MICROPARTICLES MEASURING APPARATUS

• US 20110069310A1
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Muraki, Yosuke, Kakuta, Masaya
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/335
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a microparticles measuring apparatus including: an optical detecting section configured to direct a leaser beam toward microparticles passing through a flow channel, detect light emanating from the microparticles, and convert the detected light into electrical signals; and a controlling unit configured to calculate the speed of the microparticles passing through the flow channel according to the electrical signals and suspend the supply of solution containing the microparticles when the calculated speed exceeds a prescribed limit.

Claims

1. A microparticles measuring apparatus comprising:

optical detecting means for directing a leaser beam toward microparticles passing through a flow channel, detecting light emanating from the microparticles, and converting the detected light into electrical signals; and

controlling means for calculating the speed of the microparticles passing through the flow channel according to the electrical signals and suspending the supply of solution containing the microparticles when the calculated speed exceeds a prescribed limit.

2. The microparticles measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling means calculates said speed based on the fact that said speed is inversely proportional to the pulse width of said electrical signals.

3. The microparticles measuring apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

a flow channel formed on a microchip;

supplying means for introducing into said flow channel a sample solution containing microparticles and/or a sheath solution;

discharging means for discharging said sample solution and/or said sheath solution from said flow channel;

optical detecting means for directing a leaser beam toward microparticles passing through said flow channel, detecting light emanating from the microparticles, and converting the detected light into electrical signals; and

controlling means for calculating the speed of the microparticles passing through the flow channel according to the electrical signals and suspending the action of said supplying means when the calculated speed exceeds a prescribed limit.

4. The microparticles measuring apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said supplying means and said discharging means are equipped with a sensor to detect the flow rate of the sample solution and/or the sheath solution.

5. The microparticles measuring apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising image displaying means for displaying said sensor which has detected the flow rate exceeding a prescribed limit.

6. The microparticles measuring apparatus as defined in claim 5, which suspends the action of said supplying means when the speed of microparticle passing through said flow channel exceeds a prescribed limit and it displays any one of said sensors which has detected the flow rate exceeding a prescribed limit on said image displaying means.

7. A microparticles measuring apparatus comprising:

an optical detecting section configured to direct a leaser beam toward microparticles passing through a flow channel, detect light emanating from the microparticles, and convert the detected light into electrical signals; and

a controlling unit configured to calculate the speed of the microparticles passing through the flow channel according to the electrical signals and suspend the supply of solution containing the microparticles when the calculated speed exceeds a prescribed limit.