Apparatus and process for rapidly characterizing and differentiating large cells

Abstract From the Canadian patent

To characterize and differentiate large organic cells rapidly, individual particles are illuminated with monochromatic radiation of a wave length comparable to the size of the cell, producing a differential light scattering pattern about the illuminated cell. The pattern is sensed preferably in the disclosed apparatus, by an array of detectors, and the sensed pattern employed as an identification and characterization of the cell. The pattern may be analyzed or selected portions of the pattern employed to differen-, tiate cells embodying different features. The apparatus and process is especially useful for rapid identification and differentiation of leucocytes and other types of mammalian …