Apparatus for performing at least two measurements of characteristics in a particle suspension

An apparatus for performing a measurement of the volume and the fluorescence of particles suspended in a suspension of particles, comprising:

• means defining a first and second chamber and a measuring orifice interconnecting said chambers;
• a first electrode disposed in said first chamber;
• a second electrode disposed in said second chamber;
• a capillary tube disposed in said first chamber and defining a discharge orifice at one end thereof which is located upstream of the measuring orifice, said capillary tube being coaxially, with respect to said orifice, arranged to introduce a suspension of particles into the flow of an electrolyte and through the measuring orifice, the arrangement being such that the flow of particles included in the electrolyte takes place through the measuring orifice as a result of the pressure difference between the first and second chambers;
• an fluorescence measuring device situated downstream of and coaxially with the measuring orifice along the path of flow of the particles;
• a glass plate situated between the measuring orifice and the fluorescence measuring device, and at right angles to the axis of the measuring orifice, said glass plate being adapted to divert the flow of the particles through substantially a right-angle.