Patent ID: 11873475
Assignee: BIOLOOMICS, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC C  G | IPC C  G

Claim 0:
1. A cell sorter comprising:
a base configured to hold a cell culture plate containing a fluorescently labeled sample of cells;
a fluorescence imager configured to view the cell culture plate, through bottom of the cell culture plate, to capture one or more fluorescence images of the fluorescently labeled sample of cells; and
a cell extraction module configured to extract, from above the cell culture plate, a first cell selected from the sample of cells based on the one or more fluorescence images, the cell extraction module including:
a needle configured to hydraulically remove the first cell from the cell culture plate;
a first motorized translation stage, coupled to the needle via a low-friction mount, that translates the needle in a z-dimension to reach the first cell from above;
a second motorized translation stage that translates one of the needle and the cell culture plate in x- and y-dimensions, relative to the other one of the needle and the cell culture plate, to position the needle over the first cell; and
a sensor, coupled to the needle, and configured to be communicatively coupled to the first motorized translation stage to stop downward translation of the needle, by the first motorized translation stage, when the needle, according to the sensor, is (a) in a threshold degree of contact with at least one of the first cell and the cell culture plate or (b) at a threshold distance above at least one of the first cell and the cell culture plate,

the sensor being a mechanically activated electrical switch positioned above the needle such that, when an upward pressure on the needle exceeds friction of the low-friction mount during downward translation by the first motorized translation stage, the needle slides upwards relative to the first motorized translation stage and switches the electrical switch, which causes the downward translation to stop.