BD FACSFlow Supply System User’s Guide
12
Principles of operation
Introduction
This topic describes the principles of operation for the system.
Overview
The BD FACSFlow supply system manages sheath and waste fluid
levels for the cytometer.
Sheath fluid is pumped from a 20-L cubitainer, so there is no need
to refill the sheath plenum. Waste from the cytometer is collected
into an empty 20-L cubitainer, so waste has to be emptied less
often.
Sheath plenum
A 4-liter sheath plenum is added to the system. The cap on the
plenum has tubing and probes with a fluid level sensor that extends
into the plenum.
When the probe in the sheath plenum detects a specified low level,
it signals the BD FACSFlow supply system to pump sheath fluid
from the 20-L cubitainer to the sheath plenum.
Sheath and waste
cubitainers
The BD FACSFlow supply system unit houses the 20-L sheath fluid
and waste cubitainers. The cubitainer caps have probes with fluid
level sensors and tubing that extend into the cubitainers. The
BD FACSFlow supply system sounds an alarm, and a visual alarm
on the control panel illuminates, when the following occurs:
•
The probe in the sheath fluid cubitainer detects a specified low
level of sheath fluid.
•
The probe in the waste cubitainer detects a specified high level
of waste.