JP2014153242A - Biomaterial analysis device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve processing capacity while acquiring high-quality images without any image blur, in a biomaterial analysis device.SOLUTION: The biomaterial analysis device includes: a flow cell for biomaterial analysis having a flow path including a biomaterial sample; liquid feed unit for supplying the flow cell with a reagent; an optical unit for optically detecting the reagent in the flow cell; a conveyance unit that moves, with the flow cell retained thereon; a vibration-free base on which the optical unit and the conveyance unit are installed; a retention mechanism that is installed outside the vibration-free base and retains the flow cell when the reagent is supplied thereto by the liquid feed unit; and a mechanism for delivering the flow cell between the conveyance unit and the retention mechanism. The biomaterial analysis device may include a plurality of retention mechanisms and simultaneously perform the detection operation of the flow cell and dispensation operation of another flow cell retained by the retention mechanism.

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological material analyzer for analyzing biological materials such as DNA. In particular, the present invention relates to a biological material analyzer that performs a step of reacting a reagent with a biological material to be analyzed and a step of optically detecting the biological material or a reaction product thereof.

  In recent years, new techniques for determining the base sequences of DNA and RNA have been developed. A method has been proposed in which a large number of DNA fragments to be analyzed are fixed on a substrate and the base sequences of these many DNA fragments are determined in parallel. An apparatus that determines the base sequence of DNA by such a method is called a next-generation sequencer.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a DNA decoding technique for a next-generation DNA sequencer based on fluorescence detection. In a reaction vessel called a flow cell, DNA clusters in which a plurality of identical DNA fragments are densely arranged by an amplification process are arranged at high density. When a solution containing four kinds of bases (A, T, G, C) labeled with four kinds of phosphors is introduced into the flow cell, a base complementary to the DNA fragment is incorporated by an extension reaction of the polymerase. Since the end of the fluorescently labeled base is modified with a functional group (terminator) for inhibiting the extension reaction, no more than one base is incorporated per DNA fragment. After the extension reaction, excess floating base is washed away, the fluorescence emitted from the reaction spot is detected as a fluorescent spot, and the phosphor species are identified by the difference in color. After fluorescence detection, the terminator on the DNA fragment and the phosphor are dissociated by a chemical reaction so that the next base is incorporated. By sequentially repeating the above extension reaction, fluorescence detection, and terminator dissociation, the sequence of the DNA fragment is decoded by about 100 bases.

  In Patent Document 1, a large number of beads in which a DNA fragment to be a sample is fixed are arranged in a flow cell, a reagent is supplied to the flow cell, a fluorescent signal generated with a base extension reaction is detected, and a sample is detected. A method for analyzing the nucleotide sequence of is shown. Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid feeding method using a tube and a valve in order to supply a reagent necessary for a reaction to a flow cell. A valve is arranged between a tube constituting each reagent supply path and a tube connected to the flow cell, and a desired reagent is supplied to the flow cell by switching the valve.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a liquid feeding method using a dispensing nozzle. A syringe is connected to the dispensing nozzle, and the reagent is aspirated and discharged by operating the syringe. With the dispensing nozzle method, the tube and valve as shown in Patent Document 1 can be omitted, so that reagent consumption is reduced and the running cost of analysis is reduced.

  Usually, the area that can be observed at once by the detection system is smaller than the area where the DNA fragment of the flow chip is held. For this reason, there is a case in which the stage holding the flow cell moves and the apparatus is configured to scan a necessary area of the flow cell.

  When detecting a fluorescent sample in the flow cell, the focus position of the detection system is adjusted to the sample. If the position of the sample is shifted during the detection operation, the quality of the image may be deteriorated and accurate measurement of the sample may not be performed. For this reason, there is a case in which the stage holding the flow chip is installed on a vibration isolation table to suppress the influence of external vibration.

  There are cases where a plurality of flow cells are placed on the stage. This is to adjust the number of samples to be processed in one analysis. The next-generation sequencer 5500xl (product name) sold by Life Technologies has a configuration that allows two flow cells to be mounted on the stage. The position for injecting the reagent into the flow cell and the position for detecting the sample in the flow cell are separated, and the dispensing operation and the detecting operation are executed in tandem.

JP 2008-528040 Gazette JP 2012-173059 A

D. R. Bentley et al., Accurate whole human genome sequencing using reversible terminator chemistry, Nature 456, p.53-59 (2008)

  In a biological sample analyzer, if two flow cells are used and the dispensing operation of one flow cell and the detection operation of the other flow cell can be processed in parallel, the operating rate of the apparatus increases and the processing capability improves.

  For example, if two flow cells are mounted on the stage, and the dispensing operation to one flow cell and the detection operation of the other flow cell can be performed simultaneously, the processing capacity of the apparatus is improved, and The analysis time can be shortened compared to the case where the processing is advanced in a column.

  However, when the dispensing operation to one flow cell on the stage and the detection operation of the other flow cell are performed at the same time, the flow cell in the detection operation is vibrated by the impact when the dispensing nozzle pierces the flow cell. As a result, image blur occurs in the detected image. For example, in the next-generation sequencer as described above, in order to increase the processing capacity of the apparatus, DNA clusters may be arranged as densely as possible, and the vibration of the flow cell during detection operation is precisely detected from the DNA cluster. It becomes a fatal problem in taking out and accurate analysis cannot be performed.

  In order to avoid this problem, for example, a flow cell is held, a movable stage is added, and two flow cells are transported on separate independent stages. And while performing dispensing operation in one stage, the detection operation of the flow cell mounted in the other stage is performed. However, even in this case, vibration due to one dispensing operation is transmitted to the hard casing and to the flow cell during the other detection operation, and the above-described problem occurs, and accurate analysis cannot be performed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to improve the processing capability in a biological material analyzer while obtaining a high-quality image without image blurring.

  In the present invention, a second holding mechanism for holding the flow cell is provided in addition to the stage for holding and moving the flow cell during the detection operation. A member having a function of absorbing vibration is provided between the stage and the second holding mechanism so that vibration generated on one side is not transmitted to the other. The second holding mechanism is installed at a position where dispensing can be performed by a dispensing nozzle, and a dispensing operation is performed on the flow cell held by the second holding mechanism. A mechanism for replacing the flow cell between the stage and the second holding mechanism is provided. Preferably, when the flow cell is mounted on the stage, the positional relationship between the stage and the flow cell is always the same. This is because it becomes easy to specify the detection position when performing the detection operation after the flow cell is transferred from the second holding mechanism to the stage. In addition, when the flow cell is placed on the second holding mechanism, it is preferable that the positional relationship between the second holding mechanism and the flow cell is always the same. This is because it is easy to specify the position of the injection port for the dispensing operation after the flow cell is transferred from the stage to the second holding mechanism.

  The present application includes a plurality of means for solving the above problems. To give an example, a biological material analysis flow cell having a flow path containing a biological material sample, a liquid feeding unit for supplying a reagent to the flow cell, An optical unit that optically detects a sample in the flow cell; a transport unit that moves while holding the flow cell; a vibration isolation table that installs the optical unit and the transport unit; and an outside of the vibration isolation table A biological material analyzer including a holding mechanism that is installed and holds the flow cell when the reagent is supplied by the liquid feeding unit, and a mechanism that delivers the flow cell between the transport unit and the holding mechanism.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image without blurring even if the detection operation of the flow cell on the stage and the dispensing operation to the flow cell held by the second holding mechanism are performed simultaneously. . Moreover, it is possible to perform analysis while simultaneously performing a dispensing operation and a detection operation using a plurality of flow cells, thereby improving the processing capability of the biological material analyzer.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow cell used with the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure (before mounting | wearing) which shows the structure of the cassette used with the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure (after mounting | wearing) which shows the structure of the cassette used with the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the liquid feeding unit in the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the flow cell for biological material analysis of embodiment of this invention, and an optical unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conveyance unit in the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the stage in the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the catcher in the biological material analyzer of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the procedure which delivers a cassette from a conveyance unit to a catcher. It is a figure explaining the procedure which delivers a cassette from a conveyance unit to a catcher. It is a figure explaining the procedure which delivers a cassette from a conveyance unit to a catcher. It is a figure explaining the procedure which delivers a cassette from a conveyance unit to a catcher. It is a figure explaining the method of storing a cassette in the predetermined place of a stage. It is a figure explaining the flow of 1 cycle from a reaction process to a detection process. It is a figure which shows the time schedule of the reaction process and detection process of two flow cells. It is a figure which shows the timetable of the reaction process and detection process of three flow cells.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not necessarily restricted to embodiment shown below.

  In the present invention, the biological substance refers to a chemical substance that expresses some function in the living body, such as nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, proteins, peptides, antibodies, and antigens. In particular, it refers to a chemical substance having a higher-order structure in which a large number of chemical substances serving as units are connected, and relating to the function of the entire biological substance by the arrangement of the chemical substances serving as individual units.

  Various biological materials can be analyzed using the biological material analyzing flow cell and the biological material analyzing apparatus of the present invention. For example, it is possible to determine a DNA sequence (DNA sequence) or to perform hybridization.

  An outline of a biological material analyzer and parts of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, a description will be given with a nucleic acid as a biological material.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a biological material analyzer (nucleic acid analyzer) according to an embodiment of the present invention. A flow cell 102 having a flow path in which a DNA cluster, which is a set of DNA fragments, is formed is installed in the apparatus while being housed in a cassette 103. In addition, the biological material analyzer 101 includes a reagent storage 104 that accommodates a plurality of reagent containers, a liquid feeding unit 105 that feeds the reaction liquid in the reagent containers, and fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent material incorporated in the DNA fragment. An optical unit 106 for detection, a transport unit 108 for holding and transporting the cassette 103, and a catcher 109 for holding the cassette 103 are provided. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that analysis is performed using two flow cells, and two catchers are provided.

  The optical unit 106 and the transport unit 108 are installed on a vibration isolation table 107. Thus, even if there is external vibration, the vibration isolation table 107 absorbs the vibration, and the positional relationship between the optical unit 106 and the transport unit 108 is maintained.

  A plurality of cassettes 103 including the flow cell 102 may be installed. FIG. 1 shows an example in which two units are installed. One unit is on the catcher 109 and the other unit is mounted on the transport unit 108.

  The liquid feeding unit 105 includes a dispensing nozzle 110 and a syringe (not shown). After the dispensing nozzle 110 has moved to a predetermined location, the syringe is operated to suck and discharge the reagent. Do. The reagent flowing out of the flow cell 102 in accordance with the dispensing operation to the flow cell 102 is stored in a waste liquid tank (not shown).

  Although not shown, the biological material analyzer includes a control unit, and the control unit controls operations of the liquid feeding unit 105, the catcher 109, the transport unit 108, and the like described below.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flow cell used in the biological material analyzer of the embodiment of the present invention. The biological material analysis flow cell according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper substrate 201, a lower substrate 203, and an inner layer portion 202 sandwiched between the upper substrate 201 and the lower substrate 203. The inner layer 202 is hollowed out at the center. When the cut-out portions are attached to the upper and lower substrates, they are connected to the inlet 204 and the outlet 205 of the upper substrate to form a flow path. DNA fragments are immobilized in the channel. The upper substrate 201 is light transmissive. Here, the light transmission means that the fluorescence emitted by the particles can be transmitted and can be detected by the optical unit 106. In general, the fluorescence emitted from a fluorescent substance used in a biological material analyzer such as a nucleic acid analyzer and incorporated into a DNA fragment has a large amount of visible light, and therefore preferably has transparency to visible light. . Examples of light transmissive materials that can be used as the upper substrate 201 include glass, acrylic resin, and polycycloolefin resin.

  3 and 4 show the configuration of a cassette used in the biological material analyzer of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a state before the flow cell 102 is mounted on the cassette 103, and FIG. Are respectively shown in the cassette 103. The cassette 103 includes an upper holder 310 and a lower base 311. The flow cell 102 is held by combining the upper holder 310 and the lower base 311 with the flow cell 102 interposed therebetween. The method of joining the upper holder 310 and the lower base 311 may be, for example, screwing, or may be a method in which a protrusion protruding from either one is pushed into the other. Here, it is not particularly shown. When the temperature of the flow cell 102 needs to be adjusted (temperature adjustment), a temperature adjustment function may be incorporated in the lower base 311. The upper holder 310 includes an injection port 312 and an outflow port 313 that can be liquid-tightly connected by pushing the dispensing nozzle 110. The injection port 312 is in fluid-tight connection with the inlet 204 of the flow cell 102. The outflow port 313 is in fluid-tight connection with the outflow port 205 of the flow cell 102. As a result, the reaction liquid injected from the injection port 312 is discharged from the outflow port 313 through the flow path of the flow cell 102. A tube is connected to the outflow port 313, and the reaction liquid discharged from the outflow port 313 is guided to a discharge tank (not shown). Further, the cassette 103 is provided with a positioning hole 314 for mating with the catcher 109. There are two positioning holes, a hole for determining the position and a hole for preventing rotation.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a liquid feeding unit in the biological material analyzer of the embodiment of the present invention. The liquid feeding unit is connected to a linear actuator Y501 that can move in a horizontal (Y) direction, a linear actuator X502 that can move in the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction, and a linear actuator X502 that can move in the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction. , A linear actuator Z503 movable in the vertical direction, a dispensing nozzle 110, and a slider 504 connecting the dispensing nozzle and the linear actuator Z503. Dispensing nozzle 110 is a hollow pipe-like member, and is connected to a syringe (not shown) via a pipe (not shown). The dispensing nozzle 110 can be moved three-dimensionally by making full use of the linear actuator Y501, the linear actuator X502, and the linear actuator Z503. The reagent can be inhaled by inserting the dispensing nozzle 110 into the reagent container and pulling the plunger of the ringe connected to the dispensing nozzle 110. Conversely, when the reagent is discharged from the dispensing nozzle, the plunger of the syringe is pushed in.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of the biological material analyzing flow cell 102 and the optical unit 106 of the biological material analyzing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The irradiation unit for irradiating the excitation light includes a light source 601, a mirror 603, and an objective lens 604. Excitation light 602 emitted from the light source 601 for exciting the fluorescent substance is reflected by the mirror 603. The excitation light 602 is reflected by the mirror 603, passes through the objective lens 604, and is irradiated from above onto the fluorescently labeled sample 612 installed in the flow path 611 in the inner layer portion of the flow cell 102. The fluorescent substance present on the surface of the fluorescently labeled sample 612 is excited by the excitation light 602 and emits fluorescence 607. The fluorescence 607 passes through the objective lens 604 located above, passes through the mirror 603 and the lens 605, and reaches the camera 606 of the optical detection unit that detects fluorescence.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the transport unit in the biological material analyzer of the embodiment of the present invention. The transport unit includes a linear actuator 701 movable in the Y direction, a linear actuator 702 coupled to the linear actuator 701 and movable in the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction, and a stage 703 coupled to the linear actuator 702. . The stage 703 is provided with a mechanism for holding the flow cell cassette 103.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a stage of the biological material analyzer of the present invention. FIG. 8B is a schematic view of the upper surface of the stage 703, and FIG. The central portion 801 of the stage 703 is a surface that is one step lower than the surroundings, and the cassette 103 can be disposed. A ball plunger 802 for holding the cassette 103 is embedded in the inner side surface of the central portion 801. When the cassette 103 is placed on the stage 703 while applying a load from above, the cassette 103 is disposed at the central portion 801 and is pressed and held by the ball plunger 802 against the opposite surface. A broken line 803 indicates the position of the flow cell cassette at this time.

  FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing the configuration of the catcher 109 in the biological material analyzer of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 9A is a plan view seen from above and FIG. 9B is a side view seen from the side. The catcher 109 has a U-shape and is provided with a positioning pin 901 that engages with a hole of the cassette fitting portion 314. The catcher 109 is connected to a linear actuator 902 that can move up and down.

  A procedure for delivering the cassette 103 from the transport unit 108 to the catcher 109 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 shows the catcher 109 and the cassette 103 as viewed from the side. The cassette 103 is mounted on the stage 703 of the transport unit. First, the stage 703 moves and the cassette 103 comes on the catcher 109 (FIG. 10). Subsequently, the catcher 109 rises, and the positioning pin 901 of the catcher 109 engages with the hole of the cassette fitting portion 314 (FIG. 11). Thereby, the position of the cassette 103 with respect to the catcher 109 is determined. The catcher 109 is further raised, and the cassette 103 is separated from the stage 703 and held (FIG. 12). FIG. 13 is a view of this state as seen from above. Thus, the delivery of the flow cell cassette 103 from the transport unit 108 to the catcher 109 is completed. In this embodiment, the mechanism for delivering the cassette shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 corresponds to the mechanism for delivering the flow cell between the transport unit and the holding mechanism of the present invention.

  The order in which the cassette 103 is transferred from the catcher 109 to the transport unit 108 may be reversed from that shown in FIGS. However, in order for the cassette 103 to be accommodated in a predetermined position of the stage 703 (the portion indicated by the broken line 803), it is necessary to overcome the action of the ball plunger 802 and press it from above. With reference to FIG. 14, a method for allowing the cassette 103 to fit in a predetermined place (a portion indicated by a broken line 803) of the stage 703 after delivering the cassette 103 from the catcher 109 to the transport unit 108 will be described. A roller 1401 connected to a spring 1402 is provided in the middle of the cassette 103 moving from the catcher 109 to the stage 703 of the transport unit 108 and moving the stage 703 to a position detected by the optical unit. When the stage 703 on which the cassette 103 is placed moves under the roller 1401, the load of the spring 1402 is applied to the upper surface of the cassette 103 via the roller 1401. The force of the spring 1402 overcomes the action of the ball plunger 802 and puts the cassette 103 in a predetermined position.

  In the present invention, the DNA sequence analysis method is not particularly limited. For example, there is a DNA sequence analysis method (Sequencing by Oligonucleotide Ligation and Detection) using a stepwise ligation method. The stepwise ligation method refers to a method in which a fluorescently labeled probe is sequentially bound using a single-stranded DNA in a flow cell as a template and the sequence is determined by two bases. As an enzymatic reaction by ligase, an oligonucleotide containing a fluorescent moiety corresponding to the target sequence of the DNA fragment is bound to cause an extension reaction. After completion of the reaction, the fluorescent portion is irradiated with excitation light, and fluorescence is detected by the optical detection unit. Thereafter, the fluorescent portion is cleaved, and further an extension reaction is performed to detect fluorescence corresponding to the next sequence. As described above, by repeating the reaction step and the detection step, the base sequence corresponding to the fluorescent color is determined one after another, and finally determined as the base sequence of the DNA fragment. By this method, tens to hundreds of bps can be decoded in one cycle, and tens of Gb data can be analyzed in one run. In the stepwise ligation method, DNA in a flow cell can be sequenced in parallel by repeatedly hybridizing fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides.

  A one-cycle flow from the reaction step to the detection step will be described with reference to FIG. First, the cassette 103 will be described in order from the place on the catcher 109. The dispensing nozzle 110 is inserted into a reagent container installed in the reagent storage 104, and the reagent is aspirated (S1501). The dispensing nozzle 110 is moved, and the reagent is injected while being pierced into the injection port 312 of the cassette 103 (S1502). If temperature control is required, the temperature control is performed with the temperature control function incorporated in the lower base 311 of the cassette 103, and the process waits until the reaction is completed (S1503). If multiple reaction steps are required, the above steps are repeated. Then, the DNA fragment in the flow cell 102 is brought into a detectable state. The cassette 103 is transferred from the catcher 109 to the stage of the transport unit 108 (S1504). The stage is moved, the flow cell 102 is carried under the detection system, and the fluorescence of the sample in the flow cell is detected (S1505). Usually, the flow path where the DNA fragments are immobilized is wider than the area that can be detected by the optical unit, so the sample in the flow cell is sequentially detected so that it is scanned two-dimensionally while moving the stage little by little. I will do it. When the detection operation within a predetermined range is completed, the stage is moved, and the cassette 103 is placed on the catcher 109 to prepare for the next reaction step (S1506).

  In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, when DNA sequence analysis is performed by the stepwise ligation method, the base sequence corresponding to the fluorescent color is determined one after another by repeating the analysis cycle described according to FIG. It is determined as the base sequence of the DNA fragment.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the process of each flow cell will be described when two flow cells (referred to as flow cell 1 and flow cell 2, respectively) are used. The two catchers of the present embodiment are called catcher 1 and catcher 2, respectively. First, the two flow cells are both on the catcher 109 (assuming that the flow cell 1 is in the catcher 1 and the flow cell 2 is in the catcher 2), and the first reaction step is performed. At this time, two units may start at the same time, or may start from one side first. When the reaction process of one of the flow cells, for example, the flow cell 1 is completed, the reaction process is sent to the transport unit 108 and the detection process is executed. During the detection operation of the flow cell 1, the reaction process of the other flow cell 2 is executed. When the detection process of the flow cell 1 is completed, the cassette 103 on which the flow cell 1 is mounted is returned to the catcher 1. Subsequently, when the reaction process of the flow cell 2 is completed, the flow cell 2 is sent to the transport unit 108 and the detection process of the flow cell 2 is executed. When the detection process of the flow cell 2 is completed, the cassette 103 on which the flow cell 2 is mounted is returned to the catcher 2. Even if the detection process of the flow cell 1 and the reaction process of the flow cell 2 (or vice versa) are performed at the same time, the catcher and the stage are separated via the vibration isolation table 107, so that vibration caused by the dispensing operation is transmitted to the stage. No (fine vibrations may not be removed, but at least vibrations caused by dispensing operations will not interfere with the detection operation). The DNA sequence is analyzed by repeating this cycle. Usually, a DNA sequencer repeats this cycle several tens to several hundreds. FIG. 16 shows which process each flow cell is performing at a certain point in time. In this way, by simultaneously processing the reaction process and the detection process, the operating rate of the apparatus is increased and the total analysis time is shortened. Further, as can be estimated from FIG. 16, when two flow cells are used, if the time of the reaction process and the detection process is approximately the same, the operating rate of the apparatus increases and the apparatus becomes efficient.

  The case where two flow cells are used has been described above, but two or more flow cells may be used. For example, when there are three flow cells, the number of catchers is three according to the number of flow cells. And a reaction process is implemented on each catcher, and a detection process is implemented from what completed the reaction process. When the time required for the reaction process is about twice as long as that of the detection process, the process timetable of each flow cell can be as shown in FIG. 17, which is efficient. That is, the detection process of any flow cell can be continuously continued, and the operating rate of the apparatus is good. Conversely, the number of flow cells to be used can be determined from the balance between the time of the reaction process and the time of the detection process so that the operating rate of the apparatus is optimized. A plurality of catchers are installed according to the number of flow cells to be used. As the preferred number of flow cells, from FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the flow cells are provided by the number of integer values of the quotient obtained by dividing the time obtained by adding the reaction process time and the detection process time by the detection process time. Just do it.

  In addition, a flow cell can be added to the catcher during the analysis. In this case, it is better to have a device for avoiding contact with the dispensing nozzle during the operation of adding the flow cell. For example, a control method may be employed in which a door for accessing the catcher is provided and the dispensing nozzle is not operated while the door is open. If a flow cell is added during analysis, the fact that the flow cell has been added is input from the operation screen of the apparatus. The device also creates and executes an optimal timetable with the added flow cell. The optimal timetable is, for example, a timetable in which the operation rate of the apparatus is the highest.

101 Biological material analyzer (nucleic acid analyzer)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Flow cell 103 Flow cell cassette 104 Reagent storage 105 Liquid supply unit 106 Optical unit 107 Vibration isolator 108 Transport unit 109 Catcher 110 Dispensing nozzle 201 Upper substrate 202 Inner layer 203 Lower substrate 204 Inlet 205 Outlet 310 Upper holder 311 Lower base 312 Injection port 313 Outflow port 314 Positioning hole 501 Linear actuator Y
502 Linear actuator X
503 Linear actuator Z
504 Slider 601 Light source 602 Excitation light 603 Mirror 604 Objective lens 605 Lens 606 Camera 607 Fluorescence 611 Flow cell flow path 612 Fluorescent label sample 701 Linear actuator Y
702 Linear actuator X
703 Stage 801 Stage center 802 Ball plunger 803 Broken line indicating the position of the flow cell cassette 901 Positioning pin 902 Linear actuator 1401 Roller 1402 Spring

Claims (10)

A biological material analysis flow cell having a flow path containing a biological material sample;
A liquid feeding unit for supplying a reagent to the flow cell;
An optical unit for optically detecting a sample in the flow cell;
A transport unit that moves while holding the flow cell;
A vibration isolation table on which the optical unit and the transport unit are installed;
A holding mechanism installed outside the vibration isolation table and holding the flow cell when the reagent is supplied by the liquid feeding unit;
A biological material analyzer comprising a mechanism for delivering the flow cell between the transport unit and the holding mechanism. The biological material analyzer according to claim 1,
The biological material analysis apparatus in which the liquid feeding unit includes a dispensing nozzle. The biological material analyzer according to claim 1 or 2,
A biological material analyzer in which a plurality of the holding mechanisms are installed. The biological material analyzer according to claim 3,
The biological material analyzer which mounts the said flow cell in the said holding mechanism installed in multiple numbers, respectively. In the biological material analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A biological material analyzer that performs parallel processing of a dispensing operation to the flow cell by the liquid feeding unit and a detection operation of a sample in the flow cell by the optical unit. The biological material analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The biological material analyzer which performs the reaction process of the said flow cell on the said holding mechanism holding the said flow cell. The biological material analyzer according to claim 6, wherein
The biological material analyzer which performs the detection process of any one of several flow cells on the said conveyance unit, and performs the reaction process of other flow cells on the said holding mechanism in parallel. The biological material analyzer according to claim 1,
The flow cell is a biological material analyzer mounted in a cassette. The biological material analyzer according to claim 8,
The biological material analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cassette is housed in a stage on the transport unit. In the biological material analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A biological material analysis apparatus, wherein the biological material is a nucleic acid.

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