Beckman Coulter Navios, Instructions For Use Manual

Page: 55 / 586

773232AH
3-1
CHAPTER 3
Operation Principles
What This Chapter Explains
This chapter explains how the Cytometer measures scattered light and fluorescence as cells pass
through the laser beam.
The illustrations in this chapter are not exact representations of the inside of the Cytometer. They
are for explanatory purposes only.
Sample Flow
CAUTION
Possible flow cell damage. To avoid clogging the sample probe, sample tubing or
flow cell, ensure that 12 x 75 mm test tubes are free of debris before you use
them.
Sample Loading
The sample carousel has bar-code labels that identify the carousel and the tube position number.
Also, you can put bar-code labels on the sample tubes. See
Bar-code Specifications
The MCL has a bar-code reader that reads the carousel number, the sample tube position, and the
sample tube bar-code labels as the carousel rotates. The MCL handles a sample tube as follows:
•
It lifts the tube out of the carousel into a centering cup.
•
It moves the bottom of the tube in a circular orbit to mix the sample.
•
It lowers its sample probe into the tube and the tube is pressurized. Sample flow begins.
The sample probe is cleaned automatically when sample flow ends.
Hydrodynamic Focusing
The instrument uses a process called hydrodynamic focusing to ensure that the cells move through
the laser beam one at a time, along the same path through the flow cell.