Methods and apparatuses for correcting coincidence count errors in a particle analyzer having a sensing zone through which the particles flow

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 in which the sensing zone arrangement is caused to operate according to the Coulter method of particle sensing.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1 in which the sensing zone arrangement is caused to operate according to optical sensing methods.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1 in which said step of developing includes the passing of equal volumes of particle sample separately through at least two sensing zones the critical volumes of which having a known ratio R, and arranging pulse count accumulating of the trains of pulses such that the pulse count of each train comes solely from its sensing zone.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 4 in which said steps include employing the function ##EQU18## in which N R is the coincidence corrected count, R is the ratio of the critical volumes of the sensing zones, and n and n R are the number of pulses from the sensing zones of critical volume ratio R.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 1 in which said step of developing includes the forming of at least two different dilutions of known dilution ratio of the particle sample and of the same volume, and passing such dilutions separately through a single sensing zone to separately develop the pulse trains for accumulating of their pulses.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 6 in which said steps include employing the function ##EQU19## in which N r is the coincidence corrected count, b is the volume of the dilution, r is the dilution ratio factor, and n and n r are the number of pulses separately resulting from the two dilutions.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 6 which further comprises the step of mathematically operating upon the accumulated pulses in terms of critical volume of the sensing zone and deriving as a resultant the critical volume.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 8 in which said step of mathematic operating employs the equation ##EQU20## in which the dilution ratio r is 2 and therefore n r becomes n 2 , K is the critical volume of the sensing zone, and n and n 2 are the number of pulses separately resulting from the two dilutions.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 1 in which said step of developing includes the sequential passing of volumes of particle sample separately through at least two sensing zones of the optic type, in which a beam of light projects through a stream of particles, the critical volumes of the sensing zones having a known ratio R, and arranging pulse count accumulating of the trains of pulses such that the pulse count of each train comes solely from its sensing zone.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 10 in which the critical volume ratio R is defined by effectively changing the slit width of the beam of light.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 11 in which said steps include employing the function ##EQU21## in which N R is the calculated number of particles, n is the registered pulse count after C cycles, R is the critical volume ratio multiplier, F is the fluid flow rate through the sensing zone, C is the number of cycles in the counting period, and T is the time cycle.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 13 in which said steps include employing the function ##EQU22## in which the dilution ratio r is 2 and therefore n r becomes n 2 , K is the critical volume of the sensing zone, and n and n 2 are the number of pulses separately resulting from the two dilutions.

Claim 17

Apparatus for use in the correction of primary and secondary coincident particle count variations and thereby for obtaining a resultant coincidence corrected particle count for a particle analyzer of the sensing zone type, comprising: means for generating a plurality of trains of particle pulses, said generating means including at least one sensing zone arrangement and means for supplying at least one measured volume of a sample of particles for passage through the sensing zone arrangement for the development of pulses from each of the pulse trains; said generating means further including control means in interconnecting said sensing zone arrangement and said supplying means for controlling sample passage and particle pulse generation; said supplying means, sensing zone arrangement, and control means being intercoupled for establishing of at least one of the ratio, other than unity, of sample dilutions, sample volumes, and sensing zone volumes such that the pulse development results in a different number of pulses in each train and the trains possess a coincidence count interrelated mathematic function relationship with respect to the number of pulses in each train pertaining to their coincidence corrected count in terms exclusive of any other unknowns; and the number of pulses in each train along with the employed ratios provide all of the mathematic factors required in the solving of a specific coincidence correction equation for a resultant coincidence corrected particle count.

Claim 18

Apparatus for use in the correction of primary and secondary coincident particle count variations and thereby for obtaining a resultant coincidence corrected particle count for a particle analyzer of the sensing zone type, comprising: means for generating a plurality of trains of particle pulses, said generating means including at least one sensing zone arrangement and means for supplying at least one measured volume of a sample of particles for passage through the sensing zone arrangement for the development of pulses from each of the pulse trains; said generating means further including control means in interconnecting said sensing zone arrangement and said supplying means for controlling sample passage and particle pulse generation; said supplying means, sensing zone arrangement, and control means being intercoupled for establishing of at least one of the ratio, other than unity, of sample dilutions, sample volumes, and sensing zone volumes such that the pulse development results in a different number of pulses in each train and the trains possess a coincidence count interrelated mathematic function relationship with respect to the number of pulses in each train pertaining to their coincidence corrected count in terms exclusive of any other unknowns; and the number of pulses in each train along with the employed ratios provide all of the mathematic factors required in the solving of a specific coincidence correction equation for a resultant coincidence corrected particle count.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15 in which said sensing zone is a Coulter-type scanning aperture.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15 in which said sensing zone is of an optical type.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 15 including accumulating means for accumulating separately the pulses from each of the pulse trains as output count signals in which said generating means includes a supply of the sample wherein the improvement comprises: at least two sensing zones, the critical volumes of which are of a known ratio R, said generating means being thus constructed and arranged with respect to said controlling means for the passing of equal volumes of the particle sample separately through said sensing zones, and determining the mode of accumulating by said accumulating means, such that the pulses of each train comes solely from its sensing zone.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 18 in which computation means is provided to perform the mathematic operation ##EQU23## in which, N R is the coincidence corrected count, R is the ratio of the critical volumes of the sensing zones, and n and n R are the number of pulses from the sensing zones of critical volume ratio R.

Claim 23

The apparatus according to claim 15 including accumulating means for accumulating separately the pulses from each of the pulse trains as output count signals in which said sensing zone arrangement has only a single sensing zone, wherein the improvement comprises: said supplying means includes means for the forming of at least two different dilutions of known dilution ratio of the particle sample and of the same volume for the passing of such dilutions separately through the single sensing zone, to separately develop the pulse trains for the accumulating by said accumulating means.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 20 in which computation means is provided to perform the mathematic operation ##EQU24## in which N r is the coincidence corrected count, b is the volume of the dilution, r is the dilution ratio factor, and n and n r are the number of pulses separately resulting from the two dilutions.

Claim 25

The apparatus according to claim 20 in which computation means further is provided for mathematically operating upon the accumulated output count signals in terms of the critical volume of the sensing zone and thereby for deriving as a resultant the critical volume.

Claim 26

The apparatus according to claim 22 in which said computation means is constructed to perform the mathematic operation ##EQU25## in which the dilution ratio is 2 and therefore n r becomes n 2 , K is the critical volume of the sensing zone, and n and n 2 are the number of pulses separately resulting from the two dilutions.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 20 in which computation means is coupled to receive the trains of pulses, wherein the improvement comprises: said means for controlling sample flow is linked to said computation means for controlling its operation, and said computation means comprises an up-down counter.

Claim 28

The apparatus according to claim 15 in which said generating means includes a supply of the sample and is arranged to sequentially define at least two sensing zones of the optic type in which a beam of light projects through a stream of particles, the critical volumes of the sensing zones are of a known ratio R, said generating means being thus constructed and arranged with respect to said control means for the passing of volumes of the particle sample separately through said sensing zones, such that the pulses of each train comes solely from its sensing zone.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 25 in which computation means is coupled to receive the trains of pulses, wherein the improvement comprises: said control means is coupled between said sensing zone arrangement and said computation means, for at least detecting the then present critical sensing volume and thereby for controlling the operation of said computation means.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 26 in which said computation means is an up-down counter.

Claim 31

The apparatus according to claim 25 in which said generating means includes means for changing the critical volume ratio by changing the slit width of the beam of light.

Claim 32

The apparatus according to claim 28 in which computation means is provided to perform the mathematic operation ##EQU26## in which N R is the calculated number of particles, n is the registered pulse count after C cycles, R is the critical volume ratio multiplier, F is the fluid flow rate through the sensing zone, C is the number of cycles in the counting period, and T is the time cycle.

Claim 33

The apparatus according to claim 28 in which the means for changing the critical volume ratio comprises a rotatable disc having a plurality of different segments of different radius and subtended angles, for determinably intercepting the beam of light so as to change its cross section prior to its projection into the stream of particles.

Claim 34

Apparatus for use in the determination of the critical volume of the sensing zone in a particle analyzer of the sensing zone type wherein coincident particle count variations occur, comprising: means for generating a first and a second train of particle pulses, said generating means including one sensing zone and supply means for supplying two different dilutions of equal volumes of a sample of particles sequentially through the sensing zone of the particle analyzer, said supply means and sensing zone arrangement being intercoupled for establishing a ratio, other than unity, of sample dilutions and a different number of pulses in each of the pulse trains such that an interrelated mathematic function relationship is established with respect to the number of pulses in each train pertaining to the critical volume of the sensing zone, in which the only unknowns in such relationship are the number of pulses in each train, and the number of pulses and said ratio being all of the mathematic factors required in the solving of a specific critical volume equation for the critical volume of the sensing zone.

Claim 35

Apparatus for use in the determination of the critical volume of the sensing zone in a particle analyzer of the sensing zone type wherein coincident particle count variations occur, comprising: means for generating a first and a second train of particle pulses, said generating means including one sensing zone and supply means for supplying two different dilutions of equal volumes of a sample of particles sequentially through the sensing zone of the particle analyzer, said supply means and sensing zone arrangement being intercoupled for establishing a ratio, other than unity, of sample dilutions and a different number of pulses in each of the pulse trains such that an interrelated mathematic function relationship is established with respect to the number of pulses in each train pertaining to the critical volume of the sensing zone, in which the only unknowns in such relationship are the number of pulses in each train, and the number of pulses and said ratio being all of the mathematic factors required in the solving of a specific critical volume equation for the critical volume of the sensing zone.

Claim 36

The apparatus according to claim 31 in which computation means is provided to perform the mathematic operation ##EQU27## in which the dilution ratio is 2 and therefore n r becomes n 2 , K is the critical volume of the sensing zone, and n and n 2 are the number of pulses separately resulting from the two dilutions.