Flow cytometer system including flow cytometer, autosampler and system integration structure

Abstract

A flow cytometer system includes a flow cytometer, an autosampler and a system integration structure to accommodate interconnection and interface of the flow cytometer and autosampler for operation together and providing for convenient interface with equipment for handling process liquids.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow cytometer system, comprising:
 a flow cytometer with a sample inlet for receiving a sample fluid for flow cytometry analysis of the sample fluid for particles within the sample fluid;   an autosampler in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the flow cytometer and operative to automatically provide a series of batches of sample fluid to the flow cytometer for flow cytometry analysis;   a system integration structure, comprising:
 an upper shelf disposed above the autosampler and on which the flow cytometer is supported above the autosampler; 
 a container rack comprising a plurality of container receptacles to receive a corresponding plurality of process liquid containers to provide a source of process liquid to and receive used process liquid from operations of the flow cytometer and autosampler; 
 a routing channel to route fluid conduits from process liquid containers toward the flow cytometer and the autosampler when the liquid containers are received in the container rack. 
   
     
     
         2 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 1 , comprising a support member supporting the upper shelf, wherein the routing channel passes through the support member. 
     
     
         3 . A flow cytometer recording to  claim 2 , wherein the support member includes at least one access opening through a side wall of the support member to provide access for routing the fluid conduits from outside of the support member to the routing channel in the support member. 
     
     
         4 . The flow cytometer system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one access opening is located at a vertically elevated position relative to the receptacles of the container rack. 
     
     
         5 . A flow cytometer system according to either one of  claim 3  or  claim 4 , wherein the at least one access opening includes a plurality of holes through the side wall of the support member. 
     
     
         6 . A flow cytometer according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of holes includes a number of the holes that is at least equal to a number of the receptacles of the container rack. 
     
     
         7 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 6 , wherein the container rack includes at least four of the receptacles and the at least one opening includes at least six of the holes. 
     
     
         8 . A flow cytometer according to any one of  claims 3 - 7 , wherein:
 the routing channel extends from the at least one access opening in a upward direction through the support member for routing of one or more of the fluid conduits to the flow cytometer located at a higher elevation than the at least one opening; and   the routing channel extends from the at least one access opening in a downward direction through the support member for routing one or more of the fluid conduits to the autosampler.   
     
     
         9 . The flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 3 - 8 , wherein the routing channel is open to an opening through the upper shelf that provides for routing one or more of the fluid conduits from the routing channel below the upper shelf to the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         10 . The flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 3 - 9 , wherein:
 the system integration structure comprises a lower shelf on which is supported the autosampler; and   the routing channel extends downward to a space located below the lower shelf for routing one or more of the fluid conduits under the lower shelf directed to the autosampler.   
     
     
         11 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 10 , wherein the support member extends from the lower shelf to the upper shelf. 
     
     
         12 . A flow cytometer system according to either one of  claim 10  or  claim 11 , wherein:
 the support member is a first support member and the system integration structure comprises a second support member; and 
 wherein at least a portion of the autosampler is disposed on the lower shelf between the first support member and the second support member. 
 
     
     
         13 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 12 , wherein the lower shelf has a front edge and a back edge;
 the autosampler has a side access between the front edge and the back edge of the lower shelf; and   neither the first support member nor the second support member is disposed opposite the side access.   
     
     
         14 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 13 , the autosampler has a front and a back corresponding to front and a back of the system integration structure and the system integration structure is open to the front and the back between the first and second support members to provide access to the front and the back of the autosampler. 
     
     
         15 . The flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 1 - 14 , wherein:
 the upper shelf has a passage therethrough providing access from below the upper shelf to above the upper shelf; and   fluid communication between the autosampler and the sample inlet of the flow cytometer comprises a sample feed conduit extending through the passage.   
     
     
         16 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 15 , wherein the system integration structure comprises a riser extending above the upper shelf and having an internal passage into which the passage through the upper shelf opens; and
 the fluid inlet of the flow cytometer is disposed within the internal passage of the riser and the sample feed conduit extends into the internal passage of the riser to fluidly connect with the fluid inlet within the riser.   
     
     
         17 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 1 - 16 , wherein the flow cytometer comprises a plurality of feet and the upper shelf comprises a corresponding plurality of registration recesses into which the feet are received to keep the flow cytometer from moving laterally on the upper shelf. 
     
     
         18 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 1 - 17 , wherein the upper shelf has a fluid containment lip extending substantially entirely around the perimeter of the flow cytometer for liquid containment. 
     
     
         19 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 1 - 18 , wherein the receptacles of the container rack have circular cross-sections to accept process liquid containers of corresponding circular cross-section. 
     
     
         20 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 1 - 19 , comprising a plurality of the process liquid containers received within the receptacles of the container rack and the fluid conduits in fluid communication with the process liquid containers; and
 wherein each said process fluid container is in fluid communication with the flow cytometer or the autosampler through a said fluid conduit routed through the routing channel.   
     
     
         21 . A flow system according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 at least a first said process liquid container contains a sheath fluid and the first process liquid container is in fluid communication through a first said fluid conduit with the flow cytometer to provide sheath fluid to the flow cytometer through the first said fluid conduit; and   the first process liquid container is in fluid communication with a gas conduit that is in fluid communication with a source of compressed gas to pressurize the first process liquid container to drive sheath fluid flow from the first process liquid container through the first said fluid conduit to the flow cytometer.   
     
     
         22 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 21 , wherein the compressed gas source is in fluid communication with the first process liquid container through the flow cytometer and the gas conduit, and wherein the gas conduit is routed through the routing channel. 
     
     
         23 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 20 , wherein at least two of the received process liquid containers are each in fluid communication with at least two said fluid conduits, wherein one of said fluid conduits to a said process liquid container provides liquid from the said process liquid container to the flow cytometer or the autosampler and another of said fluid conduits provides compressed gas to the said process liquid container from the flow cytometer to pressurize the said process liquid container. 
     
     
         24 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 20 - 23 , wherein at least one of the received process liquid containers is in fluid communication with the flow cytometer to receive waste liquid from the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         25 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 1 - 24 , wherein the system integration structure has a first plurality of feet of an elastomeric material on which the system integration structure is supported and the flow cytometer has a second plurality of feet comprising an elastomeric material on which the flow cytometer is supported on the upper shelf, to provide for motion dampening to the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         26 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one access opening into the routing channel to provide access for routing the fluid conduits from outside of the routing channel to inside the routing channel, and wherein:
 the routing channel extends from the at least one access opening in a upward direction for routing of one or more of the fluid conduits to the flow cytometer located at a higher elevation than the at least one opening;   the routing channel extends from the at least one access opening in a downward direction for routing one or more of the fluid conduits to the autosampler; and   the at least one access opening is located at a vertically elevated position relative to the receptacles of the container rack.   
     
     
         27 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 26 , comprising a plurality of the process liquid containers received within the receptacles of the container rack and the fluid conduits in fluid communication with the process liquid containers; and
 wherein each said process fluid container is in fluid communication with the flow cytometer or the autosampler through a said fluid conduit routed through the routing channel.   
     
     
         28 . A flow system according to  claim 27 , wherein:
 at least a first said process liquid container contains a sheath fluid and the first process liquid container is in fluid communication through a first said fluid conduit with the flow cytometer to provide sheath fluid to the flow cytometer through the first said fluid conduit;   the first process liquid container is in fluid communication with a gas conduit that is in fluid communication with a source of compressed gas to pressurize the first process liquid container to drive sheath fluid flow from the first process liquid container through the first said fluid conduit to the flow cytometer; and   the compressed gas source is in fluid communication with the first process liquid container through the flow cytometer and the gas conduit, and wherein the gas conduit is routed through the routing channel.   
     
     
         29 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 28 , wherein at least a second said received process liquid container is in fluid communication with the flow cytometer to receive waste liquid from the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         30 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 29 , wherein the container rack includes at least four of the receptacles and the at least one access opening includes at least six holes. 
     
     
         31 . A flow system according to  claim 27 , wherein at least two of the received process liquid containers are each in fluid communication with at least two said fluid conduits, wherein one of said fluid conduits to a said process liquid container provides liquid from the said process liquid container to the flow cytometer or the autosampler and another of said fluid conduits provides compressed gas to the said process liquid container from the flow cytometer to pressurize the said process liquid container. 
     
     
         32 . A flow system according to any one of  claims 26 - 31 , comprising a support member supporting the upper shelf, wherein the routing channel passes through the support member, wherein the at least one access opening is through a side wall of the support member to provide access for routing the fluid conduits from outside of the support member to the routing channel in the support member. 
     
     
         33 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 26 - 31 , wherein the routing channel is open to an opening through the upper shelf that provides for routing one or more of the fluid conduits from the routing channel below the upper shelf to the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         34 . A flow system according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 the system integration structure comprises a lower shelf on which is supported the autosampler; and   the routing channel extends downward to a space located below the lower shelf for routing one or more of the fluid conduits under the lower shelf directed to the autosampler.   
     
     
         35 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 34 , wherein the support member extends from the lower shelf to the upper shelf. 
     
     
         36 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 the upper shelf has a passage therethrough providing access from below the upper shelf to above the upper shelf; and   fluid communication between the autosampler and the sample inlet of the flow cytometer comprises a sample feed conduit extending through the passage.   
     
     
         37 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 36 , wherein the system integration structure comprises a riser extending above the upper shelf and having an internal passage into which the passage through the upper shelf opens; and
 the fluid inlet of the flow cytometer is disposed within the internal passage of the riser and the sample feed conduit extends into the internal passage of the riser to fluidly connect with the fluid inlet within the riser.   
     
     
         38 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 26 - 31 , wherein the system integration structure has a first plurality of feet of an elastomeric material on which the system integration structure is supported and the flow cytometer has a second plurality of feet comprising an elastomeric material on which the flow cytometer is supported on the upper shelf, to provide for motion dampening to the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         39 . A flow cytometer system according to  claim 38 , wherein the upper shelf comprises a plurality of registration recesses into which the first plurality of feet are received to keep the flow cytometer from moving laterally on the upper shelf. 
     
     
         40 . A flow cytometer system according to any one of  claims 26 - 31 , wherein the upper shelf has a fluid containment lip extending substantially entirely around the perimeter of the flow cytometer for liquid containment on the upper shelf.