investigated by a variety of
techniques, including subjecting the flow to electrical, acoustic
and/or optical signals in measuring and analyzing responses to
detect and evaluate particles in the sample.
[0004] In order to increase the number of samples that may be
processed, a flow cytometer may be coupled to process sample fluids
provided by an autosampler. A number of flow cytometer
manufacturers have specially designed autosamplers that connect and
interface with their flow cytometer product. Such coordinated
design between the flow cytometer and autosampler provides
convenience to the user, but may limit the combinations of
different autosamplers and flow cytometers that may be used in
combination. Furthermore, some flow cytometers may not be provided
by a manufacturer that also provides an autosampler with a
coordinated design, which may limit the utility of the flow
cytometers to processing only manually provided sample fluid
batches.
[0005] Although it may be possible in some circumstances to adapt
an autosampler and flow cytometer that do not have a coordinated
design to operate together, such adaptation may often be difficult
to achieve and my result in poor interconnection of system
components and/or poor space utilization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect, a flow cytometer system is disclosed that
includes a flow cytometer, an autosampler and a system integration
structure that may provide operational interface between the
autosampler and the flow cytometer and process liquid containers
that may provide process liquids to or receive process liquids from
the flow cytometer and the autosampler. The flow cytometer has a
sample inlet for receiving a sample fluid for flow cytometry
analysis of the sample fluid for particles within the sample fluid.
The autosampler is in fluid communication with the sample inlet of
the flow cytometer, and the autosampler may be operative to
automatically provide a series of batches of sample fluid to the
flow cytometer for flow cytometry analysis. The system integration
structure includes an upper shelf disposed above the autosampler
and on which the flow cytometer is supported above the autosampler.
The system integration structure includes a container rack that has
a plurality of receptacles to receive a corresponding plurality of
process liquid containers.
[0007] In another aspect, a system integration structure, or unit,
is disclosed, such as may be used in the flow cytometer system of
the above-noted aspect. For example, the system integration
structure may be, or may include any feature or features of, the
system integration structure of the flow cytometer system.
[0008] A number of feature refinements and additional features may
be applicable to the flow cytometer system aspect and/or the system
integration structure aspect of this disclosure, as further
disclosed below in the detailed description and with reference to
the drawings and/or as disclosed in the claims presented below.
These feature refinements and additional features may be used
individually or in any combination. As such, each such feature may
be, but is not required to be, used with any other feature or
combination with any one or more features of the flow cytometer
system aspect and/or the system integration structure aspect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a flow cytometer
system.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a system integration
structure shown in the flow cytometer system embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the system integration
structure shown in FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the system
integration structure shown in FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the flow cytometer shown in
the flow cytometer system embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front view of the flow cytometer shown in FIG.
5.
[0015] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the flow cytometer
shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an example implementation of a flow cytometer
system 100 including a flow cytometer 102, an autosampler 104 and a
system integration structure 106. More detail on the system
integration structure 106 is shown in FIGS. 2-4 and more detail on
the flow cytometer 102 is shown in FIGS. 5-7. The flow cytometer
system 100 and components thereof will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 1-7.
[0017] The system integration structure 106 includes a lower shelf
108, on which is supported the autosampler 104, and an upper shelf
110, on which is supported the flow cytometer 102. The flow
cytometer 102 has a sample inlet 112 (shown in FIG. 6) that is in
fluid communication with the autosampler 104 to receive batches of
sample fluid for flow cytometry analysis in the flow cytometer 102
through a sample feed conduit 114. The sample feed conduit 114
passes through a passage 116 through the upper shelf 110 into an
internal passage 118 of a riser 120 of the system integration
structure 106. The sample inlet 112 is disposed in the internal
passage 118 of the riser 120 to be protected by the wall of the
riser 120. During operation, the autosampler 104 may automatically
sample batches of sample fluid to be analyzed, such as may be
provided in a multi-well sample tray that may be disposed in the
autosampler 104 through the front access provided by a front door
122 of the autosampler 104. The autosampler 104 may also have a
side access 124, which as shown in FIG. 1 may be in the form of an
access panel that may be removable to provide access through the
side of the autosampler 104, such as for maintenance purposes or to
replace reagent bottles that may be disposed within the autosampler
104.
[0018] During operation of the flow cytometry system 100, various
process liquids may be consumed by the autosampler 104 and/or the
flow cytometer 102 and waste liquids from such processing must be
collected. Such process liquids that may be supplied to the
autosampler 104 and/or the flow cytometer 102 include, for example,
rinse buffer solution, wash liquid and sheath liquid. Waste liquids
may include process samples and sheath fluid after being subjected
to flow cytometry analysis, as well as used rinse buffer solution
and used wash liquid. One or more containers for providing these or
other process liquids and/or containers for receiving waste liquids
may be disposed in one or both of the autosampler 104 and the flow
cytometer 102. However, it may be convenient to provide one or more
liquid containers for such purpose external to the flow cytometer
102 and the autosampler 104, permitting significant flexibility in
accommodating use of a combination of various flow cytometers and
autosamplers not specifically designed and manufactured to
interconnect and interface with each other, such as may be the case
if they were designed and manufactured by a single
manufacturer.
[0019] The system integration structure 106 includes a container
rack 126 with a plurality of receptacles 128 configured to receive
a corresponding plurality of process liquid containers that may
provide a source of process liquid or a vessel to receive used
process liquid, such as waste liquid, from operations involving the
flow cytometer 102 and/or the autosampler 104. The flow cytometer
system 100 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of process
liquid containers 130a-d received in the receptacles 128 and with
fluid conduits 132a-d fluidly connected with corresponding ones of
the process liquid containers 130a-d. Each of the fluid conduits
132 is in fluid communication with either the flow cytometer 102 or
the autosampler 104, or possibly with both. The receptacles 128 may
be configured with a cross-section to correspond with a
cross-section of process liquid containers to be received in the
receptacles (e.g., corresponding circular cross-sections). One or
even all of the receptacles 128 may have a different cross-section
configuration from one or more other receptacles 128 to key with
different corresponding exterior cross-sectional shapes of
different process liquid containers 130.
[0020] In the particular implementation shown in the figures, the
container rack 126 is formed as a unitary piece. In alternative
implementations, the features of such a container rack 126 may be
provided in a plurality of pieces that provide receptacles 128 to
receive a sufficient number of process liquid containers 130
appropriately located in relation to the access opening feature
136. For example, one or more of all of the receptacles 128 may be
provided in one rack piece, or in one assembly of multiple rack
pieces, and one or more other ones of the receptacles 128 may be
provided in one or more other rack pieces, or assemblies of
multiple rack pieces. Such different rack pieces or assemblies need
not be contiguous.
[0021] Each of the fluid conduits 132 is routed toward the flow
cytometer 102 or the autosampler 104 through a routing channel that
is within a first support member 134 of the system integration
structure 106. The routing channel within the first support member
134 extends through the full length of the first support member 134
between the lower shelf 108 and the upper shelf 110. The fluid
conduits 132 are routed into the routing channel within the first
support member 134 through an access opening feature 136, which is
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may be in the form of one or a
plurality of holes passing through a side wall of the first support
member 134. As shown in FIG. 1, the access opening feature 136 may
include holes that are sized to accommodate passage of only a
single one of the fluid conduits 132 through each hole. The access
opening feature 136 is at a vertically elevated position relative
to the elevation of the receptacle 128, and relative to the tops of
the process liquid containers 130 when received in the receptacles
128. This is the case whether a fluid conduit 132 will be routed
upward through the routing channel in the first support member 134
toward the flow cytometer 102 or will be routed downward through
the routing channel toward the autosampler 104. As seen in FIG. 4,
holes 138 of the access opening feature 136 may be configured to
receive a grommet (e.g., a rubber grommet) sized to snuggly fit
around the fluid conduits 132 to help retain the fluid conduits 132
and prevent them from moving around over time or during operations
to fill or remove liquid from the process liquid containers 130.
The access opening feature 136 may include a number of the holes
that is at least equal to the number of receptacles 128, or that
may even be greater than the number of receptacles 128 to
accommodate multiple fluid conduits 132 to a single process liquid
container 130, for example to provide pressurized gas to a process
liquid container 130 to provide pressurization to drive liquid out
of the respective process liquid container 130 to the flow
cytometer 102 or the autosampler 104, as the case may be. In some
implementations, the container rack may include four of the
receptacles 128 or may include a greater or smaller number of such
receptacles 132 to provide locations for a greater or smaller
number of process liquid containers 130. For some implementations,
the access opening feature 136 may include at least six holes for
passing the fluid conduits 132, with six to eight holes often being
sufficient for accommodating four process liquid containers 130.
The implementation of the system integration structure 106 shown in
the figures includes seven such holes.
[0022] Although in the particular implementation shown in the
figures the access opening feature 136 includes a plurality of
holes, in alternative implementations, the access opening feature
may include a single, larger opening through the wall of the first
support member 134 through which all of the fluid conduits 132a-d
may pass together. In other alternative implementations, the access
opening feature 136 may include a plurality of openings through the
side wall of the first support member 134 with multiple ones of the
fluid conduits 132 passing through one or more of the openings
together. And yet in other alternative implementations, holes of
the access opening feature 136 may be arranged in a different
configuration than the linear configuration shown in the figures.
For example, such a configuration may include any geometric pattern
for spacing the holes in a desired manner.
[0023] The routing channel through the first support member 134
extends upward from the access opening feature 136 and is open to
an opening 140 through the upper shelf 110 and through which the
fluid conduits 132 may be routed for fluid connection with the flow
cytometer 102. The routing channel through the first support member
134 extends downward from the access opening feature and is open to
a space 142 located below the lower shelf 108. Fluid conduits 132
may be routed through the space 142 to the side of the lower shelf
108 opposite the first support member 134 and may be routed through
two routing holes 144 through the lower shelf 108 to permit fluid
connection of the fluid conduits 132 with the autosampler 104. In
some implementations, the lower shelf 108 could be eliminated from
the system integration structure 106, and the autosampler 104 could
be disposed, for example, directly on the surface, such as a
surface of a table or work bench, on which the system integration
structure 106 is supported. Including the lower shelf 108 is
preferred to provide additional stability to the flow cytometer
system 100 and to provide the space 142 below the lower shelf 108
for routing fluid conduits 132 to the autosampler 104.
[0024] As seen in FIG. 3, the first support member 134 includes an
access piece 145, shown in the form of an access panel, located on
the inside of the first support member 134 and which may be removed
to permit access to the routing channel to facilitate easy
threading of the fluid conduits 132 through the routing channel in
the appropriate direction toward the flow cytometer 102 or the
autosampler 104. In some implementations, a fluid conduit 132 may
be branched within the routing channel within the first support
member 134 into separate fluid conduit branches with one fluid
conduit branch connecting with the flow cytometer 102 and another
fluid conduit branch connecting with the autosampler 104. For
example, one fluid conduit branch may receive waste liquid from the
flow cytometer 102, while the other fluid conduit branch may
receive waste liquid from the autosampler 104, and both such waste
liquids may be directed to and received within a single process
liquid container 130 through a single fluid conduit 132 to that
process liquid container 130. As shown in FIG. 7, the flow
cytometer 102 may include a single pass-through port 146 through
which a bundle of all of the fluid conduits 132 directed to the
flow cytometer 102 may be provided to the interior of the flow
cytometer 102 to make the appropriate fluid connections within the
flow cytometer 102.
[0025] The system integration structure 106 includes a second
support member 148 disposed opposite the first support member 134.
The first support member 134 and the second support member 148
together fully support the upper shelf 110 and the flow cytometer
102. The first support member 134 and the second support 148 member
define a vertical separation distance between the lower shelf 108
and the upper shelf 110 to provide sufficient vertical space for
receiving the autosampler 104 to be disposed between the lower
shelf 108 and the upper shelf 110. The first support member 134 and
the second support member 148 are spaced sufficiently far apart to
permit at least a back portion of the autosampler 104 between the
first support member 134 and the second support member 148. The
routing holes 144 through the bottom shelf 108 are located in front
of the second support member 148 to provide access for routing
fluid conduits 132 to a side of the autosampler 104 opposite the
container rack 126. The lower shelf 108 has a front edge 150 toward
a front side of the system integration structure 106 and a back
edge 152 toward a back side of the system integration structure
106. Likewise, the upper shelf 110 includes a front edge 154 toward
the front side of the system integration structure 106 and a back
edge 156 toward the back side of the system integration structure
106. The first support member 134 and the second support member 148
are disposed in the rear half of the system integration structure
106 to provide for easy access from the front and sides of the
system integration structure 106 to the autosampler 104. The
autosampler 104 has a front access in the form of the front door
122 that is easily accessible from the front of the system
integration structure 106. The side access 124 is also easily
accessible from the side of the system integration structure 106
without interference from the first support member 134, as the
first support member 134 is not disposed opposite the side access
124. The system integration structure 106 is also open to the back
to permit easy access to the back of the autosampler 104. If the
autosampler 104 includes side access through the side of the
autosampler 104 opposite the side access 124, the second support
member is preferably not opposite such additional side access so
that such additional side access is easily accessible from the side
of the autosampler 104 adjacent the second support member 148.
[0026] The upper shelf 110 includes a number of features for
accommodating the flow cytometer 102. The upper shelf 110 includes
a plurality of registration recesses 158, shown in the form of
circular recesses in the center of disks retained on the top
surface of the upper shelf 110. Such disks may be, for example, in
the form of metal washers attached to surrounding surfaces of the
upper shelf 110. The registration recesses 158 are sized and
located to correspond with a plurality of feet 160 of the flow
cytometer 102. The feet 160 are retained in a fixed relation to the
upper shelf 110 by the registration recesses 158 to prevent the
flow cytometer 102 from moving laterally on the upper shelf 110
during use, which could for example damage the sample inlet 112 of
the flow cytometer 102. In one enhancement, the feet 160 may be
made of an elastomeric material to provide motion dampening (e.g.,
some level of vibration isolation) to the flow cytometer 102.
Likewise, in another enhancement, feet 162 (shown in FIG. 1) on
which the system integration structure 106 is supported may
likewise be of an elastomeric material that provides additional
motion dampening to the system integration structure 106 and
consequently also to the flow cytometer 102. As will be
appreciated, providing for vibration isolation to the flow
cytometer 102 may be significantly beneficial in preventing
vibrational or other motions from interfering with flow cytometry
analysis.
[0027] The upper shelf 108 includes a perimeter liquid containment
lip 156 that completely surrounds the perimeter of the flow
cytometer 102 and provides for containment of liquid on the upper
shelf 110 in the event that liquid should spill or otherwise
collect on the upper shelf 110. The liquid containment lip 156 may
have a height for fluid containment of at least 1 centimeter, at
least 2 centimeters, at least 3 centimeters, at least 4
centimeters, at least 5 centimeters or more, and may in some
implementations be not larger than 10 centimeters or even not
larger than 5 centimeters in height, to provide significant fluid
containment capacity while still providing for relatively easy
access to the flow cytometer 102.
[0028] In some implementations, not shown in the figures, one or
more of the process liquid containers 130 may have multiple fluid
conduits 132 fluidly connected with the process liquid container
130. For example, in some implementations process liquid may be
caused to flow from a process liquid container 130 to the flow
cytometer 102 and/or to the autosampler 104 by pressurized gas
(e.g., pressurized air, nitrogen or other gas) applied through one
of the fluid conduits 132 to force flow of process liquid from the
process liquid container 130 through another one of the fluid
conduits 132 connected with the process liquid container 130. Such
a gas fluid conduit 132 may be in fluid communication with a source
of compressed gas to pressurize the process liquid container. In
one enhancement, such a gas fluid conduit 132 to a process liquid
container 130 may be fluidly connected with the source of
compressed gas through the flow cytometer 102, which may control
the delivery of pressurized gas through the gas fluid conduit 132
to the corresponding process liquid container 130. Such a gas fluid
conduit 132 may be routed through the routing channel through the
first support member 134 to a connection in the flow cytometer 102
for supply of compressed gas through the gas fluid conduit 132. As
shown in FIG. 7, the flow cytometer 102 may include a gas line
connector 164 which may be fluidly connected with a pressurized gas
source, such as pressurized gas in a bottle or a compressed gas
delivery system within a facility. Multiple ones of such process
liquid containers 130 may each be connected with multiple such
fluid conduits 132, with one providing pressurized gas to drive
liquid flow from the process liquid container 130. One process
liquid that may be contained within one of the process liquid
containers 130 may be a sheath fluid, typically an aqueous liquid,
that may be used in the flow cytometer 102 to hydrodynamically
focus sample fluids for flow cytometry analysis by the flow
cytometer 102. Flow of such a sheath fluid, for example, may be
driven by pressurized gas delivered to a process liquid container
130 in such a manner.
[0029] The foregoing discussion of the invention and different
aspects thereof has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention
to only the form or forms specifically disclosed herein.
Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the
above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art,
are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments
described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes
known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in
the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments and
with various modifications required by the particular applications
or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended
claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the
extent permitted by the prior art. Although the description of the
invention has included description of one or more possible
embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other
variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention,
e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art
after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to
obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent
permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent
structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or
not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures,
functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without
intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
Furthermore, any feature described or claimed with respect to any
disclosed variation may be combined in any combination with one or
more of any other features of any other variation or variations, to
the extent that the features are not necessarily technically
compatible, and all such combinations are within the scope of the
present invention. The description of a feature or features in a
particular combination do not exclude the inclusion of an
additional feature or features. Processing steps and sequencing are
for illustration only, and such illustrations do not exclude
inclusion of other steps or other sequencing of steps. Additional
steps may be included between illustrated processing steps or
before or after any illustrated processing step.
[0030] The terms "comprising", "containing", "including" and
"having", and grammatical variations of those terms, are intended
to be inclusive and nonlimiting in that the use of such terms
indicates the presence of some condition or feature, but not to the
exclusion of the presence also of any other condition or feature.
The use of the terms "comprising", "containing", "including" and
"having", and grammatical variations of those terms in referring to
the presence of one or more components, subcomponents or materials,
also include and is intended to disclose the more specific
embodiments in which the term "comprising", "containing",
"including" or "having" (or the variation of such term) as the case
may be, is replaced by any of the narrower terms "consisting
essentially of" or "consisting of" or "consisting of only" (or the
appropriate grammatical variation of such narrower terms). For
example, a statement that something "comprises" a stated element or
elements is also intended to include and disclose the more specific
narrower embodiments of the thing "consisting essentially of" the
stated element or elements, and the thing "consisting of" the
stated element or elements. Examples of various features have been
provided for purposes of illustration, and the terms "example",
"for example" and the like indicate illustrative examples that are
not limiting and are not to be construed or interpreted as limiting
a feature or features to any particular example. The term "at
least" followed by a number (e.g., "at least one") means that
number or more than that number. The term at "at least a portion"
means all or a portion that is less than all. The term "at least a
part" means all or a part that is less than all.
* * * * *