Smart flow cytometers with self monitoring fluidics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12366516-B2
Application number	US-202418420186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2024
Priority date	Aug 10, 2018
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A smart flow cytometer is disclosed including a plurality of tanks holding fluids for operation of a flow cytometer; a plurality of level sensors respectively coupled to the plurality of tanks; a plurality of valves coupled to one or more tubes for operation of the flow cytometer; one or more flow sensors coupled to the one or more tubes for monitoring flow rates; and a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of level sensors and the one or more flow sensors. The microcontroller constantly monitors fluid levels of the plurality of tanks to detect when to refill a fluid in a first tank before the first tank is completely empty and to detect when to empty a second tank before the second tank becomes completely filled with a waste fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart flow cytometer comprising:
a plurality of tanks holding fluids for operation of a flow cytometer;
a plurality of level sensors respectively coupled to the plurality of tanks;
a plurality of valves coupled to one or more tubes for operation of the flow cytometer;
one or more flow sensors coupled to the one or more tubes for monitoring flow rates;
a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of level sensors and the one or more flow sensors, the microcontroller to constantly monitor fluid levels of the plurality of tanks to detect when to refill a fluid in a first tank before the first tank is completely empty and to detect when to empty a second tank before the second tank becomes completely filled with a waste fluid;
wherein the microcontroller to alert a user to perform maintenance before the first tank is completely empty; and
wherein the microcontroller to alert the user to perform maintenance before the second tank is completely full.

2. The smart flow cytometer of claim 1 , wherein:
the microcontroller to constantly monitor flow rates in the one or more tubes to detect a start of valve failure of a valve of the plurality of valves before a complete valve failure of the valve; and
the microcontroller to constantly monitor flow rates in the one or more tubes to detect a start of a clog before a complete blockage.

3. The smart flow cytometer of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more pressure sensors coupled to the one or more tubes for monitoring pressure;
wherein the microcontroller is further coupled to the one or more pressure sensors to detect a changing pressure over dates and time that can indicate a failing valve or a failing pump.

4. The smart flow cytometer of claim 3 , wherein
a decreasing positive pressure measured over date-time measured by a pressure sensor can indicate a failing valve to open to maintain fluid flow, or a failing pump to maintain fluid pressure so the fluid can flow.

5. The smart flow cytometer of claim 3 , wherein
an increasing vacuum measured over date-time by a pressure sensor measuring a vacuum can indicate a failing valve to open and maintain the vacuum, or a failing vacuum pump to maintain the near zero pressure.

6. A method for a smart flow cytometer, the method comprising:
constantly monitoring fluid levels of a plurality of tanks holding fluids for operation of a flow cytometer;
constantly monitoring flow rates in one or more tubes for operation of the flow cytometer;
detecting a low fluid level in a first tank before being empty; and
sending an alert to a user to perform maintenance on the flow cytometer to refill the first tank with a fluid before the first tank is empty.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
detecting a high fluid level in a second tank before being full; and
sending an alert to a user to perform maintenance on the flow cytometer to empty the second tank before the second tank is full.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
detecting a start of valve failure of a valve coupled to the one or more tubes before complete valve failure; and
sending an alert to a user to perform maintenance on the flow cytometer to repair or replace the valve.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
detecting a start of a clog in one tube of the one or more tubes before a complete blockage; and
sending an alert to a user to perform maintenance on the flow cytometer to remove the clog or replace the one tube of the one or more tubes.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting the start of valve failure includes
constantly monitoring pressure of one or more pressure sensors coupled to the one or more tubes over dates and time, and
detecting a changing pressure in at least one pressure sensor over dates and time.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein
the changing pressure is a decreasing positive pressure measured over date-time by the at least one pressure sensor that indicates a failing valve to open to maintain fluid flow.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein
the changing pressure is an increasing vacuum measured over date-time by the at least one pressure sensor measuring a vacuum that indicates a failing valve to open to maintain the vacuum.

Assignees

• Cytek Biosciences Inc

Inventors

• Jiang Janine
• Vrane David

Classifications

• G01N15/1434

  Optical arrangements · CPC title

• G01N15/1425

  using an analyser being characterised by its control arrangement · CPC title

• G01N2015/1438

  Using two lasers in succession · CPC title

• G01N35/00623

  of instruments · CPC title

• G01N15/1459

  the analysis being performed on a sample stream · CPC title