History
Accuri Cytometers, Inc. was founded to address a compelling need: life scientists love the rapid cell-by-cell analysis capability of flow cytometers, but too few have a flow cytometer in their lab. The barriers for most researchers include cost of the instrument, complexity of the software, effort required for maintenance, and the large amount of bench space required for the instrument.
...Ask customers what they want
We started by asking life science researchers what they thought about the possibility of having a full featured analytical flow cytometer for reasonable price. Almost every one said the same thing: "I don't believe it is possible, but wow, that would be great! When can I get one?" We thought we knew how it could be done, so we started building one. Along the way we interviewed and surveyed hundreds of researchers to understand their needs, and we translated those needs into the specifications that guided the development of the entire Accuri product line.
How we made a low cost, high performance flow cytometer
With a tight focus on creating an affordable, robust, easy-to-use flow cytometer, our engineering team went back to basic principles and designed an innovative instrument from the ground up to meet our customer-driven specifications.
...do the simplest thing that might possibly work
- Researchers asked for very precise fluidic control for maximum data quality, so we invented an easy to maintain fluidics system that independently controls the core size and sample flow rate, a first in the marketplace.
- Our potential customers requested affordable, reliable optics with precision focusing that can survive jostling, so we invented compact, robust optics with long-life lasers and low cost detectors. This makes it possible to deliver the C6 Flow Cytometer quickly and cost-effectively through express shipping.
- Flow cytometry specialists told us that one of the most difficult things to teach new users is the "art" of setting voltage/amplification/gain levels. So we invented new electronics that deliver best-in-class dynamic range, which eliminates entirely a common source of error in data collection. This makes the C6 Flow Cytometer easier-to-use than any other cytometer.
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Researchers also asked for a product that is easy to install and takes up little space in their labs, so we engineered our instrument to weigh less than 30 pounds and take up less space than a typical microwave. As a result the C6 Flow Cytometer can fit on to just about any bench.
How we made software that requires little or no instructions
Conversations with flow cytometry users made it clear that the software was just as important as the hardware in coloring the users' experience. In our interviews, many people told us they found available software to be difficult to navigate and time consuming to learn. This was especially true for new users, who felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the user interface. So we partnered with Menlo Innovations (www.menloinnovations.com), who are experts in developing user-friendly software. Together we focused on understanding the needs of flow cytometry users and designed system functionality and user interfaces to match those needs. All along the way we tested our designs with many researchers who volunteered to help us create software that was so intuitive that no training course was required to get started.
...make products that fit elegantly into our customers' world.
We never stop thinking about our customers
In less than two years, our team met our first milestones by creating a powerful cell analysis tool designed to delight our customers. And we are nowhere near finished yet! We worked equally hard to figure out ways to support our customers. Most scientists told us that they preferred to get information on new products from their colleagues and from the web, and would rather not make time to schedule visits from sales representatives. We structured our business to make readily available the information researchers need to make an informed purchase decision. On our website, you can see product specs, software demos, FAQs and even actual prices (no negotiating required!). Our support team is just a phone call away. We want you to be so delighted with the C6 Flow Cytometer System that you'll tell your friends all about it!
...seek to delight.
What's next on the horizon for Accuri? We are continually adding more user-friendly features to our CFlow software, including enabling it to run on either Mac or Windows platforms. We will soon offer a 96 well auto-loader that will attach to the C6 Flow Cytometer. And we are developing some exciting new instruments, all based on the same ideas-powerful, easy to use and affordable. We welcome your ideas and suggestions for how we can improve and what you would like to see next. And we'd love to hear about how the C6 Flow Cytometer has helped you do your work better (contact us anytime).
Thank you for your interest and support.