Patent ID: 6229912
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A particle image analyzing apparatus, comprising:an image pick-up means for picking up images of particles contained in a fluid sample;an image memory for storing images of particles picked-up by said image pick-up means;an image analyzing unit for analyzing said images of said particles picked up by said image pick-up means;an input of a reference value, wherein said reference value represents a normal number of particles of a particular type for the fluid sample;a storer of said reference value given by said input, wherein the stored reference value is changeable by said input;a rough classification unit which uses a first set of parameters to identify and count the number of particles of the particular type contained in the fluid sample, wherein said rough classification unit determines whether the fluid sample is normal or abnormal by comparing the number of identified particles of the particular type with the stored reference value;a fine classification unit which analyzes particles contained in the sample with a second set of parameters, when said rough classification unit has determined the sample is abnormal, to determine a kind of abnormality, anda spare time determination unit which comprises:a memory storage unit which stores detected analysis start and end points of time, wherein said detected analysis start and end points of time define operating periods of time when said analyzing apparatus is operational, wherein said analysis start and end points of time are stored for each day over a predetermined number of days;a calculation unit which calculates a plurality of spare time zones from the defined operating periods, wherein each spare time zone of said plurality of spare time zones corresponds to a time of day in which the average of said operating periods of time when said analyzing apparatus is operational over the predetermined number of days is less than a predetermined level; anda transfer unit which transfers particle image data obtained by said image pick-up means to an external storage means during a spare time zone of the plurality of spare time zones.