Control apparatus, control system, analysis apparatus, particle separation/collection apparatus, control method, and laminar flow control program

A control system for controlling a flow velocity of a laminar flow, the system comprising:

• a pressurization apparatus configured to pressurize a fluid that is to form the laminar flow;
• an air pressure measurement apparatus configured to measure a pressure applied to the fluid by the pressurization apparatus;
• a water pressure measurement apparatus configured to measure a water pressure of the fluid pressurized by the pressurization apparatus;
• and
• a control apparatus configured to control pressure force applied to the fluid by the pressurization apparatus on the basis of either the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement apparatus or the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement apparatus,
• wherein the control apparatus provides switching between control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement apparatus and control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement apparatus.

An analysis apparatus for analyzing a particle in a laminar flow formed of a sample flow containing the particle, and of a sheath flow surrounding the sample flow, the apparatus comprising:

• a pressurization unit configured to pressurize a sheath fluid that is to form the sheath flow;
• an air pressure measurement unit configured to measure a pressure applied to the sheath fluid by the pressurization unit;
• a water pressure measurement unit configured to measure a water pressure of the sheath fluid pressurized by the pressurization unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to control pressure force applied to the sheath fluid by the pressurization unit on the basis of either the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit or the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit,
• wherein the control unit provides switching between control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit and control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit.

A particle separation/collection apparatus for separating/collecting a particle in a laminar flow formed of a sample flow containing the particle, and of a sheath flow surrounding the sample flow, the apparatus comprising:

• a pressurization unit configured to pressurize a sheath fluid that is to form the sheath flow;
• an air pressure measurement unit configured to measure a pressure applied to the sheath fluid by the pressurization unit;
• a water pressure measurement unit configured to measure a water pressure of the sheath fluid pressurized by the pressurization unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to control pressure force applied to the sheath fluid by the pressurization unit on the basis of either the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit or the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit,
• wherein the control unit provides switching between control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit and control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit.

A laminar flow control method for controlling a flow velocity of a laminar flow, the method comprising:

• a pressurization step of pressurizing a fluid that is to form the laminar flow;
• an air pressure measurement step of measuring a pressure applied to the fluid in the pressurization step;
• a water pressure measurement step of measuring a water pressure of the fluid pressurized in the pressurization step;
• and
• a control step of controlling pressure force applied to the fluid in the pressurization step on the basis of either the air pressure measured in air pressure measurement step or the water pressure measured in the water pressure measurement step,
• wherein the control step provides switching between control based on the air pressure measured in the air pressure measurement step and control based on the water pressure measured in the water pressure measurement step.

A laminar flow control program used for controlling a flow velocity of a laminar flow, and for causing a computer to perform:

• a first control function that controls pressure force applied to the fluid, on the basis of an air pressure applied to a fluid that is to form the laminar flow;
• a second control function that controls the pressure force applied to the fluid, on the basis of a water pressure of the fluid that is to form the laminar flow;
• and
• a switching control function that provides switching between performance of the first control function and performance of the second control function.