A device for analyzing microparticles is provided which includes a chamber
with an inlet and an outlet for respectively introducing and dispensing a
flowing fluid comprising microparticles, a light source for providing
light through the chamber and a photometer for measuring the intensity of
light transmitted through individual microparticles. The device further
includes an imaging system for acquiring images of the fluid. In some
cases, the device may be configured to identify and determine a quantity
of the microparticles within the fluid. Consequently, a method for
identifying and tracking microparticles in motion is contemplated herein.
The method involves flowing a fluid comprising microparticles in laminar
motion through a chamber, transmitting light through the fluid, measuring
the intensities of the light transmitted through the microparticles,
imaging the fluid a plurality of times and comparing at least some of the
intensities of light between different images of the fluid.