Portable flow cytometry

A wearable cytometer for analyzing selected particles in a sample fluid, comprising:

• a removable cartridge for receiving the sample fluid and for preparing the sample fluid for analysis including performing hydrodynamic focusing to form a flow stream having a core stream of particles, the cartridge having one or more pressure receiving ports for receiving one or more controlled pressures;
• a housing adapted to receive the removable cartridge, said housing having:
• pressure applying means for applying a controlled pressure to the one or more pressure receiving ports of the removable cartridge;
• one or more light providing means positioned adjacent the flow stream of the removable cartridge for providing light through the flow stream;
• two or more light receiving means provided adjacent the flow stream of the removable cartridge for receiving the light from the flow stream, and for providing at least one signal in response thereto;
• and
• processing means for receiving the at least one signal from the light receiving means and for analyzing the at least one signal to determined predetermined information relative to the selected particles in the flow stream.

A method for analyzing selected particles in a fluid stream, the method comprising:

• manually generating a non-precise pressure;
• generating a controlled pressure from the manually generated non-precise pressure;
• using the controlled pressure to provide flow to a fluid stream;
• adjusting the controlled pressure according to a velocity of the flow of the fluid stream;
• and
• analyzing the selected particles in the fluid stream.