Apparatus and method for analyzing particle images including measuring at a plurality of capturing magnifications
First Claim
1. An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:
- a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid;
irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light;
image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles;
image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images; and
a display,the image analyzing means including;
calculating means for measuring a projected area of each captured particle image to calculate a particle diameter of each particle;
graph making means for making a histogram based on particle size frequency data corresponding to the particle diameters and for allowing the display to display the histogram;
storage means for storing each captured particle image; and
particle image recalling means for allowing the display means to collectively display the particle images stored by the storage means,wherein the image capturing means further includes means for providing a plurality of capturing magnifications, wherein measuring ranges of particle diameters differ at each capturing magnification and partially overlap each other,wherein the calculating means calculates particle size frequency data based on particle images captured at the plurality of capturing magnifications, corrects the particle size frequency data depending upon an amount of samples obtained at each capturing magnification, and integrates the particle size frequency data obtained at the plurality of capturing magnifications.
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Abstract
An apparatus for analyzing particle images includes a sheath flow cell for transforming a particle suspension flow into a flat flow surrounded by a sheath liquid, a light source for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow, a video camera for capturing particle images of irradiated particles, an image analyzer for analyzing the captured particle images, and a display device. The image analyzer including a calculator for measuring a projected area and perimeter of each captured particle image to calculate a particle diameter and circularity of each particle, a graph making device for making a histogram based on the particle diameter and for making a scattergram based on two parameters corresponding to the particle diameter and the circularity to allow the display device to display the histogram and the scattergram, a memory for storing each of the captured particle images, and a particle image recalling device for allowing the display device to collectively display the particle images stored by the memory.
121 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:
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a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid; irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light; image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles; image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images; and a display, the image analyzing means including; calculating means for measuring a projected area of each captured particle image to calculate a particle diameter of each particle; graph making means for making a histogram based on particle size frequency data corresponding to the particle diameters and for allowing the display to display the histogram; storage means for storing each captured particle image; and particle image recalling means for allowing the display means to collectively display the particle images stored by the storage means, wherein the image capturing means further includes means for providing a plurality of capturing magnifications, wherein measuring ranges of particle diameters differ at each capturing magnification and partially overlap each other, wherein the calculating means calculates particle size frequency data based on particle images captured at the plurality of capturing magnifications, corrects the particle size frequency data depending upon an amount of samples obtained at each capturing magnification, and integrates the particle size frequency data obtained at the plurality of capturing magnifications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for analyzing particle images comprising the steps of:
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transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid; irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light; capturing particle images of the irradiated particles, said capturing step including providing a plurality of capturing magnifications, wherein measuring ranges of particle diameters differ at each capturing magnification and partially overlap each other; analyzing the captured particle images, including measuring a projected area and perimeter of each captured particle image; calculating a particle diameter of each particle in accordance with the measuring step, said calculating step including determining particle size frequency data based on particle images captured at the plurality of capturing magnifications, correcting the particle size frequency data depending upon an amount of samples obtained at each capturing magnification, and integrating the particle size frequency data obtained at the plurality of capturing magnifications, and making a histogram based on particle size frequency data corresponding to the particle diameters; displaying the histogram and the scattergram; storing each captured particle image; and collectively displaying the particle images stored by the storing means, the collective displaying providing confirmation of morphology and aggregation of the irradiated particles. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:
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a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid; irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light; image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles; image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images, the image analyzing means including; means for providing a plurality of capturing magnifications, wherein measuring ranges of particle diameters differ at each capturing magnification and partially overlap each other, and calculating means for calculating particle size frequency data based on particle images captured at the plurality of capturing magnifications, correcting the particle size frequency data depending upon an amount of samples obtained at each capturing magnification, and integrating the particle size frequency data obtained at the plurality of capturing magnifications. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:
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a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid; irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light; image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles; image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images, the image analyzing means including; storage means for storing each captured particle image, particle image recalling means for allowing a display to collectively display the particle images stored by the storage means, input means for inputting information as to whether each of the collectively displayed particle images represents a single particle or an aggregation of a plurality of particles, means for calculating a numerical proportion of the single particles to the aggregations based on the input information, and means for outputting the calculated proportion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:
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a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid; irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light; image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles; image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images, the image analyzing means including; storage means for storing each captured particle image, particle image recalling means for allowing a display to collectively display the particle images stored by the storage means, input means for inputting information as to whether each of the collectively displayed particle images represents a single particle or an aggregation of a plurality of particles, and calculating means for calculating the particle diameter and circularity of the particle based only on the images of the single particles differentiated by the input information.
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Specification