Instrument for selecting and depositing multicellular organisms and other large objects

An instrument comprising:

• means for providing a continuous fluid stream carrying sample objects;
• means for detecting the sample objects in the continuous fluid stream, the means for detecting being located downstream from the means for providing;
• means for providing a first gas stream, wherein the first gas stream operationally impinges on the continuous fluid stream and diverts the continuous fluid stream;
• and
• first means for interrupting the first gas stream, wherein the first means for interrupting is located downstream from the means for detecting, and is in operative relationship with the means for detecting so that, when the means for detecting detects sample objects in the continuous fluid stream, the first means for interrupting responds by selectively interrupting the first gas stream, thereby allowing lengths of the continuous fluid stream containing detected sample objects to pass undiverted by the first gas stream.

A method comprising steps of:

• providing large objects in a continuous carrier fluid;
• passing the continuous carrier fluid and large objects through a sensing chamber;
• detecting the presence of large objects in the sensing chamber;
• diverting the continuous carrier fluid with a switched control stream that is located downstream of the sensing chamber;
• and
• collecting at least one large object by temporarily ceasing to divert the continuous carrier fluid based on the step of detecting.