US-12625052-B2 - Nozzle sealing and unclog station for a flow cytometer

US12625052B2US 12625052 B2US12625052 B2US 12625052B2US-12625052-B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for use in a flow cytometer for unclogging obstructions in a nozzle from salt crystal formations and clumps of cells or debris. A nozzle system is moved to a docking station so that a nozzle tip is seated in the docking station. Deionized water is pushed through the nozzle in a reverse direction to a waste port so that the nozzle is flushed. The nozzle system can remain in the docked position during nonuse so that salt crystals do not form in or on the nozzle.

Inventors

Daniel N Fox
Nathan M Fox
Rodney C Harris

Assignees

Life Technologies Corporation

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210519

Claims (7)

1 . A method of unclogging a flow cytometer, comprising: converting the flow cytometer from an operating state to a docking state such that in the docking state, a nozzle system of the flow cytometer is aligned with a docking station, the converting being effected by relative motion between the nozzle system and the docking position, the docking state being such that a nozzle tip of the nozzle system engages with a tip sealing cup of the docking station so as to form a seal between the tip sealing cup and the nozzle tip, the nozzle tip being in fluid communication with at least one fluid pathway of the nozzle system; with a rinse fluid pump, communicating a rinse fluid from said docking station to the nozzle tip so as to flush the nozzle tip and at least a portion of the at least one fluid pathway.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining said nozzle system in said docking state until operation of said flow cytometer is initiated.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting the flow cytometer from the docking state to the operating state, the conversion being effected in an automated fashion.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting at least one signal related to a fluid exiting the nozzle tip of the nozzle system when the flow cytometer is in the operating state, the signal is indicative of an amplitude of fluid droplets, a direction of fluid flow, or any combination thereof.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the converting the system from the operating state to the docking state is in response to the at least one signal.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising (a) closing a sheath fluid supply valve in fluid communication with the nozzle tip, (b) closing a waste valve in fluid communication with the nozzle tip, the waste valve being configured to permit passage therethrough of rinse fluid communicated from the docking station to the nozzle tip, or (c) both (a) and (b); and a. determining whether rinse fluid communicated from the docking station is leaking from the seal between the tip sealing cup and the nozzle tip.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining comprises detecting whether the rinse fluid pump pumps the rinse fluid or detecting a pressure of the rinse fluid.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application No. 63/027,016, “Nozzle Sealing And Unclog Station For Flow Cytometry” (filed May 19, 2020) and U.S. patent application No. 63/184,998, “Nozzle Sealing And Unclog Station For Flow Cytometry” (filed May 6, 2021), the entireties of which foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference for any and all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of flow cytometers and to the field of fluidic washing systems. BACKGROUND Flow cytometers are important tools for both sorting and analyzing cells, and are useful in providing important information regarding cells and also in providing sorted cells for various purposes. Flow cytometers operate using various working fluids, including sheath fluids and other carrier fluids. These working fluids can, under certain conditions, evaporate leave behind material (e.g., salts) that in turn inhibit the flow cytometer's performance and require removal. To date, a number of attempts have been made to prevent clogs from forming on or in the nozzle. For example, disposable nozzles have been made so that nozzle can be replaced each time the system is used. This approach, however, results in significant cost to the user and also requires the operator to replace the tip each time the flow cytometer is used. Other approaches—such as requiring the operator to manually remove the nozzle tip after each use for cleaning—similarly time-consuming, cutting into operator time and creating downtime for the flow cytometer system. Accordingly, there is a long-felt need in the field for systems and methods for unclogging flow cytometers and other fluidic systems. SUMMARY The present invention may therefore comprise a method of unclogging and sealing a nozzle in a flow cytometer comprising: moving a nozzle system of the flow cytometer from an operating position that is aligned with a docking station; lowering the nozzle system to a docking position on a docking station so that a nozzle tip of the nozzle system is inserted into a tip sealing cup of the docking station to form a seal between the tip sealing cup and the nozzle tip; pumping rinse fluid from the docking station through the nozzle tip and to a waste port to unclog obstructions present in the nozzle system and flush sheath fluid from the nozzle system; holding the nozzle system in the docking position until operation of the flow cytometer is initiated. The present invention may further comprise a system for unclogging and sealing a nozzle in a flow cytometer comprising: a nozzle system comprising a nozzle that creates a stream of sheath fluid that flows through a nozzle tip; a sheath supply port that provides a supply of pressurized sheath fluid to the nozzle; a sheath supply valve that opens and closes the sheath supply port to the nozzle; a waste disposed port that provides access to a disposal of waste fluids; a waste valve that opens and closes the waste disposal port; a docking station comprising: a rinse fluid supply that has a predetermined pressure; a tip sealing cup coupled to the rinse fluid supply; a nozzle mover coupled to the nozzle system that moves the nozzle system from an operating position to a docking position where the nozzle tip is inserted into the tip sealing cup so that the rinse fluid supply can be flushed through the nozzle to the waste disposal port when the waste valve is closed. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of unclogging a flow cytometer, comprising: converting the flow cytometer from an operating state to a docking state such that in the docking state, a nozzle system of the flow cytometer is aligned with a docking station, the converting being effected by relative motion between the nozzle system and the docking position, the docking state being such that a nozzle tip of the nozzle system engages with a tip sealing cup of the docking station so as to form a seal between the tip sealing cup and the nozzle tip, the nozzle tip being in fluid communication with at least one fluid pathway of the nozzle system; with a rinse fluid pump, communicating a rinse fluid from said docking station to the nozzle tip so as to flush the nozzle tip and at least a portion of the at least one fluid pathway. Also provided are flow cytometer systems, comprising: a nozzle system comprising a nozzle tip and a sheath fluid conduit, the nozzle tip configured to communicate a sheath fluid therethrough and the nozzle tip being in communication with the sheath fluid conduit; a sheath supply valve configured to interrupt fluid communication between the nozzle tip and a supply of sheath fluid; a waste disposal port in fluid communication with the nozzle tip; a waste valve configured to interrupt fluid communication between the nozzle tip and the waste disposal port; a docking station, comprising: a rinse fluid conduit; a tip sealing cup, and a rinse flui