Abstract: A sample analyzer comprising a flow cell for forming a sample flow, a light source for irradiating the sample flow in the flow cell with near ultraviolet light, and an imaging section for taking an image of a particle contained in the sample flow irradiated with the near ultraviolet light by the light source is disclosed. A method for analyzing a sample is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing particle images are described that include: receiving image information obtained by capturing an image of a particle; determining the circumferential length and number of inflection points in the contour of a particle image based on the received image information; and calculating the degree of irregularity of the particle based on the determined circumferential length and number of inflection points.

Abstract: A particle diameter measuring apparatus includes a dark field illumination section which dark-field-illuminates particles to be subjected to measurement, an image pickup section which captures a particle image of each of the dark-field-illuminated particles, and a computing section which calculates a particle diameter of each particle based on luminance of the captured image.

Abstract: An light irradiating device is described, a representative of which includes: a light source; a first projector lens system including, a first lens member for collimating a light beam emitted from the light source into a collimated light beam, a wavelength selecting unit for selectively transmitting a light having a spectral characteristic in which a central wavelength is not more than 450 nanometers and a half-value width is not more than 40 nanometers, a second lens member for condensing the light transmitted through the wavelength selecting unit, and an adjusting member comprising a transmitting part which has a predetermined sectional area and transmits the light beam condensed by the second lens member; and a second projector lens system for condensing the light emitted from the adjusting member and irradiating the light beam on an object.

Abstract: A particle size measuring apparatus includes a laser light source; a coherence reducing element for receiving laser light emitted by the laser light source, reducing coherence of the laser light and emitting the laser light whose coherence is reduced; a ring light forming section for converting the light emitted by the coherence reducing element into ring light; an internal reflection mirror for concentrating the ring light on a particle to be measured and illuminating the particle; an object lens for receiving scattered light from the illuminated particle inside the ring light; a photoreceptive element for receiving the scattered light through the object lens; and a calculating section for calculating a size of the particle from the intensity of the scattered light obtained by the photoreceptive element by using a monotone increasing function.

Abstract: A lighting device are described that include: a light source emitting light; an optical fiber having a light incident surface receiving light from the light source and a light emitting surface emitting light; and a Koehler illumination optical system comprising a collector lens and a condenser lens, the collector lens arranged opposite the light emitting surface of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for processing particle images are described that include: receiving image information obtained by capturing an image of a particle; determining the circumferential length and number of inflection points in the contour of a particle image based on the received image information; and calculating the degree of irregularity of the particle based on the determined circumferential length and number of inflection points.

Abstract: A particle diameter measuring apparatus includes a dark field illumination section which dark-field-illuminates particles to be subjected to measurement, an image pickup section which captures a particle image of each of the dark-field-illuminated particles, and a computing section which calculates a particle diameter of each particle based on luminance of the captured image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device comprising a plurality of two-dimensional image sensing elements, optical system for forming optical images on the respective image sensing elements and drive control means for driving the plurality of image sensing elements with respectively different timings, and controlling the operation of shutters of the respective image sensing elements so as to expose one image sensing element among the plurality of image sensing elements.

Abstract: An optical information measuring apparatus includes: a light source section capable of emitting a plurality of light beams; a light guiding section for directing and supplying the plurality of light beams from the light source section to an object; an object lens arranged facing the object; a plurality of light receiving sections for respectively receiving the light beams from the object via the object lens; and a frame section for integrally mounting a plurality of optical elements including the light source section, the light guiding section, the object lens, and the light-receiving sections.

Abstract: An optical system for visualizing an object includes an object lens, an imaging lens disposed on an optical axis of the object lens, and a spatial filter disposed on the optical axis between the object lens and the imaging lens. The spatial filter includes a first portion away from the optical axis and a second portion adjacent to the optical axis, the first porting having a higher light transmittance than the second portion. The distance of the first portion from the optical axis is set to maximize the light from the object. This optical system is particularly useful for detecting an object in a light scattering medium. Movement of the optical system also allows a tomographic image to be generated.

Abstract: A particle size measuring apparatus includes a laser light source; a coherence reducing element for receiving laser light emitted by the laser light source, reducing coherence of the laser light and emitting the laser light whose coherence is reduced; a ring light forming section for converting the light emitted by the coherence reducing element into ring light; an internal reflection mirror for concentrating the ring light on a particle to be measured and illuminating the particle; an object lens for receiving scattered light from the illuminated particle inside the ring light; a photoreceptive element for receiving the scattered light through the object lens; and a calculating section for calculating a size of the particle from the intensity of the scattered light obtained by the photoreceptive element by using a monotone increasing function.

Abstract: The purpose is to fix a portion of a living body, which is an object of measurement, stably without strain and to acquire accurate inspection results with good reproducibility.

Abstract: A noninvasive blood analyzer is provided which comprises: a light source for illuminating a part of tissues of a living body including a blood vessel; an image pickup section for picking up an image of the illuminated blood vessel and tissues; and an analyzing section for analyzing the picked image; the analyzing section including an extracting section for extracting image density distribution across the blood vessel in the image as an image density profile, a quantifying section for quantifying configurational characteristics of the image density profile, a computing section for computing the concentration of a blood constituent on the basis of the quantified characteristics, and an outputting section for outputting a computation result. The blood analyzer can measure the concentration of blood hemoglobin and the hematocrit in real time with an improved repeatability without blood sampling.

Abstract: A particle analyzer includes a sheath flow cell for converting a particle containing sample into a sample flow, a first light source for illuminating the sample flow by a continuous light, a light detecting element for detecting a light emitted from a particle illuminated by the first light source and for converting the light into a particle signal indicative of a characteristic of the particle, a second light source for illuminating the sample flow by a momentary light, an imaging device for capturing an image of a particle illuminated by the second light source, an analyzing section for performing particle analysis by employing the particle signal and the image of the particle as analysis data for analyzing the particle, and an inhibiting section for inhibiting the analyzing section from employing, as the analysis data, the particle signal obtained when the second light source illuminates the sample flow.

Abstract: A particle analyzer which can maintain optical characteristics of an optical system which is one component thereof at a fixed level for a long period of time is provided. In the particle analyzer comprising a flow cell for forming a sheathed sample flow containing particulate components; an irradiating optical system for irradiating a sheathed sample flow formed in the flow cell; and a light receiving optical system for receiving light emitted from the sheathed sample flow in the flow cell irradiated by the irradiating optical system, the light receiving optical system comprises a rod lens to which the light emitted from the sheathed sample flow in the flow cell enters and an entrance surface of the rod lens is curved.

Abstract: A light receiving optical system and a particle analyzer including the same which can be miniaturized and simplified are provided. The light receiving optical system includes a light receiving lens provided integrally with a light selector for selecting and outputting light by attenuating part of the light incident on the light receiving lens.

Abstract: A particle analyzing apparatus includes a flow device having a light-transmissive flow cell for allowing subject particles in a sample liquid to flow in a separated state, a laser beam illuminator for illuminating a subject particle flowing in the flow cell with a laser beam and a coherence lowering device for lowering coherence of the laser beam. The particle analyzing apparatus further includes an image capturing device receiving light from the subject particle, for capturing an image of the subject particle and an image processor for processing and analyzing the captured image of the subject particle. By use of the coherence lowering device, both temporal and spatial coherence of the laser beam is lowered. Thus, image quality is improved and a high quality particle image can be obtained which is bright and high in S/N ratio.