Flow cell mechanism in flow imaging cytometer
AssigneeToa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorTokihiro Kosaka
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Abstract
A flow imaging cytomer for imaging the dimensions and shapes of particle components in a flow of a specimen solution has a slender filament serving as a focusing reference provided in a flat imaging zone through which the specimen solution flows in order for the particle components to be imaged. By imaging the filament-shaped focusing reference and adjusting position in accordance with the sharpness of an image of the reference, the particle components in the specimen solution can be brought into sharp focus.
Claims12
In a flow imaging cytometer in which a specimen solution containing particle components such as cells is made to flow, while sheathed by a sheathing liquid, through a flat flow path within a flow cell, a still image of the specimen solution flow is photographed by light irradiating means and imaging means so arranged that an optic axis thereof intersects the flow path, and the still image is subjected to image processing, whereby analysis such as classification and enumeration of the particle components contained in the specimen solution is performed, a flow cell mechanism which includes:
- a focusing reference for focus adjustment comprising an element suspended within the zone through which the specimen solution flows and is photographed.
In flow imaging cytometry in which a specimen solution containing particle components such as cells is formed into a flat, laminar flow sheathed by a sheathing liquid, a still image of the specimen solution flow is photographed in a flow zone and the still image is subjected to image processing, whereby analysis such as classification and enumeration of the particle components contained in the specimen solution is performed, an automatic focal-point adjustment method comprising the steps of:
- imaging a filament-shaped body as a focusing reference for focus adjustment provided in the flow zone;
- and
- adjusting position in accordance with sharpness of an image of said filament-shaped body, thereby performing a focus adjustment with regard to the particle components in the specimen solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.