Apparatus for separating or measuring particles to be examined in a sample fluid

• US 5,275,787 A
• Filed: 08/17/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamayoshi, Junichi, Yuguchi, Naoki, Yoneyama, Yoshito
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trembley, T. A.
• Application Number:
  US07/928,773
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 422/82.08, 422/73, 422/68.1, 436/158, 436/164, 436/172, 209/3.1, 209/579, 209/906, 222/420, 417/207, 417/208, 417/209, 356/39
• US Class Current: 422/82.08
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1456 without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1492 within droplets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0238 Single particle scatter
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1481 Optical analysis of particles within droplets sorting particles within droplets G01N15/1492
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6439 with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks
• 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

A particle-separating apparatus discharges a liquid drop by providing discharging energy within a receptacle for receiving a particle-suspending fluid. Thermal energy can be used to generate a bubble and discharge a liquid drop containing an individual particle to be examined from an opening in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A sample inspection system, comprising:

receptacle means for containing only sample fluid with suspended particles, said receptacle means having an opening;

a thermal energy generation source disposed within said receptacle means for providing the sample fluid in said receptacle means with a pulse energy to discharge a droplet of the sample fluid from the opening, each droplet containing a particle;

a detector for detecting the particle; and

a synchronizing circuit for synchronizing the discharge by said energy generator and the detection by said detector.

4. A system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said thermal energy generation source includes a heater.

5. A system according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a light source for irradiating the particle with light, wherein said detector detects scattered light or fluorescent light.

6. A system according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a plurality of said receptacle means and said thermal energy generation source, with each of said receptacle means provided with one of said thermal energy generation sources.

2. A sample inspection system, comprising:

receptacle means for receiving only a sample fluid with suspended particles, said receptacle means having an opening;

a thermal energy generation source disposed within said receptacle means for providing the sample fluid in said receptacle means with a pulse energy to discharge a droplet of the sample fluid from the opening, each droplet containing a particle;

a transparent plate facing the opening, the sample fluid discharged from the opening being received on said transparent plate; and

a detector for detecting the particle on said transparent plate.

3. A sample inspection system, comprising:

receptacle means for receiving only sample fluid with suspended particles, said receptacle means having an opening;

a thermal energy generation source disposed within said receptacle means for providing the sample fluid in said receptacle means with a pulse energy to discharge a droplet of the sample fluid from the opening, each droplet containing one particle;

a detector for detecting the particle;

a data storage memory for storing data detected by said detector; and

a signal processor for analyzing the data stored in said data storage memory.