FlowCyPy: Flow Cytometer Simulation Tool

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Overview

FlowCyPy is a robust Python package designed to simulate the behavior of a flow cytometer. By simulating realistic Forward Scatter (FSC) and Side Scatter (SSC) signals—complete with noise, baseline shifts, and signal saturation—FlowCyPy provides a detailed model of flow cytometry experiments. Ideal for researchers and engineers, it offers an intuitive and configurable platform for studying scattering phenomena and detector responses in flow cytometry setups.

Features

• Particle Event Simulation: Generate realistic FSC and SSC signals with configurable parameters.
• Noise & Baseline Shift Modeling: Add Gaussian noise and baseline shifts to simulate real-world experimental conditions.
• Signal Saturation: Simulate detector saturation to reflect real-life limitations.
• Signal Digitization: Discretize continuous signals into specified bins for deeper analysis.
• Advanced Plotting: Customize signal visualization with multi-channel plot support.
• Fully Configurable: Customize particle size distributions, flow parameters, and detector setups.

Installation

You can easily install FlowCyPy via pip:

pip install FlowCyPy

Requirements

FlowCyPy requires Python 3.10 or higher and the following dependencies:

• numpy
• scipy
• pint
• tabulate
• seaborn
• MPSPlots
• PyMieSim
• pydantic>=2.6.3

Quick Start Example

Below is an example of how to simulate particle events and generate flow cytometry signals using FlowCyPy:

import numpy as np
from FlowCyPy import FlowCytometer, Scatterer, Analyzer, Detector, Source, FlowCell
from FlowCyPy import distribution
from FlowCyPy import peak_finder
from FlowCyPy.units import particle, milliliter, nanometer, RIU, second, micrometer, millisecond, meter

np.random.seed(3)

flow_cell = FlowCell(
    flow_speed=7.56 * meter / second,
    flow_area=(10 * micrometer) ** 2,
    run_time=0.1 * millisecond
)

scatterer = Scatterer(medium_refractive_index=1.33 * RIU)

scatterer.add_population(
    name='EV',
    concentration=2e+9 * particle / milliliter / 10,
    size=distribution.RosinRammler(
        characteristic_size=50 * nanometer,
        spread=10.5
    ),
    refractive_index=distribution.Normal(
        mean=1.45 * RIU,
        std_dev=0.02 * RIU
    )
)

scatterer.initialize(flow_cell=flow_cell)

scatterer.print_properties()
scatterer.plot()

from FlowCyPy.units import milliwatt, AU
source = Source(
    numerical_aperture=0.3 * AU,
    wavelength=800 * nanometer,
    optical_power=100 * milliwatt
)

source.print_properties()  # Print the laser source properties

# Step 5: Configure Detectors
# Side scatter detector
from FlowCyPy.units import degree, watt, ampere, millivolt, ohm, kelvin, milliampere, megahertz
detector_0 = Detector(
    name='side',
    phi_angle=90 * degree,
    numerical_aperture=1.2 * AU,
    responsitivity=1 * ampere / watt,
    sampling_freq=60 * megahertz,
    saturation_level=1 * millivolt,
    n_bins='16bit',
    resistance=50 * ohm,
    dark_current=0.1 * milliampere,
    temperature=300 * kelvin
)

# Forward scatter detector
detector_1 = Detector(
    name='forward',
    phi_angle=0 * degree,
    numerical_aperture=1.2 * AU,
    responsitivity=1 * ampere / watt,
    sampling_freq=60 * megahertz,
    saturation_level=1 * millivolt,
    n_bins='16bit',
    resistance=50 * ohm,
    dark_current=0.1 * milliampere,
    temperature=300 * kelvin
)

detector_1.print_properties()

cytometer = FlowCytometer(
    coupling_mechanism='mie',
    source=source,
    scatterer=scatterer,
    detectors=[detector_0, detector_1]
)

cytometer.simulate_pulse()

cytometer.plot()

The plot produced will resemble the following:

Developer Guide

For developers or contributors who want to work on FlowCyPy, follow the steps below to install the package locally, run tests, and build the documentation.

### 1. Clone the Repository

First, clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/MartinPdeS/FlowCyPy.git
cd FlowCyPy

### 2. Install Locally

Install the package in editable mode along with the testing and documentation dependencies:

pip install -e .[testing,documentation]

### 3. Running Tests

To run the tests, use pytest with coverage:

pytest

This will generate a coverage report in htmlcov/index.html.

### 4. Building Documentation

To build the documentation locally using Sphinx, follow these steps:

cd docs
make html

Once completed, the HTML documentation will be available in the docs/_build/html directory.

Additional Examples

Explore a variety of use cases and configurations in the Examples section of the documentation, including:

Density Plots for Large and Small Scatterers

Raw Signal as measured from the detector

Peak finder analysis

Scatter Density Plot

Contributions

FlowCyPy is under active development, and contributions are highly encouraged! Feel free to reach out for collaboration opportunities or to provide feedback.

Contact Information

As of 2024, the project is still under development. If you want to collaborate, it would be a pleasure! I encourage you to contact me.

FlowCell was written by Martin Poinsinet de Sivry-Houle .

Email:martin.poinsinet.de.sivry@gmail.ca .