Thermo Fisher Invitrogen Bigfoot Full-Spectrum High-Speed Flow Cytometer
| Brand | Thermo Fisher |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shanghai, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Product Category | Domestic (PRC-manufactured) |
| Model | Invitrogen Bigfoot Full-Spectrum High-Speed Flow Cytometer |
| Pricing | Available Upon Request |
Overview
The Thermo Fisher Invitrogen Bigfoot Full-Spectrum High-Speed Flow Cytometer is a research-grade fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) engineered for high-throughput, high-parameter spectral cytometry and precision single-cell isolation. Leveraging full-spectrum detection architecture—rather than conventional bandpass-filter-based optics—the system captures the complete emission profile of each fluorophore across 60 photodetectors, enabling unmixing of highly overlapping spectra without traditional compensation. This spectral decomposition approach supports deep immunophenotyping, multi-omic integration (e.g., surface protein + intracellular cytokine + viability marker co-detection), and rare-event sorting with improved resolution and reproducibility. Designed by flow cytometry engineers with decades of cell sorting expertise, the Bigfoot platform integrates hydrodynamic focusing, real-time droplet charging, and piezoelectric deflection to achieve stable sorting at rates up to 70,000 events/sec while maintaining >99% purity and >95% recovery across diverse sample types—including primary human PBMCs, dissociated tumor tissue, stem cell suspensions, and CRISPR-edited clones.
Key Features
- Full-spectrum acquisition: Simultaneous detection across 60 channels using 9 individually configurable lasers (ranging from 355 nm to 640 nm), supporting up to 40+ parameter panels without spillover error accumulation.
- High-speed plate sorting: Automated 96-well plate sorting completed in ≤11 seconds; 384-well plate sorting in ≤20 seconds—enabled by synchronized stage motion, predictive droplet delay calibration, and adaptive nozzle alignment.
- Integrated biosafety design: Class II A2-certified laminar airflow cabinet with HEPA filtration, aerosol containment manifold, and motorized, height-adjustable operator interface window compliant with ISO 14644-1 cleanroom standards.
- Nozzle interchangeability: Quick-release nozzle assembly with auto-calibrating “Swap Tip Wizard”—detects new orifice size (70–130 µm), performs fluidic QC, and re-optimizes stream stability and drop delay within <60 seconds.
- Modular sample handling: Compatible with tube (12×75 mm, 15 mL, 50 mL), microplate (96/384-well), microscope slide, and genomic chip formats—supporting both bulk enrichment and true single-cell deposition (1 cell/well) with index sorting metadata.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The Bigfoot system accommodates suspension cells (mammalian, insect, yeast), fixed or live samples, and fragile populations such as primary Tregs, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and organoid-derived single-cell suspensions. All fluidic pathways are constructed from USP Class VI-certified biocompatible polymers; sheath and waste lines meet ISO 8573-1:2010 compressed air purity requirements. The instrument complies with IEC 61010-1 (safety of laboratory equipment), IEC 61326-1 (EMC), and FDA 21 CFR Part 11-ready audit trail functionality when paired with Thermo Fisher’s Sasquatch Software v3.2+. It is designated For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Software & Data Management
Sasquatch Software provides an integrated, wizard-driven environment for experimental setup, spectral unmixing, gating strategy development, and sort validation. Built-in tools include Spectral Compensation Matrix Builder, Auto-Panel Designer (with fluorochrome brightness ranking), and Index Sorting Metadata Export (CSV/JSON). All sorting sessions generate timestamped, user-annotated audit logs—including nozzle ID, pressure settings, voltage calibration history, and QC pass/fail status—meeting GLP/GMP documentation expectations. Raw FCS 3.1 files are natively supported; spectral data export includes unmixed intensity matrices compatible with FlowJo v20.0+, Cytobank, and R/Bioconductor packages (Cytofkit, spectre).
Applications
- Deep immune profiling of clinical trial samples (e.g., checkpoint inhibitor response biomarkers)
- Single-cell isolation for scRNA-seq library prep with viability and surface marker indexing
- Cell therapy manufacturing: CAR-T/Treg enrichment, off-target clone depletion, and vector copy number validation
- CRISPR screen hit validation via phenotypic sorting followed by NGS barcoding
- High-content cytotoxicity assays integrating Annexin V, caspase-3, and granzyme B kinetics
FAQ
Is the Bigfoot platform compatible with existing compensation-based panel designs?
Yes—Sasquatch Software supports legacy compensation matrix import and hybrid spectral-unmixing workflows, allowing gradual migration from conventional to full-spectrum analysis.
What biosafety certifications does the integrated cabinet hold?
The enclosure meets NSF/ANSI 49 Class II Type A2 performance criteria and is validated for containment of BSL-2 agents per CDC/NIH guidelines.
Can the system perform single-cell deposition with post-sort viability confirmation?
Yes—index sorting records every detected event’s full parameter set alongside deposition coordinates; optional on-instrument live/dead staining (e.g., DRAQ7™) enables real-time viability gating prior to deposition.
Is remote monitoring and troubleshooting supported?
Yes—via Thermo Fisher Connect cloud portal with role-based access control, real-time instrument health dashboard, and secure remote desktop support (ITAR-compliant encryption).
