Patent ID: 7573573
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: G01D,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring and counting of particles illuminated by a light beam or a ray, said method comprising the steps of: assaying of an environment providing a particle flow; forming from said particle flow in a valving means a plurality of particle flow channels, each of which is intended for a flow of particles of an appropriate predetermined size; providing each of said plurality of said particle flow channels with an appropriate filtrating means which provides a filtration of particles which are larger than said particles of said appropriate predetermined size forming a flow channel of said particles of said appropriate predetermined size; joining flow channels by a channel connecting means forming in said channel connecting means a single flow channel of particles of a predetermined size; selecting by said valving means from said plurality of said particle flow channels the particle flow channel intended for said flow of said particles of said appropriate predetermined size for said filtration; providing said flow of said particles of said appropriate predetermined size via the selected particle flow channel through said appropriate filtrating means; providing a flow of said particles of said appropriate predetermined size from said appropriate filtrating means into said channel connecting means; providing said flow of said particles of said predetermined size from said channel connecting means along said single flow channel, and wherein said single flow channel provides said flow of said particles of said predetermined size from said channel connecting means through a point within a particle monitoring region of a particle monitoring means for said measuring and counting; providing a particle monitoring by said particle monitoring means comprising said particle monitoring region through which said flow of said particles of said predetermined size is directed; directing said light beam or said ray toward said particle monitoring region so that said particles of said predetermined size are monitored in said particle monitoring means by intersecting said particles of said predetermined size by said light beam or said ray at said point within said particle monitoring region; sensing a light or a pattern created by the flowing particles under influence of said light beam or said ray at said point, and providing an output which is effectively indicative of the size of the monitored particles; processing said output forming an information about size and quantity of the measured and counted particles.