Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting microorganisms, comprising the step of converting physical forms of microorganisms by antigen-antibody reaction and successively measuring the information that shows the physical forms of the converted data, and the step of comparing a statistical pattern of the values thus measured and a reference statistical pattern of a control subjected to no antigen-antibody reaction, thus detecting the microorganisms of interest. A change in both patterns, i.e., no correspondence thereof, enables recognition of the presence of the microorganisms of interest.

Abstract: A particle-separating apparatus discharges a liquid drop by providing discharging energy within a receptacle for receiving a particle-suspending fluid. Thermal energy can be used to generate a bubble and discharge a liquid drop containing an individual particle to be examined from an opening in the receptacle.

Abstract: A particle analyzing apparatus having sample liquid pressurizing means for pressurizing sample liquid containing therein particles to be examined and supplying it to a portion to be examined, sheath liquid pressurizing means for pressurizing sheath liquid and supplying it to the portion to be examined in such a manner as to surround the sample liquid, a pressure sensor provided in the flow path of the sheath liquid between the sheath liquid pressurizing means and the portion to be examined, pressure control means for controlling the pressure value of the sheath liquid pressurizing means so that the output of the pressure sensor becomes constant, and means for applying light to the portion to be examined and photometering light emitted from the particles to be examined to thereby effect particle analysis.

Abstract: A sample supply device includes first and second sample supply means for independently receiving respective samples via a common channel and for supplying the samples to an inspection position. The device is controlled so that the second sample supply means performs a sample receiving operation and/or a washing operation with the channel, while the first sample supply means supplies the sample to the inspection position. A sample inspection apparatus inspects the sample at the inspection position principally using an optical method.

Abstract: A particle analyzing apparatus is provided with an irradiating optical system for applying a light beam to a particle to be examined flowing through a circulation portion in a flow cell, a photometering optical system for photometering the light from the particle to be examined irradiated by the irradiating optical system, and moving means for rendering a base bed on which the flow cell and the photometering optical system are placed movable relative to the irradiating optical system.

Abstract: An apparatus removably mountable on an X-ray image photographing apparatus for supplying sheet films to the photographing apparatus is provided with an outlet, a chamber for holding a number of sheet films, a slit having a gap of such dimension into which a sheet film may enter, a transport member for transporting the outermost sheet to the outlet and prior to said transport, transporting that sheet film toward the slit, and a pressing member for downwardly curving the end of the remaining sheet films which is adjacent to the outlet.

Abstract: A medical X-ray inspection apparatus is provided with an exposure machine in which sheet films are successively conveyed to an exposure stage and exposed to X-rays passed through an object to be photographed, a receive magazine provided with a containing space for temporally containing the exposed sheet films therein and a containing chamber for containing therein the sheet films in a piled relationship, the receive magazine being removably mountable to the exposure machine, a member in the receive magazine for holding the forward end of each sheet film, a support member for supporting the opposite side edges of each sheet film, the support member being cyclically movable away from the movement path of the sheet films for shifting the sheet films from the containing space of the receive magazine to the containing chamber, and another support member for supporting the rearward end of the sheet film to separate a newly contained sheet film from the sheet films piled in the containing chamber, said another suppo