Aperture Tubes

The aperture is a hollow glass tube with a hole in it through which cells are pulled in the Coulter counter. This tube is filled with salt solution and an electrode is placed on the inside and outside of the tube and electrical current flows through the hole in the tube. When a sample is measured, a vacuum is placed on this inside of the tube that pulls cells or particles through the hole. Every time a cell enters the hole of the aperture it displaces salt solution which results in a visible electrical pulse. The size of the pulse tells you how big the cell (or any particle) was when it went through the hole. The number of pulses tells you how many things went through the hole.

aperture tubes for multisizer

Coulter Aperture Tubes for Multisizer 4e

Aperture
(Nominal
Diameter, μm)
Particle Diameter Range (μm) Particle Volume Range (μm3or fL)
Total Lower
Limit
Upper
Standard
Limit
Upper
Extended
Limit
Total Lower
Limit
Upper
Standard
Limit
Upper
Extended
Limit
Part
Number
10† 0.2 - 8.0 0.2μm 6.0μm 8.0μm 0.004 - 268 x 103μm3 0.004μm3 113μm3 268μm3 B42812
20† 0.4 - 16 0.4μm 12μm 16μm 0.034 - 2.14 x 103μm3 0.034μm3 905μm3 2,144μm3 A36390
30† 0.6 - 24 0.6μm 18μm 24μm 0.113 - 7.24 x 103μm3 0.113μm3 3,053μm3 7,238μm3 A36391
50†† 1.0 - 40 1.0μm 30μm 40μm 0.524 - 33.5 x 103μm3 0.524μm3 14,137μm3 33,510μm3 A36392
70†† 1.4 - 56 1.4μm 42μm 56μm 1.44 - 92.0 x 103μm3 1.44μm3 38,792μm3 91,952μm3 A36393
100†† 2.0 - 80 2.0μm 60μm 80μm 4.19 - 268 x 103μm3 4.19μm3 113 x 103μm3 268 x 103μm3 A36394
140†† 2.8 - 112 2.8μm 84μm 112μm 11.5 - 736 x 103μm3 11.5μm3 310 x 103μm3 736 x 103μm3 A36395
200†† 4.0 - 160 4.0μm 120μm 160μm 33.5 - 2.14 x 106μm3 33.5μm3 905 x 103μm3 2.14 x 106μm3 A36396
280 5.6 - 224 5.6μm 168μm 224μm 92.0 - 5.88 x 106μm3 92.0μm3 2.48 x 106μm3 5.88 x 106μm3 A36397
400 8.0 - 320 8.0μm 240μm 320μm 268 - 17.2 x 106μm3 268μm3 7.24 x 106μm3 17.2 x 106μm3 A36398
560 11.2 - 448 11.2μm 336μm 448μm 736 - 47.1 x 106μm3 736μm3 19.9 x 106μm3 47.1 x 106μm3 A36399
800††† 16 - 640 16μm 480μm 640μm 2145 - 137 x 106μm3 2145μm3 57.9 x 106μm3 137 x 106μm3 A40889
1000††† 20 - 800 20μm 600μm 800μm 4189 - 268 x 106μm3 4189μm3 113 x 106μm3 268 x 106μm3 A36400
2000††† 40 - 1600 40μm 1200μm 1600μm 33,510-2140 x 106μm3 33,510μm3 905 x 106μm3 2140 x 106μm3 A36401

High resolution tubes have an aperture thickness 120% greater than normal apertures thus, extending the time the particle takes to pass through the aperture, giving greater discrimination of particle size.

Hi-Res 50 1.0 - 40 1.0μm 30μm 40μm 0.524 –33.5x 103μm3 0.524μm3 14,137μm3 33,510 μm3 A44581
Hi-Res 70 1.4 – 56 1.4μm 42μm 56μm 1.44 –92.0x 103μm3 1.44μm3 38,792 μm3 91,952 μm3 A44582
Hi-Res 100 2.0-80 2.0μm 60μm 80μm 4.19 –268x 103μm3 4.19μm3 113x 103μm3 268x 103μm3 A44583
Hi-Res 140 2.8 – 112 2.8μm 84μm 112μm 11.5 –736x 103μm3 11.5μm3 310x 103μm3 736x 103μm3 A44584
Hi-Res 200 4.0 – 160 4.0μm 120μm 160μm 33.5 –2.14 x 106μm3 33.5μm3 905x 103μm3 2.14 x 106μm3 A44585
s † Range depends upon system cleanliness and environmental electromagnetic noise
†† Available in high resolution apertures
††† Range depends upon sample density

Aperture Range
Total range: 2% to 80% of aperture diameter
Standard Range: 2% to 60% of aperture diameter
Extended Range: 60% to 80% of aperture diameter

Aperture Dynamic Range
Standard 1:30 (by diameter), Extended 1:40 (by diameter)
Standard 1:27,000 (by volume), Extended 1:64,000 (by volume)

Microsphere Calibration Standards for Coulter Instruments

Part Number Name Nominal Size Primary Aperture(s) for calibration* Other Apertures for verification**
6602792 STANDARD 2 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 2µm 10 µm 20 µm, 30 µm
6602793 STANDARD 3 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 3 µm 20 µm 10 µm, 30 µm
6602794 STANDARD 5 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 5 µm 30 µm 10 µm, 20 µm, 50 µm
6602796 STANDARD 10 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 10 µm 50 µm, 70 µm 20 µm, 30 µm, 50 µm, 70 µm, 100 µm, 140 µm, 200 µm
6602797 STANDARD 15 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 15 µm 70 µm 50 µm, 100 µm, 200 µm, 280 µm
6602798 STANDARD 20 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 20 µm 100 µm, 140 µm 140 µm, 200 µm, 280 µm, 400 µm
6602799 STANDARD 30 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 30 µm 200 µm 100 µm, 140 µm, 200 µm, 280 µm, 400 µm, 560 µm
6602800 STANDARD 43 µm, LATEX PARTICLE, NIST TRACEABLE 43 µm 280 µm 2800 µm, 400 µm

*Use recommended bead with primary aperture for Aperture Calibration.
**Additional sized beads can be used to verify the performance of the aperture after calibration.
It is recommended to calibrate the instrument using a bead that lies within 7-30% of the aperture size range.

Choosing the Right Instrument
for Cell Counting and Particle Characterization

 

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