Integrated compact cell sorter

A system for flow cytometry or cell sorting, the system comprising:

• a fluidics system under pressure to cause a sheath fluid and a sample biological fluid to flow, the fluidics system including a gas bubble remover eliminating gas bubbles in the sheath fluid;
• a flow cell coupled in communication with the fluidics system to receive the sheath fluid, wherein a sample biological fluid flows with cells or particles through the flow cell to be surrounded by the sheath fluid and formed into drops, the flow cell having a conductive hose fitting to selectively receive a charge and transfer the charge to a desired drop for sorting as a charged drop, the flow cell further having a nozzle assembly through which fluid can pass, the nozzle assembly having a partial gland and a gasket positioned in the partial gland, the gasket having a portion extending beyond a surface of the nozzle assembly;
• a deflection chamber under the flow cell to receive the drops of sample biological fluid and sheath fluid out of the flow cell, the deflection chamber to deflect the charge drop along one or more deflection paths;
• a droplet deposition unit (DDU) system in communication with the deflection chamber to receive selectively deflected drops in the stream of the sample biological fluid with the one or more biological cells or particles into one or more containers;
• and
• wherein the flow cell further includes:
• a flow cell body coupled in communication with the fluidics system to receive the sheath fluid and the sample biological fluid, the flow cell body having a funnel portion to form a fluid stream of the sample fluid surrounded by the sheath fluid out of an opening,
• a cuvette coupled to a base of the flow cell body, the cuvette having a channel to receive the fluid stream of the sample fluid surrounded by the sheath fluid out of the opening, the cuvette being transparent to light and allowing the sample fluid to undergo interrogation in the channel by a plurality of different lasers to determine a plurality of different types of cells or particles therein,
• the nozzle assembly selectively engaged with the cuvette, the nozzle assembly having a nozzle,
• a carriage assembly slidingly coupled to the flow cell body, the carriage assembly to slidingly receive the nozzle assembly, and
• a linkage pivotally coupled to the carriage assembly and the flow cell body, the linkage including a lever arm to selectively engage the nozzle with the cuvette to receive a fluid stream or selectively disengage the nozzle from the cuvette to service the nozzle.