Removable sorting cuvette and nozzle

Abstract

A flow cell and flow cytometer in which a nozzle at the end of a flow channel is disposed on a removable substrate held at a registered location on a flow cell. Other elements including illumination optics, light collection optics, and the flow cell may then be positioned at fixed locations and would not require subsequent periodic adjustment. The registered location for positioning the nozzle allows removal and replacement of the nozzle key with the nozzle subsequently positioned in the identical location.

1 . A flow cell for use with a flow cytometer comprising:
 a flow cell body;   a sample delivery tube extending into said flow cell body;   at least one sheath flow port on said flow cell body; and   a removable cuvette having flat sides and a rectangular cross-section; wherein said removable cuvette contains a channel extending through said cuvette, said channel having an initial end and a terminal end, and a nozzle fixed to said terminal end of said channel;   wherein said sample delivery tube and said at least one sheath flow port allow the introduction of liquid into said flow cell body, and said removable cuvette is positioned such that said liquid flows from said flow cell body into said initial end of said channel and exits said terminal end of said channel through said nozzle;   
   
   
       2 . The flow cell of  claim 1 , further including a droplet generator associated with said flow cell, said droplet generator allowing production of droplets as a stream exits the nozzle. 
   
   
       3 . The flow cell of  claim 2 , wherein said droplet generator is located within said flow cell body such that droplet generation oscillations are imparted to flow fluid before said fluid enters the channel. 
   
   
       4 . The flow cell of  claim 3 , wherein said droplet generator includes a piston. 
   
   
       5 . The flow cell of  claim 2 , wherein said droplet generator is a vibrating element. 
   
   
       6 . The flow cell of  claim 1 , wherein said cuvette has optically transmissive sidewalls that extend downward from a location of said terminus of said channel. 
   
   
       7 . The flow cell of  claim 1 , wherein said channel has a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       8 . The flow cell of  claim 1 , wherein said channel has a length sufficiently long so that liquid flowing through said channel has fully developed flow when said fluid reaches an illumination location on said channel. 
   
   
       9 . The flow cell of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle has a nozzle opening that is off center from a centered position within said channel. 
   
   
       10 . A flow cytometer system comprising:
 (a) a flow cell, wherein said flow cell comprises   a flow cell body;   a sample delivery tube extending into said flow cell body;   at least one sheath flow port on said flow cell body; and   a removable cuvette having flat sides and a rectangular cross-section; wherein said removable cuvette contains a channel extending through said cuvette, said channel having an initial end and a terminal end, and a nozzle fixed to said terminal end of said channel;   wherein said sample delivery tube and said at least one sheath flow port allow the introduction of liquid into said flow cell body, and said removable cuvette is positioned such that said liquid flows from said flow cell body into said initial end of said channel and exits said terminal end of said channel through said nozzle;   (b) illumination optics which focus and direct illumination light into said flow cell at an illumination region of said flow cell; and   (c) light collection optics which collect light produced from targets in said channel and transmit collected light to detection optics.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said removable cuvette is held in position by precision guides. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , further including a droplet generator associated with said flow cell, said droplet generator allowing production of droplets as a stream exits the nozzle. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said droplet generator is located within said flow cell body such that droplet generation oscillations are imparted to flow fluid before said fluid enters the channel. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said droplet generator includes a piston. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said droplet generator is a vibrating element. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said cuvette has optically transmissive sidewalls that extend downward from a location of said terminus of said channel. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said channel has a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said channel has a length sufficiently long so that liquid flowing through said channel has fully developed flow when said fluid reaches the illumination region. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said nozzle has a nozzle opening that is off center from a centered position within said channel. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said channel is rectangular and has a shorter cross-sectional side and a longer cross-sectional side, wherein said shorter cross-sectional side faces a first direction in which light is directed by the illumination optics and the longer cross-sectional side faces a second direction from which emitted light is collected by the light collection optics.