System and method of verification of a prepared sample for a flow cytometer

Abstract

A system and method for a flow cytometer system including a prepared sample fluid with reference beads; an interrogation zone that analyzes the prepared sample fluid; a peristaltic pump system that draws the sample fluid through the interrogation zone; and a processor that monitors a measured volume of sample fluid sampled by the peristaltic pump system and an expected sample volume based on data generated by the analysis of the sample fluid. A system and method is additionally described using an alternative volume sensing fluidic system.

1 . A fluidic system of a flow cytometer system for drawing a sample fluid, the fluidic system comprising:
 a peristaltic pump configured to draw the sample fluid; and   a pulsation attenuator in fluid communication with the peristaltic pump system, wherein the pulsation attenuator is configured to attenuate pulsations with a shallow rolloff slope and to attenuate pulsations above a cutoff frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The fluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the cutoff frequency of the pulsation attenuator is less than or equal to 10 Hz. 
     
     
         3 . The fluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulsation attenuator comprises a first fluidic resistor and a first fluidic capacitor. 
     
     
         4 . The fluidic system of  claim 3 , wherein the cutoff frequency of the pulsation attenuator is less than or equal to 10 Hz. 
     
     
         5 . The fluidic system of  claim 4 , wherein the first fluidic resistor is arranged between the peristaltic pump and the first fluidic capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The fluidic system of  claim 4 , wherein the first fluidic resistor comprises a serpentine-type fluidic resistor. 
     
     
         7 . The fluidic system of  claim 4 , wherein the first fluidic resistor comprises a ball-type fluidic resistor. 
     
     
         8 . The fluidic system of  claim 4 , wherein the first fluidic capacitor comprises a flexible tube-type fluidic capacitor. 
     
     
         9 . The fluidic system of  claim 4 , wherein first fluidic capacitor comprises a bellows-type fluidic capacitor. 
     
     
         10 . The fluidic system of  claim 2 , wherein the pulsation attenuator is configured to attenuate pulsations with a steep rolloff slope, wherein the steep rolloff slope is greater than 20 dB/decade. 
     
     
         11 . The fluidic system of  claim 3 , wherein the pulsation attenuator further comprises a second fluidic resistor and a second fluidic capacitor. 
     
     
         12 . The fluidic system of  claim 11 , wherein the first fluidic resistor and capacitor and the second fluidic resistor and capacitor cooperatively attenuate pulsations with a steep rolloff slope. 
     
     
         13 . A fluidic system of a flow cytometer for drawing a sample fluid, the fluidic system comprising:
 a fluidic channel;   a pump configured to draw the sample fluid and coupled to a first region of the fluidic channel; and   a pulsation attenuator coupled to a second region of the fluidic channel, wherein the pulsation attenuator is configured to attenuate pulsations with a shallow rolloff slope and comprises a first fluidic resistor coupled to a first fluidic capacitor.   
     
     
         14 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the pulsation attenuator attenuates pulsations with a rolloff slope greater than or equal to 20 dB/decade. 
     
     
         15 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         16 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fluidic resistor is arranged between the pump and the first fluidic capacitor, such that the first fluidic capacitor is downstream of the fluidic resistor. 
     
     
         17 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fluidic resistor is a channel-type fluidic resistor, and wherein the first fluidic capacitor is a bellows-type fluidic capacitor. 
     
     
         18 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the pulsation attenuator has a cutoff frequency of up to 10 Hz. 
     
     
         19 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fluidic resistor is a serpentine-type fluidic resistor. 
     
     
         20 . The fluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fluidic capacitor comprises a bellows-type fluidic capacitor omitting a diaphragm.