Fluid management system for an analyzer and/or sorter type flow type particle analyzer using a detachable connector
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorChristopher Ghazi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims20
A flow type particle analyzer comprising a fluid management system comprising:
- 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 such that sample fluid may flow from the sample fluid source to the flow cell;
- and
- a fluid supply subsystem comprising a fluid supply subsystem connector, the fluid supply subsystem configured to alternatively:
- (a) fluidically couple a primary fluid source;
- and
- (b) fluidically couple one or more secondary fluid sources,
- to the input of the flow cell such that fluid may flow from each fluidically coupled fluid source, through each fluid pathway of the fluid supply subsystem, to the flow cell by detachably connecting the fluid supply subsystem connector to one of a primary fluid source connector and a secondary fluid source connector at a time,
- wherein each of the primary and secondary fluid source connectors comprises a single connector for mating with a single, shared interface of the fluid supply subsystem connector, such that only one of the fluid source connectors may be connected to the fluid supply subsystem connector at a time.
A method comprising:
- flowing fluid in a flow type particle analyzer comprising a fluid management system comprising:
- 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 fluidically coupling a sample fluid source to the input of the flow cell such that sample fluid may flow from the sample fluid source to the flow cell;
- and
- a fluid supply subsystem comprising a fluid supply subsystem connector, the fluid supply subsystem configured to alternatively:
- (a) fluidically couple a primary fluid source;
- and
- (b) fluidically couple one or more secondary fluid sources,
- to the input of the flow cell such that fluid may flow from each fluidically coupled fluid source, through each fluid pathway of the fluid supply subsystem, to the flow cell by detachably connecting the fluid supply subsystem connector to one of a primary fluid source connector and a secondary fluid source connector at a time;
- wherein the input of the flow cell is fluidically coupled to either the primary fluid source or the one or more second fluid sources, and
- wherein each of the primary and secondary fluid source connectors comprises a single connector for mating with a single, shared interface of the fluid supply subsystem connector, such that only one of the fluid source connectors may be connected to the fluid supply subsystem connector at a time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.