| 20110069311 | FLOW CYTOMETER AND FLOW CELL FOR THE SAME - An apparatus and a flow cell for the same, which simultaneously fulfill the requirements of: 1) no need of cleansing a liquid sending system for each measurement; 2) enabling a sample liquid after measurement to be collected without being diluted and free from contamination; and 3) the flow cell being inexpensive are provided for a flow cytometer. Provided are an apparatus for measuring a particle in a liquid, the apparatus having a function that, using a flow channel into which a sample liquid containing a particle is introduced, a pair of flow channels into which a sheath liquid is introduced, the pair of the flow channels being arranged on the opposite sides of the flow channel and joined, and a flow channel in which these flow channels are joined and the sample liquid and the sheath liquid on the opposite sides of the sample liquid flow, applies laser light to a particle flowing in a flow channel in the flow cell, detects scattered light or fluorescence generated from the particle and analyzes the particle, wherein: the flow channels in the flow cell form a structure in which the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow channels are symmetrical to each other; a first liquid storage tank and a second liquid storage tank are formed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow cell, respectively; the sheath liquid-introduced flow channels are connected to the first liquid storage tank; the sample liquid-introduced flow channel is connected to a third liquid storage tank inside the first liquid storage tank, the pair of sheath liquid flow channels connected to the first liquid storage tank share a same liquid surface in the first liquid storage tank; the third liquid storage tank is separated from the first liquid storage tank, and has a structure preventing the sheath liquid and the sample liquid from being mixed in the first liquid storage tank; the flow channel in which the sheath liquid and the sample liquid are joined are divided on the downstream side in a pattern symmetrical to the upstream side; the flow channel at the center of the downstream flow channels is connected to a fourth liquid storage tank inside the second liquid storage tank; the separated flow channels on the opposite sides of the center flow channel are connected to the second liquid storage tank; a gas with a constant pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure, the gas being generated outside the flow cell is provided to the first liquid storage tank using a detachable cap structure; the flow rate of the sample liquid is controlled to be constant by controlling the pressure of the gas; the sample liquid is collected into the fourth liquid storage tank on the downstream side; and the sheath liquids are collected into the second liquid storage tank, and a flow cell for the apparatus. | 03-24-2011 |
