FlowCam LO

What is Flow Imaging Microscope - FlowCam?​

FlowCam is a flow imaging microscope that integrates three powerful functions into a single instrument, enabling anyone to easily perform particle analysis:​
(1) Visualize fluids under a microscope in real time.
(2) Rapidly capture particles in liquid samples, generating high-resolution digital images and instantly measuring more than 30 morphological parameters for each particle.
(3) Extract, analyze, and classify particle images with the industry-leading VisualSpreadsheet software.

Flow Imaging vs Other Particle Analysis Methods

 

Challenges and Needs in Particle Analysis

Particle characterization is a critical process across many fields, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, water quality, and advanced materials. Traditional methods typically provide only quantitative data such as particle size and concentration. However, they often fail to answer essential questions like:

What types of particles are actually present?
What is the identity of foreign particles or contaminants?

Today, there is a growing demand for “visualizing particles” — not only obtaining numerical data, but also capturing detailed images that reveal particle shape and structure. This visual information has become increasingly important for ensuring product quality, safety, and research insights.

 

Comparison of Methods

	Optical Microscopy​	Particle Size Analysis	Flow Cytometric Analysis​	Flow Imaging Microscopy
Features	Easy, intuitive operation; ​ flexible observation	Measures large numbers of particles statistically​	Strong for fluorescence markers ​and multi-parameter analysis​	Automatically captures and analyzes images of each particle
Information Obtained	Images, shapes​	Particle size, volume distribution​	Size, fluorescence intensity​	Images, size, shape, color​
Limitations	Dependent on observer, poor quantification, time-consuming	No information on shape or type, no images​	Non-image analysis, ​ cannot visualize ​ particle shape or structure​	Produces large amounts of data (but highly valuable for classification and detailed analysis)​

 

Particle Measurement Size by Method

While each analytical technique has its own strengths, Flow Imaging Microscopy sets itself apart by capturing and analyzing images of every individual particle. This unique capability provides both quantitative data and visual confirmation, enabling more accurate characterization and deeper insights.

 

What FlowCam Makes Possible

FlowCam is an innovative imaging particle analysis system that combines the strengths of a light microscope and a flow cytometer. Each particle is rapidly captured in real time, providing both quantitative data (size, shape, volume) and visual confirmation. Unlike traditional particle size analyzers, FlowCam enables detailed characterization of particle morphology and composition.

Basic parameters: area, length, width, aspect ratio, Equivalent Spherical Diameter (ESD), Area-Based Diameter (ABD), volume, etc.
Morphological features: circularity, elongation, compactness, fiber curl, straightness, perimeter, edge gradient, etc.
Grayscale & color features: brightness, mean intensity, transparency, average values (blue, green, red), and color ratios (blue/green ratio, red/blue ratio, red/green ratio, etc.)

 

User Feedback

“Particles considered the same size by particle size analyzers were shown by FlowCam to differ in both shape and composition.”
“Since introducing FlowCam, we can identify the root cause of manufacturing contaminants much faster.”
“Aggregates that were often overlooked in manual observation are now instantly visualized through automated analysis.”

FlowCam makes previously hidden particle characteristics visible, supporting better decisions and faster actions compared to traditional methods.

Inside the FlowCam LO

Equipped with both a Light Obscuration (LO) module and a Flow Imaging (FI) module.

Aggregation Analysis in Biopharmaceuticals

In Biopharmaceuticals, evaluating insoluble particles and aggregation is essential for ensuring product stability and patient safety. Conventional Light Obscuration (LO) provides rapid and quantitative particle size measurements, but it has limitations in detecting low refractive index particles such as protein aggregates.

By contrast, Flow Imaging (FI) captures particle shape and morphology, enabling differentiation of particle types and identification of their origin. This supports early detection of protein aggregates or foreign matter and facilitates root-cause analysis.

FlowCam LO is the only instrument that performs both LO and FI simultaneously in a single instrument, significantly enhancing analytical efficiency while reducing risks and improving quality assessment in biopharmaceutical product development and quality assurance.

 

Light Obscuration (LO)

・Calculates particle size based on high-refractive-index polystyrene standards
・Enables rapid and quantitative measurement
・Detection of protein aggregates with low refractive index contrast can be challenging

 

Flow Imaging (FI)

・Less affected by refractive index differences between solvent and particles, compared with LO
・Evaluates particle morphology and optical properties, allowing classification and source identification
・Distinguishes between protein aggregates, silicone oil, and air bubbles

Excerpt from “Evaluation of Insoluble Particles in Biopharmaceutical Drug Substances and Products by Flow Imaging Microscopy (FIM)”