Laminar flow width detecting method, laminar flow width control method, laminar flow control system, and flow cytometer

A laminar flow width control method for controlling the widths of a plurality of laminar flows formed in a channel, the method comprising performing at least the steps of:

• detecting optical information generated from a reference substance contained in a laminar flow;
• calculating the width of the laminar flow, based on the optical information detected in the optical information detecting step;
• and
• adjusting the liquid feed quantity of the laminar flow, based on the width of the laminar flow calculated in the laminar flow width calculating step.

A laminar flow control system for controlling the widths of a plurality of laminar flows formed in a channel, the system comprising at least:

• optical information detecting means for generating from a reference substance contained in a laminar flow;
• laminar flow width calculating means for calculating the width of the laminar flow, based on the optical information detected by the optical information detecting means;
• and
• liquid feed quantity adjusting means for adjusting the liquid feed quantity of the laminar flow, based on the width of the laminar flow calculated by the laminar flow width calculating means.

A flow cytometer capable of controlling the widths of a sample flow and a sheath flow surrounding the sample flow which are formed in a channel, the cytometer comprising at least:

• optical information detecting means for detecting optical information generated from a reference substance contained in the sheath flow;
• laminar flow width calculating means for calculating the widths of the sample flow and the sheath flow, based on the optical information detected by the optical information detecting means;
• and
• liquid feed quantity adjusting means for adjusting the liquid feed quantities of the sample flow and the sheath flow, based on the widths of the sample flow and the sheath flow calculated by the laminar flow width calculating means.

A laminar flow control system for controlling the widths of a plurality of laminar flows formed in a channel, the system comprising at least:

• an optical information detecting section configured to generate from a reference substance contained in a laminar flow;
• a laminar flow width calculating section configured to calculate the width of the laminar flow, based on the optical information detected by the optical information detecting section;
• and
• a liquid feed quantity adjusting section configured to adjust the liquid feed quantity of the laminar flow, based on the width of the laminar flow calculated by the laminar flow width calculating section.

A flow cytometer capable of controlling the widths of a sample flow and a sheath flow surrounding the sample flow which are formed in a channel, the cytometer comprising at least:

• an optical information detecting section configured to detect optical information generated from a reference substance contained in the sheath flow;
• a laminar flow width calculating section configured to calculate the widths of the sample flow and the sheath flow, based on the optical Information detected by the optical information detecting section;
• and
• a liquid feed quantity adjusting section configured to ajust the liquid feed quantities of the sample flow and the sheath flow, based on the widths of the sample flow and the sheath flow calculated by the laminar flow width calculating section.