Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer readable media for acoustic flow cytometry

Abstract

A flow cytometer includes a capillary having a sample channel; at least one vibration producing transducer coupled to the capillary, the at least one vibration producing transducer being configured to produce an acoustic signal inducing acoustic radiation pressure within the sample channel to acoustically concentrate particles flowing within a fluid sample stream in the sample channel; and an interrogation source having a violet laser and a blue laser, the violet and blue lasers being configured to interact with at least some of the acoustically concentrated particles to produce an output signal.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 266,907, filed December 4, 2009, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 303,938, filed February 12, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 303,938, filed June 28, 2010 The priority of application Ser. No. 61 / 359,310, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present application relates generally to flow cytometry, and more particularly to devices, systems, methods and computer readable media for detecting rare events using acoustic flow cytometry. Background technique [0004] In traditional flow cytometry, the sample fluid is focused to approximately 10-50 μm by flowing the sheath fluid around the sample fluid at a very high volumetric flow rate (approximately 100-1000 times that of the sample fluid). Small core diameter. Particles in the sample fluid flow at extremely fast linear velocities (...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Second, the particle cannot remain at the interrogation point due to loss of focus in the absence of sheath fluid

Again, short transit times limit sensitivity and resolution, which makes detection of rare events difficult and time-consuming

[0005] Previous attempts to address these shortcomings have been unsatisfactory

It is possible to increase the particle concentration in the sample fluid to compensate for some of these disadvantages, but this may not always be feasible and may be costly

Likewise, the photon flux at the interrogation site can be increased to extract more signal, but this may often photobleach (i.e., excite to a non-radiative state) the fluorophore used to generate the signal and may increase background Rayleigh scattering, pulling Mann scattering and fluorescence

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