Nozzle sealing and unclog station for a flow cytometer
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.
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.