Particle analyzer and a system utilizing the same

Claim 2

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 3

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 4

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 5

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member inter­vening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size comparable to the fine particles; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 6

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member inter­vening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size comparable to the fine particles; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 7

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member intervening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size compara­ble to the fine particles, and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 8

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member intervening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size compara­ble to the fine particles, and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 9

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means; and a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid.

Claim 10

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means; and a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid.

Claim 11

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, and a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a diluting liquid supply piping extending from a source of the diluting liquid to the diluting liquid passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the flow of the diluting liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 12

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, and a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a diluting liquid supply piping extending from a source of the diluting liquid to the diluting liquid passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the flow of the diluting liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 13

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 14

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 15

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a diluting liquid supply piping extending from a source of diluting liquid to the upstream passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the flow of the diluting liquid from the source of diluting liquid to the upstream passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 16

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, so as to confront with each other for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a diluting liquid supply piping extending from a source of diluting liquid to the upstream passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the flow of the diluting liquid from the source of diluting liquid to the upstream passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 17

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member inter­vening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size comparable to the fine particles; a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid therethrough; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 18

A particle analyzer which comprises: a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isola­tion; upstream and downstream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension; a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member inter­vening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size comparable to the fine particles; a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid therethrough; and a cleansing passage means communicated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid.

Claim 19

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member intervening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size compara­ble to the fine particles, a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid; and a cleansing passage means communi­cated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a diluting liquid supply piping extending from a source of diluting liquid to the upstream passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the flow of the diluting liquid towards the diluting liquid passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling 40 the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.

Claim 20

A particle analyzing system which comprises: a particle analyzer comprising a constricted passage means for the passage of fine particles contained in a suspension therethrough for isolation, upstream and down­stream passage means communicated with the constricted passage means and positioned on upstream and downstream sides of the constricted passage means with respect to the direction of flow of the suspension, a detecting means including upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream passage means, respectively, for detecting the fine particles being passed through the constricted passage means, said upstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a first porous member intervening therebetween, said downstream electrodes being positioned on respective sides of the constricted passage means with a second porous member intervening therebetween, each of said first and second porous members having micropores effective to pass ions therethrough, but to block particles of a size compara­ble to the fine particles, a diluting liquid passage means communicated with the upstream passage means for the supply of a diluting liquid; and a cleansing passage means communi­cated with either one of the upstream and downstream passage means for the supply of a cleansing liquid; a container for accommodating the suspension and communicated with the upstream passage, said suspension being supplied to the particle analyzer by means of a valving operation; a discharge piping leading from the downstream passage means to a discharge port and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the discharge of the suspension which has flowed through the constricted passage means; a diluting liquid supply piping extending from a source of diluting liquid to the upstream passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling the flow of the diluting liquid towards the diluting liquid passage means; a cleansing liquid supply piping extending from a source of the cleansing liquid to the cleansing passage means and having a valve disposed thereon for controlling 40 the supply of the cleansing liquid; and a sensor included in the detecting means for detecting the change in impedance between the upstream and downstream electrodes.