A sheath flow type flow-cell device

Claim 2

A sheath flow type flow-cell device for photo-­particle-analyzer comprising a substantially flat top surface (2), at least one first inlet (3) for sheath fluid (4), at least one first flow passage (5) communicated with said at least one first inlet (3) and contracted toward downstream to be a straight capillary flow passage (6), a discharge port (7) provided at a terminal end of said straight capillary flow passage (6), a second inlet (8) for sample fluid (9), a second flow passage (10) for sample fluid communicated with said second inlet (8) and contracted toward downstream to be opened within said at least one first flow passage (5) so as to keep a part of said at least one first flow passage (5) above and below an opening (12) of said second flow passage (10), said opening (12) being faced in the same direction as said straight capillary flow passage (6), and coupling portions (13) for sealingly coupling with said photo-particle-analyzer respectively provided at said first and second inlets and said discharge port.

Claim 3

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wall portion (15) on which said second flow passage (10) is opened is rounded.

Claim 4

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wall portion (15) is chamfered.

Claim 5

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a pair of projections (18) for guiding a flow of said sample fluid (9) in said at least one first flow passage (5), said pair of projections (18) extending from said wall portion (15).

Claim 6

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pair of projections (18) for guiding a flow of said sample fluid (9) in said at least one first flow passage (5), said pair of projections (18) extending from said wall potion (15).

Claim 7

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow-cell device (1) is formed by upper and lower plates (21, 22); said upper plate (21) being formed with a part (5′) of said at least one first flow passage, a part (10′) of said second flow passage and a part (6′) of said capillary flow passage, said lower plate (22) being formed with the other part (5ʺ) of said at least one first flow passage; the other part (10ʺ) of said second flow passage, said at least one first inlet (3), said second inlet (8), said discharge port (7) and said coupling portions (13).

Claim 8

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed claim 1, wherein said flow-cell device (1) comprises a plurality of laminated plates (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) on which formed are respective predetermined patterns which form said at least one first inlet (3), said at least one first flow passage (5), said discharge port (7) and said second flow passage (10) when said plurality of plates are overlapped each other.

Claim 9

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of laminated plates (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) are made of glass.

Claim 10

A sheath flow type flow-cell device as claimed in claim 7, said plurality of laminated plates are made of glass plates (24, 26, 28) and synthetic resin plates (25, 27) such as polyimide and said glass plates and said synthetic resin plates are disposed alternately.

Claim 11

A photo-cell-analyzer comprising a first pump (31) for feeding suspension of cells (44); a diluting apparatus (32) for diluting said suspension of cells (44) and connected to said first pump (31); a dyeing apparatus (33) for dyeing said suspension of cells (44) and connected to said diluting apparatus (32); a second pump (35) for feeding sheath fluid (4); a flow-cell device (1) comprising a substantially flat top surface (2), at least one first inlet (3) for sheath fluid, at least one first flow passage (5) communicated with said at least one first inlet and contracted toward downstream to be a straight capillary flow passage (6), a discharge port (7) provided at a terminal end of said straight capillary flow passage, a second inlet (8) for suspension of cells, a second flow passage (10) for suspension of cells communicated with said second inlet and contracted toward downstream to be opened within said at least one first flow passage so as to keep a part of said at least one first flow passage above and below an opening (12) of said second flow passage, and said opening being faced in the same direction as said straight capillary flow passage, said at least one first inlet being connected to said second pump and said second inlet being connected to said dyeing apparatus; a light source (36) for emitting a light beam (46); a condenser lens (37) for applying said light beam on said suspension of cells in said capillary flow passage; an objective lens (38) disposed on a side of said substantially flat top surface and collecting fluorescence and scattering light from said cells, a half mirror (39) for separating said fluorescence from said scattering light; a first photo-detector (40) for detecting said scattering light; a second photo-detector (41) for detecting said fluorescence; and a signal processor (42) connected to said first and second photo-detectors.

Claim 12

A photo-cell-analyzer comprising a first pump (31) for feeding suspension of cells (44); a diluting apparatus (32) for diluting said suspension of cells (44) and connected to said first pump (31); a dyeing apparatus (33) for dyeing said suspension of cells (44) and connected to said diluting apparatus (32); a second pump (35) for feeding sheath fluid (4); a flow-cell device (1) comprising a substantially flat top surface (2), at least one first inlet (3) for sheath fluid, at least one first flow passage (5) communicated with said at least one first inlet and contracted toward downstream to be a straight capillary flow passage (6), a discharge port (7) provided at a terminal end of said straight capillary flow passage, a second inlet (8) for suspension of cells, a second flow passage (10) for suspension of cells communicated with said second inlet and contracted toward downstream to be opened within said at least one first flow passage so as to keep a part of said at least one first flow passage above and below an opening (12) of said second flow passage, and said opening being faced in the same direction as said straight capillary flow passage, said at least one first inlet being connected to said second pump and said second inlet being connected to said dyeing apparatus; a light source (36) for emitting a light beam (46); a condenser lens (37) for applying said light beam on said suspension of cells in said capillary flow passage; an objective lens (38) disposed on a side of said substantially flat top surface and collecting fluorescence and scattering light from said cells, a half mirror (39) for separating said fluorescence from said scattering light; a first photo-detector (40) for detecting said scattering light; a second photo-detector (41) for detecting said fluorescence; and a signal processor (42) connected to said first and second photo-detectors.

Claim 13

A photo-cell-analyzer as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a hemolysis apparatus (34) arranged between said dyeing apparatus and said second inlet of said flow-cell device.

Claim 14

A photo-cell-analyzer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one first inlet comprises two inlets (3a, 3b) and two pressure controllers (51, 52) are respectively connected to said two inlets.

Claim 15

A photo-particle-detector comprising feeding means (48) for feeding fluid carrying particles, a pump (35) for feeding sheath fluid; a flow-cell device (1) comprising a substantially flat top surface (2), at least one first inlet (3) for sheath fluid, at least one first flow passage (5) communicated with said at least one first inlet and contracted toward downstream to be a straight capillary flow passage (6), a discharge port (7) provided at a terminal end of said straight capillary flow passage, a second inlet (8) for fluid carrying particles, a second flow passage (10) for fluid carrying particles communicated with said second inlet and contracted toward downstream to be opened within said at least one first flow passage so as to keep a part of said at least one first flow passage above and below an opening (12) of said second flow passage, and said opening being faced in the same direction as said straight capillary flow passage, said at least one first inlet being connected to said pump and said second inlet being connected to said feeding means; a light source (36) for emitting a light beam, a condenser lens (37) for applying said light beam on said fluid carrying particles in said capillary flow passage; an objective lens (38) disposed on a side of said substantially flat top surface and collecting scattering light from said particles; a photo-detector (40) for detecting said scattering light; and a signal processor (49) connected to said photo-detector.

Claim 16

A photo-particle-detector comprising feeding means (48) for feeding fluid carrying particles, a pump (35) for feeding sheath fluid; a flow-cell device (1) comprising a substantially flat top surface (2), at least one first inlet (3) for sheath fluid, at least one first flow passage (5) communicated with said at least one first inlet and contracted toward downstream to be a straight capillary flow passage (6), a discharge port (7) provided at a terminal end of said straight capillary flow passage, a second inlet (8) for fluid carrying particles, a second flow passage (10) for fluid carrying particles communicated with said second inlet and contracted toward downstream to be opened within said at least one first flow passage so as to keep a part of said at least one first flow passage above and below an opening (12) of said second flow passage, and said opening being faced in the same direction as said straight capillary flow passage, said at least one first inlet being connected to said pump and said second inlet being connected to said feeding means; a light source (36) for emitting a light beam, a condenser lens (37) for applying said light beam on said fluid carrying particles in said capillary flow passage; an objective lens (38) disposed on a side of said substantially flat top surface and collecting scattering light from said particles; a photo-detector (40) for detecting said scattering light; and a signal processor (49) connected to said photo-detector.

Claim 17

A photo-particle-detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one first inlet comprises two inlets (3a, 3b) and two pressure controllers (51, 52) are respectively connected to said two inlets.