311 results about "Particle analysis" patented technology

The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analyses. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system. Accordingly, these combinations may allow particles to be sorted, cultured, mixed, treated, and/or assayed, among others, as single particles, mixed groups of particles, arrays of particles, heterogeneous particle sets, and/or homogeneous particle sets, among others, in series and/or in parallel. In addition, these combinations may enable microfluidic systems to be reused. Furthermore, these combinations may allow the response of particles to treatment to be measured on a shorter time scale than was previously possible. Therefore, systems of the invention may allow a broad range of cell and particle assays, such as drug screens, cell characterizations, research studies, and/or clinical analyses, among others, to be scaled down to microfluidic size. Such scaled-down assays may use less sample and reagent, may be less labor intensive, and/or may be more informative than comparable macrofluidic assays.

The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analyses. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system. Accordingly, these combinations may allow particles to be sorted, cultured, mixed, treated, and/or assayed, among others, as single particles, mixed groups of particles, arrays of particles, heterogeneous particle sets, and/or homogeneous particle sets, among others, in series and/or in parallel. In addition, these combinations may enable microfluidic systems to be reused. Furthermore, these combinations may allow the response of particles to treatment to be measured on a shorter time scale than was previously possible. Therefore, systems of the invention may allow a broad range of cell and particle assays, such as drug screens, cell characterizations, research studies, and/or clinical analyses, among others, to be scaled down to microfluidic size. Such scaled-down assays may use less sample and reagent, may be less labor intensive, and/or may be more informative than comparable macrofluidic assays.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. In some aspects the system comprises an analyzer which may be a visual analyzer. In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a particle imaging system comprising a flowcell through which a sample containing particles is caused to flow, and a high optical resolution imaging device which captures images for image analysis of samples. Other compositions, methods and features of this disclosure are disclosed herein.

A particle analyzer that includes optical waveguides, a support, and a detector. The optical waveguides direct spatially separated beams from a source of radiation to produce measuring beams in a sample flow measuring area. The support maintains each of the optical waveguides in a fixed relative position with respect to each other and maintains the positioning of the measuring beams within the measuring area. The detector senses light produced from the measuring beams interacting with a particle flowing through the measuring area. At least one of the support and the detector can be coupled to the core stream sample system. The coupling can use an optical waveguide device configured to convey optical radiation arising from sample interaction to the detector. In another example, a particle analyzer comprises an optical system configured to be fixedly coupled to a sample system and configured to direct beams along independent beam paths from a source of radiation to produce measuring beam spots in a sample flow measuring area of the sample system and a detection system configured to sense radiation delivered from the sample flow measuring area.

Particles such as blood cells can be categorized and counted by a digital image processor. A digital microscope camera can be directed into a flowcell defining a symmetrically narrowing flowpath in which the sample stream flows in a ribbon flattened by flow and viscosity parameters between layers of sheath fluid. A contrast pattern for autofocusing is provided on the flowcell, for example at an edge of a rear illumination opening. The image processor assesses focus accuracy from pixel data contrast. A positioning motor moves the microscope and/or flowcell along the optical axis for autofocusing on the contrast pattern target. The processor then displaces microscope and flowcell by a known distance between the contrast pattern and the sample stream, thus focusing on the sample stream. Blood cell images are collected from that position until autofocus is reinitiated, periodically, by input signal, or when detecting temperature changes or focus inaccuracy in the image data.

Systems and methods for non-linear histogram segmentation for particle analysis are provided. In one embodiment, a method for analyzing particles comprises creating an initial two-dimensional histogram based on two selected parameters of the particles, filtering the initial two-dimensional histogram to generate a filtered two-dimensional image, detecting a plurality of seed populations in the filtered two-dimensional image, generating one or more linear contour lines, each having a plurality of contour points, to separate the detected seed populations, and adjusting the contour points in at least one of the linear contour lines to separate the detected seed populations.

The invention discloses a forward scattering optical signal detecting device used by a flow cell analyzer or a particle analyzer, a forward scattering optical signal detecting method and a cell or particle analyzer provided with the device. The forward scattering optical signal detecting device comprises a detecting unit and a collecting unit, wherein the detecting unit is provided with a plurality of subsidiary detecting units arranged in a one-dimensional position and used for detecting the forward scattering optical signals; the collecting unit used for collecting forward scattering optical signals and focusing the forward scattering optical signals on the detecting unit; and the optical signals detected by the subsidiary detecting units in different positions or intervals are used as the optical signals with different scattering angles. The invention can reduce the system cost and keep the miniaturized advantage, is easy to debug and can feely select the collected optical signals with different scattering angles so as to more precisely distinguish all subgroups in cells or particles to be detected.

An imaging system with an imaging mechanism which includes polarization analyzers, which may be crossed polarization analyzers, positioned to provide birefringence images of particles in the fluid passing through the flow chamber. Captured images are of high resolution and may be used in comparison to known images of a library of images. The system and related method enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of particle monitoring by utilizing birefringence imaging combined with particle analysis and the detection of each particle's characteristic features, such as crystalline features. The system includes a scatter detector used to trigger backlighting of the flow chamber and capture images of particles therein.

The invention puts forward a sheath flow impedance particle analyzer, comprising a counting cell, a counting circuit, a latter sheath partition cell and a liquid waste partition cell; wherein, the counting cell comprises a former cell and a latter cell; the former cell comprises a particle suspension liquid inlet and a former sheath liquid inlet; the latter cell comprises a latter sheath liquid inlet and a liquid waste outlet; a hole is arranged between the former cell and the latter cell which are connected with the counting circuit through electrode; the latter sheath liquid stored in the latter sheath partition cell can automatically and continuously flow into the latter cell under the gravitation and the internal negative pressure in the latter cell; the latter sheath partition cell can make the internal liquid passageway, which connects the inlet and the outlet of the latter sheath partition cell, insulated by the air; the liquid waste partition cell can make the internal liquid passageway insulated, which connects the inlet and the outlet of the liquid waste partition cell. The invention has the advantages of preventing the reflowing of the sample liquid in the process of detecting, reducing the signal noise effectively, increasing the detecting sensitivity of the particle and avoiding the electromagnet noise introduced to the counting cell from the latter sheath partition cell or the liquid waste partition cell.

A challenge in using recycled material in the papermaking process is the presence of hydrophobic organics with adhesive properties commonly known as “stickies.” Hydrophobic agglomerates can result in spots or defects in the final paper product or deposit on papermaking equipment resulting in poor runnability and downtime. Technologies for monitoring and controlling microstickies exist. However, a need exists for a technique to rapidly determine the size and content of macrostickies (diameter>100 microns) in recycled pulp process streams. The present invention is a device and method to perform real-time macrostickies and/or any visible hydrophobic particle analysis in an aqueous medium. Using the present invention, furnish quality can be monitored and treatment performance can be monitored and controlled. The technique is based on fluorescence image analysis to identify and count sticky particles as well as measure their size.

The present invention pertains to a device and method to measure thermo-optical, preferably thermophoretic, characteristics of particles in a solution. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a sample probe comprising marked particles in a solution; (b) providing a temperature control system for creating a temperature gradient within said sample probe by contact heating, electrical heating and/or cooling; (c) detecting the marked particles at a first time; (d) creating a temperature gradient within the sample probe by means of the temperature control system; (e) detecting the marked particles in the sample probe at a, preferably predetermined, second time and/or at a predetermined location within the temperature gradient, and (f) characterizing the particles based on said two detections.

A particle analyzing apparatus, comprising: a flow cell which forms a specimen flow including particles; first and second light sources; an irradiation optical system which applies lights emitted from the first and second light sources so that the lights are applied to the specimen flow; a detector which detects forward scattered light, the forward scattered light being emitted from the first light and scattered by the particle in the specimen flow, and generates a signal according to the detected scattered light; a light blocking member disposed between the flow cell and the detector; a controller which obtains characteristic parameters of the particle based on the signal from the detector; and an imaging device which captures an image of the particle in the specimen flow using the light from the second light source is disclosed. Particle imaging method is also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. A particle imaging system or analyzer can include a flowcell through which a urine sample containing particles is caused to flow, and a high optical resolution imaging device which captures images for image analysis. A contrast pattern for autofocusing is provided on the flowcell. The image processor assesses focus accuracy from pixel data contrast. A positioning motor moves the microscope and/or flowcell along the optical axis for autofocusing on the contrast pattern target. The processor then displaces microscope and flowcell by a known distance between the contrast pattern and the sample stream, thus focusing on the sample stream. Cell or particle images are collected from that position until autofocus is reinitiated, periodically, by input signal, or when detecting temperature changes or focus inaccuracy in the image data.

For analyzing a sample containing particles of at least two categories, such as a sample containing blood cells, a particle counter subject to a detection limit is coupled with an analyzer capable of discerning particle number ratios, such as a visual analyzer, and a processor. A first category of particles can be present beyond detection range limits while a second category of particles is present within respective detection range limits. The concentration of the second category of particles is determined by the particle counter. A ratio of counts of the first category to the second category is determined on the analyzer. The concentration of particles in the first category is calculated on the processor based on the ratio and the count or concentration of particles in the second category.

A method and a particle analyzer are provided for determining a particle size distribution of a liquid sample including particles of a lower size range, particles of an intermediate size range, and particles of an upper size range. A dark-field image frame is captured in which the particles of the lower size range and the particles of the intermediate size range are resolved, and a bright-field image frame is captured in which the particles of the intermediate size range and the particles of the upper size range are resolved. Absolute sizes of the particles of the intermediate size range and the particles of the upper size range are determined from the bright-field image frame. Calibrated sizes of the particles of the lower size range are determined from the dark-field image frame by using the particles of the intermediate size range as internal calibration standards.

An apparatus, intended for use in analyzing particles in urine is disclosed, that comprising: a sample distribution section for distributing urine samples to a first aliquot and a second aliquot; a first specimen preparing section for preparing a first specimen for measuring urinary particles, containing at least erythrocytes, by mixing a first stain reagent and the first aliquot; a second specimen preparing section for preparing a second specimen for measuring bacteria by mixing a second stain reagent and the second aliquot; and an optical detecting section comprising a light source for irradiating a light to a specimen being supplied, a scattered light receiving element for detecting scattered light emitted from the specimen, and a fluorescence receiving element for detecting fluorescence emitted from the specimen. A method intended for use in analyzing particles in urine is also disclosed.

A particle detector includes first and second cells, the first cell supplying a liquid containing particles to the second cell; electrodes respectively provided in the first cell and the second cell; a plurality of shafts; and clamp members engaged with the respective shafts; the first cell and the second cell being arranged in alignment with each other; the shafts extending through the first cell and the second cell along the alignment of the first cell and the second cell; the clamp members clamping the first cell and the second cell along the alignment.

A system includes a particulate material sample that contains a fluid medium and a plurality of particles dispersed in the fluid medium. The system further includes a particle analysis apparatus having a sample cell and sample delivery means for delivering the particulate material sample to the sample cell, wherein the particle analysis apparatus is adapted to obtain particle information on at least one particle in that particulate material sample while the at least one particle is in the sample cell. Furthermore, the system also includes fluid manipulation means for manipulating movement of the fluid medium while the particle analysis apparatus is obtaining the particle information on the at least one particle, and a data processing apparatus that is adapted to determine a specific gravity of the at least one particle based on the obtained particle information.

A method including: sonicating a liquid suspension of first particles; and analyzing the liquid phase for second particles. An apparatus including: a sonicator adapted to sonicate a liquid suspension of first particles; and a first analyzer adapted to analyze the sonicated liquid phase for second particles. The method and apparatus can be used to analyze the adhesion force relationships between the main or host first particles and guest or surface additive second particles.

A structure 14 for particle immobilization has a plurality of holding holes 9 for holding respective test particles in order to detect light emitted from a substance which indicates the presence of a component for constructing each of the test particles, and the structure 14 for particle immobilization comprises a flat plate substrate 15, and a holding unit 20 which is arranged on the substrate 15 and which is formed with the plurality of holding holes 9. In this configuration, a light shielding film 19 which reduces light noise is provided for the substrate 15 or the holding unit 20 in order that the light noise such as the background noise and the crosstalk noise can be reduced, and a large number of test particles can be optically observed highly sensitively and highly accurately.

A method and apparatus for sorting and performing redundant analysis of particles in an aerosol is disclosed. Redundant analysis reduces the possibility of false positive analyses, which is advantageous in the art. The apparatus may comprise an aerosol concentrator, an optical particle analyzer, an electrosprayer and a charged particle analyzer. A method according to the invention may comprise delivering a concentrated aerosol stream to an optical particle analyzer; analyzing each particle of interest and selectively triggering an electrosprayer to electrospray each particle of interest; adding a charge to the particle, which is then moved by electrostatic forces to a charged particle analyzer; and performing a second, redundant analysis of each charged particle collected on the charged particle analyzer to confirm the identity of the particle of interest. The apparatus and method may also be adapted to perform redundant analysis of disguised particles that are coated to disguise their payload.