Flow cytometry has found application in cell analysis across a wide range of scientific fields. Now, small-footprint, easy-to-use instruments are able to offer the very highest levels of performance, as Danny Köhler explains.
Flow cytometry has proved to be a valuable tool for cellular analysis in many fields of application. However, the operation of a flow cytometer has commonly meant that highly qualified operators have had to handle large instruments of high financial value. Consequently, the operation of such sophisticated pieces of equipment has, in some cases, been restricted to core facilities, and therefore this could result in limited access for everyday users.
The concept of the new CyFlow Cube device (Fig 1) aimed to address this restriction. The goal was to produce an easy-to-operate instrument that could be used in any laboratory and one that offered superior technical specifications and sensitivities. The CyFlow Cube is designed to support applications in, for example, immunology, microbiology, industry, agroscience and aquaculture. The CyFlow Cube also provides a cell sorting function (Figs 2 and 3). The main design concepts include:
* compactness of the instrument, making it a truly standalone device
* fully integrated computer, monitor, fluidics and liquid containers.
Optical arrangements include:
* solid-state or diode lasers for high stability and accuracy at the smallest dimension
* large number of selectable laser light sources plus ultraviolet-light emitting diode (UV-LED)
* user-adjustable beam stop for adaption of forward scatter channel (FSC) signals for small particle analysis.
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