JP2007271790A - Optical connector and microchemical reaction device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector for the purpose of guiding light for the use of biochemical reactions, for example. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector includes: the main body 21 having a fiber inserting hole 24; a recess 25 formed around the fiber inserting hole 24 on the tip end face of the main body 21; an optical fiber 23 attached inside the fiber inserting hole 24, with the tip end arranged at a position retreated from the tip end face of the main body 21; and a refractive index matching material 26 filled in the recess 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector and a microchemical reaction apparatus, and more particularly to an optical connector for guiding light used for biochemical reactions and the like, and a microchemical reaction apparatus including such an optical connector.

  As a microchemical reaction apparatus for analyzing DNA molecules such as DNA reaction, DNA growth, DNA synthesis, and the like for handling and quantification, for example, a configuration having a plurality of unit cells is proposed in Patent Document 1 below.

  In the microchemical reaction apparatus, a channel substrate 100 as shown in FIG. 9 is used. The channel substrate 100 includes a plate-like substrate body 101 made of glass, a hollow microchannel 102 formed from one end of the substrate body 101 to the other end, and a microscopic surface from the side of the substrate body 101 by irradiation with a femtosecond laser. The optical waveguide 103 is formed in a path that reaches the side of the channel 102.

  In the microchannel 102, a liquid containing a detection object flows from one end to the other end. The microchannel 102 may be irradiated with, for example, measurement laser light via the optical waveguide 103, and an optical connector 110 as shown in FIG. 10 is used to introduce the laser light, for example. .

The optical connector 110 has a connector main body 111 and a flange portion 112 made of glass material or resin. In addition, a plurality of optical fibers 113 that pass through the flange portion 112 and reach the tip thereof are attached to the connector main body 111 in a row or a plurality of rows at intervals.
JP 2005-161125 A

  By the way, in order to connect the optical fiber 113 of the optical connector 110 and the optical waveguide 103 of the channel substrate 100 with high confidentiality, it is necessary to precisely grind and polish the end surfaces of the connector main body 111 and the optical fiber 113. is there. As a result, the ends of the irregular optical fibers 113 are also aligned at the ends of the connector main body 111.

  However, even if the tip of the optical connector 110 is flattened, an air layer may be interposed in the connection portion due to irregularities on the side surface of the channel substrate 100 or an error in mounting the optical connector 110. The air layer causes reflection on the side surface of the channel substrate 100 and the end surface of the optical fiber 113.

  As described above, when reflection occurs at the connection portion between the optical connector and the optical waveguide, there is a disadvantage in that connection loss increases or an unstable operation of the light emitting element due to return light occurs.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector and a microchemical reaction apparatus capable of irradiating light with a small loss in a region where a microfluid flows.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a main body having a fiber insertion hole, and a tip is disposed at a position attached to the fiber insertion hole and retracted from the tip surface of the main body. An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber; and a refractive index adjusting agent filled before the tip of the optical fiber.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector according to the first aspect, the optical connector according to the first aspect includes a concave portion formed around the fiber insertion hole on the distal end surface of the main body, and the refractive index adjusting material in the concave portion. Is filled.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector according to the first or second aspect, a plurality of the fiber insertion holes and the optical fibers are provided at intervals.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector according to the third aspect, the concave portion has either a shape surrounding the whole of the plurality of fiber insertion holes or a shape surrounding each of the fiber insertion holes. It is characterized by.

A fifth aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is formed in the optical connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a cell having a cavity through which a fluid sample flows, and the cell. A microchemical reaction device comprising a high-refractive region and an optical waveguide optically connected to the optical fiber of the optical connector via the refractive index adjusting agent.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the microchemical reaction device according to the fifth aspect, the cell is made of glass, and the optical waveguide is a region formed by irradiating the cell with a femtosecond laser. It is characterized by.

  According to the optical connector of the present invention, a concave portion is formed on the front end surface of the connector main body having the fiber insertion hole, and the front end of the optical fiber attached in the fiber insertion hole is set back from the front end surface of the connector main body. In addition, since the refractive index adjusting agent is filled before the tip of the optical fiber, the refractive index adjusting agent can be interposed between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide connected thereto, and the optical connection thereof. Reflection at the part can be prevented.

  Furthermore, if the concave portion filled with the refractive index adjusting agent is formed so as to spread around the fiber insertion hole, it is possible to reliably and easily fill and replace the refractive index adjusting agent at the tip of the optical fiber after the optical fiber is attached. It becomes possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a microchemical reaction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a microchemical reaction apparatus includes a mixing unit cell 1 for mixing a fluid sample, a supply unit cell 5 for supplying a fluid sample to the mixing unit cell 1 from the front, and a fluid sample from the mixing unit cell 1 to the rear. A discharge unit cell 6 to be discharged to the vehicle and other unit cells are provided.

  The mixing unit cell 1 has a frame-like body 3 having a substrate storage space 2 in which a plurality of channel substrates 10 shown in FIG. Further, a connector connection port 4 for connecting an optical connector 20 to be described later is formed on the side of the frame 3.

  The channel substrate 10 includes a plate-like substrate body 11 formed of glass having a thickness of about 0.3 to 3.0 mm, a width of 3 to 100 mm, and a length of about 10 to 100 mm, and another end of the substrate body 11. It is composed of a hollow microchannel 12 formed over the end for flowing a fluid sample, and an optical waveguide 13 formed in a path from the side of the microchannel 12 to the side surface of the substrate body 11. The microchannel 12 has, for example, a Y-shaped planar shape having two inflow ports 12a and 12b at the sample inflow end of the substrate body 11 and one outflow port 12c at the sample outflow end.

  The optical waveguide 13 is formed by partially refracting the substrate body 11 by irradiation with a femtosecond laser. For example, when a Ti: sapphire laser is used, the irradiation conditions are set such that the incident energy is 1 to 100 μJ, the pulse width is 50 to 1000 hemtoseconds, and the pulse period is 1 to 1000 Hz.

  The connector connection port 4 of the mixed unit cell 1 is formed at a position and size that exposes all of the optical waveguides 13 of the plurality of channel substrates 10 that are stored in the substrate storage space 2 in an overlapping manner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical connector 20 attached to the mixed unit cell 1 includes a connector main body 21 that is fitted into the connector connection port 4 and a flange 22 that extends around the rear end of the connector main body 21.

  In the connector main body 21 and the flange 22, fiber insertion holes 24 for inserting a plurality of optical fibers 23 are arranged in a line at intervals. The diameter of the fiber insertion hole 24 is about 1 μm or several microns wider than the diameter of the optical fiber 23. The pitch between the fiber insertion holes 24 is substantially the same as the pitch of the optical waveguides 13 in a state where the plurality of channel substrates 10 are vertically stacked in the substrate storage space 2.

  In addition, a concave portion 25 having a depth retreating from the distal end surface by about 0.1 to 5.0 μm is formed in a range including the fiber insertion hole 24 in the distal end surface of the connector main body 21. The fiber insertion hole 24 is exposed. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the recessed part 25 is U-shaped.

  The optical fiber 23 inserted into the fiber insertion hole 24 is inserted in a state where the tip of the optical fiber 23 is retracted from the tip surface of the connector body 21 and coincides with or protrudes from the bottom surface of the recess 25. The fiber insertion hole 24 is bonded with an adhesive.

  In the recess 25, the loss of optical junction between the optical waveguide 13 of the channel substrate 10 and the optical fiber 23 is reduced, and the refractive index of the gap formed between the optical waveguide 13 and the optical fiber 23 is adjusted. A viscous light-transmitting refractive index matching agent 26, for example, a silicone material having a refractive index of about 1.46 is filled.

  Thus, since the concave portion 25 filled with the refractive index adjusting agent 26 is formed to spread around the fiber insertion hole 24, the refractive index adjusting agent 26 is attached to the tip of the optical fiber 23 after the optical fiber 23 is attached. Can be reliably and easily filled and replaced.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 27 denotes a coating of the optical fiber.

  In the mixing unit cell 1 of the above-described microchemical reaction apparatus, the channel substrate 10 is inserted into the substrate storage space 2 so that the plurality of channel substrates 10 are stacked and the optical waveguide 13 faces the connector connection port 4.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the tip of the connector main body 21 of the optical connector 20 is inserted into the connector connection port 4 of the mixing unit cell 1 and the tip surface is brought into contact with the channel substrate 10, the optical fiber in the optical connector 20 is obtained. As shown in FIG. 5, the tip of 24 is abutted against the outer end of the optical waveguide 13 on the side of the channel substrate 10. In this case, the optical fiber 23 and the optical waveguide 13 are optically connected by filling the concave portion 25 with the refractive index matching agent 26 so as to rise slightly from the tip of the connector body 21.

Therefore, even if a slight gap is generated between the connector main body 21 and the channel substrate 10, the refractive index matching agent 26 is interposed in the gap, so that a decrease in the refractive index due to the gap is prevented.
In addition, since the concave portion filled with the refractive index adjusting agent is formed so as to spread around the fiber insertion hole, the tip of the optical fiber is reliably and easily filled and replaced after the optical fiber is attached. It becomes possible.

  As a result, the fluid sample supplied from the supply unit cell 5 shown in FIG. 1 flows through the microchannel 12 in the channel substrate 10 in the mixing unit cell 1 and is discharged from the discharge unit cell 6 to the outside. With the fluid sample flowing in the microchannel 12, the fluid sample is irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength from the optical fiber 23 in the optical connector 20 through the optical waveguide 13.

  As a result, substantially no reflection occurs between the optical fiber 23 and the optical waveguide 13, thereby reducing the optical coupling loss, and there is no return light due to reflection, so that the optical fiber 26 is connected to the optical fiber 26. The operation of the light emitting element (not shown) is also stabilized.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, the recessed part 25 of the front-end | tip of the connector main body 21 of the optical connector 20 may be formed in multiple numbers so that the front-end | tip of each fiber penetration hole 24 may be enclosed separately. According to this, it becomes possible to block the light emitted from the optical fiber 23 by the wall of the connector main body 21, and in the structure in which the pitch between the optical fibers 23 becomes narrow, the interference of light between the adjacent optical fibers 23 occurs. Is prevented.

  Moreover, you may make the cross-sectional shape of the recessed part 25 of the front-end | tip of the connector main body 21 into a taper shape as shown in FIG. According to this, it becomes easier to fill the concave portion 25 with the refractive index matching agent 27, and replacement is further facilitated.

In the optical connector 20 described above, one optical fiber 23 may be attached to the connector main body 21 and the flange 22. Alternatively, the tip of the connector main body 21 may be flat and the optical fiber 23 may be retracted from the tip.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a microchemical reaction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The microchemical reaction apparatus shown in FIG. 8 has a glass microcell 30 in which a flow path 31 formed of a cylindrical cavity whose central axis extends vertically. A sample supply unit 32 that supplies a fluid sample is connected to the upper portion of the flow path 31.

  On the side of the microcell 30, an optical waveguide 32 that reaches the flow path 31 is formed by hemtosecond laser irradiation. The optical waveguide 32 is a high refractive region in the microcell 30.

  An optical connector 40 having an optical fiber 41 connected to the end of the optical waveguide 32 is attached to the side surface of the microcell 30. The optical connector 40 is formed with at least one fiber insertion hole 42 extending rearward from the tip. Further, in the front end surface of the optical connector 40, around the fiber insertion hole 42, as in the first embodiment, a U-shaped section or a tapered shape having a bottom surface retreating from the front end surface by about 0.1 to 5.0 μm. The recess 43 is formed.

  In the fiber insertion hole 42, an optical fiber 41 which is at a position retracted from the front end surface of the optical connector 40 and coincides with the bottom surface of the concave portion 43 or has its front end protruded into the concave portion 43 by an adhesive. The rear end is pulled out to the outside. In addition, the refractive index matching agent 44 is filled in the recess 43 of the optical connector 40 as in the first embodiment.

  In addition, guide pins 47 are attached to both ends of the recess 43 on the front end surface of the optical connector 40, and the guide pins 47 are inserted into pin fitting holes provided around the optical waveguide 32 of the microcell 30.

  The optical connector 40 as described above is attached so that the end of the optical fiber 41 is aligned with the end of the optical waveguide 32 of the microcell 30, and in that case, between the optical fiber 41 and the optical waveguide 32. Since the refractive index matching agent 44 is interposed, reflection of light guided along the optical axis between the optical fiber 41 and the optical waveguide 32 is prevented.

  As a result, the optical coupling loss is reduced, and the return light due to the reflection is not generated, so that the operation of the light emitting element (not shown) connected to the optical fiber 41 is stabilized.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, an example in which one optical waveguide is formed has been described. However, two optical waveguides are formed on both sides of the flow path, and the optical connector is connected to them. Such a configuration may be adopted. In this case, the light emitted from the optical fiber of one optical connector hits the fluid sample in the flow path, and the light that has passed through the fluid is received by the optical fiber of the other optical connector. The two optical connectors may or may not match the optical axes of the optical fibers.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a microchemical reaction apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a channel substrate used in the microchemical reaction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an optical connector of a microchemical reaction device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is related to one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the optical connector of a microchemical reaction apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mixing unit cell of the microchemical reaction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection state between the channel substrate and the optical connector in the microchemical reaction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view showing another example of the optical connector in the microchemical reaction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of the optical connector in the microchemical reaction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a microchemical reaction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a microcell and an optical connector in the microchemical reaction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows these connection states. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a channel substrate used in a conventional microchemical reaction apparatus. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an optical connector used in a microchemical reaction apparatus according to the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1: Mixing unit cell 2: Board storage space 3: Frame body 4: Connector connection port 10: Channel board 12: Microchannel 13: Optical waveguide 20: Optical connector 21: Connector main body 23: Optical fiber 24: Fiber insertion hole 25 : Recess 26: Refractive index matching agent 30: Microcell 31: Channel 32: Optical waveguide 40: Optical connector 41: Optical fiber 42: Fiber insertion hole 43: Recess 44: Refractive index matching agent

Claims (6)

A main body having a fiber insertion hole;
An optical fiber mounted in the fiber insertion hole and having a tip disposed at a position retracted from the tip surface of the main body;
An optical connector comprising: a refractive index adjusting agent filled in front of the tip of the optical fiber. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a concave portion formed around the fiber insertion hole on a front end surface of the main body, wherein the concave portion is filled with the refractive index adjusting material. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the fiber insertion holes and the optical fibers are provided at intervals. 4. The optical connector according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion has either a shape surrounding the entirety of the plurality of fiber insertion holes or a shape surrounding each of the plurality of fiber insertion holes. 5. An optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A cell having a cavity for flowing a fluid sample;
A microchemical reaction device comprising: a high refractive region formed in the cell; and a waveguide optically connected to the optical fiber of the optical connector via the refractive index adjusting agent. The cell is made of glass;
6. The microchemical reaction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the waveguide is a region formed by irradiating the cell with a femtosecond laser.

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