Automated set-up for cell sorting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9726527-B2
Application number	US-201615157273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	Apr 12, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described for automatically performing set-up steps for flow cytometry operations. The invention provides for the spatial determination of a flow stream and the subsequent automatic alignment of analysis devices and/or collection vessels. The automatic determination of flow stream properties provides for the automatic configuration flow cytometer parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
capturing one or more images of a flow cytometer flow path in a detection field;
determining that a flow stream is not present in the flow path in the captured image;
assessing parameters of the flow cytometer inputted by a user that comprises a data signal that the flow stream is expected to be not present in the captured image; and
generating an alert indicating in the case wherein the expected parameter inputted by the user and the captured image do not match.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the the one or more images are captured with a CCD camera.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detection field comprises flow stream upstream from the flow stream break-off point.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the flow stream in the detection field stream is continuous.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising storing the generated alert in a data storage unit.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending the generated alert to a remote location.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the method comprises sending the generated alert to a handheld device.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the handheld device is a smart phone.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter inputted by the user comprises a data signal that the flow stream is directed to a waste receptacle without forming a flow stream in the detection field.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a clogged nozzle does not generate an alert to the user.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises flowing a fluidic sample through a flow nozzle of the flow cytometer.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in a system comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising,
instructions for capturing one or more images of a flow cytometer flow stream in a detection field;
an algorithm for determining the presence or absence of the flow stream in the captured image;
an algorithm for assessing a parameter of the flow cytometer inputted by a user that comprises a data signal that the flow stream is expected to be absent in the captured image; and
instructions for generating an alert indicating in the case wherein the parameter inputted by the user and the captured image do not match.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Norton Pierce O
• Azersky Vladimir

Classifications

• G05D7/0617

  specially adapted for fluid materials · CPC title

• G01N15/14

  Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry · CPC title

• G06T7/0012

  Biomedical image inspection · CPC title

• G01N15/1459

  the analysis being performed on a sample stream · CPC title

• G01N2015/1006

  for cytology · CPC title