PipeCyte: An instrument to continuously and autonomously measure algal cells

PipeCyte：连续、自主测量藻类细胞的仪器

• 批准号: 1536120
• 负责人: Virginia Armbrust
• 金额: $ 92.28万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-09-15 至 2020-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1536120&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PipeCyte; instrument; continuously; autonomously; measure

Microscopic phytoplankton generate about half the oxygen produced on the planet each year. Flow cytometers are essential oceanographic instruments that rapidly and accurately measure the abundance, size and fluorescent characteristics of individual phytoplankton cells. The goal of this project is to develop a miniaturized, low-power, continuous flow cytometer that operates underwater. The targeted deployment platform is a standard ship-deployed water sampler (CTD rosette), although design features will ultimately allow installation into a variety of other oceanographic underwater instruments. Named PipeCyte, this cytometer will continuously measure abundance, cell size and fluorescence characteristics of phytoplankton cells (0.5-20 µm) during the down- and up-casts of the CTD and will transmit data in real time to CTD operators. PipeCyte will radically alter the view of the lit portion of the ocean currently afforded with CTD-based measures of chlorophyll fluorescence ? in addition to chlorophyll fluorescence peaks, operators will see the abundance of different types of phytoplankton within the peaks. Development of underway instrumentation that maps microbial distributions in real time is essential for understanding biogeochemical and ecological processes in the ocean. The instrument proposed here will provide an unprecedented view of the relation between environmental features and phytoplankton communities in the ocean.Current underwater flow cytometer systems depend on a supply of clean water for instrument operation and are vulnerable to clogging and biofouling. PipeCyte relies upon an optical technology that enables direct cytometric measurements on a flow of raw seawater. The primary optic (lens) is immersed in a large diameter flow of the sample fluid, sidestepping the usual clogging and maintenance issues associated with the small orifices present in all flow cytometers. This immersed primary optic can be easily cleaned or replaced. The design is robust, compact, and will consume 15 watts or less while under full operation. The instrument is designed to require no more maintenance than a standard fluorometer. Instrument development will be divided into three phases. First, the current PipeCyte prototype will be iterated in two more prototypes to optimize the sensitivity of the optical system by differing focal lengths. Second, power reduction and miniaturization will be achieved by transitioning from current SeaFlow data acquisition and control electronics to a microcontroller-based system. This design path will dramatically reduce the power consumption and dimensions of the instrument so it can fit within the target volume. Finally, in-lab validation against a benchmark flow cytometer system will be performed, followed by field-testing at sea.

微观浮游植物每年产生大约一半的氧气。流式细胞仪是必不可少的海洋学工具，可以快速，准确地测量单个浮游植物细胞的抽象，大小和荧光特征。该项目的目的是开发在水下运行的微型，低功率，连续的流式细胞仪。 The targeted deployment platform is a standard ship-deployed water sampler (CTD Although design features will ultimately allow installation into a variety of other oceanographic underwater instruments. Named PipeCyte, this cytometer will continue to measure abstraction, cell size and fluorescence characteristics of phytoplankton cells (0.5-20 µm) during the down- and up-casts of the CTD and will tr​​ansmit data in real time to CTD运营商将通过基于CTD的荧光峰来改变叶绿素荧光的措施。将提供对海洋中环境特征与浮游植物社区之间关系的前所未有的观点。电流的水下流式细胞仪系统取决于用于仪器操作的清洁水的供应，并且容易受到污染和生物污染的影响。管道依赖于一种光学技术，该光学技术可以在生海水流中进行直接的细胞量测量。将主要光学（镜头）浸入样品流体的大直径流中，避开了与所有流式细胞仪中存在的小孔相关的通常的杂物和维护问题。可以轻松清洁或更换这种沉浸的主视频。该设计是稳健，紧凑的，并且在全面操作中会消耗15瓦或更少。该仪器的设计无需维护比标准荧光计。仪器开发将分为三个阶段。首先，当前的管道原型将在另外两个原型中迭代，以通过区分焦距来优化光学系统的灵敏度。其次，通过从当前的海流数据采集和控制电子设备转换为基于微控制器的系统，将实现功率降低和微型化。该设计路径将大大降低仪器的功耗和尺寸，以便它适合目标体积。最后，将对基准流式细胞仪系统进行实验室验证，然后在海上进行现场测试。