# US 2014/0152987 A1 · System and Method for Separating Samples in a Continuous Flow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152987 A1 - Document ID: US20140152987A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,032 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-21 - Assignees: IntelliCyt Corporation - Applicants: Intellicyt Corporation - Inventors: Linda Trinkle; Thomas Duensing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152987A1 ## CPC - G01N 15/0211: {Investigating a scatter or diffraction pattern} - G01N 15/1012: {Calibrating particle analysers; References therefor} - G01N 15/1459: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream} - G01N 35/00: Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor - G01N 35/08: using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis - G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology} - 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) ## Abstract One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method for identifying within a single record the location of each of a plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein the single record is obtained from a flowing stream of the plurality of samples passing through a particle analyzer. The method comprises introducing into a conduit the plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein each ones of the plurality of samples are separated by fluid gaps to produce a plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps and wherein each of the plurality of samples further comprises marker particles. The plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps are flowed through the conduit as a flowing sample stream to a detector of a particle analyzer. The particle analyzer is for example a flow cytometer. The particles of interest when present and/or marker particles are detected as the plurality of samples pass the detector of the particle analyzer. A record over time for the particles of interest when present and/or marker particles in each of the plurality of samples are obtained in the single file once the plurality of samples pass the incident beam of light of the particle analyzer. A time position in the record is identified where particles of interest within any one of the plurality of samples would be located if present based upon the detection of marker particles present within each combined sample from the flowing stream of the plurality of samples. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for identifying within a single record the location of each of a plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein the single record is obtained from a flowing stream of the plurality of samples passing through a particle analyzer, the method comprising: introducing into a conduit the plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein each ones of the plurality of samples are separated by fluid gaps to produce a plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps and wherein each of the plurality of samples further comprises marker particles; flowing the plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps through the conduit as a flowing sample stream to a detector of a particle analyzer; detecting particles of interest when present and/or marker particles as the plurality of samples pass the detector of the particle analyzer; obtaining in the single file a record over time for the particles of interest when present and/or marker particles in each of the plurality of samples once the plurality of samples pass the incident beam of light of the particle analyzer; and identifying a time position in the record where particles of interest within any one of the plurality of samples would be located if present based upon the detection of marker particles present within each combined sample from the flowing stream of the plurality of samples. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein introducing into a conduit the plurality of samples includes uptaking each of the plurality of samples from the respective sample container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the respective sample container is a microplate having rows and columns of sample wells for holding samples to be tested. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein a sampling order of the rows and columns of the sample wells are determined by the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the sampling order is correlated with the identifying a time position in the record where particles of interest within any one of the plurality of samples would be located if present to identify the location of the sample well from which the sample was uptaken. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein fluid gaps are gas gaps ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the gas gaps are air gaps. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein flowing the plurality of samples includes moving the samples with a pump, gravity, acoustic means, microcapillary action, pressurization or any combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein detecting particles of interest when present depends on the optical and/or physical characteristic of interest selected for the particles of interest. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein detecting marker particles depends on the optical and/or physical characteristics selected for the marker particles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the marker particles are selected based upon optical and/or physical characteristics which may be the same or different from the optical and/or physical characteristics of the particles of interest. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the particle analyzer is a flow cytometer.