Patent ID: 8524489

Claim:
A method of detecting particles in a sample fluid, comprising the steps of: providing a capillary tube having a first end portion, a second opposite end portion, and a predetermined internal cross-section area, said first end portion being adapted to be suspended for immersion into a sample liquid containing particles to be analyzed; directing a substantially rectangular beam of light onto the capillary tube to form an analyzing region defined by the internal wall of the capillary tube and a thickness of the substantially rectangular beam; drawing a volume of the sample fluid through the first end portion of the capillary tube and through the analyzing region using a fluidic system comprising a pump, wherein the pump is configured to draw a known volume of the sample fluid into the capillary tube; and detecting fluorescent light emitted by the particles in response to the illumination of the light beam; wherein in drawing the volume of the sample fluid, a holder containing the sample fluid moves relative to the capillary to allow the first end portion of the capillary to immerse into the sample fluid.