JPH0587779B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a particle analysis device, and particularly to a so-called flow cytometer that performs particle analysis by flowing a sample liquid containing specimen particles while being wrapped in a sheath liquid.

[Conventional technology] A flow cytometer applies a predetermined pressure difference between a sample liquid, which is a cell suspension solution, and a sheath liquid (e.g., physiological saline) on the outside, causes the sample liquid to flow at high speed, and converges the flow hydrodynamically. This device analyzes the properties, structure, etc. of the sample particles by irradiating the sample particles flowing one by one to the convergence position with a laser beam, detecting the scattered light and fluorescence from the sample particles with a photodetector, Used in fields such as cytology, hematology, oncology, and genetics.

The sample liquid and sheath liquid are each stored in a container, and the air in the container is pressurized by a pressurizing system such as a compressor or a nitrogen gas cylinder, and each liquid is guided to the flow cell at the measuring section.

The flow diameter of the sample liquid flowing inside the flow cell is adjusted taking into account the particle size of the sample particles and the measurement speed, but the adjustment of the sample flow diameter is based on the pressure of the air pressurized in the containers containing the seal liquid and sample liquid. This is done by adjusting the pressure.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, even though the pressure of the air pressurized in the container containing the sheath liquid and the sample liquid is once set, the flow diameter of the sample liquid changes in the flow cytometer. A problem arises.

This is because the pressure of the liquid introduced into the flow cell decreases as the liquid is consumed and the liquid level decreases as the measurement begins. In particular, unlike the sample liquid, which is replaced after each measurement, the sheath liquid used in each measurement consumes a large amount. In addition, when using a filter for removing impurities (especially for sheath liquid) in the flow path leading from the container to the flow cell, the pressure of the liquid exiting the filter and being led to the flow cell decreases due to clogging of the filter. be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a particle analysis apparatus that solves the problems of the conventional method described above.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The particle analysis device of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems applies a pressure difference between the sample liquid and the sheath liquid, and converges the sample liquid into a thin flow so as to wrap it in the sheath liquid. In a particle analyzer that performs particle analysis by measuring particles in a flowing sample liquid one by one, pressure is applied to pressurize the inside of each of the sample liquid container that contains the sample liquid and the sheath liquid container that contains the sheath liquid. system, a flow cell having a flow section through which the converged sample liquid flows from bottom to top against gravity, and a flow cell provided in the middle of the flow path between the sheath liquid container and the flow cell to remove impurities in the sheath liquid. a pressure detection system that detects pressure information in a flow path between the filter and the flow cell; and a pressure detection system that detects pressure information in the flow path between the filter and the flow cell; In order to stabilize the flow diameter of the sample liquid, the present invention is characterized by comprising a control system that controls the pressurization system based on the detection output of the pressure detection system.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a compressor which is a source of compressed air, and an air tube 2 connected to this compressor is branched into two branches. The branched air tubes 2 are connected to the sheath liquid Sh via electric regulators 3 and 4 for pressure adjustment provided for the sheath liquid and sample, respectively.
and a sheath liquid solution 5 and a sample liquid container 6 for airtightly storing sample liquid Sa. The sheath tube 7 immersed in the sheath liquid Sh in the sheath liquid container 5 is guided into the nozzle 11 via a filter 8 for removing impurities, a pressure sensor 9, and a sheath liquid inflow control valve 10. The sample tube 13 immersed in the sample liquid Sa in the sample liquid container 6 is guided into the nozzle 11 via the sample liquid inflow control valve 14, and its tip is connected to the flow cell 12 connected to the upper end of the nozzle 11. It is directed towards.
The sample liquid and sheath liquid flow from the bottom to the top against gravity so that bubbles that are unexpectedly generated in the flow cell 12 flow with the fluid and are quickly removed. A waste liquid tube 15 is connected to the upper end of the flow cell 12, and the other end is connected to a waste liquid container 16. An electric signal of a set pressure is inputted to the control circuit 17 from the outside,
Furthermore, the output of the pressure sensor 9 is inputted, and the output from this is inputted to the electric regulator 3 for the sheath. When the liquid level of the sheath liquid Sh drops or the filter 8 is clogged, the pressure sensor 9
When the output of is lower than the reference value, the pressure is controlled by increasing the internal pressure of the container 5 by the regulator 3 and making the output of the pressure sensor 9 match the reference value. Note that an electric signal for setting the sample pressure is inputted to the sample electric regulator 4 from the outside.

Input values input from the outside for the control circuit 17 and regulator 4 include particle type, particle size,
The optimum value is selected depending on conditions such as flow velocity, and can be automatically input using a keyboard or the like.

Note that the sensor surface of the pressure sensor 9 is set upward to prevent air bubbles from entering.

Also, 19 is a measurement laser, 20 is a condensing lens,
21 is a light-receiving lens, and 22 is a photodetector. The light-receiving lens and photodetector are set in the laser irradiation direction and on the sides.

Furthermore, an air reservoir 18 is provided in the flow path between the regulator 3 and the container 5, allowing delicate pressure control.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, the sample flow diameter in the flow cytometer can be kept constant even if the liquid level decreases or even if the filter is clogged.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a compressor, 2 is an air tube, and 3 is a compressor.
4 is an electric regulator for the sheath, 4 is an electric regulator for the sample, 5 is a sheath liquid container, 6 is a sample liquid container, 7 is a sheath tube, 8 is a filter, 9 is a pressure sensor, 10 is a sheath liquid inflow control valve, 11 is a nozzle, 12 is a flow cell, 13 is a sample tube, 14 is a sample liquid inflow control valve,
15 is a waste liquid tube, 16 is a waste liquid container, 17 is a control circuit, 18 is an air reservoir, 19 is a laser, 20 is a condenser lens, 21 is a light receiving lens, and 22 is a photodetector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Particle analysis is performed by applying a pressure difference between the sample liquid and the sheath liquid, causing the sample liquid to converge into a thin flow so as to be surrounded by the sheath liquid, and measuring particles in the flowing sample liquid one by one. A particle analysis device that performs the analysis includes a pressurizing system that pressurizes the inside of each of a sample liquid container that contains a sample liquid and a sheath liquid container that contains a sheath liquid, and a pressurization system that pressurizes the inside of each of the sample liquid container that contains the sample liquid and the sheath liquid container that contains the sheath liquid, and the converged sample liquid that moves from the bottom to the top against gravity. a flow cell having a flow passage; a filter provided in the middle of a flow path between the sheath liquid container and the flow cell to remove impurities in the sheath liquid; and a filter configured to collect pressure information in the flow path between the filter and the flow cell. a pressure detection system to detect; and a detection output of the pressure detection system in order to stabilize the flow diameter of the sample liquid in the flow cell regardless of the sheath liquid level in the sheath liquid container and the degree of clogging of the filter. and a control system that controls the pressurization system based on. 2. The particle analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing system includes a compressor, a regulator for adjusting the pressurization of the sample liquid, and a regulator for adjusting the pressurization of the sheath liquid.