A microfluidic chip orients and isolates components in a sample fluid mixture by two step focusing, where sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a sample input channel in one direction, such that the sample fluid mixture becomes a narrower stream bounded by the sheath fluids, and by having the sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a second direction further downstream, such that the components are compressed and oriented in a selected direction to pass through an interrogation chamber in single file formation for identification and separation by various methods. The isolation mechanism utilizes external, stacked piezoelectric actuator assemblies disposed on a microfluidic chip holder, or piezoelectric actuator assemblies on-chip, so that the actuator assemblies are triggered by an electronic signal to actuate jet chambers on either side of the sample input channel, to jet selected components in the sample input channel into one of the output channels.

An aerosol jet printer producing a stream of droplets in a print jet employs direct, droplet-resolving imaging to characterize the statistics of the droplets in flight for improved control of the printed line characteristics.

A microfluidic chip orients and isolates components in a sample fluid mixture by two step focusing, where sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a sample input channel in one direction, such that the sample fluid mixture becomes a narrower stream bounded by the sheath fluids, and by having the sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a second direction further downstream, such that the components are compressed and oriented in a selected direction to pass through an interrogation chamber in single file formation for identification and separation by various methods. The isolation mechanism utilizes external, stacked piezoelectric actuator assemblies disposed on a microfluidic chip holder, or piezoelectric actuator assemblies on-chip, so that the actuator assemblies are triggered by an electronic signal to actuate jet chambers on either side of the sample input channel, to jet selected components in the sample input channel into one of the output channels.

Provided are, inter alia, flow centration components that can be used in flow cytometers and other applications. A flow centrator can define central axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, and having a central bore extending within the flow centration component in the direction of the central axis; the flow centration component defining a splined outer surface that defines a plurality of circumferentially arranged bypass flute channels, the plurality of bypass flute channels extending in the direction of the central axis, and each of the bypass flute channels having a depth and a length. Also provided are related methods that utilize the disclosed components.

Fluid management systems for flow type particle analyzers are provided. Aspects of the fluid management systems include a flow cell comprising an input and output; a cuvette comprising an input coupled to the output of the flow cell and further comprising an output; a sample input line for fluidically coupling a sample fluid source to the input of the flow cell; and a fluid supply subsystem configured to alternatively fluidically couple: (a) a primary fluid source; or (b) one or more secondary fluid sources, to the input of the flow cell. Also provided are methods of using flow type particle analyzers having the subject fluid management systems.

A microfluidic chip having a micro channel for processing a sample is provided. The micro channel may focus the sample by using focusing fluid and a core stream forming geometry. The core stream forming geometry may include a lateral fluid focusing component and one or more vertical fluid focusing components. A microfluidic chip may include a plurality micro channels operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

A sheath flow impedance particle analyzer includes a pre-mixing cell, a sample needle, a sheath flow impedance counting cell, a front sheath fluid cell, a rear sheath fluid cell, a rear sheath waste fluid cell, a waste fluid cell, and a first auxiliary negative pressure source. The first auxiliary negative pressure source includes at least one low pressure port, and a valve for controlling the low pressure port to open or close, the low pressure port being connected to the sample needle or the rear sheath waste fluid cell. During measurement of a sample by the sheath flow impedance counting cell, at least the negative pressure of the first auxiliary negative pressure source enables the sample needle to transfer a sample liquid or enable the rear sheath waste fluid cell to discharge a waste fluid.

A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

The present disclosure relates to a fluid system for a sample processor and a sample processor including the fluid system. The fluid system includes a sample line, a processing fluid line, a vacuum line, and an air pump. The sample line communicates a sample container with a sample port of a flow cell unit. The processing fluid line communicates a sheath fluid container with a processing fluid port of the flow cell unit. The vacuum line is in communication with the flow cell unit. The air pump includes a first output port and a second output port. Pressurized gas is generated at the first output port, and the first output port is in communication with the sample container and the sheath fluid container. A vacuum is generated at the second output port, and the second output port is in communication with a vacuum port of the flow cell unit through the vacuum line.

A fluid handling system for supplying a working fluid to a fluid flow instrument is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals indicative of a deformation of a flexible barrier located between a control fluid volume containing a control fluid and a working fluid volume containing the working fluid. Based on the sensor signals, the controller may send signals to control the operation of a working fluid flow generator in order to regulate or control the fluid characteristic of the working fluid being provided to the fluid flow instrument.