The disclosure relates to a flow cytometer arrangement, in which a sample is mixed with a colorant by means of two pumps and the mixture is introduced together with a sheath flow into a flow cell.

A liquid sample analysis method including communicating a specific flow path with an aspirator via a branch flow path, aspirating air from the aspirator, aspirating a liquid sample into the sample supply path from the aspirator so that an entire amount of the aspirated air is accommodated in the branch flow path, communicating a sample extrusion path with a sample port, communicating a sheath fluid supply path with a sheath fluid port, and isolating the branch flow path from both the sample supply path and the specific flow path, extruding the liquid sample in the sample supply path so as to inflow into the sample flow path by causing a sheath fluid to inflow into the sheath fluid flow path from the sheath fluid supply path and causing the sheath fluid to inflow into the sample supply path from the sample extrusion path.

Fluidic resistance units are provided. Fluidic resistance units of interest include a plurality of valves and a plurality of resistors, where each resistor in the plurality of resistors is fluidically coupled to and co-located with a different valve in the plurality of valves. In one embodiment, fluidic resistance units include an inlet for receiving fluid, a valve line fluidically coupled to the inlet, a resistor line fluidically coupled to the inlet, a plurality of connectors fluidically coupling the valve line to the resistor line, and an outlet for emitting fluid. Valve lines of interest include a series of fluidically coupled valves, and resistor lines of interest include a series of fluidically coupled resistors. Methods and flow cytometers involving the subject fluidic resistance units are also provided.

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.

An embodiment of a system with a minute measure of pulsatility in a flow of a fluid is described that comprises a first pump configured to flow the fluid to a junction at a first flow rate that comprises a measure of pulsatility; and a second pump configured to flow a portion of the fluid from the junction at a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate to produce a flow of the fluid at a third flow rate from the junction with a minute measure of pulsatility.

An enrichment system for enrichment of a sample comprising one or more microscopic particles of interest in a fluid carrier is disclosed. The enrichment system comprises a flow cell configured to receive a portion of the sample, a plurality of sample holding chambers and a waste, each connected to a flow cell, an imaging sensor configured to obtain an image of the microscopic particles in the fluid carrier in the flow cell and a controller configured to direct passage of the portion of the fluid sample in the flow cell, in dependence on the image obtained by the imaging sensor, to one of the holding chambers or to the waste.

A flow cytometer module configured to be integrated with a liquid handling system is provided herein. The flow cytometer module includes (a) a flow cell, (b) a first fluidic pathway, (c) an inlet configured to receive a sample introduction device of the liquid handling system including one or more samples, (d) a second fluidic pathway in fluid communication with the first fluidic pathway, (e) a laser interrogation device configured to examine the one or more samples at a laser interrogation point in the second fluidic pathway, and (f) a controller in communication with the liquid handling system and configured to cause the flow cytometer module to perform functions comprising: (i) recording data from the laser interrogation device corresponding to a plurality of events as the one or more samples pass the laser interrogation point, and (ii) transmitting the data corresponding to the plurality of events to the liquid handling system.

Apparatus and methods for sample acquisition, including for example, samples for flow cytometry systems. Certain embodiments include a plurality of plates, valves, and conduits. In particular embodiments, the plates are stacked and the conduits extend through stack of plates, and in specific embodiments each valve is in fluid communication with a conduit.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

To provide a technique that enables the risk of contamination to be reduced. Provided is a microparticle measuring apparatus including at least: a relay unit that enables a flow path through which microparticles flow and a cleaning fluid storage unit to communicate with each other; a sheath fluid tube that causes the flow path and a sheath fluid storage unit to communicate with each other; and a cleaning fluid tube that causes the relay unit and the cleaning fluid storage unit to communicate with each other, in which the relay unit includes a first connector that can be connected to a joint portion on the sheath fluid storage unit side of the sheath fluid tube.