Patent ID: 7355696
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: C12M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A flow apparatus for orienting, examining and selectively operating on cells comprising: a flow chamber having confronting walls and an input region, a detector region, and a selective operation region; wherein said flow chamber includes a plurality of inlets into said input region, each of said inlets adapted to receive an input stream of fluid; wherein said input streams of fluid are one of an input sheath fluid or an input sample fluid containing cells to be processed; wherein said input sample fluid is in a contiguous relationship on all available sides with said input sheath fluid from at least said input region through to said selective operation region; wherein at least one of flow rates or pressures of said input sheath fluids are chosen such that said input sample fluid is constricted in two orthogonal directions, thereby allowing said input sample fluid to form a relatively narrow stream in at least the detector region, thereby causing the cells to be flattened and aligned such that flat sides of the cells are oriented parallel to the confronting walls; a sorter disposed in said selective operation region, which varies flow rates of the cells in order to sort desired cells from the stream; and a plurality of spaced apart regions or channels at least one of which receives the desired cells.