# US 2018/0024039 A1 · Control apparatus, control system, analysis apparatus, particle separation/collection apparatus, control method, and laminar flow control program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0024039 A1 - Document ID: US20180024039A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/520,984 - Filed: 2015-09-14 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-30 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Hiroko Azuma; Yasunobu Kato; Fumitaka Otsuka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024039A1 ## CPC - G01N 15/1404: Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing - G05D 7/0617: {specially adapted for fluid materials} - G01N 15/14: Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry - G01N 15/1459: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream} - G05D 7/06: characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D7/005 takes precedence)} - G01N 15/0205: by optical means - G01N 15/1409: Handling samples, e.g. injecting samples - G01N 15/149: specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties - G01N 2015/0288: {Sorting the particles} - G01N 2015/0294: {Particle shape} - G01N 2015/1493: {Particle size} - G01N 2015/1497: {Particle shape} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A technology is provided, capable of reducing the time required for the flow velocity of a laminar flow to stabilize, and of providing more finely responsive control. The present technology provides a control apparatus for controlling a flow velocity of a laminar flow, the apparatus including: a pressurization unit configured to pressurize a fluid that is to form the laminar flow; an air pressure measurement unit configured to measure a pressure applied to the fluid by the pressurization unit; a water pressure measurement unit configured to measure a water pressure of the fluid pressurized by the pressurization unit; and a control unit configured to control pressure force applied to the 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus for controlling a flow velocity of a laminar flow, the apparatus comprising: a pressurization unit configured to pressurize a fluid that is to form the laminar flow; an air pressure measurement unit configured to measure a pressure applied to the fluid by the pressurization unit; a water pressure measurement unit configured to measure a water pressure of the fluid pressurized by the pressurization unit; and a control unit configured to control pressure force applied to the 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit provides switching from the control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit to the control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit provides the switching from the control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit to the control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit after stabilization of the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit provides the switching from the control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit to the control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit at one or more time points selected from (a) to (c): (a) when a differential pressure between the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit and the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit reaches a predetermined value or below, (b) when an amount of variation in the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit reaches a predetermined value or below, and (c) when a duration time of the control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit exceeds a predetermined time period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laminar flow is formed of a sample flow containing a sample, and of a sheath flow surrounding the sample flow, and the fluid is a sheath fluid that is to form the sheath flow. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit determines on the switching from the control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit to the control based on the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit in order from (1) to (3): (1) determination of whether the differential pressure between the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit and the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit has reached the predetermined value or below, (2) determination of whether the amount of variation in the water pressure measured by the water pressure measurement unit has reached the predetermined value or below, and (3) determination of whether the duration time of the control based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure measurement unit has exceeded the predetermined time period. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control system according to claim 7, wherein at least apart of the apparatuses are connected to each other via a network. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 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.