Apparatus for imaging particles in a liquid flow

[54] APPARATUS FOR IMAGING PARTICLES IN A LIQUID FLOW

[75] Inventor: Tokihiro Kosaka. Kakogawashi, Japan

[73] Assignee: Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.. Kobe. Japan

[21] Appl. No.: 565,580

[22] Filed: Nov. 30,1995

Related U.S. Patent Documents

Reissue of:

[64] Patent No.: 5,272,354

Issued: Dec. 21, 1993

Appl. No.: 933,737
Filed: Aug. 24,1992

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Nov. 20, 1991 [JP] Japan 3-331282

[51] Int CI.6 G01N 15/06

[52] U.S. CI 250/574; 356/336

[58] Field of Search 250/573-575;

356/39, 336. 338. 343

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,890,925 1/1990 Kitamori et al 356/336

4,917,496 4/1990 Sommer 356/336

Primary Examiner—Stephone B. Allen

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jones, Tullar & Cooper. P.C.

[57] ABSTRACT

An apparatus for imaging and analyzing particle components in a sample liquid flow containing particle components such as blood and urine, or fine particles of organic high polymer in suspension or the like. A conventional particle imaging flow cytometer is combined with a light source such as a lamp with small coherence, and an image intensifier with gate function of high response, so that a clear particle image without a deflection or interference fringe is obtained. Thus, in the apparatus having the still imaging function, by using the image intensifier with a high speed gate function, even with a light source of a long luminous time such as a lamp, a clear still image of a particle flowing at high speed is obtained.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets