BIO RAD ZE5, User Manual

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Fluidics System
To illuminate the sample area, press and hold the silver sample chamber button or click the Sample
Chamber Light button in the Instrument Tools dropdown located in the System section of the Everest
toolbar.
For more information about loading samples, see Chapter 3, ZE5 Loader .
Caution: In addition to the loader door, there are two doors (filter access and bulk
fluidics access) that require access on a regular basis. Use caution when opening
and closing these doors and mechanisms to avoid pinching.
Flow Cell
The flow cell is the heart of the system and is where sample interrogation occurs. It is composed of
fused silica that surrounds a 145 x 265 µm channel through which sheath fluid flows and focuses the
sample fluid.
Sample is drawn up into the sample line by the sample pump and is introduced into the flow cell
through a sample introduction needle. Sheath fluid is introduced under pressure in an upward vertical
flow at 10 psi(~8 m/sec). The faster flow of sheath fluid around the sample hydrodynamically focuses
the sample into a narrow-diameter core stream. This allows cells to pass through at a high rate while
maintaining the integrity of single-file particle flow through up to five spatially separated laser
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