JP7497638B2 - Detection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a detection device.

A method for detecting substances contained in blood, urine, etc. is known in which a specimen such as blood or urine is mixed with a reagent and then the mixture is analyzed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A detection device used to detect such substances uses, for example, a dispenser such as a probe to dispense the specimen from a specimen storage section and the reagent from a reagent storage section, eject them into the detection section, and mix them.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-19901

The devices used to detect such substances tend to be large. However, in order to make such devices easier to use in a wider variety of locations, there is a demand for them to be smaller, more space-saving, and less expensive. For this reason, it is desirable for the devices to have a simple configuration.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a detection device having a simple configuration.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following:

(1) A detection device comprising: a support base having a rotation surface that can rotate within a plane; a detection unit provided on the rotation surface and displaced with the rotation of the rotation surface; a first supply port and a second supply port provided above the rotation surface; and an optical measurement unit that measures optical properties of the first supply and the second supply supplied from the first supply port and the second supply port to the detection unit.

(2) The detection device described in (1) above, further comprising a holding member that holds the first supply port and the second supply port.

(3) The detection device described in (2) above, further including a first supply section having the first supply port and storing the first supply, and a second supply section having the second supply port and storing the second supply.

(4) The detection device described in (3) above, in which the first supply unit and the second supply unit are configured to be detachable from the holding member.

(5) The detection device according to any one of (1) to (4) above, in which the detection unit is displaced to a position facing each of the first supply port, the second supply port, and the optical measurement unit by rotation of the rotation surface.

(6) The detection device according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the first supply port and the second supply port are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction in which the detection unit is displaced.

(7) A detection device according to any one of (1) to (6) above, in which the optical measurement unit is provided above the rotating surface.

(8) The detection device according to any one of (1) to (7) above, further comprising a supply drive unit that opens each of the first supply port and the second supply port.

(9) A detection device according to any one of (1) to (8) above, wherein the first supply contains a sample and the second supply contains a reagent.

(10) The detection device according to any one of (1) to (9) above, further comprising a waste liquid storage section for receiving waste liquid discharged from the detection section.

(11) The detection device described in (10) above, in which the waste liquid storage section is provided below the rotating surface.

(12) The detection device according to any one of (1) to (11) above, wherein the first supply and the second supply are liquids.

(13) The detection device according to (12) above, in which the detection unit is provided with flow paths for the first supply and the second supply.

(14) The detection device described in (13) above, in which the flow path has a widened portion whose width is greater than the width of the flow path in other parts.

According to the present invention, the support base has a rotating surface, and a specimen supply port and a reagent supply port are provided above the rotating surface, so that the detection unit is displaced to directly below the specimen supply port and the reagent supply port when the rotating surface rotates. This simplifies the supply paths for the specimen and the reagent to the detection unit. This makes it possible to simplify the configuration of the detection device.

1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a side surface of a detection device according to an embodiment. 2 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of the upper surface of the detection device illustrated in FIG. 1 . 1 and the like, and FIG. 4B is a plan view showing the configuration of the upper surface of the detection unit shown in FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing the sample supply port shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a detection method using the detection device shown in FIG. 1 etc.

Below, an embodiment of the detection device of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings have been exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

(Embodiment)
<Configuration of the detection device>
1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of a detection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows the configuration of the side surface (XZ plane) of the detection device 1, and Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the top surface (XY plane) of the detection device 1. In the following description, the up-down direction of the detection device 1 is defined as the Z direction.

The detection device 1 is a device that performs optical measurement of a mixture of a specimen and a reagent. The detection device 1 mainly has an axis section 11, a support base 12, a detection section 13, a specimen supply section 14, a reagent supply section 15, an optical measurement section 16, a holding stand 17, a supply drive section 18, and a waste liquid storage section 19. The support base 12 and the detection section 13 are provided on the shaft section 11 in this order. The holding stand 17 is disposed above the support base 12, and the reagent supply section 15, the specimen supply section 14, the optical measurement section 16, and the supply drive section 18 are held on this holding stand 17. The waste liquid storage section 19 is disposed below the support base 12. Here, the specimen supply section 14 corresponds to a specific example of the first supply section of the present invention, the reagent supply section 15 corresponds to a specific example of the second supply section of the present invention, and the holding stand 17 corresponds to a specific example of the holding member of the present invention.

The shaft portion 11 has, from the bottom, a rotating shaft 11a, a connecting portion 11b, and a rotating shaft 11c. For example, the rotating shaft 11a is connected to a motor (not shown) and rotates about its axis. The connecting portion 11b connects the rotating shaft 11c coaxially with the rotating shaft 11a. The rotating shaft 11c rotates about its axis as the rotating shaft 11a rotates.

The support base 12 provided on the rotation shaft 11c has a rotation surface 12s (XY plane) that is approximately perpendicular to the rotation shafts 11a and 11c. The rotation surface 12s has, for example, a circular planar shape (Fig. 2). The support base 12 is a so-called turntable, and the rotation surface 12s rotates clockwise or counterclockwise in the XY plane as the rotation shafts 11a and 11c rotate. A detection unit 13 is provided on this rotation surface 12s, and the detection unit 13 is displaced as the rotation surface 12s rotates. For example, one detection unit 13 is provided on the rotation surface 12s. Multiple detection units 13 may be provided on the rotation surface 12s.

The detection unit 13 supported by the support stand 12 is supplied with a reagent from the reagent supply unit 15 and with a sample from the sample supply unit 14. Light is irradiated from the optical measurement unit 16 to the detection unit 13 to which the reagent and sample have been supplied.

Figures 3(A) and (B) show an example of the configuration of the detection unit 13. Figure 3(A) shows the configuration of the side surface (XZ plane) of the detection unit 13, and Figure 3(B) shows the configuration of the top surface (XY plane) of the detection unit 13. The detection unit 13 has a layered structure of, for example, an opaque member 131 and a transparent member 132 in this order from the rotation surface 12s side. For example, a receiving portion 21 is provided on the detection unit 13.

The opaque member 131 is, for example, a plate-like member having a rectangular planar shape. The opaque member 131 is made of a material that has a low transmittance for the light irradiated from the optical measurement unit 16. The opaque member 131 contains, for example, a single crystal silicon (Si) material or a resin material.

The transparent member 132 is laminated on the opaque member 131 and has, for example, approximately the same planar shape as the opaque member 131. The transparent member 132 is provided with a flow path 132f through which a liquid containing a reagent and a specimen flows. The flow path 132f allows the liquid containing the reagent and the specimen to flow, for example, along the long side direction of the transparent member 132 (X direction in FIG. 3). The flow path 132f has a widened portion 132fb that is wider than the width of the other parts of the flow path 132f. The widened portion 132fb is provided, for example, in the center of the flow path 132f. For example, the optical measurement unit 16 irradiates light onto the specimen and reagent stored in the widened portion 132fb, and the optical characteristics are measured. The surface of the flow path 132f on the optical measurement unit 16 side may be open.

The transparent member 132 is made of a material having a high transmittance to the light irradiated from the optical measurement unit 16, and the light irradiated from the optical measurement unit 16 reaches the widening portion 132fb. The transparent member 132 includes, for example, a glass material or a resin material. The glass material included in the transparent member 132 is, for example, silica glass, and by using such a glass material to form the transparent member 132, high light transmittance can be achieved. The resin material included in the transparent member 132 is, for example, dimethylpolysiloxane, polystyrene, polycarbonate, cycloolefin, acrylic, and the like. Dimethylpolysiloxane has high transferability to a mold, and the transparent member 132 can be easily formed. By using polystyrene, polycarbonate, cycloolefin, and acrylic, the transparent member 132 can be mass-produced by injection molding. In addition, by forming the transparent member 132 using polystyrene and cycloolefin, which have low autofluorescence, noise in optical measurement can be reduced. By forming the transparent member 132 using polycarbonate, which has a high refractive index, it is possible to miniaturize the detection device 1. By forming the transparent member 132 using acrylic, which has high optical transparency, it is possible to suppress the attenuation of light during light guide and improve the accuracy of optical measurement. It is preferable that the light incidence surface of the transparent member 132 is optically smooth. This improves the accuracy of measurement by the optical measurement unit 16. There is no particular limit to the thickness of the transparent member 132, and it can be adjusted taking into account the rigidity, optical transparency, etc.

The receiver 21 on the transparent member 132 receives the specimen supplied from the specimen supply unit 14 and the reagent supplied from the reagent supply unit 15 at the top of the detection unit 13 and flows them into the flow path 132f of the detection unit 13 (more specifically, the transparent member 132). The receiver 21 has, for example, a funnel shape, and one opening of the receiver 21 widens as it moves away from the transparent member 132. The other opening of the receiver 21 is connected to the flow path 132f. The specimen and the reagent are mixed in the receiver 21, for example, and then flow into the flow path 132f. For example, the receiver 21 is vibrated by abutting a vibration mechanism against the outside of the receiver 21, and the specimen and the reagent are mixed in the receiver 21. Alternatively, the specimen and the reagent may be mixed in the flow path 132f. For example, by suctioning the inside of the flow channel 132f from one end and pumping the flow channel 132f, the gas and liquid in the flow channel 132f move, and the sample and reagent are mixed in the flow channel 132f.

The specimen supply unit 14 held on the holding table 17 stores a predetermined amount of specimen, and the specimen stored in the specimen supply unit 14 is supplied to the detection unit 13. For example, a specimen diluted with a diluent is stored in the specimen supply unit 14. The specimen supply unit 14 is, for example, a cylindrical container having a height in the Z direction (Figure 2). The specimen supply unit 14 has a specimen supply port 14M at the end on the rotation surface 12s side in the Z direction.

The specimens stored in the specimen supply unit 14 are, for example, blood, saliva, urine, medicines, environmental water, drinking water, and sewage. For example, DNA, RNA, proteins, viruses, bacteria, and pollutants contained in the specimens are the substances to be detected by the detection device 1.

The reagent supply unit 15 is held on the holding table 17 together with the specimen supply unit 14. The reagent supply unit 15 stores a predetermined amount of reagent, and the reagent stored in the reagent supply unit 15 is supplied to the detection unit 13. The reagent supply unit 15 stores, for example, a reagent dispersed or dissolved in a solvent. The reagent supply unit 15 has, for example, approximately the same shape as the specimen supply unit 14 (Figure 2). The reagent supply unit 15 has a reagent supply port 15M at the end on the rotation surface 12s side in the Z direction.

The liquid reagent stored in the reagent supply unit 15 is, for example, a dye, a fluorescent substance, or nanoparticles, and forms a physical or chemical bond with the detection target substance contained in the sample. Any known reagent can be used for this reagent. The fluorescent substance is, for example, a fluorescent dye or quantum dots. The nanoparticles are, for example, polystyrene beads or gold nanoparticles. For example, by binding such a reagent to the detection target substance, the optical signal generated upon light irradiation becomes larger, making it easier to detect the detection target substance. In particular, such a reagent is effective when the optical signal of the detection target substance alone is weak. The reagent may be a substance that absorbs or scatters light. In this case, by binding the reagent to the detection target substance, the light intensity generated upon light irradiation decreases and the optical signal is amplified.

The bond between the reagent and the substance to be detected can be, for example, a bond by physical adsorption, a bond by antigen-antibody reaction, a bond by DNA hybridization, a biotin-avidin bond, a chelate bond, or an amino bond. A bond by physical adsorption can be, for example, a hydrogen bond that utilizes electrostatic bonding force. A bond by physical adsorption does not require pretreatment of the specimen, and can easily produce a bond between the reagent and the substance to be detected. A bond by antigen-antibody reaction is, for example, a specific bond between the substance to be detected, such as a virus, and the reagent, and can suppress the generation of noise caused by impurities other than the substance to be detected that are contained in the specimen. When detecting a substance to be detected using an antigen-antibody reaction, for example, a reagent bound to an antibody is prepared in advance.

The specimen supply unit 14 and the reagent supply unit 15 are arranged, for example, at adjacent positions in the direction in which the detection unit 13 is displaced, i.e., the direction of rotation of the rotation surface 12s. For example, the specimen supply unit 14, the reagent supply unit 15, and the optical measurement unit 16 are arranged in this order counterclockwise (Figure 1). The specimen supply unit 14, the reagent supply unit 15, and the optical measurement unit 16 may also be arranged in this order clockwise. The specimen supply unit 14, the reagent supply unit 15, and the optical measurement unit 16 may also be arranged in the order of the reagent supply unit 15, the specimen supply unit 14, and the optical measurement unit 16 counterclockwise or clockwise.

The specimen stored in the specimen supply unit 14 is supplied to the detection unit 13 via the specimen supply port 14M, and the reagent stored in the reagent supply unit 15 is supplied to the detection unit 13 via the reagent supply port 15M. In this embodiment, the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M are disposed in a position facing the rotation surface 12s, i.e., above the rotation surface 12s. Therefore, the detection unit 13 is displaced directly below the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M due to the rotation of the rotation surface 12s. As will be described in detail later, this allows the supply paths of the specimen and the reagent to be simplified. Here, the specimen supply port 14M corresponds to a specific example of the first supply port of the present invention, and the reagent supply port 15M corresponds to a specific example of the second supply port of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the specimen supply port 14M. The specimen supply port 14M has, for example, a movable part 141MA and a passive part 141MB along the Z direction from the rotation surface 12s side. The movable part 141MA provided on the rotation surface 12s side is a part that can move along the Z direction, i.e., in the up and down direction. The passive part 141MB can accommodate a part or all of the movable part 141MA, and for example, the aperture of the passive part 141MB is larger than the aperture of the movable part 141MA.

For example, when the supply drive unit 18 is not acting on the movable part 141MA, part or all of the movable part 141MA protrudes from the passive part 141MB, and the specimen supply port 14M is closed. When the supply drive unit 18 acts on the movable part 141MA, the supply drive unit 18 pushes the movable part 141MA upward, and part or all of the movable part 141MA is accommodated in the passive part 141MB. This opens the specimen supply port 14M, and the specimen is ejected downward from the specimen supply port 14M.

The reagent supply port 15M has, for example, a configuration similar to that of the sample supply port 14M described above (see FIG. 4).

The optical measurement unit 16 is held on a holding table 17 together with the specimen supply unit 14 and the reagent supply unit 15, for example, and measures the optical properties of the specimen and reagent supplied to the detection unit 13. This optical measurement unit 16 is disposed above the rotation surface 12s, and the detection unit 13 can be disposed in a position opposite the optical measurement unit 16, i.e., directly below the optical measurement unit 16. The presence or amount of the detection target substance contained in the specimen is detected from the measurement results of the optical measurement unit 16.

The optical measurement unit 16, for example, irradiates the detection unit 13 with light and detects the optical signal generated by the detection unit 13. The optical measurement unit 16 has, for example, an irradiation unit and a light receiving unit. The irradiation unit and the light receiving unit are arranged, for example, at positions facing the rotation surface 12s.

The irradiation unit includes a light source, and irradiates light from the light source toward the detection unit 13. The light irradiated from the irradiation unit to the detection unit 13 is, for example, light in a wavelength range capable of exciting a fluorescent substance. The light source is, for example, a lamp, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a laser, or the like. The light generated by the light source may be monochromatic light, or may be light having a wide wavelength band. When the light generated by the light source has a wide wavelength band, it is preferable that the irradiation unit has an optical filter such as a bandpass filter. When a lamp or an LED is used as the light source, it is preferable that the irradiation unit includes a guide member that regulates the direction of travel of the light generated by the light source. The guide member is, for example, a collimating lens, or the like.

The light receiving unit includes an imaging device such as a photodiode, a photodetector, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The photodetector is, for example, a photomultiplier tube. A known imaging device can be used for the light receiving unit. The light receiving unit detects the light intensity or spectrum of the light incident on the optical measurement unit 16. The light receiving unit may detect the intensity of light of a single wavelength, or may detect the intensity of light of multiple wavelengths. When the light irradiated from the irradiation unit enters the detection unit 13, for example, the light excites the combination of the reagent and the substance to be detected, generating an optical signal. The generated optical signal enters the light receiving unit directly or after being reflected at the interface between the transparent member 132 and the opaque member 131.

The holder 17, which holds the specimen supply unit 14, the reagent supply unit 15, and the optical measurement unit 16, is disposed above the support unit 12, and a portion of the holder 17 faces the support unit 12. A specimen holder 171 and a reagent holder 172 are provided on the upper surface of the holder 17.

The specimen holding unit 171 and the reagent holding unit 172 are fixed to the upper surface of the holding table 17. The specimen holding unit 171 and the reagent holding unit 172 have, for example, a ring shape, with the specimen supply unit 14 held inside the specimen holding unit 171 and the reagent supply unit 15 held inside the reagent holding unit 172. The specimen supply unit 14 and the reagent supply unit 15 are configured to be detachable from the specimen holding unit 171 and the reagent holding unit 172, respectively.

The supply drive unit 18 that acts on the sample supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M is fixed, for example, to the holding table 17. This supply drive unit 18 includes, for example, an actuator 18a and a plate-like member 18b connected to the actuator 18a.

The actuator 18a moves in a direction (Z direction) approximately perpendicular to the rotation surface 12s, and is responsible for moving the plate-shaped member 18b up and down. The plate-shaped member 18b connected to the actuator 18a moves up and down in accordance with the movement of the actuator 18a. The main surface of the plate-shaped member 18b is, for example, rectangular, and is provided approximately parallel to the rotation surface 12s. One end of the plate-shaped member 18b is connected to the actuator 18a at the top near the center of the rotation surface 12s, and the other end of the plate-shaped member 18b is provided at the top near the outer periphery of the rotation surface 12s.

In the supply drive unit 18, for example, the vicinity of the other end of the plate-like member 18b that has moved upward contacts the specimen supply port 14M or the reagent supply port 15M. This opens the specimen supply port 14M or the reagent supply port 15M. For example, the other end of the plate-like member 18b can be displaced in the rotation direction of the rotation surface 12s and selectively contacted with either the specimen supply port 14M or the reagent supply port 15M. This allows the supply drive unit 18 to be shared by the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M, further simplifying the configuration of the detection device 1. For example, the other end of the plate-like member 18b is displaced in conjunction with the rotation of the rotation surface 12s.

The waste liquid storage section 19 arranged at the bottom of the support base 12 stores waste liquid generated, for example, when cleaning the detection section 13. For example, after measuring the optical characteristics of the mixture of the specimen and the reagent supplied to the detection section 13, a cleaning liquid is supplied to the detection section 13. The cleaning liquid is supplied to the detection section 13, for example, via the receiver 21. The specimen and the reagent in the flow path 132f are discharged together with the cleaning liquid supplied to the detection section 13 to the waste liquid storage section 19. The waste liquid is discharged to the waste liquid storage section 19, for example, by sucking one end of the flow path 132f. In this way, by cleaning the detection section 13 after measuring the optical characteristics, it is possible to reuse the detection section 13. A cleaning liquid supply section (not shown) in which a cleaning liquid is stored may be arranged at the bottom of the support base 12.

<Detection method using a detection device>
A detection method using the detection device 1 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the detection method of this embodiment.

First, the specimen supply unit 14 and the reagent supply unit 15 are prepared (step S101). Specifically, the specimen supply unit 14 in which the specimen is stored is held in the specimen holding unit 171, and the reagent supply unit 15 in which the reagent is stored is held in the reagent holding unit 172.

Next, the detection unit 13 placed on the rotation surface 12s is positioned directly below the specimen supply port 14M (step S102). Next, the specimen is supplied from the specimen supply unit 14 to the detection unit 13 via the specimen supply port 14M (step S103). Specifically, the other end of the plate member 18b of the supply drive unit 18 is brought into contact with the specimen supply port 14M to open the specimen supply port 14M. This causes the specimen to be ejected from the specimen supply port 14M, and the specimen is dripped from the specimen supply port 14M into the detection unit 13.

After a predetermined amount of sample is supplied to the detection unit 13, the detection unit 13 is positioned directly below the reagent supply port 15M (step S104). Specifically, the rotation surface 12s is rotated counterclockwise to displace the detection unit 13 to directly below the reagent supply port 15M.

Then, the reagent is supplied from the reagent supply unit 15 to the detection unit 13 via the reagent supply port 15M (step S105). Specifically, the other end of the plate member 18b of the supply drive unit 18 is brought into contact with the reagent supply port 15M to open the reagent supply port 15M. This causes the reagent to be ejected from the reagent supply port 15M, and the reagent drips from the reagent supply port 15M into the detection unit 13.

After a predetermined amount of reagent is supplied to the detection unit 13, the specimen and the reagent supplied to the detection unit 13 are mixed (step S106). For example, the specimen and the reagent are mixed by performing back and forth liquid transfer within the flow path 132f. This produces a complex between the reagent and the detection target substance contained in the specimen.

Next, the detection unit 13 is placed directly below the optical measurement unit 16 (step S107). Specifically, the rotation plane 12s is rotated, for example, counterclockwise to displace the detection unit 13 to directly below the optical measurement unit 16 (step S107).

Then, optical measurement of the mixed specimen and reagent is performed (step S108). Specifically, the optical measurement unit 16 irradiates light toward the detection unit 13 and receives light incident on the optical measurement unit 16 from the detection unit 13 side. After optical measurement of the detection unit 13 is performed, the result of the optical measurement is output (step S109). The result of the optical measurement is determined, for example, by image processing and output.

After this, the detection unit 13 is washed (step S110). The detection unit 13 is washed, for example, as follows. First, the rotation surface 12s is rotated to displace the detection unit 13 directly above the washing liquid supply unit, and washing liquid is supplied from the washing liquid supply unit to the detection unit 13. Next, the specimen and the reagent in the flow path 132f are discharged to the waste liquid storage unit 19 together with the supplied washing liquid. Discharge to the waste liquid storage unit 19 may be performed after displacing the detection unit 13 to directly above the waste liquid storage unit 19. Next, the rotation surface 12s is rotated to displace the detection unit 13 to directly below the optical measurement unit 16, and optical measurement of the detection unit 13 is performed. After this, the optical measurement result is output, and when it is confirmed that the detection unit 13 has been washed, the washing is terminated. If the detection unit 13 has not been sufficiently washed, the supply and discharge of the washing liquid to the detection unit 13 is repeated again.

After the detection unit 13 is washed, the detection is terminated. Alternatively, after the detection unit 13 is washed, the process may return to step S101.
<Functions and Effects of the Detection Device>
In the detection device 1 of this embodiment, the support base 12 has a rotation surface 12s, and the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M are provided on the upper part of the rotation surface 12s, so that the detection unit 13 is displaced to directly below the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M by the rotation of the rotation surface 12s. This makes it possible to simplify the supply paths of the specimen and the reagent to the detection unit 13. The effects of this detection device 1 will be described below.

For example, a detection device may be considered in which a specimen and a reagent are supplied to the detection unit without displacing the detection unit. In this detection device, a specimen supply port and a reagent supply port are not provided on the top of the detection unit, and the specimen and the reagent are supplied to the detection unit as follows. First, a predetermined amount of specimen is aspirated from the specimen storage unit using a dispenser such as a probe, and then the dispenser is moved to the top of the detection unit and the specimen is ejected from the dispenser to the detection unit. Next, a predetermined amount of reagent is aspirated from the reagent storage unit using the dispenser, and then the reagent is moved to the top of the detection unit and the specimen is ejected from the dispenser to the detection unit.

In such detection devices, the specimen or reagent aspirated by the dispenser must be moved to above the detection unit, which can easily result in a complicated supply path for the specimen and reagent. In addition, this supply path requires a transport system for moving the dispenser that has aspirated the specimen or reagent to above the detection unit, which increases the number of parts. This can lead to an increase in size and cost for such detection devices.

In contrast, in the detection device 1, the support base 12 has a rotation surface 12s, and a specimen supply port 14M and a reagent supply port 15M are provided on the upper part of the rotation surface 12s. Therefore, by placing the detection unit 13 on the rotation surface 12s and rotating the rotation surface 12s, the detection unit 13 is displaced to directly below the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M. Therefore, the specimen and reagent can be directly supplied to the detection unit 13 from the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M. In other words, the supply path of the specimen and reagent to the detection unit 13 can be simplified.

In addition, in the detection device 1, the sample and reagent are supplied directly to the detection section 13 from the sample supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M, respectively, so a transport system for moving the sample and reagent is not required, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed. This makes it possible to miniaturize the detection device 1 and reduce costs.

Furthermore, the detection device 1 can supply specimens and reagents to the detection unit 13 without aspirating and dispensing specimens and reagents using a dispenser such as a probe. Therefore, the detection device 1 does not require a pipetting system for the dispenser, which further reduces the increase in the number of parts. This makes it possible to more effectively miniaturize the detection device 1 and reduce costs.

In addition, in the detection device 1, the optical measurement unit 16 is provided above the rotation surface 12s, so the detection unit 13 can be displaced directly below the optical measurement unit 16. This makes it easy to perform optical measurement of the detection unit 13.

As described above, in the detection device 1 of this embodiment, the support base 12 has a rotation surface 12s, and the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M are provided above the rotation surface 12s, so that the detection unit 13 is displaced to directly below the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M due to the rotation of the rotation surface 12s. This simplifies the supply paths for the specimen and the reagent. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the detection device 1.

As described above, the detection device of the present invention has been described in the embodiments. However, it goes without saying that a person skilled in the art can make additions, modifications, and omissions to the present invention as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the detection unit 13 was washed after optical measurement and reused, but the detection unit 13 may be replaced with a new one each time optical measurement is performed. In this case, the detection device does not need to be provided with a waste liquid storage unit.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which both the irradiation section and the light receiving section of the optical measurement section 16 are provided above the rotation surface 12s, but the irradiation section and the light receiving section of the optical measurement section 16 may be provided in other positions. For example, the irradiation section may be provided above the rotation surface 12s, and the light receiving section may be provided below the rotation surface 12s.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the specimen supply unit 14 has the specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply unit 15 has the reagent supply port 15M, but the specimen supply unit 14 and the specimen supply port 14M may be provided separately, and the reagent supply unit 15 and the reagent supply port 15M may be provided separately. The specimen supply port 14M and the reagent supply port 15M may also be provided in a dispenser such as a probe.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which one specimen supply port 14M and one reagent supply port 15M are held on the holding base 17, but multiple specimen supply ports 14M or multiple reagent supply ports 15M may be held on the holding base 17. That is, the detection device of the present invention may have a third supply port, a fourth supply port, etc. In this case, the third supply material is supplied from the third supply port, and the fourth supply material is supplied from the fourth supply port to the detection unit.

The above-described detection method may include steps other than those in the above flowchart, or may not include some of the above-described steps. The order of the steps is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

1, 1A detection device,
11 Shaft portion,
12 support stand,
12s Surface of revolution,
13 detection unit,
131 Opaque member,
132 transparent member,
132f flow path,
14 sample supply unit,
14M sample supply port,
15 Reagent supply unit,
15M Reagent supply port,
16 Optical measurement unit,
17 holding stand,
171 sample holder,
172 Reagent holder,
18 supply drive unit,
19 waste liquid storage section,
21 receiving portion,
22 Supply amount detection unit.

Claims (11)

A support base having a rotation surface that is rotatable within a plane;
A detection unit provided on the rotation surface and displaced in accordance with the rotation of the rotation surface;
a first supply section having a first supply port and accommodating a first supply material above the first supply port;
a second supply section having a second supply port and accommodating a second supply material above the second supply port;
a holding member that fixes and holds the positions of the first supply port and the second supply port at an upper position of the rotating surface;
an optical measurement unit that measures optical characteristics of a mixture of the first supply and the second supply supplied to the detection unit from the first supply port and the second supply port ,
the first supply unit and the second supply unit are configured to be detachable from the holding member,
A detection device in which, as the rotation surface rotates, the detection unit moves below the first supply port, which has a fixed position, and the first supply material is supplied to the detection unit from the first supply port, and the detection unit further moves below the second supply port, which has a fixed position, and the second supply material is supplied to the detection unit from the second supply port . The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is displaced to a position facing each of the first supply port, the second supply port, and the optical measurement unit by rotation of the rotation surface. The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first supply port and the second supply port are disposed adjacent to each other in a direction in which the detection unit is displaced. The detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the optical measurement unit is provided above the rotating surface. The detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a supply drive unit that opens each of the first supply port and the second supply port. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first supply comprises an analyte and the second supply comprises a reagent. The detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a waste liquid storage section for receiving waste liquid discharged from the detection section. The detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the waste liquid reservoir is provided below the rotating surface. The detection apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the first supply and the second supply are liquids. The detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the detection section is provided with flow paths for the first supply and the second supply. The detection device according to claim 10 , wherein the flow path has a widened portion having a width greater than a width of the flow path in other portions.