Canty Dynamic Imaging Particle Analysis Technology
There are many reasons why companies want to take samples to determine the particle sizes of the product they are manufacturing or its intermediaries. These can range from ensuring its stability in suspension, solubility in liquids, texture and feel in foods and ease of transportation just to name some.
There are a few different methods to collect and analyse particle size data and we will discuss some of them below.
Optical Microscopy This method examines particles typically ranging from 1um - mm.
As each particle is individually examined and analysed, we are limited to a statistically insignificant quantity of particles and even this will be time consuming.
Sieve Analysis This method examines particles typically ranging from 5um - ~3mm.
A simple and common technique used to separate particles for analysis, this method is labour intensive and there will be issues with irregular particles. The sieves will also be very prone to wear and damage during use and while being cleaned.
Laser Diffraction This method examines particles typically ranging from 0.1um - 1000um.
Laser diffraction is a 1-Dimension measurement of particles done by passing the particles through a laser beam and collecting the light scattered by them using detectors in a range of angles. Using this information, this method also assumes that all particles are spherical in shape. The size of the particles can then be determined by an equivalent sphere diameter. For non-spherical objects, there can be large discrepancies between the laser measurements and multiple scattering in high concentration samples. As the operator is unable to physically see the process, they are unable to visually verify that the machine is correctly identifying the particles.
Light Obscuration This method examines particles typically ranging from 1um- 100um.
Light obscuration is a 1-Dimension measurement works by passing a dilute stream of liquid suspended particles between a light source and a detector. As the particles pass through, they will block light from the source from reaching the detector. The reduction in light intensity is shown to be proportional to the physical dimensions of the particles. However, for transparent particles, this method does not work well as light passes through relatively unchanged. Hence, very subtle differences in transparency cannot be detected.
Electrical Sensing Zone This method examines particles typically ranging from 1um- 400um.
Particles are suspended in a conductive electrolyte solution and drawn through a small aperture. Depending on the volume of the particle, changes in the electrical impedance in the orifice generates voltage pulses proportional to the volumes of the particles. This method of measurement requires a lot of calibration and only works for certain types of mediums. While the orifices could also potentially get blocked by large particles, particles below minimum detectable size go unnoticed.
Imaging Particle Analysis
Using a light source and a camera, imaging particle analysis captures images of the sample going through the camera's view. The computer records this footage and the software is then is able to analyse the playbacks.
Canty's Dynamic Imaging Analysis Technology is a type of imaging particle analysis.
The Canty Advantage

Using Canty's high intensity light sources and a high speed gigabit ethernet microscopic camera, we are able to capture 2D images. These images are then sent to our software for analysis and settings can be made for the software to detect and measure particles under 13 different parameters including Size, Shape and Colour.
Using this technique, the operator is also able to visually see which particles are going through the camera's view and which particles the software is registering under the prescribed filter.
We are able to size wet particles from 0.7um - 3mm and dry particles from 10um - 50mm.
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