# US 12,601,676 B2 · Removable circular nozzle for flow cytometers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,601,676 B2 - Document ID: US12601676B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/491,684 - Filed: 2023-10-20 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-20 - Assignees: Cytek Biosciences, Inc. - Applicants: Cytek Biosciences, Inc. - Inventors: Mikhail Blinkov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601676B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/05: Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10) - B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures} - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - G01N 15/1436: {the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell} - G01N 35/1095: {for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers (for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00)} - B01L 3/563: {Joints or fittings; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors} - B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other - B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details - B01L 2200/0689: Sealing - B01L 2300/0832: cylindrical, tube shaped - B01L 2300/0877: Flow chambers - G01N 15/1492: within droplets - G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology} - G01N 2015/1406: {Control of droplet point} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract A circular nozzle assembly is disclosed. A cuvette nozzle subsystem (assembly) for flow cytometry systems is disclosed including a cuvette assembly and a circular nozzle assembly selectively engaged with the cuvette assembly. The cuvette assembly includes a cuvette having a pocket and a flow channel, and a receptacle coupled within the pocket to the cuvette. The receptacle has a through-hole with a tapered conical portion and a circular cylindrical portion. The circular nozzle assembly includes an o-ring gasket coupled to a nozzle body with a flow channel. A tapered conical portion of the nozzle body engages the tapered conical portion of the through-hole to align the respective flow channels of the cuvette and the nozzle body together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow cytometer or cell sorter system, the system comprising: a flow cell coupled in communication with a fluidics system to receive a sheath fluid, wherein a sample fluid flows with cells or particles through the flow cell to be surrounded by the sheath fluid, the flow cell including a flow cell body coupled around a drop drive assembly to receive a fluid stream of the sample fluid from a sample injection tube; a cuvette coupled to a base of the flow cell body, the cuvette having a pocket and a cylindrical flow channel to receive the fluid stream of the sample fluid; a receptacle coupled to the cuvette within the pocket by an adhesive, wherein the receptacle has a body with a through-hole having a tapered conical portion; and a circular nozzle assembly selectively engageable with the receptacle and the cuvette, the circular nozzle assembly having a nozzle body with a center flow channel and an o-ring gasket coupled to a top surface around the center flow channel, wherein the nozzle body has an upper tapered conical portion to engage with the tapered conical portion of the through-hole in the receptacle to align together the cylindrical flow channel of the cuvette and the center flow channel of the nozzle body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow cytometer or cell sorter system of claim 1, wherein: the through-hole of the receptacle further has a cylindrical portion joined to the tapered conical portion to keep adhesive out of the through-hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flow cytometer or cell sorter system of claim 1, wherein: the o-ring gasket is coupled into a ring opening portion in a top surface of the nozzle body so that a portion of the o-ring gasket extends above the top surface; and the extended portion of the o-ring gasket engages a surface of the cuvette in the pocket around the cylindrical flow channel when the circular nozzle assembly is engaged with the receptacle and cuvette to deter fluid leakage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow cytometer or cell sorter system of claim 1, wherein: the cuvette is transparent to light over an electromagnetic spectrum including laser light, fluorescent light in a visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and infrared light in a non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum so that particles in the cylindrical flow channel can be excited by the laser light from lasers and the infrared light and the fluorescent light can be detected by one or more detectors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flow cytometer or cell sorter system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body further has a lower circular cylindrical portion joined to the upper tapered conical portion, and the system further comprises: a movable circular mount to which the circular nozzle assembly can be mounted and dismounted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flow cytometer or cell sorter system of claim 5, wherein: the movable circular mount enables the circular nozzle assembly to undergo upward vertical movement to engage the cuvette and the receptacle in the tapered conical portion of the through-hole; and the movable circular mount further enables the circular nozzle assembly to undergo downward vertical movement to disengage from the cuvette and the receptacle.