FlowCam Nano

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.

Application Examples (Biopharmaceutical)

The image below shows an example of particles observed in an injectable formulation. The diameter of each particle (µm) is displayed beneath the images. FlowCam can also be used for aggregate detection in drug formulation and gene therapy development, as well as for material characterization and property evaluation.