Abstract: An analyte identifying and sorting apparatus for sorting a target analyte based on an identification result of analytes dispersed in a liquid. The apparatus includes an identification unit including an analyte storage section configured to store analytes dispersed in a liquid, a pressure control section configured to feed the liquid to a flow path provided to extend downward from the analyte storage section, a light irradiation section configured to irradiate light to the analytes, an optical information measurement section measuring optical information of the analytes, and a determination section determining whether the analyte is a target analyte or a non-target analyte based on the optical information.

Abstract: A screening apparatus for searching for a predetermined microparticle based on optical information emitted from microparticles to selectively pick up the microparticle searched for includes a measurement chip that is made of a light permeable material, the measurement chip having a well formed therein that retains a liquid including at least one microparticle, a measuring section that is configured to acquire optical information emitted by the microparticles retained in the measurement chip, an analyzing section that is configured to analyze the optical information to extract optical information associated with the microparticles retained in the well, a liquid retaining section provided on the measurement chip, a draining section that is configured to drain a liquid retained in the liquid retaining section, an introducing section that introduces a liquid into the liquid retained section, and a liquid level controlling section that controls a liquid level of the liquid retaining section.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid feeding device which can improve collection efficiency of fine particles on an individual particle basis while improvement of workability is realized. A liquid feeding device includes: an introduction portion disposed on one end portion of the liquid feeding device, and configured to introduce a liquid into a closed space; a discharge portion disposed on another end portion of the liquid feeding device, and configured to discharge the liquid supplied into the closed space; and an upper wall provided so as to oppose the upper surface of the chip, and configured to define the closed space. The upper wall has an inclined surface which is provided such that a gap formed between the inclined surface and the chip is reduced from an introduction portion side toward a discharge portion side.

Abstract: A screening apparatus includes a light permeable measurement chip having a well retaining a liquid including microparticles, a measuring section acquiring optical information of the microparticles obtained by illuminating the microparticles, an analyzing section that extracts optical information of the microparticles, a receiving plate receiving a microparticle selectively picked up from the measurement chip, a moving section moving the measurement chip and the receiving plate against the measuring section, and a collecting section for collecting a microparticle by sucking with the suction-ejection capillary and ejecting on the receiving plate. A distal-end outer dimension of the capillary is greater than a width of the well. The capillary sucks the target microparticle at a position where the distal end of the capillary and the measurement chip are spaced by a predetermined distance and a central axis of the distal end of the capillary and a central axis of the well are mutually displaced.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical measuring apparatus having a plurality of measuring sections each having a light irradiating section for irradiating light to specimens and a light receiving section for receiving optical data acquired by irradiating the light to the specimens and a flow rate calculating section for calculating flow rate values of the specimens based on a difference of measured times of the optical data measured by the plurality of measuring sections with respect to the specimens and a distance between the plurality of measuring sections. The optical measuring apparatus measures the optical data of the specimens by irradiating light to the specimens, i.e., the objects to be measured, dispersed within a sample fluid flowing through a flow passage.

Abstract: A sample identification/sorting apparatus includes a sample storage portion that stores samples dispersed in a liquid, a flow cell having a flow path through which the liquid flows, and a sorting nozzle that has a flow path communicating with the flow path of the flow cell and dispenses a sorting solution including the sample, which is a target sample, to a culture plate. A difference between a flow direction of the liquid at an outlet of the sample storage portion and a flow direction of the liquid at a leading end of the sorting nozzle is less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A specimen identification and dispensation device includes an optical measurement device which is an identification part for measuring and identifying optical information on a specimen by emitting exciting light to the specimen being a measurement target dispersed in a liquid flowing through inside of a capillary, a dispensation part for dispensing the identified specimen into wells being sections to be dispensed through a nozzle, and a concentration adjustment part which adjusts the number of the specimens contained in an aliquot solution to a desired number according to the concentration of a sample liquid and the amount of the aliquot solution. The dispensation part is movable three-dimensionally with respect to the identification part and the nozzle.

Abstract: A sample identification sorting apparatus includes an identifying unit having an optical information-measuring section that measures optical information of a sample dispersed in a liquid, and a determining section that determines whether the sample is a target sample or a non-target sample, a sorting unit including a sorting nozzle having a flow path in communication with the flow path of the identifying unit, a liquid waste-collecting section that collects by suction a liquid waste discharged from a sorting nozzle tip, and a container to collect a sorting solution containing a target sample, a moving unit and a control unit that cause the sorting nozzle and/or the collecting container to move relatively based on the optical information. The liquid waste-collecting section has a suction nozzle that sucks a liquid waste containing a non-target sample discharged from the sorting nozzle tip or containing a non-target sample or a non-sortable sample.

Abstract: A screening apparatus includes a light permeable measurement chip having a well retaining a liquid including microparticles, a measuring section acquiring optical information of the microparticles obtained by illuminating the microparticles, an analyzing section that extracts optical information of the microparticles, a receiving plate receiving a microparticle selectively picked up from the measurement chip, a moving section moving the measurement chip and the receiving plate against the measuring section, and a collecting section for collecting a microparticle by sucking with the suction-ejection capillary and ejecting on the receiving plate. A distal-end outer dimension of the capillary is greater than a width of the well. The capillary sucks the target microparticle at a position where the distal end of the capillary and the measurement chip are spaced by a predetermined distance and a central axis of the distal end of the capillary and a central axis of the well are mutually displaced.

Abstract: A sample identification sorting apparatus includes an identifying unit having an optical information-measuring section that measures optical information of a sample dispersed in a liquid, and a determining section that determines whether the sample is a target sample or a non-target sample, a sorting unit including a sorting nozzle having a flow path in communication with the flow path of the identifying unit, a liquid waste-collecting section that collects by suction a liquid waste discharged from a sorting nozzle tip, and a container to collect a sorting solution containing a target sample, a moving unit and a control unit that cause the sorting nozzle and/or the collecting container to move relatively based on the optical information. The liquid waste-collecting section has a suction nozzle that sucks a liquid waste containing a non-target sample discharged from the sorting nozzle tip or containing a non-target sample or a non-sortable sample.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing and sorting cells characterized by comprising distinguishing and sorting a specific cell mass or a part of the cells in the cell mass with the use of transmitted light data reflecting the morphological characteristics of the cells such as size and shape optionally together with side-scattering light data reflecting the characteristics of the internal structure of the cells. The part of the cells in the specific cell mass as described above are at the G1 stage or at a part of the M stage in the cell cycle. A part of the cells at the G1 stage are referred to as the left bottom line in an analytical dispersion diagram of the cells wherein the abscissa indicates the transmitted light data, while a part of the cells at the M stage are referred to as the right bottom line in the analytical dispersion diagram of the cells wherein the abscissa indicates the transmitted light data.

Abstract: A photodetector detects fluorescence emitted from a sample placed on a substrate of a DNA chip. There is an irradiation optical system for guiding irradiation light by a first optical waveguide, gathering the irradiation light by a first lens and irradiating the sample. A reception optical system gathers fluorescence at an input-side end surface of a second optical waveguide by a second lens and guides the fluorescence to a measuring unit. The irradiation optical system and the reception optical system are separate light guiding paths. The reception optical system is of a confocal optical system in which a focal point on the sample is identical to a focal point at the input-side end surface of the second optical waveguide of the reception optical system.

Abstract: A specimen sorter includes a separating device to remove a specimen from a container, a detection device to identify the specimen as a target specimen or a non-target specimen, and a dispensing device to dispense the specimen. The dispensing device includes a dispensing nozzle to contact a vibration member to form liquid droplets at a front end of the dispensing nozzle and to dispense the liquid droplets, a first container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen, and a second container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

Abstract: An optical information analyzer (10) includes a light emitting unit (30) that emits light (excitation light) (L0) to a sample (S), a transmission light receiving unit (50) that receives transmission light (L1), which is the excitation light passing through the sample (S), and detects the received transmission light as a transmission light signal (SG1), scattered light/fluorescence receiving units (60) and (70) that are provided at a plurality of positions, receive side scattered light/fluorescence components (L2) and (L3) from the sample (S), and detect the received side scattered light/fluorescence components as scattered light/fluorescence signals (SG2) and (SG3), and an analyzing unit (90) that measures the optical information of the sample (S) on the basis of the detected scattered light/fluorescence signals (SG2) and (SG3) and the detected transmission light signal (SG1) and analyzes the sample (S) on the basis of the measured optical information.

Abstract: A specimen sorter includes a separating device to remove a specimen from a container, a detection device to identify the specimen as a target specimen or a non-target specimen, and a dispensing device to dispense the specimen. The dispensing device includes a dispensing nozzle to contact a vibration member to form liquid droplets at a front end of the dispensing nozzle and to dispense the liquid droplets, a first container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen, and a second container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

Abstract: An optical information analyzing device includes an irradiating unit that irradiates irradiation light to specimens, a transmitted light receiving unit that receives transmitted light and detects the transmitted light as a transmitted light signal, a scattering/fluorescent light receiving unit that receives lateral scattering light and fluorescent light and detects the lateral scattering light and the fluorescent light as a scattering/fluorescent light signal, a nozzle position adjusting mechanism, and an analyzing unit that measures the optical information on the specimen on the basis of the detected transmitted light signal and the detected scattering/fluorescent light signal and analyzes the specimen.

Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus can be provided, in which the sample is optically measured without loss of the illuminating light with high sensitivity. A glass plate as the transparent member 50 is placed in the interface between the end face 43 of the optical waveguide 40 guiding the illuminating light L generated by the laser light source 20 and the wall face of the capillary 30. According to the above feature, the air layer is prevented from existing in the interface between the end face 43 of the optical fiber 40 and the wall face of the capillary 30, thus the sample S can be optically measured with high sensitivity and few variability without causing the loss of the illuminating light L.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] A separation unit can confirms a separation state, a detection unit enhances a lighting efficiency and a light reception sensitivity, and a dispensing unit ensures the normal state of a specimen. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A specimen separation device characterized by comprising a container for storing a specimen, a nozzle for sucking and ejecting the specimen from the container, a nozzle operating means for moving the nozzle vertically and laterally, and a nozzle controlling means for controlling the suction force and ejection force of the nozzle. A specimen identification device comprising a nozzle for sucking a specimen from a container storing the specimen, a flow path for allowing the specimen to flow therethrough, and a measuring unit having a monitoring light lighting unit and a light receiving unit for observing (monitoring) the specimen that are installed in a flow path, characterized in that the above nozzle, the flow path and the measuring unit are formed in an integrated structure.

Abstract: A cell identifying apparatus includes a capillary through which a sample flow passes, an irradiating unit that irradiates irradiation light, a light receiving unit that receives transmitted light and outputs a transmitted light signal based on the transmitted light, a measuring unit that receives the transmitted light signal output from the light receiving unit and measures the change of the transmitted light signal caused by cells, an identifying unit that identifies whether the cells are peripheral blood cells on the basis of a value of an extreme point in the change of the transmitted light signal, the change being caused by the cells and measured by the measuring unit, a sorting unit that sorts the cells in a predetermined vessel, on the basis of the identification result of the identifying unit, and a supplying unit that supplies the sample flow to the capillary.

Abstract: The light measurement apparatus of the invention, in which the light is irradiated to the sample dispersed in the liquid flowing through the flow passage, is used for measuring optical information of the sample. The apparatus includes a light source portion 20 for irradiating the irradiating light L to the liquid 11, a light receiving portion 31 to receive the optical information of the sample S including the irradiating light transmitted through the liquid to generate a receiving light signal SG1, under a condition in which the liquid is irradiated by the irradiating light of the light source portion 20 in a state that a relative position of the sample S to the irradiating light varies at constant speed, a measurement portion 120 for measuring variation of the receiving light signal according to the sample.