Linear scanning PCR instrument
Technical Field
The utility model relates to a biology and analytical chemistry field, in particular to a linear scanning formula PCR appearance and utilize it to carry out the method that PCR detected for PCR chip detects.
Background
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is an important means for molecular biological research, the reaction time is always a limiting factor of PCR reaction, a conventional PCR reaction usually takes one or two hours, and the application field of the PCR reaction is limited by the long detection time in clinical detection, especially for emergency treatment. Along with the research and development and application of the PCR rapid reagent, the bottleneck of the reaction time is mainly focused on the temperature rising and reducing speed, and on the basis, how to increase the temperature rising and reducing speed of the PCR reaction becomes the key for expanding the application. In addition, a new round of test can be started after a round of test is finished, and in emergency application, the requirement of follow-up test is more and more, and the follow-up function of the PCR equipment is more and more important. Most of the existing PCR instruments are used for putting samples into sample tubes and putting the samples into the instrument at the same time, and the results are obtained after all tests are finished, so that the PCR instruments cannot be checked at any time, and the next experiment can be carried out only after all the samples in front are finished, and on the other hand, the sample tubes (such as 8-row tube covers) are slow in temperature rise and temperature reduction due to the tubular structure, so that the efficiency of the PCR instruments for amplification is not improved.
Disclosure of Invention
The utility model provides a linear scanning formula PCR appearance for the detection of PCR chip can be when the instrument is carrying out a round PCR, and the new test of beginning can really be done along with examining.
A linear scanning PCR instrument is characterized by comprising a temperature control assembly, a detection piece and a control mechanism;
the temperature control assembly comprises more than two chip temperature control modules, each chip temperature control module comprises a chip loading assembly with independent heating and temperature control functions, and each chip loading assembly loads a PCR reaction chip and controls the temperature of the PCR reaction chip; each chip loading assembly is provided with a chip loading structure which enables the PCR reaction chips on the chip loading assembly to be arranged on a straight line in parallel, and the detection surface of each PCR reaction chip faces the detection piece to obtain the loading information of each PCR reaction chip; the chip loading component executes a temperature control program to the PCR reaction chip according to the loading information of the PCR reaction chip;
the detection part comprises an optical detection element and a scanning motion mechanism, the optical detection element is fixedly arranged on the scanning motion mechanism which moves along a straight line, the motion straight line of the scanning motion mechanism is parallel to the straight line formed by the arrangement of the PCR reaction chips, the scanning motion mechanism comprises a driving part, and the driving part receives a driving command sent by the control mechanism; the optical detection element comprises an excitation light source and a detection device, a detection light path emitted by the excitation light source is perpendicular to the detection surface of the PCR reaction chip, and the detection device sequentially carries out signal acquisition and detection on each PCR reaction chip; the control mechanism is used for receiving and processing the signals collected by the detection piece and controlling the driving of the scanning motion mechanism.
Preferably, the scanning motion mechanism includes a driving member, and the driving member receives a driving command determined according to loading information of the chip loading assembly; the control mechanism receives the signals collected by the detection part and receives the loading information of the chip loading assembly to control the driving of the scanning motion mechanism. The loading information of the chip loading assembly comprises position information of the loaded PCR chip, is used for determining the linear movement range of the optical detection element and moves in the interval loaded with the PCR reaction chip.
The chip loading assembly controls the temperature according to the target temperature of the experiment, including the temperature change period of high-temperature denaturation, low-temperature annealing (renaturation) and temperature adaptation extension, and the sensor monitors the temperature of the temperature control device.
The chip loading structure of the chip loading assembly comprises a heating plate, a fixing piece and a contact sensor, wherein the contact sensor is used for obtaining the loading information of the PCR reaction chip; the fixing part is used for fixing the PCR chip on the heating plate, and when the PCR reaction chip is loaded on the chip loading assembly, the heating plate is tightly attached to the reaction pool area of the PCR reaction chip.
Preferably, the heating surface of the heating plate is a metal plane and can be completely attached to the outer surface of the reaction pool area of the PCR reaction chip.
The heating plates are arranged in parallel on a straight line.
The temperature control assembly further comprises a heat sink. The heat dissipation assembly can help the temperature control assembly to be cooled to a proper temperature more quickly.
The heating plate is arranged vertically or horizontally, and the loading mode of loading the PCR reaction chip on the chip loading assembly is vertical loading or horizontal loading.
Preferably, the PCR reaction chip is loaded on the chip loading assembly in a vertical mode.
The fixing piece is selected from a buckle or a fixing glue. Preferably, the loading mode is a buckle.
A method of performing a PCR assay comprising the steps of: when the optical detection element detects the PCR reaction chip to be detected, other PCR reaction chips to be detected are loaded on the chip loading assembly with the independent heating and temperature control functions, so that the PCR reaction chip to be detected and other PCR reaction chips to be detected are arranged on a straight line in parallel, the control mechanism receives the PCR reaction chip loading information sent by the chip loading assembly, the chip loading mechanism controls the PCR reaction chip to carry out a temperature control program and controls the optical detection element to reciprocate in the PCR reaction chip to be detected and the other PCR reaction chips to be detected to carry out linear motion, and all PCR reaction chips are detected.
The method further comprises the following steps:
after the PCR reaction chip to be detected is loaded to the chip loading assembly, the chip loading assembly controls the temperature of the PCR reaction chip to be detected by using a preset temperature control program A, the control mechanism receives the PCR reaction chip loading information of the chip loading mechanism, controls the optical detection element to carry out PCR scanning on the PCR reaction chip, and the measured signal is transmitted to the control mechanism to be stored and processed.
The method further comprises the following steps:
before the PCR of the PCR reaction chip to be detected is not completed, other PCR reaction chips to be detected are loaded to other chip loading assemblies, the chip loading assemblies carry out temperature control on the other PCR reaction chips to be detected by utilizing a preset temperature control program B, after the control mechanism receives the PCR reaction chip loading information sent by the chip loading assemblies, the control mechanism controls the optical detection element to carry out linear reciprocating motion between the PCR reaction chip to be detected and the other PCR reaction chips to be detected so as to scan each PCR reaction chip, the detected signal is transmitted to the control system to be stored and processed, and the control signal automatically sorts out respective signals of each PCR reaction chip and processes the signals.
The method further comprises the following steps: and after the detection piece finishes the detection of the PCR reaction chip to be detected, the control mechanism switches the linear moving mode of the optical detection element into the scanning mode only for the other PCR reaction chips to be detected.
The utility model discloses a linear scanning formula PCR appearance and use its method of carrying out PCR has following advantage:
1. the linear scanning type PCR instrument has the function of detection at any time, and a new round of PCR test is not required to be carried out after the detection of the previous round of PCR samples is finished like the prior art, so that the sample queuing waiting time is shortened, and the detection result can be obtained more quickly;
2. each chip temperature control module is independent, different temperature change periods of high-temperature denaturation, low-temperature annealing (renaturation) and suitable temperature extension can be independently carried out, and detection of PCR chips with different requirements can be simultaneously carried out;
3. the instrument structure is small and exquisite portable, can be applicable to the bedside witnessed inspections.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the construction of a PCR reaction detecting apparatus according to the present invention;
the system comprises a PCR reaction chip 1, a linear scanning PCR instrument 2, a chip temperature control module 21, a detection assembly 22, a radiator 23 and a contact sensor 24.
Detailed Description
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the following examples are only illustrative of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. The examples, in which specific conditions are not specified, were conducted under conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer. The reagents or instruments used are not indicated by manufacturers, and are all conventional products available on the market.
Example 1 Linear scanning PCR Instrument
As shown in FIG. 1, the linear scanning PCR instrument comprises a temperature control assembly, a detection member 22 and a control mechanism;
the temperature control assembly comprises six chip temperature control modules 21, each chip temperature control module 21 comprises a chip loading assembly with independent heating and temperature control functions, and each chip loading assembly loads one PCR reaction chip and controls the temperature of the PCR reaction chip; each chip loading assembly is provided with a chip loading structure which enables the PCR reaction chips on the chip loading assembly to be arranged on a straight line in parallel, and the detection surfaces of the PCR reaction chips face the detection piece to obtain the loading information of the PCR reaction chips; the chip loading component executes a temperature control program to the PCR reaction chip according to the loading information of the PCR reaction chip; the loading information of the PCR reaction chip is sensed by a contact sensor arranged on the chip loading assembly, and the chip loading assembly can execute a temperature control program on the PCR reaction chip only when the contact sensor senses that the PCR reaction chip is loaded in place. The chip loading assembly controls the temperature according to the target temperature of the experiment, including the temperature change period of high-temperature denaturation, low-temperature annealing (renaturation) and temperature adaptation extension, and the sensor monitors the temperature of the temperature control device. The program for raising and lowering the temperature is stored in the control means, and this program and the target temperature can also be modified in the control system.
The detection part 22 comprises a detection light path and a scanning motion mechanism, the optical detection element is fixedly arranged on the scanning motion mechanism which moves along a straight line, the motion straight line of the scanning motion mechanism is parallel to the straight line formed by arranging the PCR reaction chips, and the scanning motion mechanism comprises a driving part which receives a driving command sent by the control mechanism; the optical detection element comprises an excitation light source and a detection device, a detection light path emitted by the excitation light source is vertical to the detection surface of the PCR reaction chip, and the detection device sequentially carries out signal acquisition and detection on each PCR reaction chip; the control mechanism controls the driving of the scanning movement mechanism by receiving the signals collected by the detection part and the loading information of the chip loading assembly, and gives a driving instruction to the driving part of the scanning movement mechanism.
When the PCR reaction chip is loaded on the chip loading assembly, the contact sensor senses the position information of the loaded PCR reaction chip and the chip loading assembly, the loading information is transmitted to the control mechanism, the control mechanism controls the chip loading assembly to start a temperature control program for the PCR reaction chip, the program is stored in the control mechanism in advance, the control mechanism sends out a scanning instruction, the optical detection element performs linear motion scanning in the full-length range of the chip loading mechanism, namely, no matter a plurality of chip loading assemblies are provided with the PCR reaction chips, the optical detection element always moves in the full-length range of the chip loading mechanism, and the data of all the PCR reaction chips are detected.
In other embodiments, the scanning motion mechanism includes a driving member, the driving member receives a driving command determined according to loading information of the chip loading assembly; the control mechanism controls the driving of the scanning movement mechanism by receiving signals collected by the detection piece and loading information of the chip loading assembly.
When the PCR reaction chip is loaded on the chip loading assembly, the contact sensor senses the position information of the loaded PCR reaction chip and the chip loading assembly, the loading information is transmitted to the control mechanism, the control mechanism controls the chip loading assembly to start a temperature control program for the PCR reaction chip, the program is stored in the control mechanism in advance, the control mechanism sends out a scanning instruction, and the optical detection element only carries out reciprocating linear motion scanning on the range inserted into the PCR chip.
The chip loading structure of the chip loading assembly comprises a heating plate, a fixing piece and a contact sensor, wherein the contact sensor is used for obtaining loading information of the PCR reaction chip; the fixing part is used for fixing the PCR chip on the heating plate, and when the PCR reaction chip is loaded to the chip loading assembly, the heating plate is tightly attached to the reaction pool area of the PCR reaction chip.
The heating surface of the heating plate is a metal plane, and can be completely attached to the outer surface of the reaction pool area of the PCR reaction chip to control the temperature of the reaction pool of the PCR reaction chip.
In some embodiments, the chip loading assembly and the heating plate are arranged in parallel and the detection surface of the PCR reaction chip is on the same line when the chip is fixed on the heating plate.
In other embodiments, the chip loading units are disposed on a plane but not in a line, but the heating plates of the chip loading units are disposed in a line, the PCR reaction chip is fixed on the heating plate, and the detection surface of the PCR reaction pool area is in a line when the PCR reaction pool area is attached to the heating plate.
The temperature control assembly further comprises a heat dissipation assembly 23 which can help the temperature control assembly to cool down to a required temperature more quickly. Specifically, each chip temperature control module 21 has an independent heat sink. In some embodiments, the heat dissipation assembly comprises a heat dissipation fan.
The heating plate is arranged vertically or horizontally, and the loading mode of loading the PCR reaction chip on the chip loading assembly is vertical loading or horizontal loading.
In some embodiments, the chip loading assembly is vertical, and the way the PCR reaction chip is loaded on the chip loading assembly is vertical.
In other embodiments, the chip loading assembly is flat, the PCR chip is loaded on the chip loading assembly in a flat manner, and the detecting member is located on the upper side or the lower side of the chip loading assembly.
The fixing piece can be a buckle or fixing glue.
In some embodiments, the fixing member is a slot matching with the heating plate, the contact sensor is located at the bottom of the slot, when the PCR reaction chip is inserted into the slot, the contact sensor 24 transmits loading information of the PCR reaction chip to the control mechanism, the loading information of the PCR reaction chip is information of the position where the PCR reaction chip is inserted into the slot, and the control mechanism receives the information, so as to instruct the driving member to perform corresponding linear scanning movement range change on the optical detection element. The heating plate and the elastic sheet form a slot, the PCR reaction chip is inserted into the slot, and the elastic sheet can clamp the chip to fix the chip and ensure that the outer surface of the reaction pool area of the PCR reaction chip is tightly attached to the heating plate. After a user inserts the PCR reaction chip 1 into the slot, the contact sensor arranged in the slot can also detect whether the chip is inserted or not and whether the inserted state is in place or not, the user can start reaction detection by controlling the interface, and if the in-place sensor does not detect that the chip is in place, the detection cannot be started.
In some embodiments, the control mechanism is a computer and software.
In some embodiments, each of the chip temperature control modules can independently control the temperature and can independently perform different temperature variation cycles of high-temperature denaturation, low-temperature annealing (renaturation) and temperature-adapted extension, and the detection of the PCR chips with different requirements can be performed simultaneously to obtain corresponding amplification curves.
In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1, the PCR reaction chip is vertically loaded, each reaction chip has four parallel reaction cells, the reaction cell of the PCR reaction chip is located at the lower part of the chip, and the liquid filling port and the air exhaust port are located at the upper part of the chip, so that bubbles generated during amplification of the reaction system of the PCR micro reaction cell can be discharged to the top of the liquid, and simultaneously, the linear detection is facilitated.
The optical detection element 22 includes 4 optical paths, each optical path has its own excitation LED, excitation light filter, spectroscope, detection light filter and detection device, and the detection device converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal and transmits the electrical signal to the control system to collect and process data. Such a detection assembly can simultaneously detect four reaction cells on one PCR reaction chip.
Example 2 method for PCR detection
Step 1: after the PCR reaction chip to be tested is loaded on the chip loading component, the chip loading component controls the temperature of the PCR reaction chip to be tested by using a preset temperature control program A, the control mechanism receives the PCR reaction chip loading information of the chip loading mechanism, controls the optical detection element to carry out PCR scanning on the PCR reaction chip, and the measured signal is transmitted to the control mechanism to be stored and processed. Wherein, the optical detection element can scan the whole length range of all chip loading mechanisms or only scan the range of the inserted PCR chip.
Step 2: before the PCR of the PCR reaction chip to be detected is not completed, other PCR reaction chips to be detected are loaded to other chip loading assemblies, so that the PCR reaction chip to be detected and other PCR reaction chips to be detected are arranged on the same straight line in parallel, and after the control mechanism receives the PCR reaction chip loading information sent by the chip loading assemblies, the control chip loading mechanism carries out temperature control program on the PCR reaction chips and controls the optical detection element to reciprocate in the PCR reaction chip to be detected and the other PCR reaction chips to be detected, so that all PCR reaction chips are detected. The optical detection element can perform reciprocating motion for scanning all the chip loading mechanisms within the full-length range, or perform reciprocating linear motion between the PCR reaction chip to be detected and other PCR reaction chips to be detected, so as to detect all the PCR reaction chips. The measured signals are transmitted to a control mechanism for storage and processing, and the control signals automatically sort out and process the respective signals of each PCR reaction chip.
And step 3: after the detection piece finishes the detection of the PCR reaction chip to be detected, the control mechanism can switch the linear moving mode of the optical detection element into the scanning mode only for other PCR reaction chips to be detected, or still scan the full length.
In the method, the PCR reaction chip to be tested can refer to a group of reaction chips to be tested, and the other PCR reaction chips to be tested can also refer to another group of reaction chips to be tested; each reaction chip is controlled by a chip temperature control module which is independent from each other. The detection component scans the PCR reaction chip A and the PCR reaction chip B, which can be regarded as scanning each of the PCR reaction chip A and the PCR reaction chip B in a manner of linear movement of a detection light path of the detection component.
Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; while the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; and the modifications or the substitutions do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.