Sterile flow cytometer and sorter with mechanical isolation between flow chamber and sterile enclosure
US5641457A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/00277
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and process for measuring particles that prevents the particles from being contaminated during the measuring and optional sorting process wherein a flow chamber or region is mechanically isolated from a sterile enclosure which surrounds the flow chamber. The present invention in one embodiment provides an apparatus comprising of a droplet generator, a charging system, a deflecting system, a sterilization system, a light source, a detector, a cooling system and a vacuum system. The droplet generator and the charging system and the flow chamber associated with the droplet generator operate within an illumination frame where the particles (e.g. biological cells) are actually measured. In order to prevent the biological cells from being contaminated, the illumination frame is located within an isolation chamber which provides an environment that can be sterilized before and after the actual measuring and sorting of the cells, but the illumination frame is mechanically isolated from the isolation chamber. The sterilization system, located outside the isolation chamber sterilizes the isolation chamber before cells are measured and sorted within the isolation chamber, and fur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.