Method and apparatus for measuring gel particle

Abstract

Provided is a gel particle measuring apparatus for detecting scattered light generated by light irradiation at a production start time point of a gel particle, and performing measurement promptly and accurately while suppressing attenuation of the scattered light in a solvent in which the phenomenon occurs. The gel particle measuring apparatus includes: a sample cell () configured to accommodate a sample (S) and a solution containing a reagent (R); a stirrer () configured to continuously stir a mixed solution (W) in the sample cell (); a light source () configured to irradiate the mixed solution (W) in the sample cell () with coherent irradiation light (Bm); a backscattered light detector () configured to detect, out of light scattered in the mixed solution (W) in the sample cell (), a backscattered light component returning toward the light source (); a light path adjuster () configured to adjust an incident portion surface of the sample cell () so that a detection light path (ST) of, out of the light scattered in the mixed solution (W) in the sample cell (), light traveling toward the backscattered light detector () is different from a reflection light path (DT) of reflection light (Bm) reflected from a surface of the sample cell (); and a measurement device () configured to determine at least a production start time point of the gel particle (G) in the mixed solution (W) based on a detection output of the backscattered light detector ().