WO2009140796A1

WO2009140796A1 - A particle concentration measuring device and method

Info

Publication number: WO2009140796A1
Application number: PCT/CN2008/001007
Authority: WO
Inventors: 郭旻; 杨宏伟; 蔡浩原; 贺伯特·格里布; 卓越; 库特·贝滕豪森
Original assignee: 西门子公司
Priority date: 2008-05-23
Filing date: 2008-05-23
Publication date: 2009-11-26

Abstract

A particle concentration measuring device includes a dielectrophoresis generating unit (200), a measuring unit (300) and a result generating unit (400). The dielectrophoresis generating unit forms an uneven electric field in the particle solution with a preset volume, so that the particles in the particle solution are made to move along a given direction to form a particle mass; the measuring unit measures the width information of the particle mass along the given direction; the result generating unit receives the width information, and then obtains the particle concentration according to the width information and the pre-stored corresponding relation between the width information and the particle concentration.

Description

Device and method for detecting particle concentration

The present invention relates to the field of particle detection, and more particularly to a device and method for detecting particle concentration. Background technique

In industrial fermentation, environmental monitoring, bioanalysis, and clinical diagnostic applications, in order to obtain desired results or to facilitate detection, it is necessary to control the fermentation or cultivation processes of particles, such as animals, plants, or microorganisms. Control relies to a large extent on the measurement of process parameters, especially the measurement of the state parameters of the particles. In the particle state parameter, the content of the particles in the particle solution, which can also be called the particle concentration, is the most important parameter among them. The particle content is usually measured by off-line manual method. Taking cells as an example, for example, one method is: Measurement based on a microscope. Since most cells are translucent, the cells need to be chemically or physically colored before detection to enhance the contrast of the cells under the microscope. In addition, the cell solution needs to be diluted to make each cell easy to observe. As another example, another method is: first, the cells are separated by a centrifuge, and the separated cells are weighed using a balance. However, in these methods, specific fine equipment and experienced operators are required to realize complex, and manual measurement is time consuming and cannot meet the requirements of real-time control. In addition, since only living cells have the ability to reproduce and grow, the cell content is measured. At that time, only the content of living cells is desired, and in the above method, dead cells and living cells cannot be separated.

At present, some online measurement methods have been proposed for the measurement of the particle content. Still taking cells as an example, for example, one method is: integrating a light source and a photodetector in a microprobe, and then immersing the sensor with the microprobe in a bioreactor, because the cells reflect and scatter light, Therefore, the cell content can be detected based on the correspondence between the reflected light and the scattered light and the cell content. However, in this method, the detection results of the micro probe are susceptible to the color and turbidity of the cell solution, as well as the dead cells. Another example, there is one The method comprises the following steps: measuring the permittivity of the cell solution and the cell-free medium solution filtered through the filter cover in the radio frequency range, comparing the two permittivity rates, and obtaining the change of the permittivity caused by the change of the cell content, thereby determining Cell content. However, in this method, the filter cover is easily blocked by cells, and it is necessary to replace or clean the filter cover from time to time.

It can be seen that these online measurement methods are currently susceptible to various factors such as the color of the cell solution, dead cells, and the like. Summary of the invention

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an apparatus for detecting the concentration of particles, and on the other hand, a method for detecting the concentration of particles, so that the detection of the concentration of particles is completed without interference.

The apparatus for detecting the concentration of particles provided by the present invention comprises: a dielectrophoresis generating unit for forming an uneven electric field in a predetermined volume of the microparticle solution, so that the particles in the microparticle solution move in a set direction to form particles. a detection unit, configured to detect width information of the particle stack in the set direction; a result generating unit, receiving the particle pile width information, according to the width information and the stored particle pile width and The corresponding relationship of the particle concentrations gives the concentration of the particles.

Wherein the dielectrophoresis generating unit comprises: a solution chamber having a predetermined volume for holding the particle solution; and a signal generating sub-module for generating N different phase traveling wave signals, N being greater than or An integer equal to 3; a plurality of parallel electrodes including a plurality of parallel electrodes on one side or opposite sides of the solution chamber; N wires for respectively respectively using the N different phase traveling wave signals The in-phase electrodes of the parallel electrodes are connected to generate a traveling wave electric field.

Specifically, each of the traveling wave signals is a sinusoidal signal having an angular frequency of 100 Hz to 100 MHz, an amplitude of 0 to 100 volts, and a phase difference of 360° / N between the signals.

Preferably, the solution chamber (210) is at least partially made of a transparent material; the electrode is made of indium tin oxide.

As a preferred embodiment, the detecting unit comprises: a light source for emitting light to a solution chamber of the dielectrophoresis generating unit; and an optical processing module for receiving light transmitted through the solution chamber to generate One-dimensional or two-dimensional graphic light; one detection mode a block, configured to generate width information of the particle stack in the solution chamber in the set direction according to the light processed by the optical processing module.

In one embodiment, the detection module is a one-dimensional detection module having a linear array of charge coupled devices; the optical processing module includes: a first imaging sub-module having at least one optical lens for receiving The light in the solution chamber, and thereby forming a two-dimensional pattern of light; and, a second imaging sub-module having a cylindrical lens for converting the two-dimensional graphic light into a one-dimensional graphic light.

In another embodiment, the detecting module is a two-dimensional detecting module having a planar charge coupled device array; the optical processing module includes: a first imaging sub-module having at least one optical lens for receiving a transmission The light in the solution chamber is formed, and thereby a two-dimensional pattern of light is formed.

In other alternative embodiments, the detection module is a photodiode array or a photomultiplier or position sensor detector or a photoresistor.

As another preferred embodiment, the detecting unit includes: a capacitance measuring module for measuring capacitance between adjacent parallel electrodes; and a position determining module receiving each of the measured adjacent parallel electrodes And a capacitance value, and determining an edge position of the particle stack in the set direction according to the change of the capacitance value, and generating width information of the particle pile according to the data.

Specifically, the result generating unit is a processor having a storage and computing function. Further, the dielectrophoresis generating unit and a particulate solution storage unit are connected by a liquid processing unit having an injection valve. The liquid processing unit further includes: a cleaning liquid reservoir and an infusion pump for introducing the cleaning liquid into the dielectrophoresis generating unit.

The invention provides a method for detecting the concentration of particles, comprising: applying a traveling wave electric field generated by a plurality of parallel electrodes in a predetermined volume of the sampled particle solution, so that the particles in the particle solution move in a set direction, forming a particle stack; detecting width information of the particle stack in the set direction; collecting the particle pile width information, and obtaining a concentration of the particles according to the width information and a correspondence relationship between the particle pile width and the particle concentration.

As a preferred embodiment, the detecting the width information of the particle stack in the set direction comprises: emitting light to the solution chamber; and receiving the optical lens through the optical lens The light of the solution chamber is formed, and a pattern light is formed; and the width of the particle pile in the set direction is determined according to the pattern light.

As another preferred embodiment, the detecting the width information of the particle stack in the set direction comprises: measuring a capacitance between adjacent electrodes in the parallel electrode; according to a capacitance between adjacent electrodes Varying, determining the edge position of the particle stack in the set direction and thereby determining the width of the particle stack.

It can be seen from the above scheme that in the present invention, a non-uniform electric field is added to the sampled particle solution, and the particles in the particle solution are moved in a set direction to obtain a moving particle pile, and the particle pile is detected in the device. The width in the direction is obtained, and the width information of the particle pile is obtained. Then, according to the width information of the particle pile and the corresponding relationship between the particle pile width and the particle concentration, the concentration of the particles is obtained, thereby realizing the automatic measurement of the particle concentration. For living particles such as cells, since the medium solution can usually enter the dead cells through the cell membrane, the dead cells have a dielectric constant different from that of the living cells, and do not mix into the living cells, so that the measurement of the cell concentration does not occur. Interfered with factors such as dead cells. In addition, there is no need to use the probe in the intrusion solution and the filter cover for filtration, so it is not affected by these external factors. DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the <RTIgt FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a liquid processing unit in the system shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a schematic structural view of a system-intermediate electrophoresis generating unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a traveling wave electric field generating module in the dielectrophoresis generating unit shown in FIG.

Figure 5a and Figure 5b are schematic views of the state of the particles in the particle solution before and after the generation of the traveling wave electric field; Figures 6a and 6b are schematic views of a structure of the detecting unit in the system of Figure 1; Figure 7a shows the detection shown in Figures 6a and 6b. A schematic diagram of the correspondence between the step signal generated by the detecting module and the width of the particle stack in the unit;

Figure 7b is a schematic diagram showing the correspondence relationship between the particle stack width and the particle concentration; Figure 7c is a schematic diagram of step signals for different particle concentrations;

8 is a schematic diagram showing still another structure of the detecting unit in the system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing capacitance measurement of the traveling wave electric field generating module in the dielectrophoresis generating unit shown in FIG.

10 is a schematic structural view of a specific application example in the present invention;

11a and 1b are schematic structural views of a microfluidic chip in the application example shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 11c is another schematic structural view of the microfluidic chip in the application example shown in FIG. 10; An exemplary flow chart of a method of detecting concentration. detailed description

In the present invention, it is considered that dielectrophoresis is a kind of electric uniform electric field which can polarize neutral particles under the action of uneven electric field and the polarized particles generate motion under the action of dielectric power. Dielectrophoresis is produced. Further, in the case of living microparticles such as cells, since the medium solution can normally enter the dead cells through the cell membrane of the dead cells, the dead cells have a dielectric constant consistent with the medium solution and are not mixed into the living cells. Therefore, in the present invention, a detection scheme for particle concentration based on dielectrophoresis is proposed, that is, an uneven electric field is formed in the sampled particle solution, and the particles in the particle solution are moved in a set direction to obtain a moving The particle stack obtains the width information of the particle pile by detecting the width of the particle pile in the set direction, and obtains the concentration of the particles based on the width information of the particle pile and the correspondence between the particle pile width and the particle concentration.

The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an explanatory structural view showing a system for detecting a particle concentration in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the system includes: a liquid processing unit 100, a dielectrophoresis generating unit 200, a detecting unit 300, and a result generating unit 400.

In order to enable the entire system to work together, a logic control unit may be provided, and the logic control unit may be independent of the above units, or may set the function of the logic control unit to any one or any of the above units. Among them. In specific implementation, the logic control unit can be through a computer, or an embedded central processing unit (CPU), or a digital Implemented by a signal processor (DSP), or a programmable logic controller (PLC).

The liquid processing unit 100 is for injecting the sampled microparticle solution into the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200.

In a specific implementation, the liquid processing unit 100 can include an injection valve 110 between the particle solution storage device and the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200, as shown in FIG. 2, for opening under the control of the logic control unit. The self-valve, the microparticle solution in the microparticle solution storage device is injected into the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 under the action of external power (such as pressure or pump power); and the microelectrophoresis is filled with the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 or the injected microparticles. When the solution reaches a predetermined volume, close its own valve. Further, the liquid processing unit 100 may further include a cleaning liquid reservoir 120 and an infusion pump 130. The injection pump 130 is configured to pump the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir 120 into the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 under the control of the logic control unit to clean the dielectrophoresis generating unit. 200. Further, the waste liquid such as the start-up solution or the cleaning liquid processed in the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 can be discharged into the waste liquid storage. In a specific implementation, the liquid processing unit 100 may further include a discharge valve 140 between the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 and the waste liquid storage device, for opening the self valve under the control of the logic control unit, so that the dielectrophoresis The particulate solution in the generating unit 2Q0 is discharged into the waste liquid reservoir; and when the particulate solution is injected into the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200, the valve itself is closed. Alternatively, the discharge valve 140 may not be provided.

The dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to form a non-uniform electric field in the microparticle solution under the control, and to cause particles in the microparticle solution to move in a set direction to obtain a moving microparticle. stack. The uneven electric field may be a traveling wave electric field or other non-uniform electric field.

Taking the traveling wave electric field as an example, the structure of the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 can be as shown in FIG. 3, and includes: a solution chamber 210 and a traveling wave electric field generating module 220.

The solution chamber 210 is for holding a particulate solution from the liquid processing unit 100. The fine particle solution enters the solution chamber 210 through the inlet. After the end of the detection, the waste liquid composed of the fine particle solution is discharged from the outlet, and further, the cleaning liquid can be injected into the solution chamber 210 through the inlet to clean the solution chamber 210, and the waste after washing The liquid is discharged from the outlet.

The traveling wave electric field generating module 220 is configured to generate in the particle solution of the solution chamber 210 Moving in a fixed direction, the moving particle pile is obtained in the particle solution. In a specific implementation, a structure of the traveling wave electric field generating module 220 can be as shown in FIG. 4, and specifically includes: a signal generating sub-module 221, a parallel electrode 222, and a wire 223, which may be implemented in a specific implementation. To be integrated, it can also be discrete.

The signal generating sub-module 221 is configured to generate N traveling wave signals of different phases. Where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. In Figure 4, N is 4, and the generated four different phased traveling wave signals are sinusoidal signals: A = Vsin(a*t), B = Vsin(a *t + 90°), C = Vsin(a *t + 180°; ^nD = Vsin(a*t + 270°), where V is the amplitude of the sinusoidal signal and a is the angular frequency of the sinusoidal signal. In this embodiment, the value of a can range from 100 Hz to 100MHz, V can range from 0 to 100ν _ρ _ _ρ . In Figure 4, the phase difference between adjacent signals in the four signals is 360° / 4 = 90°. Correspondingly, if Ν is 3, then The phase difference between adjacent signals among the three signals is 360°/3 = 120°; if Ν is 5, the phase difference between adjacent signals among the five generated signals is 360°/5 = 72°; When Ν is 6, the phase difference between adjacent signals among the six signals generated is 360°/6 = 60°, and so on, that is, the phase difference between adjacent signals in one signal is 360° I Ν.

Parallel electrode 222 includes a plurality of parallel electrodes that are located on one side or opposite sides of solution chamber 210. In Fig. 4, taking the case of nine electrodes as an example, in general, the number of electrodes is greater than or equal to Ν. The electrode may be made of any electrically conductive material. If the detecting unit 300 is based on optical detection, the conductive material from which the electrode is made should also be light transmissive. For example, the electrode may be made of indium tin oxide (Indium Tin Oxide). . Further, in this embodiment, the distance between the electrodes may range from 0.1 to 500 μm.

The wire 223 is configured to connect the N different phase traveling wave signals to the same phase electrode in the parallel electrode 222. In the case where N is 4 in the present embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the two electrodes separated by three electrodes are the same phase electrodes, that is, the two electrodes separated by (N-1) electrodes are the same phase electrodes. For example, for the case where the number of electrodes in FIG. 4 is 9, there may be: the first wire connects the signal A and the first, fifth, and ninth electrodes in the parallel electrode, and the second wire will signal B. Connected to the 2nd and 6th electrodes in the parallel electrode, the third wire connects the signal C to the 3rd and 7th electrodes in the parallel electrode, and the fourth wire will be in the signal D and the parallel electrode The 4th and 8th electrodes are connected together, and the connection mode causes the signal generation sub-module 221 to generate a traveling wave letter When the number is formed, a traveling wave electric field from right to left in the viewing angle shown in FIG. 4 is formed.

Wherein, when the signal generating sub-module 221 does not generate a traveling wave signal, that is, when A=B=C=D=0, the particle state of the particle solution in the solution chamber 210 is as shown in FIG. 5a, and the signal generating sub-module 221 generates the above. After 4 signals, after a period of time, the particle state of the particle solution in the solution chamber 210 is as shown in Fig. 5b, that is, the particle in the traveling wave electric field from right to left in the viewing angle shown in Fig. 4, under the action of the shaped wave dielectric power , moving from right to left to the left, forming a pile of particles with a small width and located on the left side of the solution chamber.

The detecting unit 300 shown in Fig. 1 is for detecting the width of the particle stack in the set direction (in the present embodiment, the direction of the traveling wave electric field), and generating the width information of the particle pile. The detecting unit 300 may perform detection based on optics, or may perform detection based on electrical.

The composition of the detecting unit 300 can be as shown in Figs. 6a and 6b, and Figs. 6a and 6b are schematic views of a structure of the detecting unit 300. Figure 6a is a front view and Figure 6b is a right view. The detecting unit 300 may include a light source 3 10, an optical processing module 320, and a detecting module 330.

The light source 310 is for emitting light to the solution chamber 210 in the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200.

The optical processing module 320 is configured to receive light transmitted through the solution chamber 210 and optically process the light.

The detecting module 330 is configured to generate width information of the particle stack in the solution chamber (210) in the set direction according to the processed light of the optical processing module 320.

In a specific implementation, the detection module 330 can be a one-dimensional detection module, such as a linear charge coupled device (CCD) array. Accordingly, the lens unit 320 may include: a first imaging sub-module 321 and a second imaging sub-module 322.

The first imaging sub-module 321 is configured to receive light transmitted through the solution chamber 210, and image the light to obtain a two-dimensional graphic light. In specific implementation, the first imaging sub-module can be implemented by a lens group, a spherical lens or an aspheric lens.

The second imaging sub-module 322 is configured to convert the two-dimensional graphic light obtained by the first imaging sub-module 321 into one-dimensional graphic light. In a specific implementation, the second imaging sub-module can be implemented by a cylindrical lens or the like. Alternatively, the detection module 330 can be a two-dimensional detection module, such as a planar CCD array. Accordingly, the lens unit 320 may include only the first imaging sub-module 321 and not the second imaging sub-module 322. At this time, the planar CCD array can directly receive the two-dimensional graphic light obtained by the first imaging sub-module 321 .

The CCD array generates a corresponding step signal according to the pattern light from the optical processing module 320. As shown in FIG. 7a, the step edge position of the step signal corresponds to the edge position of the particle pile in the solution chamber 210. The width before the step of the jump signal corresponds to the width of the particle stack in the solution chamber 210. Further, the correspondence between the width of the particle pile in the predetermined volume of the particle solution in the solution chamber 210 and the concentration of the particles in the entire particle solution can be obtained in advance by empirical data or experimental means. For example, for a rectangular solution chamber 210 having a rectangular cross section and a main viewing surface, a linear relationship between the width of the particle stack and the concentration of the particles as shown in Fig. 7b can be obtained. Correspondingly, for solution chambers of other shapes, such as a solution chamber having a rectangular cross section and a triangular shape of the main viewing surface, other correspondences, such as a correspondence of nonlinear relationships, can also be obtained. Figure 7c shows the step signal corresponding to several different particle stack concentrations based on the linear correspondence shown in Figure 7b. The leftmost step signal corresponds to a lower particle concentration, and the intermediate step signal corresponds to a medium particle. Concentration, the rightmost step signal corresponds to a higher particle concentration.

In specific implementation, in addition to the CCD array, the detection module 330 may also be a Photo Diode Array or a Photomultiplier Tube or Position Sensing Detector (PSD) or a photoresistor.

Further, when the detection is based on electrical power, the composition of the detecting unit 300 can be as shown in Fig. 8, and Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing still another structure of the detecting unit 300. As shown in FIG. 8, the detecting unit 300 may include: a capacitance measuring module 340 and a position determining module 350.

The capacitance measuring module 340 is configured to measure the capacitance between adjacent electrodes in the parallel electrodes, such as Cl, C2 C8 in FIG. 9, to provide the measured capacitance value to the position determining module 350. An edge position of the particle stack in the set direction is determined, and width information of the particle pile is generated according to an edge position of the particle pile.

The result generating unit 400 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to calculate the width and the particle width according to the width The relationship between the degree and the particle concentration gives the concentration of the particles. Taking the detecting unit 300 shown in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b as an example, the particle can be determined according to the width before the step signal generated by the detecting module 330, and the corresponding relationship between the particle stack width and the particle concentration shown in FIG. 7b. concentration.

The dielectrophoresis generating unit 200, the detecting unit 300, and the result generating unit 400 may constitute a detecting device for the particle concentration in the embodiment of the present invention.

A specific application example of a particle concentration detection system is listed below:

As shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a schematic structural view of a specific application example in the present invention. In the application example, the liquid processing unit 100 includes: an injection valve 110, a cleaning liquid reservoir 120, and an injection pump 130.

The dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 includes: a signal generating sub-module 221 and a microfluidic chip. The structure of the microfluidic chip is shown in FIG. 11a and FIG. 1 ib, and FIG. 11a is a bottom view, and FIG. The microfluidic chip includes: a rectangular parallelepiped solution chamber 210, parallel electrodes 222 on one side of the solution chamber 210, and a traveling wave signal connecting the signal generating sub-module 221 and an isotropic electrode in the parallel electrode 222 223, and the microfluidic chip further comprises at least one inlet for the inflow of the solution and the cleaning solution, at least one outlet for the outflow of the waste liquid, the substrate and the casing, the microfluidic chip can be penetrated by the light, and the material of the chip It is not electrically conductive, for example, the chip can be made of plastic, glass or silicon. In addition, the solution chamber 210 in the fluid chip can also have other shapes. For example, the bottom view can also be a triangle as shown in Fig. 11c.

The detecting unit 300 includes: a light source 310, a first imaging sub-module 321, a second imaging sub-module 322, and a detecting module 330, which is a linear CCD array.

In a specific application, the valve of the injection valve 110 is first opened, and the microparticle solution in the microparticle solution storage device is injected into the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 under the action of external power, and when the microparticle solution is filled with the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200, Close your own valve.

The signal generation sub-module 221 generates a plurality of traveling wave signals of different phases, and the traveling wave signals are applied to the microfluidic chip, that is, connected to the parallel electrodes 222 through the wires 223 to generate a traveling wave electric field. The movement takes place underneath, and after a while, a heap of particles is formed. The detecting unit 300 composed of the light source 310, the first imaging sub-module 321, the second imaging sub-module 322, and the linear CCD array detects the particle pile and generates width information of the Vis particle pile.

The result generation unit 400 reads the width information from the linear CCD array, that is, the step signal, determines the particle based on the width before the step of the step signal, and the correspondence between the particle stack width and the particle concentration similar to that shown in FIG. 7b. concentration.

Thereafter, the traveling wave electric field can be stopped, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir 120 is pumped into the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 by the infusion pump 130 to clean the dielectrophoresis generating unit 200 for the next detection of the particle concentration.

The system and apparatus for detecting the particle concentration in the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, and the method for detecting the particle concentration in the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

Figure 12 is an exemplary flow chart of a method of detecting particle concentration in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 12, the process includes the following steps:

Step 1201: adding a non-uniform electric field to the sampled particle solution to cause the particles in the particle solution to move in a set direction to obtain a moving particle pile.

In this step, in a specific implementation, a predetermined volume of the sampled particle solution may be first injected into the solution chamber, and a plurality of parallel electrodes are distributed on one side or opposite sides of the solution chamber to form parallel electrodes. Then, N traveling wave signals of different phases are generated, and the N different phase traveling wave signals are respectively connected to the same phase electrodes in the parallel electrodes through a wire to generate a traveling wave electric field. Thereafter, the living particles in the fine particle solution are moved by the action of the traveling wave electric field, that is, under the action of the electric power of the traveling wave electric field, to form a particle pile.

Where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3.

Step 1202: Detect a width of the particle stack in the set direction, and generate width information of the particle pile.

In this step, in a specific implementation, the light source can emit light to the solution chamber, then receive the light passing through the solution chamber, optically process the light through the lens group, and determine the particle pile in the solution chamber according to the optically processed light. The width in the set direction and a corresponding width signal is generated. Alternatively, in this step, the phase in the parallel electrode can also be measured. a capacitance between adjacent electrodes, and a change in capacitance between adjacent electrodes, determining an edge position of the particle stack in the set direction, determining a width of the particle pile according to an edge position of the particle pile, and Generate corresponding width information.

Step 1203: Obtain a concentration of the particles according to the width information and the correspondence between the particle pile width and the particle concentration.

In a specific implementation, the particle pile width information may be collected, and then the concentration of the particles is obtained according to the stored width information and the corresponding relationship between the particle pile width and the particle concentration.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, and improvements made within the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the concentration of particles, comprising:

a dielectrophoresis generating unit (200) for forming an inhomogeneous electric field in a predetermined volume of the microparticle solution, so that the particles in the microparticle solution move in a set direction to form a microparticle stack;

a detecting unit (300) for detecting width information of the particle pile in the set direction;

A result generating unit (400) receives the particle pile width information, and obtains a concentration of the particles based on the width information and the correspondence relationship between the stored particle pile width and the particle concentration.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said dielectrophoresis generating unit (200) comprises:

a solution chamber (210) having a predetermined volume for holding a particulate solution; a signal generating sub-module (221) for generating N different phase traveling wave signals, N being an integer greater than or equal to 3;

a plurality of parallel electrodes (222) including a plurality of parallel electrodes on one side or opposite sides of the solution chamber (210);

N wires (223) are used for respectively connecting the N different phase traveling wave signals to the same phase electrodes in the parallel electrode (222) to generate a traveling wave electric field.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: each of said traveling wave signals is a sinusoidal signal having an angular frequency of 100 Hz to 100 MHz, an amplitude of 0 to 100 volts, and a phase difference between each signal of 360 ° / N.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said solution chamber (210) is at least partially made of a transparent material; said electrode (222) is made of indium tin oxide.

The device according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the detecting unit (300) comprises:

a light source (310) for emitting light to a solution chamber (210) of the dielectrophoresis generating unit (200);

An optical processing module (320) for receiving light transmitted through the solution chamber (210) Line, generating one-dimensional or two-dimensional graphic light;

a detecting module (330), configured to generate, according to the processed light of the optical processing module (320), a width letter of the particle stack in the solution chamber (210) in the set direction

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detecting module (330) is a one-dimensional detecting module having a linear charge coupled device array; the optical processing module

( 320 ) Includes:

a first imaging sub-module (321) having at least one optical lens for receiving light that passes through the solution chamber (210) and thereby forming a two-dimensional pattern of light;

A second imaging sub-module (322) having a cylindrical lens for converting the two-dimensional graphic light into a one-dimensional graphic light.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detecting module (330) is a two-dimensional detecting module having a planar charge coupled device array; the optical processing module

(320) comprising: a first imaging sub-module (321) having at least one optical lens for receiving light transmitted through the solution chamber (210) and thereby forming a two-dimensional pattern of light.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detecting module (330) is a photodiode array or a photomultiplier tube or a position sensor detector or a photoresistor.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the detecting unit (300) comprises:

a capacitance measuring module (340) for measuring a capacitance between adjacent parallel electrodes (222);

a position determining module (350), receiving the measured respective capacitance values between the adjacent parallel electrodes, and determining an edge position of the particle stack in the set direction according to the change in the capacitance value, and according to This generates width information for the particle stack.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said result generating unit (400) is a processor having storage and computing functions.

1 1. The device according to claim 1, wherein a liquid processing unit (100) having an injection valve (1 10 ) is passed between the dielectrophoresis generating unit (200) and a particulate solution storage device. connection.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the liquid processing unit (100) further comprising: a cleaning liquid reservoir (120) and an infusion pump (130) for introducing the cleaning liquid into the dielectrophoresis generating unit (200).

13. A method for detecting the concentration of particles, comprising:

Applying a traveling wave electric field generated by a plurality of parallel electrodes in a predetermined volume of the sampled particle solution, so that the particles in the particle solution move in a set direction to form a particle pile; and detecting that the particle pile is in the set Width information in a fixed direction;

The particle pile width information is collected, and the concentration of the particles is obtained based on the width information and the correspondence relationship between the particle pile width and the particle concentration.

The method according to claim 13, wherein the detecting the width information of the particle pile in the set direction comprises:

Emitting light to the solution chamber;

The optical lens receives light transmitted through the solution chamber and forms a patterned light; and determines a width of the particle stack in the set direction based on the graphic light.

Measuring a capacitance between adjacent ones of the parallel electrodes;

According to the change in capacitance between adjacent electrodes, the edge position of the grain pile in the set direction is determined, and thereby the width of the grain pile is determined.