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[[File:Flow cell Cross Section.png|thumb|Flow cell Cross Section|Diagram showing the flow cell cross-section perpendicular to the optical axis in a dynamic imaging particle analyzer.]]The flow cell is characterized by its depth perpendicular to the optical axis, as shown in the second diagram on right. In order to keep the particles in focus, the flow depth is restricted so that the particles remain in a plane of best focus perpendicular to the optical axis. This is similar in concept to the effect of the microscope slide plus cover slip in a static imaging system. Since depth of field decreases exponentially with increasing magnification, the depth of the flow cell must be narrowed significantly with higher magnifications.
The major drawback to dynamic image acquisition is that the flow cell depth must be limited as described above. This means that, in general, particles larger in size than the flow cell depth can not be allowed in the sample being processed, because they will probably clog the system. So the sample will typically have to be filtered to remove
The major advantage to dynamic image acquisition is that it enables acquiring and measuring particles at significantly higher rates of speed, typically on the order of 10,000 particles/minute or greater. This means that statistically significant populations can be analyzed in far shorter time periods than previously possible with manual microscopy or even static imaging particle analysis. In this sense, dynamic imaging particle analysis systems combine the speed typical of [[particle counter|particle counters]] with the discriminatory capabilities of microscopy.
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