Electrostatic deceleration system for flow cytometer

Abstract

An electrostatic deceleration system is provided for use with a flow cytometer to decelerate the movement of electrically charged droplets formed by the flow cytometer in order to minimize damage to the cells contained in the droplets when the droplets are collected in corresponding collection vessels. The deceleration system includes a plurality of deceleration devices which are each used to decelerate droplets charged to a particular magnitude and polarity. Each deceleration device includes a steering plate arrangement and a deceleration ring arrangement. The steering plate arrangement directs the droplets having a particular magnitude and polarity of charge into the corresponding deceleration ring arrangement. The deceleration ring arrangement includes a plurality of deceleration rings to which are applied electrical potentials of a polarity the same as the polarity of the charged droplet. These potentials apply an electrostatic force gradient to the droplet as it passes through the rings, and thus reduce the speed at which the droplet travels. As the droplets passing through the deceleration ring arrangement are slowed, the droplets reform into a continuous stream prior to entering a collection vessel where the cells contained in the droplets are collected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.