Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of analyzing particles by passing light through a thin wide sample liquid flow in a flow of sheath liquid to obtain an image, and processing the image to analyze components in the sample liquid, wherein the sheath liquid is supplied mat a specific pressure, and the sample liquid flow rate is corrected on the basis of the ambient temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein a selection is made between (i) a low scale factor state in which the quantity of light passing through the sample liquid is reduced, the thickness of the sample liquid is increased, and the image is produced at a low scale factor, and (ii) a high scale factor state in which the quantity of light passing through the sample liquid is increased, the thickness of the sample liquid is reduced, and the image is produced at a high scale factor, and the correction of the sample liquid flow rate is also on the basis of which scale factor state has been selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light is strobe light and the image is a still image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for analyzing particles by passing light through a thin wide sample liquid flow in a flow of sheath liquid to obtain an image, and processing the image to analyse components in the sample liquid, comprising: sheath liquid supply means (21) for supplying sheath liquid at a specific pressure, sample liquid discharge means (18) for supplying sample liquid at a controlable discharge rate, a temperature sensor (36) for detecting the ambient temperature, a temperature measuring circuit (38) for determining the temperature on the basis of the output of the temperature sensor (36), and a driving circuit (34) for driving the sample liquid discharge means (18) at a discharge rate corrected on the basis of an output signal from the temperature measuring circuit (38).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an iris (58) disposed in a light path before a flow cell (78), means (66) for varying the aperture area of the iris (58), projection lenses (86, 88) of different scale factors, the lenses being individually positionable in the light path after the flow cell (78) and before image detection means (90), and means (94) for changing over the projection lenses (86, 88), wherein the apparatus is arranged to permit a selection between (i) a low scale factor in which the quantity of light passing through the sample liquid in the flow cell (78) is reduced, the thickness of the sample liquid is increased, and the image is produced at a low scale factor, and (ii) a high scale factor state in which the quantity of light passing through the sample liquid in the flow cell (78) is increased, the thickness of the sample liquid is reduced, and the image is produced at a high scale factor, and wherein the correction of the sample liquid discharge rate is also on the basis of which scale factor state has been selected.