Flow sorting system and methods regarding same

Abstract

A system and method for sorting of objects that includes a pathway network that has a plurality of pathways and one or more branch points. A fluid composition including one or more objects can be transported through the pathway network, where one or more of the objects are analyzed and sorted at one or more branch points based on the analysis of the objects.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A sorting system comprising:
 a pathway network comprising a plurality of pathways operable to receive a fluid composition comprising a plurality of objects, wherein pathway network further comprises one or more branch points;   one or more analyzer devices at one or more positions of the pathways for use in analyzing one or more of the plurality of objects that flow in the pathways; and   one or more fluid flow controllers, wherein at least one fluid flow controller associated with at least one of the one or more branch points is operable to direct fluid composition in the plurality of pathways based on analysis of the objects.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising a control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is operable to receive a measurement signal from at least one analyzer device and determine at least one characteristic of an object based on the measurement signal, and further wherein the control apparatus is operable to provide a control signal to a fluid flow controller based on the at least one characteristic of the object. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the control apparatus is operable to receive previous measurement signals from one or more analyzer devices, and further wherein the control apparatus is operable to provide the control signal to a fluid flow controller based on at least one of the at least one characteristic of the object and the previous measurement signals. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of one or more branch points is used to provide parallel pathways from a single combined pathway, wherein the single combined pathway is provided by pathways from a plurality of branch points. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the one or more branch points are used to provide parallel pathways from a single pathway, wherein the single pathway is provided by a pathway from a single branch point. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the pathway network comprises a single pathway separated into two or more additional pathways by at least one of the one or more branch points. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the pathway network comprising one or more branch points comprises a series of pathways, each branch point from the series of pathways has at least one analyzer device and at least one fluid flow controller associated therewith to allow for a sequential analysis and sorting of objects through a progression of branch points. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein each of a plurality of branch points have at least one analyzer device and at least one fluid flow controller associated therewith to allow for a parallel analysis and sorting of objects simultaneously. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one analyzer device and at least one fluid flow controller are associated to form a sorting module associated with each of a plurality of one or more branch points, wherein at least one group of the sorting modules is arranged and operable for parallel analysis and sorting of objects, wherein each group of sorting modules forms a sort stage. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the sorting system comprises two or more sort stages. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices are operable for use in analyzing biological objects that flow in the pathways. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the biological objects comprise cells, and further wherein the one or more analyzer devices are operable for use in analyzing the cells that flow in the pathways. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices are operable for use in analyzing non-biological objects that flow in the pathways. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the non-biological objects comprise particles. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices are positioned at or before one or more branch points of the plurality of pathways. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices are operable to perform at least one of optical measurements, luminescence measurements, fluorescence measurements, light scattering measurements, radioactive measurements, electrical measurements, and ultrasound measurements. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices comprise at least one exciter. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices comprise at least one exciter tuned at a specific wavelength to cause fluorescent markers to fluoresce. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the exciters comprise light emitting diodes, laser diodes and/or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the one or more analyzer devices comprises at least one detector. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the detector comprise a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the detector comprises a photosensitive diode. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the one or more fluid flow controllers is operable to stop the one or more objects in a pathway. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more fluid flow controllers are operable to adjust a flow rate of the objects in the plurality of pathways. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the fluid flow controllers comprises a flow switching structure operable to direct fluid composition in the pathways. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the flow switching structure comprises at least one of a mechanical multi-way valve, a rotary valve, a magnetic solenoid shuttle valve, and an elastomeric valve. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the fluid composition comprises nano-size magnetic particles at a concentration sufficient to allow the fluid composition to be directed in the pathways through the application of an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the controller is operable to apply magnetic fields to direct the fluid composition comprising the nano-size magnetic particles in the pathways based on analysis of the objects. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of pathways form a portion of a fluid tight sealed system. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the system further comprises a fluid manifold containing fluid and one or more makeup fluid ports, wherein the one or more makeup fluid ports connect the fluid manifold and the pathways to allow for fluid to be provided to one or more of the pathways of the sorting system from the fluid manifold. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of one or more branch points is operable to receive fluid composition from multiple branch points via multiple pathways and provide fluid composition to one or more pathways. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the one or more branch points is operable to receive fluid composition from a single branch point via a single pathway and provide fluid composition to one or more pathways. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein each of a plurality of the one or more branch points and at least portions of associated pathways are provided as a separate branch point module, wherein the separate branch point module is configured to be assembled for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 80 , wherein two or more separate branch point modules are configured to be assembled for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 80 , wherein each of the two or more separate branch point modules may be configured with at least a portion of a different analyzer device. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 80 , wherein each of the two or more branch point modules are configured to be inserted into a holding frame for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 80 , wherein at least one of the two or more separate branch point modules has a different flow path configuration than another of the plurality of branch point modules. 
     
     
         85 . A cell sorting system comprising: 
       a pathway network comprising a plurality of pathways and one or more branch points, the pathway network operable to receive a fluid composition comprising a plurality of cells;
 one or more analyzer devices at one or more positions of the pathways for use in analyzing one or more of the plurality of cells that flow in the pathways; and 
 one or more fluid flow controllers, wherein at least one fluid flow controller associated with at least one of the one or more branch points is operable to sort the plurality of cells in the plurality of pathways based on analysis of the cells. 
 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 85 , further comprising a control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is operable to receive a measurement signal from at least one analyzer device and determine at least one characteristic of at least one cell based on the measurement signal, and further wherein the control apparatus is operable to provide a control signal to a fluid flow controller based on the at least one characteristic of the at least one cell. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein at least one of one or more branch points is used to provide parallel pathways from a single combined pathway, wherein the single combined pathway is provided by pathways from a plurality of branch points. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein at least one of the one or more branch points are used to provide parallel pathways from a single pathway, wherein the single pathway is provided by a pathway from a single branch point. 
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the pathway network comprises a single pathway separated into two or more additional pathways by at least one of the one or more branch points. 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the pathway network comprising one or more branch points comprise a series of pathways, each branch point in the series of pathways has at least one analyzer device and at least one fluid flow controller associated therewith to allow for a sequential analysis and sorting of cells through a progression of branch points. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein each of a plurality of branch points have at least one analyzer device and at least one fluid flow controller associated therewith to allow for a parallel analysis and sorting of cells simultaneously. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein at least one analyzer device and at least one fluid flow controller are associated to form a sorting module associated with each of a plurality of one or more branch points, wherein at least one group of the sorting modules is arranged and operable for parallel analysis and sorting of cells, wherein each group of sorting modules forms a sort stage. 
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the sorting system comprises two or more sort stages. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices are positioned at or before one or more branch points of the plurality of pathways. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices are operable to perform at least one of optical measurements, luminescence measurements, fluorescence measurements, light scattering measurements, radioactive measurements, electrical measurements, and ultrasound measurements. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the one or more analyzer devices comprise at least one exciter. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein at least one of the one or more analyzer devices comprises at least one detector. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein at least one of the one or more fluid flow controllers is operable to stop the one or more cells in a pathway. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the one or more fluid flow controllers are operable to adjust a flow rate of one or more of the cells in the plurality of pathways. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein at least one of the fluid flow controllers comprises a flow switching structure operable to direct fluid composition in the pathways. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 100 , wherein the flow switching structure comprises at least one of a mechanical multi-way valve, a rotary valve, a magnetic solenoid shuttle valve, and an elastomeric valve. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the fluid composition comprises nano-size magnetic particles at a concentration sufficient to allow the fluid composition to be directed in the pathways through the application of an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 102 , wherein the controller is operable to apply magnetic fields to direct the fluid composition comprising the nano-size magnetic particles in the pathways based on analysis of the cells. 
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the plurality of pathways form a portion of a fluid tight sealed system. 
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the system further comprises a fluid manifold containing fluid and one or more makeup fluid ports, wherein the one or more makeup fluid ports connect the fluid manifold and the pathways to allow for fluid to be provided to one or more of the pathways of the sorting system from the fluid manifold. 
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein each of a plurality of the one or more branch points and at least portions of associated pathways are provided as a separate branch point module, wherein the separate branch point module is configured to be assembled for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 106 , wherein two or more separate branch point modules are configured to be assembled for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 107 , wherein each of the two or more separate branch point modules may be configured with at least a portion of a different analyzer device. 
     
     
         109 . A sorting system comprising:
 a pathway network comprising a plurality of pathways operable to receive a fluid composition comprising a plurality of objects, wherein pathway network further comprises one or more branch points, and further wherein at least one of the one or more branch points and at least portions of associated pathways is provided as a separate branch point module, wherein the separate branch point module is configured to be assembled for use as at least a portion of the pathway network;   one or more analyzer devices associated with the separate branch point module for use in analyzing one or more of the plurality of objects that flow in the pathways; and   one or more fluid flow controllers associated with the separate branch point module operable to direct fluid composition therein.   
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 109 , wherein two or more separate branch point modules are configured to be assembled for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         111 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein each of the two or more separate branch point modules may be configured with at least a portion of a different analyzer device. 
     
     
         112 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein each of the two or more separate branch point modules are configured to be inserted into a holding frame for use as at least a portion of the pathway network. 
     
     
         113 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein at least one of the two or more separate branch point modules has a different flow path configuration than another of the plurality of branch point modules. 
     
     
         114 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein at least one of two or more separate branch point modules is operable, when assembled, to receive fluid composition from multiple branch points via multiple pathways and provide fluid composition to one or more pathways. 
     
     
         115 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein at least one of the two or more separate branch point modules is operable, when assembled, to receive fluid composition from a single branch point via a single pathway and provide fluid composition to one or more pathways.