Patent ID: 8691164

Claim:
A cell sorter comprising: a cell inlet adapted to receive one or more cells in a fluidic medium; first and second buffer inlets fluidically coupled to the cell inlet to provide buffer solution to the sorter, a main fluidic channel fluidically coupled to the cell inlet and the first and second buffer inlets, a first lateral flow channel fluidically coupled to the main fluidic channel, the first lateral flow channel positioned downstream of the first and second fluid buffer inlets, a second lateral flow channel fluidically coupled to the main fluidic channel, the second lateral flow channel positioned downstream of the first and second fluid buffer inlets, first and second outputs fluidically coupled to the main fluidic channel, the outputs being located downstream of the first and second lateral flow channels, a detector adapted to detect cells of a given state and to generate a signal in response thereto, the detector positioned to detect cells at a position upstream of the first and second lateral flow channels, a pneumatic lateral force switch coupled to the detector and the first and second lateral flow channels, and actuatable in response to the signal to generate a pressure pulse to cause fluid to move within the first and second lateral flow channels, the pneumatic lateral force switch comprising: a first pneumatic valve connected to the first lateral flow channel, a second pneumatic valve connected to the second lateral flow channel, a control system configured to output timed control signals to actuate both the first and second pneumatic valves in a sequential manner characterized in that the first pneumatic valve is closed after the second pneumatic valve is opened and prior to the second valve closing, whereby in response to the signal to generate the pressure pulse, the pneumatic lateral force switch is activated to provide a lateral force on the cell so as to move the cell such that it selectively exits into the first or second outputs.