JP5086335B2 - Flow cell and particle shape analyzer equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow cell used when acquiring morphological information of particles suspended in a liquid and a particle shape analysis apparatus including the flow cell.

  Particles used in each process for quality control in water production plants such as water and sewage, agricultural water, industrial water, and various plants such as chemical industry, petroleum / petrochemical industry, bio industry, food industry, etc. The shape measurement is performed. In particular, in a production plant for high-performance products, shape analysis of smaller particles is performed in order to produce higher-performance products.

  As a technique for analyzing the shape of such a particle, a method of analyzing the shape by photographing a particle in which particles are dispersed by dry dispersion or wet dispersion with a microscope or the like has been generally performed. In the dry dispersion method, particles are dispersed on a preparation, and these particles are photographed and analyzed. However, this method has a problem that the particles cannot be reliably dispersed due to aggregation / adhesion / overlap of particles, and accurate shape analysis of a single particle cannot be performed.

  On the other hand, the method by wet dispersion is to disperse particles (dispersoid) in a dispersion medium, photograph the particles in that state, and analyze the shape. However, with this method, the particles are three-dimensionally dispersed in the dispersion medium, so that there is a problem that even if the image is taken with a microscope or the like in this state, most of the particles cannot be focused. .

  To solve this problem, create a sample flow in which the sample liquid containing particles is wrapped in a carrier liquid, and pass the sample flow through the flow cell to make it a flat flow. There is a way to pass. And using this method, a particle image analyzer that automatically calculates the size, shape, etc. of particles is proposed by imaging particles contained in a sample flow and storing and analyzing the shape of the particles. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  The flow cell used in such a particle image analyzer is connected to a throttle part formed so as to restrict the width in one direction of the flow path through which the sample flow flows from both sides, and to the downstream side of the throttle part. The parallel part which forms a flow path is comprised, and the permeation | transmission part which the light for imaging | photography (observation) of a particle | grain is permeate | transmitted is provided in the parallel part (for example, refer patent document 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-126988 JP 2006-84243 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-18275

  However, in the flow cell as described above, since the transmission part is provided in the parallel part, the above-described particle image analyzer captures the sample flow flowing in the linear path. And the sample flow which flows in such a linear flow path turns into a shear flow with the constant flow velocity in the surface where the distance from a parallel part surface is the same. For example, when two particles contained in the center of the sample flow flow into a linear flow path in a state where they overlap, the two particles are detected as one particle by the particle image analyzer. Therefore, there is a problem that the shape of the particles cannot be detected accurately.

  Further, since the shear flow field formed by such shear flow generates vorticity, there is an action of rotating or stirring the particles in the shear flow field. Therefore, when the sample flow flows through the linear flow path, the particles contained in the sample flow are rotated, stirred and diffused, and the particles are moved to a position other than the focal position of the microscope. . As a result, there has been a problem that the particle image analyzer cannot accurately obtain morphological information of particles maintained in a specific posture.

  Further, in the straight flow path, the flow velocity of the sample flow is the fastest at the center portion due to the wall surface effect, and becomes slower as it approaches the wall surface (as it approaches the outer edge of the flow cell). As a result, the moving speed of the particles included in the sample flow varies in the width direction of the parallel portion according to the relative position of the particles with respect to the central portion of the sample flow. Thus, for example, particles in a state where they are separated in the flow direction (from upstream to downstream) and the relative position in the width direction of the parallel portion with respect to the center portion of the sample flow are different (non-overlapping) are linear. Even if it flows into the flow path, two particles overlap in the permeation section due to the influence of the flow velocity distribution of the sample flow in the linear flow path. There was a problem that the shape or the like could not be detected accurately. That is, the particle P1 that has flowed ahead of the linear flow path in a state that is located on the surface side of the parallel part from the central part of the sample flow, and the particle P1 that is in the state that is located in the central part of the sample flow. The particle P2 flowing into the linear flow path overlaps at the transmission part, and the particle P1 and the particle P2 are detected as one particle by the particle image analyzer, and as a result, accurate morphological information of the particle is obtained. There was a problem that could not be.

  In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention has high flow stability, has a low probability of being in a state where a plurality of particles are overlapped, and obtains morphological information of particles in a state maintained in a specific posture. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow cell capable of generating a sample flow that can be generated and a particle shape analyzer including the flow cell.

According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, a flow path is formed in which a sample flow in which a sample liquid containing particles is wrapped in a carrier liquid flows, and a throttle portion formed so as to squeeze the flow path; A flow cell having a permeation portion that passes through, and the width of the throttle section in the cross-sectional shape of the flow path decreases in inverse proportion to the distance from the upstream end of the throttle section toward the downstream side, and The flow passage is formed so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path continuously decreases and the deformation flow rate of the sample flow flowing in the flow path is constant, and the permeation section is provided in the throttle section. It is in the flow cell characterized by having.
Here, the steady plane extension flow is the flow velocity of the sample flow in the same part in the flow channel (in the flow channel part having the same distance from the upstream end of the flow channel) and in the same surface from the throttle surface. Is a constant extension flow state in which the velocity in the flow direction of the sample flow increases at a constant rate in accordance with the distance from the upstream end of the throttle portion.

In the first aspect, since a sample flow having a steady plane extension flow can be generated, a constant stress (plane extension stress) acts as a tension in the flow direction, thereby improving the flow stability of the sample flow. it can. In addition, in the case of steady plane extension flow, the sample flow always continues to be stretched in the flow direction as it flows in the flow path, and as a result, the probability that a plurality of particles overlap in the flow path is reduced. There is an effect. In addition, a constant force perpendicular to the flow direction is always applied to the particles contained in the sample flow, so that the particles are not subject to the most fluid resistance in the flow path without rotating and diffusing the particles. And can be moved in the flow path. Furthermore, since the cross-sectional area of the flow path is continuously reduced, the thickness of the sample flow in the permeation section can be made extremely thin, and the position and thickness of the sample flow in the flow cell can be easily and precisely set. Can be controlled. Here, the plane extension flow is a two-dimensional flow field. In the main flow direction, the velocity increases as the moving distance increases, and in the direction perpendicular to it, the velocity toward the center of the flow field is generated. State. Furthermore, the steady plane stretching flow is a state in which the stretching speed is uniform both spatially and temporally in the plane stretching flow. In order to realize this, it is necessary to form a flow field in which the velocity of the main flow in the flow path increases at a constant rate according to the distance from the upstream side of the throttle under a constant flow rate condition.
Incidentally, there are three forms of extension flow, which are called uniaxial extension flow, biaxial extension flow, and plane extension flow, respectively. Among these, it is the plane extension flow that has the characteristic of controlling the posture of the tabular grains. A flow field in which the rate of increase of the extension velocity, that is, the velocity in the main flow direction of the flow field with respect to the flow direction is constant is referred to as steady extension flow. Steady plane stretching flow exhibits stable particle attitude control characteristics because the force related to flow orientation acting on particles does not change during flow.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the throttle portion is formed such that the flow path has a rectangular cross section , and the thickness of the rectangular portion is continuously changed without changing the depth dimension . It exists in the flow cell of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the second aspect, the flow cell can be easily manufactured.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the restricting portion is formed so as to restrict the width in one direction of the flow path from both sides, and the distance from the center of the flow path in the one direction is upstream of the restricting portion. The flow cell according to the second aspect, wherein the flow cell is formed so as to decrease in inverse proportion to the distance from the end.

  In the third aspect, the flow cell can be more easily produced.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the restricting portion is formed so as to restrict the width in one direction of the flow path from one side, and the width in one direction of the flow path in the one direction is upstream of the restricting portion. The flow cell according to the second aspect, wherein the flow cell is formed so as to decrease in inverse proportion to the distance from the end.

  In the fourth aspect, the flow cell can be more easily produced as in the third aspect.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the flow cell according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the transmission unit is provided at a downstream end of the throttle unit. is there.

  In the fifth aspect, since the rate of change of the distance between the upper throttle portion and the lower throttle portion becomes smaller toward the downstream side of the throttle portion, the flow located on the upstream side and the downstream side of the transmission portion is reduced. The difference in the vertical width of the path is reduced, and the thickness of the sample flow can be reduced. As a result, all particles can be passed near the focal point of a CCD camera or the like, and as a result, a particle image can be acquired more accurately.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention resides in the flow cell according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein all members are constituted by a transmissive member.

  In the sixth aspect, the flow of the sample flow flowing in the flow cell can be easily observed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the deformation rate of the sample flow continuously increases until the throttle portion is halfway from the upstream end to the downstream end, and from the middle to the downstream end, The flow cell according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the flow is formed so as to be a steady plane extension flow in which the deformation speed of the sample flow is constant.
According to this aspect, as a result of suppressing the disturbance of the sample flow at the entrance of the throttle portion as much as possible, a more continuous flow can be obtained. As a result, the probability that a plurality of particles overlap in the flow path can be further reduced.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample flow preparation unit for preparing a sample flow in which a sample liquid containing particles is wrapped with a carrier liquid, and the flow cell according to any one of the first to seventh aspects ,
A particle detection unit that detects light contained in the sample flow by irradiating light from the transmission unit of the flow cell; and an analysis unit that analyzes the output of the particle detection unit and calculates the morphological information of the particles. It is in the particle shape analyzer.

  In the seventh aspect, a large number of accurate particle images can be acquired in a short time, and morphological information of these particles can be measured in a short time and with high accuracy.

  According to the present invention, a sample flow that has high flow stability, has a low probability of being in a state in which a plurality of particles are overlapped, and can obtain morphological information of particles in a specific posture. And a particle shape analyzer including the flow cell can be provided.

  In addition, when the particles included in the sample flow are elongated particles such as fibrous particles, even if they are included in the sample flow in a twisted state or the like, the flow path is caused by the above-described steady plane extension flow. Since there will be a velocity difference between the upstream and downstream portions of the particles in the interior, the sample flow will be stretched with respect to the flow direction. As a result, aggregation of the particles can be prevented and the particles can be oriented in one direction, and the morphological information can be obtained more accurately.

  Furthermore, since the cross-sectional area of the flow path is continuously reduced, the thickness of the sample flow in the permeation section can be made extremely thin, and the position and thickness of the sample flow in the flow cell can be easily and precisely set. Can be controlled.

1 is a schematic diagram of a particle shape analyzer according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an observation unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a flow cell according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the flow cell according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of particles flowing in the flow cell according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a flow path in the flow cell according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the schematic sectional drawing of the upper part of the flow cell which concerns on Embodiment 2, and the plane expansion | extension speed in a flow cell. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the longitudinal direction of the flow cell which concerns on other embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Particle shape analyzer, 10 Dispersion unit, 20 Pump unit, 30 Observation unit, 31 Sample flow preparation part, 32, 32A, 32B Flow cell, 33 Light irradiation part, 34 Particle detection part, 40 Analysis unit, 50 Control unit, 321 , 321A, 321B Aperture part, 322, 322B transmission part, 325 flow path, 326, 326A upstream opening, 327, 327A downstream opening, 331 light source, 332 rotating filter, 341 CCD camera, 342 lens

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. The description of the present embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the following description.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a particle shape analyzer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the particle shape analysis apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a dispersion unit 10, a pump unit 20 connected to the dispersion unit 10, an observation unit 30 connected to the pump unit 20, and an observation unit. The analysis unit 40 is an analysis unit connected to 30 and the control unit 50 is connected to all of them. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the observation unit 30 includes a sample flow preparation unit, a flow cell, and a particle detection unit.

  The dispersion unit 10 has a function of dispersing particles to be analyzed in the sample solution and supplying the sample solution to the pump unit 20. For example, a funnel-shaped feeding device with a built-in stirrer having a powerful stirring function may be used.

  The pump unit 20 has a function of supplying the sample liquid supplied from the dispersion unit 10 and the carrier liquid stored in advance to the observation unit 30, and can accurately control the supply amount of each liquid. It has a function.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the observation unit 30 is sandwiched between a sample flow preparation unit 31, a flow cell 32 provided with a transmission unit 322 that transmits light, and a transmission unit 322 of the flow cell 32, which will be described in detail later. The light irradiation unit 33 and the particle detection unit 34 are arranged.

  The sample flow preparation unit 31 has a function of using the sample liquid and the carrier liquid supplied from the pump unit 20 to generate a sample flow in which the sample liquid is wrapped with the carrier liquid and supplying the sample flow to the flow cell. is there.

  The sample flow preparation unit 31 includes, for example, a tubular member having a rectangular cross section through which a carrier liquid flows and a sample nozzle that is inserted into the upstream central portion of the tubular member and discharges the sample liquid, and flows through the tubular member. And the like that can inject a sample liquid into the central part of the.

  The light irradiation unit 33 includes a light source 331 such as a strobe light and a rotary filter 332, and has a high-speed shutter function. On the other hand, the particle detection unit 34 includes a CCD camera 341 and a lens 342. The particle detection unit 34 receives the light emitted from the light source 331 and transmitted through the sample flow to acquire a particle image, and sends the information to the outside. It can be output. Therefore, the observation unit 30 can acquire a large number of clear particle images in a short time and continuously by the light irradiation unit 33 and the particle detection unit 34 and output them to the outside. .

  The analysis unit 40 has a function of analyzing the particle image output from the observation unit 30 and calculating morphological information such as the equivalent circle diameter and maximum length of the particles included in the sample flow. Examples of the analysis unit 40 include a general personal computer and a dedicated computer having such a function.

  The control unit 50 has a function of transmitting a control signal to each unit and controlling each unit. Examples of the control unit 50 include a general personal computer and a dedicated computer having such functions, and the control unit 50 and the analysis unit 40 may be configured by the same personal computer.

  Next, the flow cell 32 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the flow cell according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the flow cell according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the flow cell 32 is formed of a rectangular parallelepiped member made of glass, metal, or the like. A rectangular upstream opening 326 is provided on the left side surface and the vertical side surface is provided on the right side surface. A flat rectangular downstream opening 327 is provided. Further, in the flow cell 32, a throttle portion formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the flow path 325 so as to be throttled from the vertical direction over the entire flow path 325 connecting the upstream opening 326 and the downstream opening. 321 is provided. A transmission part 322 made of a transparent member such as transparent acrylic resin or glass is provided on the downstream side of the throttle part 321. That is, in the transmission part 322, the flow path 325 is slightly restricted from the vertical direction. Therefore, by configuring the flow cell 32 in this manner, it is possible to take a particle image of particles contained in the sample flow while receiving the effect of the throttle unit 321 described later. In addition, such a flow cell 32 arranges two members in which the throttle part 321 is formed so that the surfaces on which the throttle part 321 is formed are opposed to each other, and a flow path formed between the two members. It can be produced by closing both side surfaces with plate-like members.

  Here, the throttle portion 321 is concretely configured so that the distance y from the center of the flow path 325 (indicated by the line LL ′ in FIG. 4) decreases in inverse proportion to the distance x from the upstream end of the throttle portion. Specifically, it is formed so as to satisfy Formula 1 shown below. The same applies to the lower diaphragm portion 321.

(Wherein, a and b are arbitrary constants of a> 0 and b> 0, respectively, and x indicates a distance from the upstream end of the throttle portion.)

By forming the constricted portion 321 in this way, it is possible to improve the flow stability of the sample flow, and when the sample flow flows through the flow path 325, the sample flow is in the flow direction (upstream opening). 326 (downstream opening 327 direction) is always stretched at a constant stretching speed , so that the probability that a plurality of particles are overlapped is reduced. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), even if the particles p1 and p2 exist in the sample flow in an overlapped state, Is flattened in the vertical direction and is always stretched at a constant extension rate in the flow direction, so that the particles p1 and p2 contained in the sample flow are separated as shown in FIG. 5 (b). Will be going. Therefore, the probability that the particle detection unit 34 detects the particle p1 and the particle p2 in a state where the particle p1 and the particle p2 overlap in the vertical direction is low.

In addition, although the influence of the flow velocity distribution of the sample flow exists in the flow path 325, as described above, the sample flow is formed flat in the vertical direction and is continuously stretched at a constant extension speed in the flow direction. Therefore, even if two particles that are not separated from each other in the flow direction flow into the flow path 325, the permeation portion 322 is affected by the influence of the flow velocity distribution of the sample flow in the flow path 325. Thus, there is an effect that the probability that the two particles are overlapped becomes low.

  Furthermore, since the restricting portion 321 is formed so as to satisfy the above-described formula 1, the fluid resistance is the highest in the flow path 325 when flowing into the flow path 325 without rotating the particles included in the sample flow. There is an effect that the particles can be moved while being oriented in an unacceptable posture. That is, when the sample flow flows in the flow path 325, a constant force proportional to a is always applied from the upper restricting portion 321 toward the lower direction based on Newton's viscosity law, A constant force proportional to a is always applied from the throttle unit 321 upward. As a result, a constant force proportional to a is always applied from the upward and downward directions to the particles contained in the sample flow, so that the particles are oriented in a posture that is least subject to fluid resistance in the flow path. In this state, it moves in the flow path.

  Further, since the throttle portion 321 is formed so as to satisfy the above-described formula 1, the cross-sectional area of the flow path continuously decreases. Therefore, by adjusting the position of the transmission part 322, the thickness of the sample flow in the transmission part 322 can be extremely reduced, and the position and thickness of the sample flow in the flow cell 32 can be easily and precisely controlled. .

  As described above, according to the particle shape analyzer 1, the probability of detecting particles in a state in which a plurality of particles overlap with each other can be lowered, and the orientation is such that the flow resistance 325 receives the least fluid resistance. Since the particles can be moved, a large number of accurate particle images can be acquired in a short time and the morphological information of these particles can be measured in a short time.

  The flow cell 32 can be designed flexibly according to measurement conditions. Hereinafter, the reason will be described by showing a process of deriving an equation indicating the shape of the throttle portion 321 of the flow cell 32. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the vertical width of the upstream opening is H, and the length from the upstream opening 326 to the downstream opening 327 of the flow path 325 (the total length of the throttle portion 321) is L. Substituting x = 0 and y = H / 2 into Equation 1, the following equation is obtained.

  Further, the cross-sectional area A of the flow path 325 and the flow rate Q of the sample flow at the predetermined position x are expressed by the following equations. Note that v is the flow velocity of the sample flow at the position x. Here, it is assumed that there is no friction between the sample flow and the wall surface.

  Here, the flow velocity v of the sample flow can be expressed by the following equation:

Deformation speed when the sample flow is accelerated in the flow direction of the sample flow at the position x (the direction of flow from the upstream opening 326 to the downstream opening 327) by the following equation obtained by partial differentiation of the equation 5 at the position x: (Plane stretching speed) ε ′ can be indicated.

As shown in this equation, it can be seen that the plane extension velocity ε ′ of the sample flow flowing in the flow path 325 of the flow cell 32 does not depend on the position x and is always constant. Therefore, by substituting Equation 2 and Equation 6 into Equation 1 described above, the following equation is obtained.

On the other hand, the cross-sectional area of the upstream opening 326 and A _1, when the flow rate of the sample flow in the upstream opening 326 and v _1, the flow rate Q can be calculated by the following equation.

Further, when the cross-sectional area of the downstream opening 327 and A _2, the flow rate of the sample flow in the downstream opening 327 v ₂ can be represented by the following equation.

Therefore, by using the relationship ε ′ = (v ₂ −v ₁ ) / L and further substituting Equation 8 and Equation 9 into Equation 7, the following equation is obtained.

As can be seen from this equation, the shape of the throttle part 321 of the flow cell 32 (distance y from the center of the flow path 325 to the throttle part) is the total length L of the flow path, the cross-sectional area A ₁ of the upstream opening 326, and the downstream opening. If the cross-sectional area A ₂ and the flow rate Q of the sample flow are determined, it can be easily determined. That is, the flow cell 32 used in this embodiment can be designed flexibly according to measurement conditions and the like.

  Further, the transmission part 322 formed in the throttle part 321 of the flow cell 32 may be formed in any place within the throttle part 321. Therefore, the transmission part 322 can be designed flexibly according to measurement conditions and the like, but the downstream side of the throttle part 321 is preferable, and it is particularly preferable to be provided at the downstream end. Since the rate of change in the distance between the upper restrictor 321 and the lower restrictor 321 decreases toward the downstream side of the restrictor 321, the flow path 325 positioned on the upstream side and the downstream side of the transmission part 322 is reduced. The difference in the vertical width is reduced. As a result, it is possible to allow particles to pass through the focal range of a CCD camera or the like, and there is an effect that a particle image can be acquired more accurately.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the throttle portion 321 having the above-described shape is formed from the upstream opening 326 to the downstream opening 327 of the flow cell 32, but is formed between the upstream opening 326 and the downstream opening 327. It may be provided anywhere. Even in such a case, it goes without saying that the transmission section must be provided in the aperture section.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, from the upstream side opening 326A (x = 0) of the flow path 325 to the position ξ , the shape of the throttle 321A is such that the sample flow is in the flow direction of the sample flow (downstream from the upstream side opening 326A). Deformation speed (plane extension speed) accelerated in the direction of flow to the side opening 327A) is formed in a shape such that ε ′ increases linearly with respect to the position x, and the downstream opening 327A (x = L) from the position ξ. Up to this point, the sample flow may be formed so that the plane extension speed ε ′ of the sample flow is constant so as to satisfy the above-described formula 1. Needless to say, the diaphragm portion 321A is continuous at the position ξ .

  Even in this case, similarly to the flow cell 32 of the first embodiment, the flow cell 32A can be designed flexibly according to measurement conditions and the like. The reason will be described below.

First, the region of 0 ≦ x ≦ ξ will be described. In the region of 0 ≦ x ≦ ξ, the deformation speed (planar stretching speed) caused by accelerating the sample flow in the flow direction of the sample flow (direction flowing from the upstream opening 326A to the downstream opening 327A) at an arbitrary position x. ε ′ is expressed by the following equation.

Here, since the plane extension speed ε ′ in this region increases linearly with respect to the position x, it can also be expressed by the following equation.

  Therefore, since the following expression is obtained from Expression 11 and Expression 12,

When this equation is integrated by x and x = 0, v = v ₀ (v ₀ indicates the flow velocity of the sample flow at x = 0) is substituted, the following equation is obtained.

  Here, the flow rate Q of the sample flow is expressed as follows:

  Substituting equation 14 into this equation and transforming it yields:

Next, the region of ξ ≦ x ≦ L will be described. In the region of ξ ≦ x ≦ L, the plane extension velocity ε ′ of the sample flow is constant at an arbitrary position x, and the value coincides with the value when x = ξ in Equation 13. From this, the plane extension speed ε ′ in this region is expressed by the following equation.

Therefore, when this equation is integrated by x and the continuity of v at x = ξ is taken into consideration, the following equation is obtained from equations 14 and 17.

  And when this equation is substituted into Equation 15 and transformed,

Is obtained . This gives the shape of the channel in the region of ξ ≦ x ≦ L.

  As can be seen from the above-described equation, the shape of the throttle portion 321A of the flow cell 32A can be easily determined by determining the total length L of the flow path, the position l, the flow rate Q of the sample flow, and the like. That is, the flow cell 32A used in the present embodiment can be designed flexibly according to measurement conditions and the like, similarly to the flow cell 32 of the first embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
In the first and second embodiments, the throttle portions 321 and 321A are formed so that the flow path has a rectangular cross section, but the cross-sectional area of the flow path continuously decreases and the sample flow flowing in the flow path is reduced. What is necessary is just to be formed so that it may become a steady plane extension flow. If this condition is satisfied, the cross section of the channel may be, for example, circular or trapezoidal. Further, in the first and second embodiments, only the width in the vertical direction (one direction) of the flow path is changed in the throttle portions 321 and 321A, but the width in the left and right direction (the other direction) is also changed. It may be. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to Embodiment 1 and 2 is acquired. Note that such a shape of the aperture is calculated using numerical calculation.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as described above, the narrowed portions 321 and 321A that are symmetrical in the vertical direction about the center of the flow path 325 are formed. However, as in the flow cell 32B shown in FIG. You may form so that the distance from the aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part 321B surface to the upper aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part 321B may satisfy | fill Formula 1. FIG. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to Embodiment 1 will be acquired. In the figure, 326 is an upstream opening, 327 is a downstream opening, and 322B is a transmission part. The same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the transmissive part is made of a transparent acrylic resin, quartz glass, or the like, but the transmissive part may be made of a material that does not absorb light having a wavelength used when capturing an image of particles. In addition, all the members constituting the flow cell 32 may be made of a transparent portion with a transparent acrylic resin or quartz glass. By configuring the flow cell 32 in this way, the flow of the sample flow flowing in the flow cell 32 can be easily observed.

Claims (8)

A flow cell in which a flow path through which a sample flow in which a sample liquid containing particles is wrapped with a carrier liquid flows is formed, has a throttle portion formed to throttle the flow channel, and a transmission portion that transmits light,
The width of the throttle section in the cross-sectional shape of the flow path decreases in inverse proportion to the distance from the upstream end to the downstream side of the throttle section, and the cross-sectional area of the flow path continuously decreases, And it is formed so as to be a steady plane extension flow in which the deformation rate of the sample flow flowing in the flow path is constant,
The flow cell characterized in that the transmission part is provided in the throttle part.   The said throttle part is formed so that the said flow path may become a cross-sectional rectangle, and only the thickness is changed continuously, without changing the dimension of the depth of the said rectangular part. Flow cell.   The restricting portion is formed so as to restrict the width in one direction of the flow path from both sides, and the distance from the center of the flow path in the one direction decreases in inverse proportion to the distance from the upstream end of the restricting portion. The flow cell according to claim 2, wherein the flow cell is formed as follows.   The restricting portion is formed so as to restrict the width in one direction of the flow path from one side, and the width in one direction of the flow path in the one direction decreases in inverse proportion to the distance from the upstream end of the restricting portion. The flow cell according to claim 2, wherein the flow cell is formed as follows.   The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is provided at a downstream end of the throttle unit.   All the members are comprised by the permeable member, The flow cell as described in any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The throttle portion continuously increases the deformation speed of the sample flow from the upstream end to the downstream end, and the deformation speed of the sample flow is constant from the middle to the downstream end. The flow cell according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flow cell is formed so as to have a steady plane extension flow. A sample flow preparation section for preparing a sample flow in which a sample liquid containing particles is wrapped in a carrier liquid ;
The flow cell according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A particle detection unit that detects light contained in the sample flow by irradiating light from a transmission unit of the flow cell;
A particle shape analysis apparatus comprising: an analysis unit that analyzes an output of the particle detection unit and calculates morphological information of particles.