Particle analyzer and particle analysis method

• US 20030143117A1
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Kazuhiro, Nagai, Takaaki, Tobimatsu, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1402 Data analysis by thresholding or gating operations performed on the acquired signals or stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 Multiparameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1488 Methods for deciding
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80

Abstract

Particle analyzers are described that include a cell for receiving a particles-containing liquid; a light source for irradiating light onto the particles-containing liquid; a photo-detector for detecting optical information from particles in the particles-containing liquid and converting the optical information into an electric signal; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the particles-containing liquid; and a signal processing section for calculating an analysis result of the particles on the basis of an output of the photo-detector and an output of the temperature sensor. Particle analysis methods are also described.

Claims

1. A particle analyzer comprising:

a cell for receiving a particles-containing liquid;

a light source for irradiating light onto the particles-containing liquid;

a photo-detector for detecting optical information from particles in the particles-containing liquid and converting the optical information into an electric signal;

a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the particles-containing liquid; and

a signal processing section for calculating an analysis result of the particles on the basis of an output of the photo-detector and an output of the temperature sensor.

2. The particle analyzer of claim 1, wherein the signal processing section comprises:

an amplifying section for amplifying the electric signal, thereby producing an amplified electric signal;

a controlling section for receiving the output of the temperature sensor and thereby controlling the amplifying section; and

an analyzing section for processing and analyzing the amplified electric signal.

3. The particle analyzer of claim 2, wherein:

the amplifying section comprises an A/D converting section for converting an inputted analog signal into an outputted digital signal of predetermined bits; and

the controlling section controls a ratio between the inputted analog signal and the outputted digital signal of the A/D converting section.

4. The particle analyzer of claim 2, wherein the controlling section comprises a memory storing a relation formula for indicating an amplification factor corresponding to a temperature, and thereby controlling the amplifying section based on the relation formula.

5. The particle analyzer of claim 4, wherein the relation formula is different depending on the particles to be measured.

6. The particle analyzer of claim 1, wherein the cell is a flow cell which receives the particles-containing liquid, surrounds the particles-containing liquid with a sheath liquid, and thereby forms and discharges a sample liquid.

7. The particle analyzer of claim 6, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor, and is arranged at an outlet of the flow cell so as to be exposed to the sample liquid.

8. The particle analyzer of claim 6, wherein the flow cell comprises:

a cell having an inlet, an outlet, and a through-hole communicating therebetween; and

a nozzle inserted from the inlet into the through-hole coaxially; and

wherein the sheath liquid is supplied from the inlet to the outlet of the cell, while the particles-containing liquid is supplied through the nozzle into the cell.

9. The particle analyzer of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a laser light source, and irradiates light from the outside of the flow cell in a direction perpendicular to a flow of the sample liquid.

10. The particle analyzer of claim 1, wherein the optical information from the particles in the particles-containing liquid comprises information on luminescent light emitted from the particles excited by irradiated light from the light source.

11. The particle analyzer of claim 2, wherein the analyzing section processes the amplified electric signal, and thereby counts and classifies the particles.

12. A particle analyzer comprising:

a cell for receiving a particles-containing liquid;

a light source for irradiating light onto the particles-containing liquid;

a photo-detector for detecting optical information from particles in the particles-containing liquid and then converting the optical information into an electric signal;

a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the particles-containing liquid;

an analyzing section for processing and analyzing the electric signal; and

a controlling section for receiving an output of the temperature sensor and thereby correcting the electric signal obtained by the photo-detector or the analysis result obtained by the analyzing section.

13. The particle analyzer of claim 12, further comprising an amplifying section for amplifying the electric signal obtained by the photo-detector, thereby producing an amplified electric signal, wherein the controlling section receives the output of the temperature sensor, thereby controlling the amplifying section, and thereby correcting the electric signal obtained by the photo-detector.

14. The particle analyzer of claim 13, wherein:

the amplifying section comprises an A/D converting section for converting an inputted analog signal into an outputted digital signal of predetermined bits; and

the controlling section controls a ratio between the inputted analog signal and the outputted digital signal of the A/D converting section.

15. The particle analyzer of claim 13, wherein the controlling section comprises a memory storing a relation formula for indicating an amplification factor corresponding to a temperature, and thereby controlling the amplifying section based on the relation formula.

16. The particle analyzer of claim 15, wherein the relation formula is different depending on the particles to be measured.

17. The particle analyzer of claim 12, wherein the cell is a flow cell which receives the particles-containing liquid, surrounds the particles-containing liquid with a sheath liquid, and thereby forms and discharges a sample liquid.

18. The particle analyzer of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor, and is arranged at an outlet of the flow cell so as to be exposed to the sample liquid.

19. The particle analyzer of claim 12, wherein the optical information from the particles in the particles-containing liquid comprises information on luminescent light emitted from the particles excited by irradiated light from the light source.

20. A particle analysis method comprising:

(a) introducing a particles-containing liquid into a cell;

(b) irradiating the particles-containing liquid in the cell with light;

(c) detecting optical information from particles in the particles-containing liquid irradiated with light and converting the optical information into an electric signal;

(d) detecting a temperature of the particles-containing liquid;

(e) amplifying the electric signal on the basis of the temperature of the particles-containing liquid, thereby producing an amplified electric signal; and

(f) processing the amplified electric signal and thereby analyzing the particles.

21. The particle analysis method of claim 20, wherein the optical information from the particles in the particles-containing liquid comprises information on luminescent light emitted from the particles excited by irradiating light.

22. The particle analysis method of claim 20, wherein:

the cell is a flow cell; and

the particles-containing liquid is surrounded with a sheath liquid, thereby forming a sample liquid flown through the flow cell.

23. The particle analysis method of claim 22, wherein a temperature of the sample liquid is detected at an outlet of the flow cell.

24. The particle analysis method of claim 20, wherein the electric signal is amplified on the basis of a relation formula for indicating an amplification factor corresponding to a temperature.

25. The particle analysis method of claim 20, wherein the amplified electric signal is processed, whereby the particles are counted and classified.