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EP0679889A2
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A method and an apparatus for particle image analysis
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1995-04-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for particle image analysis used for improving an accuracy of particle classification. A liquid sample, in which particles are suspended, is made flow through a flow cell (100), surrounded by a cleaning solution. These are irradiated with light to image the particles therein by means of imaging unit (101). In classifying the particles by analyzing a picked up image, there are a plurality of modes, for each of which particles in the liquid sample are determined as an object to be measured. Further there is disposed particle detection unit (103) on the upstream side of an image pickup region (90) in the flow cell, which distinguishes signals of a plurality of kinds of particles, starting from particle detection signals thus obtained, to perform particle detection and image processing on specified particles distinguished for the different modes. In one of the plurality of modes particles of low concentration in the liquid sample are to be measured, while in another mode particles of high concentration are to be measured.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideyuki Horiuchi
- 👤 Hideki Asai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of particle image analysis comprising the steps of: flowing a liquid sample in which particles are suspending, in a flow cell (100); detecting at least one of said particles passing a first predetermined position in said flow cell; picking up, in response to said detection, an image of said detected particle by illuminating said detected particle passing a second predetermined position in said flow cell; and analyzing said image to classify said detected particle; wherein a mode for performing said steps are selected among at least first and second modes depending on said particle to be detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, wherein said first and second mode are provided for performing said steps with respect to particles with different concentrations in said liquid sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, wherein said first mode is provided for performing said steps with respect to substantially all particles included in said liquid sample, and said second mode is provided for performing said steps with respect to selected kinds of particles in said liquid sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, wherein said flowing step flows said liquid sample so that coaxial double layers, along with the direction of sample flow which is substantially perpendicular to said illuminating light, including an inner layer of said liquid sample and an outer layer of a sheath solution, is formed in said flow cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 4, wherein said flowing step controls the amount of said liquid sample and said sheath solution whereby the thickness of said sample flow layer and the flow rate of said sample flow layer is changed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, wherein the amount of said liquid sample in said flow cell in said first and second mode, are different form each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, magnifications used in said picking up step are substantially same in said first and second modes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, said detecting step detects said particle on the basis of the observation of scattering light from said particle by illuminating said particle using a particle detection light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of particle image analysis according to claim 1, said detecting step detects said particle on the basis of the observation of fluorescence emitted from said particle by illuminating said particle using a particle detection light source.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis comprising: a flow cell (100); a light source (1); means (124) for flowing a liquid sample in which particles are suspending, in said flow cell; means (103) for detecting at least one of said particles passing a first predetermined position in said flow cell; means (5) for picking up, in response to said detection, an image of said detected particle by illuminating said detected particle passing a second predetermined position in said flow cell, by said light source; and means (102) for analyzing said image to classify said detected particle; means (29) for controlling said flowing, detecting, picking up and analyzing means in a mode selected among at least first and second modes depending on said particle to be detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, wherein said first and second mode are provided for controlling said flowing, detecting, picking up and analyzing means with respect to particles with different concentrations in said liquid sample.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, wherein said first mode is provided for controlling said flowing, detecting, picking up and analyzing means with respect to substantially all particles included in said liquid sample, and said second mode is provided for said flowing, detecting, picking up and analyzing means with respect to selected kinds of particles in said liquid sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, wherein said flowing means flows said liquid sample so that coaxial double layers, along with the direction of sample flow which is substantially perpendicular to said illuminating light, including an inner layer of said liquid sample and an outer layer of a sheath solution, is formed in said flow cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 13, wherein said flowing means controls the amount of said liquid sample and said sheath solution whereby the thickness of said sample flow layer and the flow rate of said sample flow layer is changed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, wherein the amount of said liquid sample in said flow cell in said first and second mode, are different from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, magnifications used by said picking up means are substantially same in said first and second modes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, further comprising a particle detection light source wherein said detecting means detects said particle on the basis of the observation of scattering light from said particle by illuminating said particle using said particle detection light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for particle image analysis according to claim 10, further comprising a particle detection light source wherein said detecting means detects said particle on the basis of the observation of fluorescence emitted from said particle by illuminating said particle using said particle detection light source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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