Vibratory system for a sorting flow cytometer

A drop flow cytometer system, comprising:

• a. a sheath fluid;
• b. a nozzle body within which at least a portion of said sheath fluid is contained;
• c. a sample introduction element contained within said nozzle body;
• d. an oscillation system to which said sheath fluid is responsive and which acts to create droplets;
• e. a first driver system to which said oscillation system is responsive;
• f. a second driver system to which said oscillation system is responsive;
• g. a free fall area within which said droplets form and fall;
• h. an analysis system acting at least in part as a result of events within said free fall area;
• and
• i. a sort system responsive to said analysis system which acts upon said droplets in said free fall area.

A fluidic oscillation system for a flow cytometer which oscillates a flow cytometer nozzle exterior surface, comprising:

• a. an energy source;
• b. a energy transfer element coupled to said source of energy;
• c. a energy converter connected to said energy transfer element and which creates mechanical oscillations;
• and
• d. a fluidic oscillation coupling element which is responsive to said energy converter and which fluidicly couples said mechanical oscillations to said flow cytometer nozzle exterior surface.

A oscillation system for a flow cytometer, comprising:

• a. an energy source;
• b. a energy transfer element coupled to said energy source;
• c. A energy converter connected to said energy transfer element which outputs mechanical oscillations;
• d. an oscillation variation system which operates said energy converter throughout a range of at least one oscillation parameter;
• e. a sheath fluid;
• f. a nozzle body within which at least a portion of said sheath fluid is contained;
• g. a sample introduction element contained within said nozzle body;
• h. an oscillation system which is responsive to said oscillation variation system;
• i. a free fall area below an exterior surface of said nozzle body;
• j. an analysis system acting at least in part as a result of events within said free fall area;
• and
• k. a sort system responsive to said analysis system.

A method of flow cytometry, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a flow cytometry apparatus having an exterior surface;
• b. introducing a sample within said flow cytometry apparatus;
• c. conducting flow cytometry through action of said flow cytometry apparatus;
• d. engaging said exterior surface of said flow cytometry apparatus by a portable member;
• e. creating oscillations within said flow cytometry apparatus through action of said portable member;
• f. disengaging said portable member from said exterior surface of said flow cytometry apparatus;
• and
• g. continuing to conduct flow cytometry through action of said flow cytometry apparatus.

A flow cytometer system, comprising:

• a. a flow cytometry apparatus;
• b. an energy source;
• c. a energy transfer element coupled to said energy source;
• d. a de-bubbling energy converter connected to said energy transfer element which outputs mechanical oscillations selected to have a de-bubbling oscillation parameter corresponding to gas dislocation which dislocates gas bubbles with said de-bubbling oscillation parameter from within said flow cytometer apparatus;
• and
• e. a portable member configured so as to mechanically couple said mechanical oscillations to said flow cytometry apparatus.

A method of flow cytometry, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a flow cytometry apparatus having an exterior surface;
• b. providing a source of energy;
• c. transferring said energy through a transfer element;
• d. converting said energy with an energy converter which outputs mechanical oscillations;
• e. introducing a sample within said flow cytometry apparatus;
• f. conducting flow cytometry through action of said flow cytometry apparatus;
• and
• g. fluidicly coupling said mechanical oscillations to said exterior surface of said flow cytometry apparatus.

A method of flow cytometry, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a flow cytometry apparatus;
• b. providing a source of energy;
• c. transferring said energy through a transfer element;
• d. converting said energy with an energy converter which creates mechanical oscillations;
• e. selecting a de-bubbling oscillation parameter corresponding to gas dislocation which dislocates gas bubbles with said de-bubbling oscillation parameter from within said flow cytometer apparatus;
• f. creating de-bubbling oscillations within said flow cytometry apparatus using said de-bubbling oscillation parameter;
• g. introducing a sample within said flow cytometry apparatus;
• and
• h. conducting flow cytometry through action of said flow cytometry apparatus.