Apparatus and method for analyzing particle images including measuring at a plurality of capturing magnifications

A method for analyzing particle images comprising the steps of:

• transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid;
• irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light;
• capturing particle images of the irradiated particles, said capturing step including providing a plurality of capturing magnifications, wherein measuring ranges of particle diameters differ at each capturing magnification and partially overlap each other;
• analyzing the captured particle images, including
• measuring a projected area and perimeter of each captured particle image;
• calculating a particle diameter of each particle in accordance with the measuring step, said calculating step including
• determining particle size frequency data based on particle images captured at the plurality of capturing magnifications,
• correcting the particle size frequency data depending upon an amount of samples obtained at each capturing magnification, and
• integrating the particle size frequency data obtained at the plurality of capturing magnifications, and
• making a histogram based on particle size frequency data corresponding to the particle diameters;
• displaying the histogram and the scattergram;
• storing each captured particle image;
• and
• collectively displaying the particle images stored by the storing means, the collective displaying providing confirmation of morphology and aggregation of the irradiated particles.

An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:

• a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid;
• irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light;
• image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles;
• image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images, the image analyzing means including:
• means for providing a plurality of capturing magnifications, wherein measuring ranges of particle diameters differ at each capturing magnification and partially overlap each other, and
• calculating means for calculating particle size frequency data based on particle images captured at the plurality of capturing magnifications, correcting the particle size frequency data depending upon an amount of samples obtained at each capturing magnification, and integrating the particle size frequency data obtained at the plurality of capturing magnifications.

An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:

• a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid;
• irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light;
• image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles;
• image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images, the image analyzing means including:
• storage means for storing each captured particle image,
• particle image recalling means for allowing a display to collectively display the particle images stored by the storage means,
• input means for inputting information as to whether each of the collectively displayed particle images represents a single particle or an aggregation of a plurality of particles,
• means for calculating a numerical proportion of the single particles to the aggregations based on the input information, and
• means for outputting the calculated proportion.

An apparatus for analyzing particle images comprising:

• a sheath flow cell for transforming a flow of particle suspension into a flow surrounded by a sheath liquid;
• irradiating means for irradiating particles in the transformed particle suspension flow with a light;
• image capturing means for capturing particle images of the irradiated particles;
• image analyzing means for analyzing the captured particle images, the image analyzing means including:
• storage means for storing each captured particle image,
• particle image recalling means for allowing a display to collectively display the particle images stored by the storage means,
• input means for inputting information as to whether each of the collectively displayed particle images represents a single particle or an aggregation of a plurality of particles, and
• calculating means for calculating the particle diameter and circularity of the particle based only on the images of the single particles differentiated by the input information.