Patent ID: 8664006

Claim:
A nozzle system for use in a flow cytometer for analyzing particles in a fluid stream, said fluid stream comprising a sheath stream surrounding a core stream containing said particles, said nozzle system comprising: a nozzle having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface defining a flow path for said fluid stream, and an orifice at a downstream end of the nozzle for exit of the fluid stream from the nozzle, said interior surface being shaped to define at least one torsional zone comprising an axially tapered region having a generally elliptical cross section for orienting said particles in a desired orientation as the fluid stream flows through the torsional zone toward the orifice; a conduit from a particle source to the nozzle, said conduit being positioned to introduce said core stream into the nozzle at a location that is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle; and a baffle located downstream of the conduit and upstream of the orifice to deflect the fluid stream as is moves along the flow path.