Patent ID: 7160730

Claim:
A cell sorter comprising: a pulsed-mode precision microdisplacement pump coupled to a fluid inlet port, said pump causing fluid containing desired cells to enter said inlet port and stopping fluid flow when a particular cell is at a predetermined position; a cell detection system fluidly coupled to said inlet port, said cell detection system determining whether a particular cell stopped at said predetermined position is a desired cell; a sorting gate including a magnetostrictive actuator rod, said sorting gate having at least two states fluidly coupled to said cell detection system, said sorting gate allowing said desired cell to exit a cell collection port and allowing waste to exit a waste port in accordance with the determination of said cell detection system; a control unit connected to said pump, said cell detection system and said sorting gate for synchronizing discrete fluid microdisplacements by said pump with said cell detection system and magnetostrictive actuator of said sorting gate, said control unit processing information from said cell detection system and causing said pump to stop cells in said fluid at said predetermined position, causing said sorting gate to select said cell collection port when a cell is a desired cell, and then starting said pump to cause said desired cell to exit said cell collection port.